#United Kingdom #Oxford #Element Six #Master Drilling #Diamond Technology

Introduction

In a groundbreaking announcement, Element Six (E6), a leader in polycrystalline diamond (PCD) and ultra-hard material innovation, has formed a strategic partnership with Master Drilling, a global frontrunner in drilling and mechanized rock excavation solutions. This collaboration promises to transform the tunnel development sector, significantly reducing costs while improving efficiency and minimizing environmental impact.

The Innovation

The partnership aims to integrate Element Six's advanced patented PCD cutting technology with Master Drilling's fully mechanized services tailored for mining, infrastructure, and energy sectors. The result is a new tunnel excavation solution that claims to decrease waste rock formation by over 17% compared to traditional methods. This innovative technology has already been tested in both underground and surface conditions in the UK and South Africa, consistently outperforming conventional rock excavation techniques.

Koos Jordaan, CEO of Master Drilling, emphasized that, "Creating high-quality, non-explosive tunnel construction that adds value in various aspects is a significant global challenge for tunnel builders. Together with Element Six, we are uniquely positioned to tackle this challenge. By merging our technologies and expertise, we can ensure competitive productivity, lower costs, and reduced waste—delivering safer, faster, and more economical tunnel construction. This innovation holds immense potential for expanding underground operations across several sectors including mining, energy, transportation, and infrastructure."

Importance of Tunnels

Underground tunnels are crucial for accessing vital mineral resources, forming efficient transport routes, and housing essential public utilities, all while reducing surface disruption. In mining, tunnels facilitate access to mineral deposits and provide transportation and ventilation networks for underground operations. In transportation, they shorten routes through challenging terrains or urban areas. Furthermore, they enable the construction of underground utilities in the construction sector and support energy initiatives, such as hydroelectric plants and pipelines.

Despite their importance, tunnel construction faces a myriad of technical and environmental challenges, including geological unpredictability, water ingress, high costs, waste generation, and safety risks. The Element Six and Master Drilling partnership addresses these obstacles by offering an innovative diamond-supported solution aimed at substantially accelerating tunnel development speed, lowering costs, and minimizing environmental impact.

A Vision for the Future

Siobhán Duffy, CEO of Element Six, stated, "The formation of this strategic partnership with Master Drilling exemplifies Element Six's role within the De Beers Group's Origins strategy. The potential of synthetic diamond innovation to shape the future of industrial applications is massive. The solution we co-developed with Master Drilling will significantly reduce the amount of waste rock extracted during tunnel development, thus minimizing environmental impact and paving the way for a better tomorrow for future generations."

About Element Six

Element Six, part of the De Beers Group, is a global leader in the design, development, and production of synthetic diamond-based material solutions. Operating from major manufacturing facilities in the US, UK, Ireland, Germany, and South Africa, the company leverages the extraordinary properties of synthetic diamonds to provide new possibilities across over seventy years in fields like photonics, acoustics, power transmission, water purification, thermal management, and sensors. Their advanced material solutions find applications across various industries, including automotive, consumer electronics, oil and gas for cutting and drilling, mining, civil construction, and agriculture.

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About Master Drilling

Founded in 1986, Master Drilling specializes in providing fully mechanized service offerings to the mining, infrastructure, and energy sectors, focusing on global drilling technology solutions. Our flexible business model encompasses a reliable partnership approach complemented by a robust logistics chain, cutting-edge technology, innovative solutions, and custom-designed projects that span from exploration to production and capital projects. Our expert consultants focus on the continuous research and development of new techniques and methods to deliver solutions for operational challenges, such as access, transportation, ventilation, or analysis. Master Drilling is currently listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).

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