In brief
Orica says it received the Most Innovative Large Company recognition in the 2023 Australian Financial Review and Inventium awards, and Avatel™ ranked first in the Agriculture, Mining and Utilities category. The company describes Avatel as a mechanised development charging system created with Epiroc, combining explosives and equipment technologies for underground blasting. Orica says the system is intended to improve safety, control and precision, and may affect workers at development sites as well as engineering and support teams. The first complete Avatel service began at Newcrest’s Cadia Valley Operations in New South Wales early in 2023. The awards assessment considered the problem addressed, impact, solution quality and distinctiveness, alongside applicants’ innovation culture and sustainable approach. Orica says it has appeared among the program’s innovative companies for seven consecutive years.
Key takeaways
- Orica received the 2023 Most Innovative Large Company recognition.
- Avatel™ took the top position in the Agriculture, Mining and Utilities category.
- Orica and Epiroc developed the mechanised underground development charging system together.
- The first complete Avatel service began at Cadia Valley Operations early in 2023.
September 27, 2023 -- Orica has been recognised as the Most Innovative Large Company and taking out the number one spot under the Agriculture, Mining and Utilities category for Avatel™ in the 2023 Australian Financial Review and Inventium’s Most Innovative Companies List.
Published by The Australian Financial Review (AFR) and Boss Magazine, the prestigious annual list is based on a meticulous assessment process led by innovation consulting firm Inventium and a panel of industry experts. Out of the 700 organisations that were nominated across Australia and New Zealand, Orica came in at number one – as the Most Innovative Large Company solidifying Avatel™ the world’s first fully mechanised development charging system as a pioneering technology in the Agriculture, Mining & Utilities industry that delivers value for customers and serves to move the mining industry forward.
The development of Avatel™, a partnership between Orica and Epiroc – two world-leaders in explosives and equipment manufacturing respectively - combines the most advanced explosives technology available to bring a previously unachievable level of safety, control and precision to underground blasting that has the potential to change the way the underground mining industry approaches work at the development face while driving substantial downstream value.
The first complete Avatel™ service commenced at Newcrest’s Cadia Valley Operations, NSW early in 2023. Avatel™ has the potential to positively impact workers who conduct tasks directly in the development environment along with those in engineering or supporting roles who manage the engineering designs and processes required to manage risk to those workers.
Reflecting on the achievement, Orica Chief Technology Officer Angus Melbourne said:
“The industry faces substantial challenges in obtaining safe access to challenging orebodies due to the increasing demand for critical minerals. Our collaboration with Epiroc and our customers positions Avatel to fulfill our joint aspiration to develop blasting solutions that prioritise safety and productivity. By harnessing technology, integrating into workflows, we are paving the way for a safer, productive, and more responsible mining industry towards our net zero ambition".
The AFR industry panel considered several key elements when judging the innovation, including the value of the problem being solved, the level of impact the innovation has had, and the quality and uniqueness of the solution. Additionally, applicants had to showcase their innovative culture and the sustainable, repeatable approach taken towards innovation across the business.
Having been recognised as one of the most innovative companies in the AFR Awards program for the past seven years straight, this year’s achievement further reinforces Orica’s technology leadership position in the mining industry, beyond blasting.
To learn more about Avatel™ visit: www.orica.com/avatel
Orica named AFR Most Innovative Large Company and #1 Most Innovative Agriculture Mining & Utilities Company for 2023.
Orica and Epiroc’s advanced technologies integrated into the Avatel™ system.
Front impression of a commercially ready Avatel™ unit in an underground
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Questions around this news
What is a fully mechanised development charging system?
It is a system that uses machinery to place explosives in blast holes during the development of underground mine workings, rather than relying on workers to perform all charging tasks manually. Mechanisation can change how work is carried out at the development face, where tunnels or other openings are being advanced, and may affect safety, control and precision.
Why was Orica recognised in the 2023 Most Innovative Companies List?
The release says the award recognised Orica as the Most Innovative Large Company and placed its Avatel system first in the Agriculture, Mining and Utilities category. The judging considered the value of the problem addressed, the innovation’s impact and the quality and distinctiveness of the solution, as well as the company’s innovation culture and approach to repeatable, sustainable innovation.
What companies developed Avatel, and what did the partnership combine?
The release describes Avatel as a partnership between Orica and Epiroc. It says the collaboration brought together explosives technology and equipment manufacturing to provide a mechanised underground development charging system, with the aim of improving safety, control and precision in blasting and supporting productivity.
Where did the first complete Avatel service begin?
According to the release, the first complete Avatel service commenced at Newcrest’s Cadia Valley Operations in New South Wales early in 2023. The release also says the system may affect workers carrying out tasks in the development environment and people in engineering or support roles who manage designs and processes related to worker risk.
