DMT GmbH & Co. KG

A total of 70 leading industry representatives – managing directors, sales directors, association representatives and representatives of IGBCE and the NRW mining authority – met on 26th September 2019 at the former Zeche Zollern (colliery) in Dortmund/Germany for the fifth annual conference of the Mining Industry Network of the EnergieAgentur.NRW, Düsseldorf/Germany (Figure 1).

It was also an opportunity to examine current target markets as 97 % of services, machines and systems are exported. The raw materials industry around the world faces diverse and demanding challenges. Sustainable market and sales visions are sought and visionaries to promote them. What is important and what will become important? The network coordinated and moderated the event on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. The contributions showed the whole spectrum of the industry activities and market developments through to the high level of innovation of the supplier industry in North Rhine-Westphalia in the raw materials segment. After the end of coal mining the know-how and expertise established here and appreciated worldwide continue to be promoted on international markets such as Chile, China, Russia, Turkey or Africa. Apart from the classic use, it is necessary to show applications in the hard rock mining sector, ore mines, salt and rare earth fields, as well as in tunnel construction, around the world for the companies. Complex technical solutions and the high degree of specialisation, specially in the areas of digitisation, occupational safety, accident prevention and environment protection, offer opportunities, which are seized and supported also with the help of the EnergieAgentur.NRW. Harmonisation, coordination and moderation are effected in many cases in close collaboration with VDMA Mining, the Technical University Georg Agricola (THGA), institutes of the RWTH Aachen University, the DMT GmbH & Co. KG or other partners from Germany or abroad. Many regions in the world rich in raw materials benefit from this sustainable approach of the NRW experts and their knowledge. Because one thing is clear: The know-how and expertise of the specialist companies in North Rhine-Westphalia are at a superior international level and without mining there is no energy revolution or electric mobility. (EnergieAgentur.NRW/Si.)

Surveyors from the DMT GmbH & Co. KG specialist unit for fire safety, at the Centre for Fire and Explosion Safety have determined, following specific gas measurements at various locations on the Graf Moltke tip in Gladbeck/Germany, that “there is no evidence of health risks in the locality”. The DMT surveyors conducted specific gas readings on the Graf Moltke spoil tip on 14th August 2019 on behalf of RAG Montan Immobilien GmbH, Essen/Germany, who are responsible for the tip (Figure 1). The project manager for DMT is a publicly-appointed sworn expert for fire safety for spoil tips, coal stores and disposal sites. DMT belongs to the TÜV NORD GROUP. The background to the readings is the smouldering fire in the tip, which has been known about and monitored for years and which has intensified in recent months, leading to increased gas emissions.

The gas readings on the tip, to which public access is prohibited, were conducted in the immediate vicinity of the warm areas of the western slope. Readings were conducted at two points whose visual appearance and odour were noticeable. The surveyors took readings directly on the ground and in a 1 m deep fissure which had developed there, as well as at heights of 0.5 and 1.5 m above the source location in the direction of the wind. Environmental readings were also taken in the south/west wind direction at two points in the commercial area.

The readings were evaluated in accordance with the legally stipulated incident assessment values, the official occupational limit values and the permitted exposure values for the emergency services. The readings assessed the accrual of gas emissions including benzene, hydrogen sulphide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, nitrogen, methane and oxygen. These gases are usually produced when coal is burned and, in certain concentrations, can have a harmful effect on the environment and the population.

In the case of the current readings, limit values were only exceeded for the individual gases carbon monoxide, benzene and hydrogen sulphide immediately at ground level and when measured in the ground fissure. At a height of 0.5 m, only the value for hydrogen sulphide was slightly in excess of the limit value. At a height of 1.5 m above the source location, no more critical measurement values were observed due to the mixing of all substances with the surrounding air. Due to this dilution effect, noticeable pollutant concentrations are – according to the surveyors – not to be expected in the vicinity of the tip. The readings in the commercial area were correspondingly insignificant.

However, a slight unpleasant odour was noticed, which is perceptible even at values significantly below the official limit values. This odour of rotten eggs occurs irregularly and is considerably influenced by the wind and weather conditions.

RAG Montan Immobilien has commissioned further readings in different wind conditions, in order to assess levels in the entirety of the area.

RAG Montan Immobilien would like to expressly reiterate once again that access to the Graf Moltke tip is absolutely prohibited, due to the potential danger.

The fire inside the tip has been smouldering for years. Ever since, it has been constantly checked and monitored, both by RAG Montan Immobilien and by commissioned surveying companies. The safety measures include regular temperature readings via probes, regular inspections with regard to the formation of fissures on the tip and infrared measurements from the air. Three areas of the western tip and four areas in the east and south-east are being specially monitored.

At present, RAG Montan Immobilien is devising a restructuring concept, in order to contain the smouldering fire in the area of the western slope and to enhance the stability of the spoil tip. (RAG MI/Si.)

On 27th and 28th June 2019, the MiningForum brought together in Berlin/Germany international experts from industry and science for an exchange of ideas on current topics and trends. The wide range of topics covered all the major trends in the sector: digitalisation, automation, sustainability and post-mining. The keynote speakers examined specific issues in mining, such as Leonhard Weixler, Chairman of the DeepSea Mining Alliance, who spoke about exploration and technology in deep-sea mining, or Thomas Lautsch, Technical Managing Director of the BGE, who explained the current status of the search for a German final deposit site for highly radioactive waste.

In his welcoming address, Oli-ver Wittke, State Secretary in the German Ministry of Economics, which has assumed sponsorship for this year’s MiningForum, was pleased to stress the innovative- capacity and power of the German mining industry, which is reflected in the success on the major foreign markets. Digitalisation, reliability and quality are the driving forces of this positive development. Further words of greeting at the opening came from Baldo Prokuriça, Minister for Mines of this year’s guest country Chile (Figure 1), and from Pierre-Marie Abadie, Chairman of the Board at ANDRA in France.

Since 1991, the MiningForum of DMT GmbH & Co. KG, Essen/Germany, has taken place at first at two-year intervals and nowadays yearly. Over the past years, Berlin has established itself as the location for the event. Over 300 mining experts met for presentations, expert discussions and the transfer of knowledge at the highest level. The specialist exhibition, with participants from industry, research and institutions, rounded off the programme.

The leading German mining universities from Aachen (Figure 2), Bochum, Clausthal and Freiberg were represented with their innovative ideas for scientific training, as was Schachtbau Nordhausen GmbH as a provider of large machines, or the Mining Competence Network and the German Raw Materials Agency. One centre of attraction at the exhibition was the new E-Cruiser from the company SMT Scharf for the emission-free underground transport of persons and material. K-UTEC from Sonders-hausen highlighted the diverse areas of use of its sensors for geophysical mine monitoring, and also highly specialised providers such as Nyrosten presented their know-how. (MS/Si.)

Getting excellent data four times faster than with conventional methods, while still protecting the environment: Using a combination of wireless seismic technology and slip sweep methods that is unique in Europe, DMT GmbH & Co. KG, Essen/Germany, has investigated a total area of 1,484 km² in Lower Austria over the past three years. The contract was awarded by the two Austrian companies OMV and Wien Energie. Their aim was to explore the underground in order to develop and harness domestic deposits of natural gas, crude oil and geothermal energy.

The project was a race against time. From December 2017 to March 2018 and October 2018 to March 2019, DMT performed the seismic survey in the area of the Vienna Basin, which stretches from the northeast of Vienna to the Slovakian border. Commissioned by the Austrian oil and gas group OMV and Wien Energie, Austria’s largest energy supplier, the project initially started with 580 km² to be investigated and then grew to around 1,484 km² by March 2019. “The aim of the project is to develop the domestic energy resources together with Wien Energie and make them usable. OMV is interested in the natural gas deposits,” explains Christian Prodinger, project manager at OMV.

A challenging task for the international engineering service provider DMT. “Nature left us extremely little time for the investigation,” explains project manager Rüdiger Misiek. “Every April, the breeding and nesting season begins, and the farmers need free passage for sowing and harvesting. Misiek and his team therefore only had a few months to carry out the seismic survey.

They managed it within the timeframe, above all, because DMT combined two technologies. The slip sweep method and wireless seismic technology. “So far, this combination has never been used in Europe. The concession areas here are generally too small,” Misiek explains.

With the slip sweep method, several pulse generator vehicles, so-called vibrotrucks, send sound-wave-like oscillations into the ground at set intervals of time and space. The vibrations are reflected at a depth of several kilometres by rock formations and are then captured and measured at the earth’s surface by 32,893 wireless transducer stations with up to 543,000 geophones. A total of 12 vibrotrucks drove in four groups at a distance of 400 m apart and transmitted vibrations into the underground with a 65 s time-shift. “In this way, we can achieve up to 180 sweeps per hour. That’s four times the quantity and speed of a conventional method,” Misiek explains.

But it is not just the speed of this combination that impressed Misiek: “In the past, we had to lay cables across the entire landscape for such surveys. This meant an encroachment on nature and the environment”. By using wireless seismic stations, the seismic survey now leaves hardly any traces. “The method is ideal for processing large areas in an environmentally friendly manner in a short period of time. And the quality of the data is excellent,” says Misiek.

OMV is also satisfied with its engineering service provider. “The entire DMT team made a professional and experienced impression and created a partnership-like cooperation. A good experience for us,” says Christian Prodinger. The data is currently being prepared by DMT. Once it has been processed by OMV and Wien Energie, a 3D image is created that can be interpreted by the experts. “Based on this data, if our specialists suspect there to be energy deposits, we can start drilling in about two years’ time to tap the potential,” says Prodinger. (DMT/Si.)

On 31st March 2019, Ulrich Pröpper resigned from the Management Board of DMT GmbH & Co. KG, Essen/Germany, and retired. He had been a member of the Management Board since 2014 and was also the head of Human Resources at the company. As well as Human Resources, Pröpper was also responsible for finance and controlling, and for the Plant and Product Safety business area.

With the establishment of DMT Middle East W.L.L. on 10th June 2018, DMT GmbH & Co. KG, Essen/Germany, expands into the Middle East. The aim is to tap additional market potential in the Gulf region. “With the establishment of the company, we want to meet the constantly increasing demand for our services from the region,” explains DMT Managing Director Jens-Peter Lux. “In addition, the foundation is an important milestone in our internationalization strategy. We have been successfully active in the region from other DMT group locations for many years, but the establishment of DMT Middle East will enable us to serve our customers better and faster with immediate effect”.

The new company will manage the DMT group’s business activities in the region and build up its own capacities. The focus of the new business development will initially be on major infrastructure projects, e. g., in the areas of metro and railway expansion, airport expansion, water supply and disposal, power and supply lines as well as projects for large private and public construction projects.

“In addition to DMT Middle East, TÜV Middle East has long been established in the region and in the service areas of certification and testing within TÜV NORD GROUP. This will support and accelerate our market access in engineering and consulting,” says Jens-Peter Lux. “TÜV Middle East is also a partner in the new DMT branch, which is managed by Murat Akkus, a very experienced engineer and consultant.” (DMT/Si.)

On 14th and 15th November 2017, experts of science and industry joined together with representatives of relevant associations in the Tivoli centre, Aachen/Germany, to discuss the latest on the digitalisation of mining. The Smart Mining Conference was organised by the Institute for Advanced Mining Technologies (AMT) of the RWTH Aachen University together with the Mining Association of the German Engineering Foundation (VDMA) and DMT GmbH & Co. KG.

This was the second event exploring the subject of mining in the era of Industry 4.0, and this time the 200-person capacity was filled. The organiser concluded that attendance was extremely high for all the presentations – a clear sign that the event is extremely topical.

Forum Bergbau 4.0 has been held every other year since 2015. The event is designed to facilitate conversation among key figures from industry, research and relevant associations, enabling them to exchange ideas on the growing use of digital technologies in mining. Digitalisation is considered at an international level and from a range of different perspectives.

This year, the 24 presentations looked at the cycle of data in mining and how it can be processed securely in the age of Industry 4.0: Topics included ruggedised sensors, i. e. which data can withstand the conditions of mines, how to process data securely in the big data era, and ensuring communication between machines is standardized and secure. The organisers set out to establish connections and raise awareness for the necessary interfaces. This is firstly because there is still a high degree of variation in terms of the technology available internationally, and secondly because mining operations cannot be automated until communication is standardised.

The mining industry is unanimous in its goal to realise a future of autonomous mining. The main benefits of this would be that humans need no longer work below ground in dangerous locations and the physical impact on mines would be significantly reduced – i. e. minimising the repercussions for people and the environment. These questions are also fundamentally important to the future existence of mining, e. g. in marine mining or extraterrestrial mining.

To make the forum more internationally accessible, the presentations on both days were conducted in German and in English. Guests and speakers from 16 different nations swapped notes on the latest developments in mining technology in their respective countries and made new contacts during the evening event. A major highlight of the forum was the opening address by Erich Schnake, Deputy Minister for Mining in the Republic of Chile. The German-Chilean Raw Materials Forum was held in the same conference centre shortly before, which meant Forum Bergbau 4.0 was able to secure a prestigious delegation of speakers from Chile.

Besides giving participants the opportunity to exchange ideas, Forum Bergbau 4.0 also sets out to promote and develop Germany’s international reputation as a leader in technological innovation (Figure 1).

All the organising parties deemed the event such a success that they are already discussing plans for the next Forum Bergbau 4.0 in 2019. These include the possibility of additional formats, such as a company-wide app contest. There are also plans to give young innovatives a platform to showcase the topic of innovation in mining. Other topics on the agenda include shared standards, IT security and legal questions surrounding data ownership.

In general, however, the organisers painted an extremely positive picture in their closing speech, describing those affected by digitalisation as significantly more responsive and embracing than they had been two years earlier. In short, digitalisation is now an everyday feature of the mining industry. (RWTH/Si.)

At its annual meeting on 16th May 2017 the German association for refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pumps (Zentralverband Kälte Klima Wärmepumpen – ZVKKW), elected Meinolf Gringel as Vice-President. Gringel is a publicly appointed and sworn expert for technical refrigeration systems and manages the Testing Body for Refrigerating, Heating & Air Conditioning Engineering at DMT GmbH & Co. KG, Essen/Germany.

More than 370 experts and decision makers met at this year’s MiningForum on 1st and 2nd June to learn about the latest trends in the raw materials industry, exchange views and expand their network for future cooperation (Figure 1). With stronger than ever international participation, the event welcomed visitors from 18 countries, including Canada, Chile, Finland, Australia and Mongolia.

The forum, which is held biennially, has been running for 26 years. Since it began in 1991, organisers of the event, DMT GmbH & Co. KG, Essen/Germany, has aimed to provide an informative program with a strong thematic focus. Today the topics of the presentations cover the entire value chain in the mining industry, from resource exploration to extraction and beyond to mine closure and management of post-mining issues. The accompanying trade exhibition offered companies a platform to present their products and services in a premium environment.

This year’s presentation sessions were on the themes:

• exploration and developing deposits;
• extraction and transport;
• international mining projects;
• post-mining management and use;
• research and development; and
• future-oriented industry 4.0 in the mining sector.

At the traditional miners’ social evening Prof. Günther Apel, Head of Mining at DMT, was honoured with the first personalised “MiningForum Award” for his many years of commitment to the event (Figure 2). Through his remarkable efforts in recent years, Prof. Apel has made a valuable contribution to the forum and its reputation in the mining market. This accolade also earned him honorary life membership to the MiningForum.
(DMT/Si.)

At its annual meeting on 16th May 2017 the German association for refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pumps, Zentralverband Kälte Klima Wärmepumpen (ZVKKW), Siegburg/Germany, elected Meinolf Gringel as Vice-President. Gringel is a publicly appointed and sworn expert for technical refrigeration systems and manages the Testing Body for Refrigerating, Heating & Air Conditioning Engineering at DMT GmbH & Co. KG.