- Aimed at the company's professionals from over five continents, the Santa Barbara Innovation Awards seek to promote a culture of innovation at all levels of the organization.
- Some of MAXAM's current solutions, such as RIOBLAST blast design software or the RIOSENSOR device, blossomed from these awards.
MAXAM, a global technology company specializing in energetic materials, celebrates the 25th edition of its Santa Barbara Innovation Awards. It is a pioneering initiative in the industry, aimed at the company's more than 6,500 employees, through which MAXAM seeks to promote a culture of innovation at all levels of the organisation.
The awards are open to any employee, who has the opportunity to identify and propose new ideas and solutions that generate a differential value for the company and its customers.“MAXAM's professionals in the field face complicated and extremely differing environments such as a mine in Siberia in -40 degrees, underwater blasting machines in Panama, or projects in sub-Saharan Africa in over 40 degrees of heat. It is they who can quickly detect any new challenge to improve the security and efficiency of operations. Thanks to them, to the nonconformist, innovative spirit of our teams, some significant technological advances have emerged from Santa Barbara that respond to the specific needs of our customers,” explains Miguel Ángel Flórez, Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
MAXAM, a global technology company specializing in energetic materials, celebrates the 25th edition of its Santa Barbara Innovation Awards. It is a pioneering initiative in the industry, aimed at the company's more than 6,500 employees, through which MAXAM seeks to promote a culture of innovation at all levels of the organisation.
Ideas that are translated into important technological advances
For example, for the success of the Panama Canal extension project, completed by MAXAM in 2015, technologies such as the RIOBLAST design and simulation software and the on-site assembled explosive product via trucks both played key roles; both developed from their presentation at the Santa Barbara Innovation Awards by employees of the company.
“Innovation is one of our fundamental values as a company and a distinguishing mark of each and every one of MAXAM professionals. We have a global, multicultural and diverse team, that drives us to innovate every day. Constantly exploring new paths and possibilities is the only way we know to continue creating value for all our stakeholders, while still contributing to the progress of society," adds Fernanda Cardama, the company's Global Head of People & Resources.
Other significant developments made from winning ideas for the company have been the BER system for the real-time visual inspection of boreholes and the RIOSENSOR device, which contribute to clear security, efficiency and productivity improvements in the mining projects.
RIOBLAST, blast simulation software
RIOBLAST is a blast design and simulation software package, for managing a one-off blast or a complete campaign. It allows optimising the use of explosives and initiation systems, and accurately predicts aspects such as the fragmentation that will be obtained, vibrations in the field and reach, allowing the delimitation of the security perimeter. Additionally, it can be used to analyse results and generate blast reports with details of fragmentation and vibrations.
RIOSENSOR, a device to identify and rectify deviations
RIOSENSOR is a device designed by the company's technicians to identify and measure deviations in blastholes before proceeding with the blast. It means corrections can be carried out or the effects of deviations on the final result can be anticipated, therefore improving operational productivity.
BER, a visual and real-time borehole inspection system
Experts of MAXAM designed an innovative borehole inspection system that can remain inside the borehole while the explosive is loaded, unlike other devices where it is necessary to extract and clean it. In addition, this system transmits real-time images that they can be visualised from any part of the world. The information obtained on every borehole via the BER allows adjustment to be made before executing the blast, contributing to the improvement of the end result of the operation.
Mobile assembled explosive units
During works for extending the Panama Canal, part of MAXAM's technical team developed a device for packaging the stored explosive on the lorries that pumps the bulk product into the boreholes. This conversion of lorries into mobile explosive units generates significant economic savings for the customers, as well as they significantly increase the security of an operation. This is because it enables the use of an assembled product in unstable areas or areas with difficult access for pump trucks.
MAXAM - maxamcorp.com
MAXAM is a global technology company, specializing in the design, development, manufacture and application of energy materials. It structures its activity in four business units: blasting solutions for mining, quarries and civil works; cartridges and gun powders for use in hunting and recreational shooting; products and systems for the defence and security sector; and production of key primary products in nitro chemical activity.
Founded by Alfred Nobel in 1872, today MAXAM employs more than 6,500 people on five continents, in 80 industrial facilities, with subsidiaries in more than 50 countries and commercial operations in over 100 countries. At the close of the 2018 financial year (31 March 2018), the company’s turnover stood at over 1.14 billion euros.