In June 2020, BHP engaged us to tackle an ambitious project at their Olympic Dam site in Australia. The task at hand was to remove 500-1000 mils [½ to 1 inch] of rubber coating from the internal surface of a 100ft diameter tailings leach tank. With a focus on increasing productivity, enhancing safety, and optimizing labor, we proposed a solution to meet these objectives effectively.

Our proposed set-up consisted of 2 x VertiDrive machines, equipped with 6-inch spinning cutting heads and powered by 2 x 300hp ultra-high-pressure pumps. The VertiDrive is known for its innovative industrial blasting capabilities and its ability to minimize safety risks associated with manual operations, especially in confined spaces like the interior of the leach tank.

The significant increase in productivity and the clear safety benefits offered by the VertiDrive set-up were well received by BHP. This case study not only underscores the effectiveness of the VertiDrive solution in industrial blasting operations but also demonstrates its role in ensuring operational safety and efficiency.