What is the relevance of Canada’s mining sector for Normet?

Canada is a leading mining jurisdiction, particularly for underground mining. Canada is one of the world leaders in terms of safety, productivity, and how we operate underground. With the electrification trend, Canada was also one of the early adopters, being a role model for the way forward. The country’s leading position is very much aligned with Normet’s goal and ambitions to be leaders in technology, to be innovative, and to bring new solutions to the industry which will help people work safer and in a much more efficient and sustainable way.

Which key innovations developed by Normet will play a significant role in underground mining? 

Decarbonization and electrification are both growing trends and focusses in the mining industry. Diesel engines in underground mining pose a health risk as emissions are harmful and there are issues with the generation of heat and noise coming from these engines. The electrification trend is therefore not only in consideration of the environment, but also health. Normet offers some of the best electrification solutions, such as our SmartDrive platform, a battery electric vehicle (BEV) comprising of the latest Lithium Titanate Oxide (LTO) battery technology with a fast charging capability. High-torque electric motors provide instant torque and efficient operation without any local emissions, and the fully reversible 4WD ensures safe and sure movement in difficult underground conditions. The SmartDrive system has a built-in energy recuperation technology which maximizes the storing of regenerative braking energy during downhill driving and deacceleration. In addition, efficient hydraulic dual-circuit oil immersed brakes provide additional braking power when it is needed. The equipment’s batteries can be charged at any time from typical underground AC-sockets, and for demanding operations, optional fast-chargers can charge batteries quickly during operation or a break.

How are you becoming greener within your concrete spraying process?

In terms of decarbonization, Normet’s concrete spraying process plays a big role. On the back end, if we can optimize the concrete mix, we can reduce the amount of raw cement that is used, which has a tremendous benefit in terms of decarbonization. In our spraying process we have a focus on having the right concrete mix and have also implemented technologies that optimize the positioning and scanning of the spraying equipment so that the spray area is optimized and wastage is reduced. We have also started to automate the spraying process and strive to have it completely autonomous in the future.

Normet has an extensive R&D team which is focused on continuously developing solutions that contribute to improved efficiency, sustainability, and the green agenda. The company also engages with strategic partners that can help us accelerate bringing innovative solutions to the industry. We also work closely with universities on developing digitization, electrification, and sustainable solutions and building our technical capabilities. As a company, we will continue to invest in the future.

What is Normet’s strategy to attract and retain talent?

Normet has a presence in 32 countries today. Almost all of  Normet business is done directly with customers, enabling us to get direct customer feedback and enabling our professionals to support customers with improving their underground processes. We are big believers in having as many local people as we can, and we supplement local teams with experts from around the world. Today, getting work visas for expatriates can be a challenge, but fortunately our local teams can leverage from expert knowledge through virtual platforms and technologies. Our core focus remains to attract local talent and then invest in their training and development.  

What are Normet’s objectives for the next three years?

Normet is currently in the process of looking at opportunities to expand our base in Canada, especially from a technical point of view. The company has high ambitions for Canada and we have intentions to continue investing in the country to be prepared to support the growth of the Canadian mining industry.