The Material Handling Team supplied two separate fully automated, modular backfill systems for the Birchtree mine.

Both plants include a cement storage hopper with integral dust collector, screw conveyors to supply binder to a colloidal mixer, progressive cavity pump and fully automated control system. The first system is built around a 2500 Litre, four mill colloidal mixer, while the second design includes a 1000 Litre, two mill mixer.

In addition to the equipment listed above, a 20 ton capacity storage hopper with pneumatic screw pump and air compressor was supplied with the second plant.

The plants are designed to be broken down into small modular pieces to allow them to be transported underground via the mine cage, and then re-assembled underground without any additional welding. Both systems were pre-fit, assembled and tested at our facility prior to delivery to the mine.

Each of the systems is designed to be frequently relocated through the mine, and was fabricated in four sections with quick-disconnects for electrical, air, and water services.

The Material Handling Team supplied a slurry plant for the HBM&S 777 mine expansion project. The supplied Thiessen Tornado system produces cementitious slurry required by a paste backfill plant that is used for ground stabilization in the underground mine.

The slurry plant features a 1350 Litre Colloidal mixer, agitation tank, progressive cavity pump, magnetic flow meter, and is supplied fully automated with an integrated MCC & PLC cabinet.

The Colloidal mixer produces slurry on demand: As the agitation tank drops to a predetermined low-level set point, additional colloidal mixer batches are initiated as required. Progressive cavity pump output and slurry flow readings are controlled by the main paste backfill system where the slurry is introduced into the primary backfill mixer.

Typical of all Thiessen Tornadoes, this system self cleans after every batch. The plant also features the upgraded Keller Mark III colloidal mills including an improved sealing system and automatic grease purging.

This plant supplies cementitious slurry to haul trucks loaded with aggregate on surface for initial backfill production, while construction of the main backfill plant underground is undertaken.

The slurry system was designed to work in three distinct modes. Initially, slurry was supplied on surface. The plant was then re-located and integrated into the main backfill system underground, to pre-slurry cement for the 6 cubic yard compulsory mixer. Thirdly, the backfill system has been designed to allow the slurry plant to again function as an independent slurry plant, when required.

Cement is delivered via bulk bags to the plant at the bulk-bag unloader, external to the main structure. Admixtures, etc. are loaded on board by forklift and water is supplied from external sources, heated, when required.

Two Moyno progressive cavity pumps supply grout in various mixtures at varying pressures and flow rates to the boreholes. A third identical backup pump is used for water testing boreholes prior to grouting. Grout batching is fully automated and re-batches upon demand leaving the operator(s) free to concentrate on pump pressures, flows, and data processing. At the control console, a color touchscreen displays dynamic graphics of the batch process.

This entire custom plant was designed, fabricated, assembled, programmed, and tested in approximately 2 ½ months.