Client Background

The Chambishi Copper Mine is located in Zambia's Copperbelt Province. It is one of the large-scale non-ferrous metal mines invested and operated overseas by Chinese companies. The mine is jointly developed by China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group and local partners, and is a landmark Belt and Road Initiative mining project in Africa. The mine was established in 2003 and gradually put into production. As mining operations shift to deeper zones, the tunnel and stope cross-sections have significantly increased in size, placing higher demands on roof and sidewall scaling operations.

Challenges Faced

Traditional scaling methods pose major safety risks: In underground mining, blasting creates loose rock on tunnel roofs and sidewalls that must be removed promptly to ensure personnel and equipment safety. Traditional manual scaling with pry bars is physically demanding and exposes operators directly under the roof, facing serious risks of rockfalls and roof collapses.

Scaling in large stopes is more difficult: With the shift to mechanized large-scale mining, tunnel and stope cross-sections have increased by 4 to 5 times compared to traditional small-section mining, with height and span more than doubled. Manual pry bars or bolting rigs cannot effectively reach high roofs and sidewalls. Incomplete scaling leaves major safety hazards. Industry practice shows that using bolting rigs for scaling causes frequent damage to booms and slides, and long-boom structures cannot handle sidewalls effectively.

Scaling efficiency restricts production rhythm: Traditional scaling methods are time-consuming and produce inconsistent results, becoming a bottleneck in the excavation cycle.

Beijun Solution

Shandong Beijun Group provided an intelligent scaling jumbo and support services tailored to the large-stope scaling requirements of the Chambishi Copper Mine:

Primary Equipment: Beijun Intelligent Scaling Jumbo
   This is one of the flagship products from Shandong Ante Heavy Industry, a core subsidiary of Beijun Group. It is specifically designed for underground scaling in non-coal mines. The machine integrates hydraulic power, intelligent control, and visual modeling algorithms to replace high-risk manual scaling with mechanized, intelligent operations. It is equipped with a high-power hydraulic breaker and an articulating boom that can extend and rotate to handle roof and sidewall loose rock at the optimal angle in large stopes.

Technical Features:

High-efficiency scaling capability: The dedicated scaling jumbo is equipped with a customized hydraulic hammer featuring a short piston and high-frequency impact design, minimizing damage to surrounding rock. The tool shank bushing uses cemented carbide material to enhance resistance to prying stress. The hydraulic hammer provides 180° swing in both directions (up/down, left/right), effectively scaling along fractures in different orientations.

Remote operation for safety: The operator controls the equipment remotely from a safe area, achieving complete man-machine separation and eliminating exposure to hazardous zones. The machine is equipped with multiple safety features including emergency stop buttons, four-wheel wet braking, and a dust suppression system.

Adaptable to complex tunnels: The chassis is well-designed and compact, suitable for flexible operation in both narrow tunnels and large stopes, with excellent maneuverability.

Compliance and certification: The equipment holds China Mining Safety (KA) certification and meets Zambian mine safety regulatory requirements.

Support services: Beijun's overseas business covers more than 20 countries, with service networks and parts supply in Africa. Core parts can reach the site within 72 hours, ensuring timely technical support and parts availability for the Chambishi project.

Implementation Results

Safety risks significantly reduced: After the scaling jumbo was deployed, it replaced manual pry bar scaling and the improper practice of using bolting rigs for scaling. Operators work from a safe distance using the remote control, fundamentally eliminating safety hazards from rockfalls and roof collapses. The scaling process has become an integrated part of the excavation cycle — drilling, scaling, mucking, and support — improving overall mine safety standards.

Scaling efficiency significantly improved: The dedicated scaling jumbo far exceeds manual methods in efficiency, effectively supporting smooth excavation cycles. In the mine's M2C automated production model, the scaling jumbo serves as a key piece of face preparation equipment, working alongside drilling jumbos, LHDs, and bolting rigs to support a monthly advance rate of 518 meters and a daily advance rate of 33.6 meters.

Equipment damage reduced: Replacing bolting rigs with a dedicated scaling jumbo eliminated damage to boom assemblies and slides caused by improper scaling practices, reducing maintenance costs and downtime.

Consistent, reliable scaling quality: The intelligent scaling jumbo, with its precise positioning and powerful impact force, effectively removes loose rock from roofs and sidewalls, creating a safe working environment for subsequent drilling and blasting operations.