Dyno Nobel and TesMan Team Up to Push Robotic Loading Into Underground Mining
According to Pit & Quarry, Dyno Nobel and TesMan, a mining and product development company, have established a partnership aimed at accelerating innovation in underground mining through robotic remote loading technology.
Market Impact
The collaboration pairs Dyno Nobel’s explosives products and on-the-ground services with TesMan’s robotic technologies and equipment. The stated goal is to expand capabilities around remote loading operations and reduce worker exposure at the face, one of the most hazardous positions in underground blasting work.
Pierre Labelle, Dyno Nobel’s general manager of sales and commercial for Canada East and the Great Lakes, framed the deal as a push to advance both safety and productivity. “TesMan has been at the leading edge of developing functional solutions for ‘loading away from the face,’” Labelle said, adding that the companies look forward to implementing the technology in key markets.
Clara Steele, co-owner of TesMan, noted that underground mining companies are actively seeking to reduce workplace risk and increase mine longevity through productivity and efficiency gains. “TesMan hard and soft technologies are a catalyst to achieve those goals,” Steele said.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Face exposure is the target. Both companies explicitly named reducing worker exposure at the face as a primary driver. Subcontractors operating in underground environments should expect client demands for remote loading compliance to increase as this technology gains traction.
- Robotics are entering the blast crew workflow. This isn’t a distant R&D story. Dyno Nobel’s field service reach means robotic loading solutions could appear in active project specs sooner than many subs anticipate. Training and equipment familiarity will matter.
- Safety-forward positioning is becoming a competitive differentiator. Steele’s comments about mine longevity and risk reduction signal that owners are evaluating contractors partly on their ability to adopt these tools. Subs who can demonstrate alignment with remote loading practices may have an edge in underground contract bids.
- Canadian markets are the initial focus. Labelle’s role covers Canada East and the Great Lakes, suggesting early deployments will likely concentrate in those regions before expanding to US underground operations.
