Cost overruns and not matching the designed throughput rates are a common thread for mining operations, especially when ore is sourced from underground.
Our concrete and shotcrete technologies contribute to efficient mine construction under a suite of climatic conditions. Sika concrete admixtures such as our Viscocrete® and Sigunit® technology stands up to the highest quality and HSE standards in operations all around the globe. Furthermore we offer a full product range.
Sika's Products for Efficient and Rapid Mine Development
1. Concrete Solutions for Mining
Reliable and Durable Concrete – Key to Any Mining Project
Sika offers a fully integrated product range when it comes to concrete solutions for mining projects. For decades, Sika is involved on the most challenging and largest mining projects on the globe. From self compacting concrete for efficient shaft linings to high strength road slabs, from durable mill foundations to easy pumpable concrete for head frame erection, we offer the products that solve nearly every concrete challenge.
Concrete for All Applications
With more than 100 years experience in concrete technology, we are in position to support you for every concrete application at your mine.
- Fast and efficient shaft linings using self compacting concrete
- Set retarders for long transportation routes
- Accelerators for rapid mine development
- Specialized slick line concrete
- High strength concrete for foundation slabs, runways and haulage roads
- Rheology modifiers for easy concrete pumping
Optimize Your Mix
Optimize the cost performance of the concrete mix by the use of Sika Viscocrete® technology.
- Sika is the go-to brand for high range water reducers and slump keeping admixtures to optimize the properties of your concrete
- Tailored solutions for the specific needs in mining
Remote Mining Projects
Unique and proven Sika solutions for remote mining projects including products designed for on site production to facilitate logistics and avoid shelf-life issues.
- Powder shotcrete accelerators for on site blending
- Sika flake technology for onsite production of concrete admixtures
- Sika Fiber® technology in order to reduce steel reinforcing of concrete structures
2. Shotcrete
Speed Up Cycle Times with Sika Shotcrete Technology
In cycle shotcreting is key for rapid mine development and fast cycle times in mines around the globe. We offer fully integrated solutions for wet and dry shotcrete including our Sigunit® P-10 AF powder accelerator for on site mixing a dedicated product for remote mining projects. In addition we offer an integrated range of shotcrete equipment for all applications.
Sika Sigunit® Technology - Mastering the Art of Shotcreting
For many years, the Sika Sigunit® shotcrete accelerators fortify underground structures across the globe. Dedicated to delivery high early strength shotcrete and adjusted to the specific cements in use, Sika is in position to help speed up your mine cycle times and to facilitate the shotcrete handling significantly.
Solving Logistical Challenges
Unique and proven Sika solutions for remote mining projects including products designed for on site production to facilitate logistics and avoid shelf-life issues.
- Powder shotcrete accelerators for on site blending
- Sika flake technology for onsite production of concrete and shotcrete admixtures
- Sika Fiber technology in order to optimize the reinforcing demand of concrete structures
Onsite Support
We are used to work closely with our partners and offer frequent on-site support to bring the shotcrete mix, handling, application and quality testing to the next level. The Sika applicator trainings take place in frequent order to assure best practice wherever our products are in use.
Yielding Underground Support with Sika Fiber Technology
Yielding primary shotcrete liners have become the standard underground support in many mines around the globe. Increased stress levels in deeper mines require a yielding support in order to take up dynamic loads and seismic shocks from the rock mass. Sika Fibers are high quality, macro-synthetic fibers used in underground projects around the globe and proven to outperform steel-fibers when it comes to energy absorption and cost-performance of the shotcrete support.
Sika Fiber Force
Sika® Fiber Force is the macro-synthetic fiber product range from Sika. The Sika fibers provide excellent yielding characteristics within the shotcrete liner or specific concrete structures such as slabs and piles. The fibers can be sourced in different packaging options including handy fiber-packs that easily dissolve in the wet concrete mix.
Optimize Your Shotcrete Mix
Macro-synthetic polypropylene fibers have become the standard in many mining operations around the globe. Macro-synthetic fibers have a few key advantages compared to steel fibers including avoidance of corrosion, much lower dosage (on a per weight basis), much better yielding characteristics, easier handling and better overall price performance.
3. Mine Paste Backfill Admixtures
Admixtures to Optimize Paste Backfill Operations
Sika offers a wide range of mine paste backfill admixtures that can be dosed directly into the wetted out mix of the paste plant. The admixtures are based on the proven Sika PCE technology and can have a dramatic effect on the rheological behavior of the paste. The admixtures act as a high range water reducer and therefore provide the opportunity to significantly reduce the cement consumption of the paste operation. Sika is in position to provide extensive on site support and to support you with the right paste backfill design.
Optimize Your MixSika applies similar principles that we use in concrete also for mine paste backfill plants worldwide using our chemical toolbox that has been refined over the past decades. We can help you to achieve the following with your backfill paste:
- Reduce binder consumption
- Improve compressive strength
- Reduce bleedingFacilitate paste pumping
- Reduce wear and tear of machinery and paste lines
- Speed up mine and fill cycle time
Customized Solutions
Every mine paste is different in terms of its granulometry, the chemical composition and the binder types used. Sika is experienced in analysing the different pastes in order to find the admixtures that will suit your paste best. By doing so, we are in position to deliver the competitive edge when it comes to cost reduction and mix optimization.
Onsite Support
With our presence in more than 90 countries we are in position to give you dedicated and efficient on site support to optimize your paste fill operation. Specialized teams in all world regions will give you the support you need to improve the cost performance of the paste backfill mix.
4. Conveyor Belt Products
Repair Your Belts – Easy and Fast
Sika is a global leader when it comes to specialized adhesives for industrial applications. Over the past years, we developed high performing products dedicated for the global mining and materials processing industry to repair conveyor belts in an easy and efficient way. Two products are available, one for the reparation of rubber substrates and the other for structural rubber-rubber or rubber-steel bonding.
SikaBond® R&B-100
Conveyor belt repair made easy: This fast curing, high performance elastomer is designed for fast and clean repair of the rubber substrate of conveyor belts and industrial rubber elements. The product is available as a ready to be used repair kit that can be applied right in the field. The product is in use in many mines, and quarries and has been proven in the most challenging mining conditions.
SikaBond® R&B-200/210
SikaBond® R&B-200/210 are adhesive for rubber to rubber or rubber to steel bonding. These unique products offer unbeatable adhesion to different rubber substrates and is designed for repair on rubber conveyor belts that are textile or steel reinforced. The products come as a handy, two-component cartridge that is applied using a two component application gun (either manual or pneumatic). Besides the astonishing bonding properties, the product cures very fast and allows fast recommissioning of the conveyor belt once repaired.
5. Dust Sealers
Don’t Get Lost in the Dust
In most mining environments, dust represents one of the highest health and safety concerns no matter if the operation is located under- or above ground. Therefore, a lot of effort is put into reducing dust generation to an acceptable level, on a daily basis. Sika Dust Seal®-300 is a new product from Sika, that prevents dust particles going airborne and reduces dust generation over an extended time period. The product is fully bio-degradable and is diluted with water prior to application.
Dust
Dust generates all sort of problems, ranging from health and safety concerns due to reduced visibility and respiration issues to increased wear and tear of machinery and equipment and increased ventilation costs in underground workings. Sika Dust Seal-300 is designed to provide a safe, water based and environmental friendly alternative to current dust-sealing solutions.
Sika’s Experts Provide Assistance to Benefit your Business
Local Contact
Contact a Sika expert near you for technical support and locally available products and systems.