New grout pump to be used in hardrock mining.

• Author: Krejlgaard, Chris
• Position: MWM Instrumentation and New Equipment Ltd. - Manufacturing Report

New grout pump to be used in hardrock mining

A change in mine safety technology has resulted in the birth of a manufacturing company in the Sudbury area.

M.I.N.E. (MWM Instrumentation and New Equipment) Limited of Lively is now manufacturing and marketing a grout pump for hardrock mining.

Company president Michael Malkowski said the pump was designed to meet the stricter design requirements resulting from a change in rockbolting and cablebolting technology.

"The new cable and bolting methods require higher density grout," said Malkowski. "The pumps which were used couldn't handle the load."

According to Malkowski, the $27,000 Minnepro-3 took five years and six prototypes to develop. The high-pressure pumping of grout eliminates the need for utilizing a plug at a collar.

During the five-year period, Malkowski said he received assistance from a number of Northern Ontario companies such as Nordic Fluid Power of Sudbury, Feldcamp Fluid Power of North Bay, Continuous Mining Systems and Basco Steel.

M.I.N.E. received a $50,000 forgivable loan from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation last month.

The loan will...