The Mining Forum Engages the Mining Community

after three days of intense learning and discussion, the mining forum finished its first session in johannesburg on october 13. the theme was "mastering surface drilling and blasting." hosted by sandvik and supported by ael and thunderbird pacific, the mining forum provided a different experience than traditional seminars. joel boman, tools manager for surface mining at sandvik, explains: "we wanted to create an environment where the participants can leave feeling they genuinely learned something. we put together a curriculum for mining companies and contractors, and restricted the number of vendors that could attend. in my experience, the conventional seminars are very commercial and don't provide the same step-by-step learning."

With 112 participants at The Mining Forum, representing 25 different mining companies and contractors, it was clearly successful. "The response from the market as well as the engagement during the forum really impressed me," says Jacques Britz, Marketing and Sales Manager for Sandvik Surface Mining in Africa. "I personally learned a lot from the participants. We had very healthy discussions between our own applications experts and those responsible for engineering, production, and maintenance at the mine sites."

"Mastering Surface Drilling and Blasting" was structured around 25 sessions, in a mixture of lectures, discussion groups, and workshops. Topics included choice of drilling method - rotary, top-hammer, or Down-The-Hole - including the specifics on how to optimize performance and cost. It progressed to topics on compressed air, drill configuration, monitoring, data collection, and guidance systems, along with detailed sections on drill maintenance and reliability. It linked drilling with blast planning and best practices from the perspectives of blast analysis and experience. Learn more at www.theminingforum.com.

Jacques Britz adds: "Our proudest moment was the donation of 100 000 Rand (USD 12 300) to the Compass charity. 'The Mining Forum Gives Back' was a chance to show that we in the mining industry care - that we want to contribute and be responsible corporate citizens."

For further information, please contact:
Karl Ingmarsson, Sandvik Mining and Construction
VP Marketing Surface Mining
Tel. +1 386 418 3368, email: karl.ingmarsson@sandvik.com