Becker Varis has always been committed to providing the best communication, automation and service in the industry. Since 1996 they have been leading the way in the sector with the Smartcom Leaky Feeder System; a system which gained Becker Varis’ international reputation.
Becker Varis is also a leader in underground blasting systems as a result of the Smartblast product line. Working in conjunction with the Leaky Feeder system, Smartblast provides full, two-way blast control for underground and surface applications. Reduced misfires and two-way communications between the Remotes and the Controller make Smartblast the safest way to blast with electric or shock-tube detonation. Since it uses the mines Leaky Feeder system and is completely portable, this blasting system is the most productive and cost-efficient solution on the market.
Smartblast’s cost savings can be measured in reduced maintenance alone as it eliminates the need to maintain a separate central blast cable system. The advantages of using the Smartblast system are quite apparent and it is easy to justify the investment in cost savings alone, not to mention the safety benefits.
There was a time when each Smartblast controller was limited to initiating a maximum of eight remote blasting units but those days are over. With the new RB1673 series up to 64 remotes can be tied into one eliminating the need for multiple controllers. There is also a PC based Smartblast controller available to upgrade existing RB1670 series users. Capable of electric and shock tube detonation, Smartblast enables all personnel to be on surface and out of harm’s way during blasting.
The RB1673 has many new features which include a history event log and LCD display. The history event log keeps a record of information such as unit state, post blast motion detect value, firing voltage level, battery level and the date and time the event was logged. With the GPS included, each event will also have the longitude and latitude of where the unit was when the event was recorded. The LCD display provides information that is supplemental to the basic operation. Whenever a switch is pressed, the LCD display’s backlighting function will be enabled. After 30 seconds of inactivity, the backlighting will automatically turn off to save battery power.
New safety components have also been added to the RB1673 to provide more secure and reliable blasting. The Remote units now have sensors that measure the seismic motion that may be expected when a successful blast detonation has occurred. The Controller unit then reports that a post-fire motion was detected, useful in underground operations when the successful initiation of a blast cannot be easily determined. An automatic-disarming function ensures that the unit returns to a safe state in the event of a loss of communications, after a time out period. The Sequential Fire feature allows the user to space the firings of each Remote unit so that they do not fire at the same time, 0-2 seconds between the firing of each Remote. This feature is particularly useful when firing multiple blocks where a delay is needed between each block.
As well as having a number of impressing new features, the RB1673 boasts increased firing capacity. A minimum of 350V now allows for approximately 75 electric caps in series, or a maximum circuit resistance of 150Ω. Now with increased firing capacity and features that allow for greater safety and productivity all on one Leaky Feeder network, Smartblast is definitely the smart choice for blasting in any underground, surface or tunnelling applications. Just maintain one system, your existing Leaky Feeder, and initiate safely with Smartblast.
Becker Varis has earned an international reputation due to their dedication to quality and the success of the design and performance of their products. To this day they continue to excel at exceeding customer requirements while dominating the industry in capacity, maintainability and overall quality. With its experienced team of engineers and software specialists, Becker Varis also provides the latest in resource tracking systems, collision avoidance and other practical product advancements. Through communication, Becker Varis continues to enhance mine operations around the world with its quality products.
