Research and Development - Mining
As market leader, DSI is present in all global mining regions, delivering customized solutions to clients around the world – always in accordance with our slogan :
"Local Presence - Global Competence".
DSI is committed to the highest safety standards for our customers and our extensive R&D activities have considerably contributed to this in mining and tunneling.
DSI research and development is extremely important because it has improved the ergonomics of the jobs our clients perform and also improves the cost effectiveness of tunneling jobs, thereby reducing project costs.
Thanks to our global presence, we are in the unique position to combine our experts’ knowledge around the world in order to develop sophisticated solutions for the mining and tunneling industries. Due to our constant R&D activities, which are characterized by close contact with leading technical universities, we have the highest level of innovation in the Underground industry.
In Mining, roof bolting technology has advanced considerably during the 40 years since their introduction. However, there is a constant need for more efficient strata control in mining in order to improve safety, maximize productivity and decrease costs. The main areas of improvement have been directed towards the stiffness of the support in order to increase the safety of reinforcement and support systems.
Our R&D centers in Australia and the USA are focused on this and are continually improving our extensive range of products in order to keep satisfying our customers’ individual needs. Rather than design products from a laboratory, we are directly involved at the mine face, thus providing solutions which are perfectly adapted to specific mining conditions.
One of DSI’s recent projects is the Tiger Bolt ® System. It is a genuine “one pass” permanent resin anchor system and can be installed with standard Jumbo drilling equipment. Due to the fact that no extra bolts are needed, it is especially flexible and cost-effective in cases of post meshing.
DSI has also set a new standard in double corrosion protection by developing the DCP bolt. Its expansion shell provides immediate support, while grout which is pumped inside the sleeve serves as an efficient corrosion barrier. Furthermore, its plastic components provide complete corrosion protection.
DSI is now about to release a new coating for the revolutionary Omega bolt. In contrast to conventional corrosion coating, this new development is extremely apt to withstand bolt expansion and handling while simultaneously offering reliable corrosion resistance.
During the last decade, a better understanding of strata/reinforcement interaction, more efficient installation methods and a variety of more sophisticated monitoring techniques have brought the tunneling industry a step forward in terms of efficiency and safety. With its international team of experienced engineers, DSI is proud to have contributed to making tunneling safer around the world.
In Tunneling,
DSI’s global R&D activities are coordinated by our Austrian headquarters. Our new tunneling division combines experienced personnel with worldwide expertise, thus offering access to a variety of ideas for the development of new technologies.
Fault zones and unstable ground conditions at jobsites have always been major concerns with the tunneling industry. With the AT- Pipe Umbrella Support System, DSI’s engineers have now developed an answer to these problems. It supports the tunnel wall in the area of the tunnel face, while ground improvement is achieved by grouting.
DSI’s AT-Power Set Self-drilling Friction Bolt are an invention which is both time-saving and cost-efficient due to their being drilled and installed simultaneously with standard drilling machines. They have immediate load-bearing capacity directly after installation and, unlike conventional bolts, maintain their load-bearing capacity even when undergoing large deformations.
Efficiency and simple design are at the heart of DSI’s newly developed AT-Casing System. It is a system solution which can be adjusted to customers’ needs and allows an accurate alignment of the casing tubes alongside with immediate support of the drill hole. Flexibility is guaranteed both by extendable casing tubes and by its compatibility with conventional equipment.
New developments in the field of tunneling also include the AT-Automation Unit which offers a high degree of safety for the operator thanks to its being remote-controlled. In contrast to ordinary installation units, the smaller saw tooth profile avoids overexcavation and unnecessary shotcrete consumption.