Redpath Winter Advance 2024

THE REDPATH GROUP’S GLOBAL NEWSLETTER

WINTER 2024

P. 7 REDPATH’S IN-HOUSE ENGINEERS Stepping up to the challenge.

Africa | Asia | Australia | Europe | North America | South America

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CONTENTS

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03

04

07

12

16

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Safety Message

CEO’s Message

Our Engineering Services

A New Approach to Engineering

Engineering Teams

The Next Generation

From Concept to Game-Changing Product

Cover photo: Front (left - right): Michael Chadwick, Jeremy Berg, Mark Cotnam, James Mulligan. Middle (left - right): Carlos Valente, Frank Louw, James Dunlop, Alan Chute, Sebastian Burmeister, Nekoda Daniels. Up the stairs (left - right): Sudesh Deonarain, Jack Nolan, Jules Beland, Kevin Melong, Tyler Foy, Mend-Amgalan Bayartsengel & Michael Regan.

SAFETY MESSAGE

S

afety is a priority and an integral part of our work at Redpath. As an internal engineering department exclusively dedicated to serving Redpath as contractors, we have a distinct advantage - the opportunity to directly interact with constructors, miners, and operators at the front line.

During design reviews with operational personnel, we have a valuable opportunity to gain insights and understand the impact of our work. As designers and engineers, it is essential for us to fully comprehend the rationale behind every component and not rely solely on industry standards and best practices. By understanding the “why” behind our designs, we can integrate knowledge gathered from various projects and incorporate it into designs that enhance worker safety.

Engineering, according to the hierarchy of controls, remains the most effective means to control risks, short of eliminating or substituting for them entirely. The trust placed in our designs to protect people from harm is of paramount importance. At Redpath, we have a distinctive advantage in cultivating this trust. When our operators see the engineer’s seal, they not only recognize the names of the engineer and the designer(s) responsible

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REMOVE the hazard

ELIMINATION MORE

EFFECTIVENESS

JEREMY BERG Project Manager, Hermosa Project, Redpath USA Corporation

LESS

SUBSTITUTION

REPLACE the hazard

ENGINEERING CONTROLS

ISOLATE people from the hazard

ADMIN. CONTROLS

CHANGE the way people work

PPE

PROTECT the worker with personal protective equipment

The hierarchy of controls is key in the risk-assessment process.

for the design, but also recall the collaborative conversations and risk reviews that shaped its development.

This level of familiarity allows them to witness their own comments and ideas being integrated into the final solution. As a result, they gain a deep sense of ownership and confidence in the design’s ability to prioritize their safety. By fostering this level of collaboration, our workers gain a deep understanding that safety is not solely their responsibility, but a collective commitment embraced by everyone involved in the project, from its inception to its completion.

They can have confidence in the proactive measures that have been implemented and the shared dedication to integrating safety into every aspect of the design.

workers, protect them from harm, and enable them to perform their tasks safely and confidently. This collective effort ensures that safety remains at the forefront of our minds throughout the project life cycle, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to the well-being of our team.

As Redpath continues its work as mining contractors, let us remember that safety is not an afterthought; it is a core value that permeates our entire organization.

Together, we have the power to create innovative solutions that prioritize the well-being of our

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Thank you to this edition’s contributors: • George Flumerfelt • Jeremy Berg • Kevin Melong • Alan Chute • Michael Regan • Tyler Foy • Leandre Veillette • Frank Otten • Michael Chadwick • Sebastian Burmeister • Sudesh Deonarain • Mend-Amgalan Bayartsengel • Kirsten Melnyk • Phila Cele • Sean Fitzgerald • Niklas Rüping • Bennie Burger • Global engineering workshop participants

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C E O M E S S A G E - George Flumerfelt

GEORGE FLUMERFELT Chief Executive Officer, The Redpath Group

REDPATH’S ENGINEERS – PROVIDING SUPERIOR SERVICE!

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t is such a pleasure to see us drawing attention to Redpath’s engineering capabilities in this issue of the Advance as our engineering expertise is something that I don’t think we credit enough as a key element of our success. We simply tend to think of ourselves as contractors or builders first with engineering often being overlooked as a key component of the Redpath

value proposition that we provide to our clients.

us from our competitors and allows us to win and execute projects safely.

Our clients include almost all of the major western mining companies and, when they hire Redpath, they expect that we will have a very high level of professionalism in the way that we plan and execute projects on their behalf. The truth is that we have earned the trust of these clients because the Redpath project teams have been able to perform consistently to the level we outline in our tender submissions. In both the tendering and project execution phases, our engineering expertise plays a critical role in developing the methods we will use in the field; the innovative ideas that allow us to develop a project proposal that has the key ingredients that will impact costs and schedules in our favour, improving our chances of being awarded the project. Simply put – our engineering expertise differentiates

The majority of our engineering expertise lies principally in two areas, namely, shaft sinking and raiseboring, but is also brought to bear on some lateral development projects as well.

As you will read in this issue of the Advance, we are currently providing a wide range of engineering services on some very complex shaft projects and are currently doing some very interesting work in the raiseboring business.

We have young, dynamic and experienced engineering teams that are helping drive Redpath to greater achievements in safety and productivity. They are a huge asset in maintaining Redpath’s reputation for providing a level of service to the mining industry that exceeds normally accepted standards. Hats off to our great engineering teams.

TOP-NOTCH THINKERS WITH A PASSION FOR ENGINEERING KEVIN MELONG Vice President, Shafts and Technical Services, Redpath Americas

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ith great pride and enthusiasm I write to you from our North Bay office after concluding our inaugural global engineering workshop.

The workshop brought attendees from all divisions, and highlighted engineering’s vital role in our company’s success.

While Redpath is known as “constructors and engineers”, and more a constructor, our engineering accomplishments can often be overshadowed by the remarkable construction work executed in the field. Nonetheless, this unique blend of capabilities between engineer and constructor, allows Redpath to provide comprehensive solutions from redpathmining.com

concept to completion, as evident by the complex engineered solutions applied to date on our projects. This design/construct interface is a key differentiator in the market today, and a cost-effective offering to our clients.

Sixty years of experience guide the approaches to executing our jobs, that few in the industry can boast of.

This integration is where Redpath truly shines, enabling us to assert that “if we can design it, we can safely and productively build it”.

At Redpath, collaboration, innovation, and practicality are core competencies across our multidisciplinary engineering teams worldwide. These teams interface with our construction and operations professionals to ensure that safety and constructability are the underlying deliverables that define our designs. Redpath’s engineering teams strive to engage with all project stakeholders, maintaining close relationships, and continually learning

and adapting our designs from feedback during construction phases.

This constant reference to lessons learned, is what I think drives our industry reputation for delivering successful projects.

As we head into the future, a future demanding a higher level of sophistication and sustainable solutions driven by new ESG governance, Redpath will need to be an industry leader focused on innovation. I am certain our core of top-notch thinkers with a passion for engineering “the next best way”, will continue to overcome complex challenges with unique solutions.

I extend my gratitude to all our engineering teams for their dedication and professionalism. The near future brings an eagerly anticipated step change in how we execute our work, which will allow us to set new benchmarks in the industry and attract the best and brightest with unique challenges.

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OUR ENGINEERING SERVICES

OUR ENGINEERING SERVICES - an integral part of Redpath’s full-service offering.

Redpath’s engineers have a long track record of providing safe, innovative and costeffective technical solutions.

Multidisciplinary and with an ability to tackle unconventional designs, they support the company’s global construction and operation teams from design, through construction and production.

Group of specialized and highly qualified professionals Commitment to providing the highest level of engineering Timely and in-budget delivery of accurate engineering support Quality Policy Statement provides framework for key corporate performance measures and improvement objectives

STRUCTURAL CAPABILITIES • • •

MECHANICAL CAPABILITIES • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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Construction & mobilization methodologies Mine-hoisting systems Conveying & skip-loading systems Shaft construction workstages & equipment Shaft conveyances for materials & personnel Bulk material handling systems & facilities Concrete & grout distribution systems Compressor plants Freeze plants Pumping & dewatering systems Water management systems Fluid power Shaft & mine services Dust control Mine ventilation Fire protection

• • • • • •

Structural steel, plate work & foundations Headframes & shaft hoisting plants Building & surface facilities structures Ore & waste handling bins & chutes Underground facilities structures Conveyance & workstage structures Shaft lining formwork Shaft compartment steel Shaft lining & tubbing

INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROLS • • • • • • • • •

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Hoisting & hoist operator HMI systems PLC functions designed for hoisting, shaft sinking & shaft sinking equipment Underground communications systems Workstage & Galloway instrumentation Instrumentation layout & distribution design Wireless systems Video & monitoring systems Safety system design Network architecture & configuration

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SPECIALIZING IN:

OUR ENGINEERING SERVICES

• • • •

SHAFT SINKING CONTROL SYSTEMS - A MARKET DIFFERENTIATOR

Shaft hoisting plants Shaft and raise construction, lining and equipping Underground material handling systems Mine services, such as lateral development, long hole drilling, production mining support, supporting infrastructure including electrical and instrumentation installations.

WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FOR MINE SHAFTS

ELECTRICAL CAPABILITIES • • • • • • • • • • • •

Electrical distribution & control systems MCC room design Hoist room design Underground & shaft primary power design Transformer stations Substations Generator stations Electric drive systems Lighting design Power system evaluation Arc flash & short circuit analysis Grounding & bonding

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Redpath deploys a unique combination of hardwired and wireless devices to bring advanced technology and monitoring capabilities to shaft sinking operations over a redundant and robust communications backbone.

Self-healing and self-forming wireless mesh nodes create a dynamic network environment to increase reliability and coverage.

High bandwidth wireless connections accommodate real-time devices such as cameras on conveyances to aid operators while slinging and approaching work fronts. Other features include wireless belling, VOIP handheld radios, and real-time accelerometer readings for guide alignments.

AUTOMATION With an extensive background in shaft sinking operations, Redpath’s automation team has developed shaft obstruction systems with a

focus on worker safety and safe production. The automation system provides a centralized system to integrate various equipment such as hoists, work stages, shaft obstructions, and camera systems to monitor, control, and inhibit operations when the potential of an unsafe condition arises. 3D scanners are used to detect objects such as a wrench forgotten on collar doors or the presence of an underslung load in relation to shaft doors. RFID-tag proximity sensors provide easy installation and tamper-proof operation, decreasing nuisance trips and forced operation.

Advanced controllable light curtains provide workers with information such as hoist position and various states of the system to increase awareness of operations taking place around them. Device selection is tailored to meet harsh conditions. Alarms and visual indications are centrally located on HMI, purpose-built for shaft sinking and equipping, monitored by the hoist operator.

Redpath’s engineers work closely with their operations colleagues and the end user.

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OUR ENGINEERING SERVICES

REDPATH DEILMANN: 135 YEARS OF SHAFT-SINKING Redpath Deilmann’s expertise in all facets of shaft sinking and related services is based on a solid track record of successful projects from around the world. The German company’s collaboration with tunnel-boring manufacturer Herrenknecht in the area of mechanized shaft sinking is revolutionizing the industry. Deilmann is also a world leader in ground freezing, a technology used at sites with water-bearing ground conditions and/or weak rock, such as quicksand.

The Shaft Boring Cutterhead (SBC) represents the latest concept of mechanized shaft sinking in hard rock conditions.

The concept is a joint project between Herrenknecht and Redpath Deilmann and is based on the experiences from six past mechanized shaft sinking projects. The machine is able to carry out cutting, lining and mucking operations concurrently. An operational, to-scale built machine is located at Herrenknecht‘s facilities in Schwanau, Germany.

At the Slavkaliy project in Belarus, two freeze shafts were sunk using Shaft Boring Roadheaders (SBR) built by Herrenknecht for medium rock sinking applications. All necessary muck handling systems, shaft equipping systems and auxiliaries were designed and built by Redpath Deilmann.

Photo credit, this section: Herrenknecht.

NOTABLE PROJECTS:

REDPATH RAISEBORING: 40 YEARS OF CONTRACTING EXPERIENCE DRIVING CONTINUOUS DRILL OPTIMIZATION As a contractor and manufacturer, Redpath Raiseboring has developed one of the world’s most extensive, versatile and modern raisebore fleets, designed with a focus on safety and productivity. Another world record will be added to Redpath Raiseboring’s key achievements in 2024, with the completion of Obuasi Mine ventilation shaft in Ghana. At 941 m deep and 6.5 m in diameter, this will be the biggest raisebore hole ever completed.

Niobec S6 Ventilation Raise, Canada - the largest ever completed in the Americas and the Northern Hemisphere.

Macassa Mine, Canada - the

longest ever ventilation raise in the Americas and the Northern Hemisphere.

4m 3m 2m 0m 8m

Redbore 30X

Redbore 40

Redbore 65

Redbore 70

Redbore 50

Redbore 50X

Redbore 60UR

Redbore 90

Redbore 100

7m 6m

“Queen Louise”

Height (metres)

1m

5m 4m 3m 2m 1m 0m

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Redbore 80

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A NEW APPROACH

REDPATH

A NEW APPROACH TO ENGINEERING

CONTRACTOR-LED ENGINEERING GAINING GROUND

CLIENT PROCESS

REDPATH’S ENGINEERING TEAMS

PRE-FEASIBILITY

CONCEPT INPUT EARLY INVOLVEMENT

FEASIBILITY

CONSTRUCTABILITY AND EARLY DESIGN

DESIGN/ ENGINEERING DESIGN / BUILD CONSTRUCTION

There is a growing trend to involve Redpath’s engineers early in projects, already in the pre-feasibility stage. With this approach, Redpath becomes a key partner throughout the project’s entire life cycle, working in close collaboration with the client and the project team - from design, through construction to production. The approach enables Redpath’s engineers to integrate permanent structures into the design from the very beginning, resulting in an expedited and highly efficient process.

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A NEW APPROACH TO ENGINEERING

ALAN CHUTE, P.ENG. Senior Project Engineer, Redpath Canada Limited

SOUTH 32 HERMOSA

Redpath’s teams act as “engineers with a construction mindset”, which means that they incorporate permanent structures and production aspects already in the early stages of the project’s life cycle. The result is an expedited and streamlined process with important time and cost savings.

MINERA YANACOCHA SRL

MICHAEL REGAN Engineering Chief, AESA Redpath Mining

ARIZONA, USA This large project in Arizona puts Redpath at the helm of the design, build and mine development. The project scope includes detailed engineering for two headframes, shafts, permanents hoists and loadout. Engineering design to support the sinking of both shafts is also included, comprising hoists and winches, Galloway, dump, collar and buckets, as well as electrical distribution, instrumentation, and control using Redpath’s internal resources. Redpath is also in charge of preparing procurement packages to purchase all of the permanent and temporary equipment.

The project is Redpath’s largest engineering project ever, requiring over 50,000 hours of engineering work and a full-time project controller and scheduler.

The Hermosa project broke ground last summer, on one of two exploration shafts that will be excavated by Redpath USA to a planned depth of 2,947 ft (900 m). The shafts will enable underground access for continued exploration of a world-class deposit containing the US critical mineral zinc as well as lead and silver - minerals needed for supporting electrification and renewable energy.

CAJAMARCA, PERU Yanacocha is an open pit gold mine in the northern highlands of Peru. It is considered to be the fourth largest gold mine in the world and the largest in South America. Together with joint venture partner AESA, a Lima-based lateral development underground contractor, Redpath was contracted to perform horizontal development, ground support, haulage, production long-hole stoping, vertical development and detailed engineering of the underground infrastructure.

Redpath completed a large portion of the detailed underground engineering in consultation with the client to meet their resource and production requirements, as well as underground rehabilitation.

Model of the South 32 Hermosa site showing permanent and temporary hoisting systems and site infrastructure.

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The project is currently on hold.

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A NEW APPROACH TO ENGINEERING

LA COLORADA TYLER FOY Manager, Engineering and Technical Services, Redpath Canada Limited

ZACATECAS, MEXICO Pan American Silver’s La Colorada Production Shaft and Hoisting Facility, located in the heart of Mexico’s Sierra Madre Mountain Range, represented significant logistical and technical delivery challenges. The scope included implementing state-of-the-art hoisting technology and excavating a shaft in extremely challenging geotechnical conditions.

The Redpath team collaborated closely with the mine owner from the early stages, and was responsible for purchasing the majority of the equipment and consumables needed for the project.

Redpath’s globally mobile technical experts sourced from our world-wide operations, helped enable the successful delivery of this project.

The project was completed on time and on budget without a serious accident or LTI. The shaft operated at full mine production capacity within weeks of project conclusion.

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CHALLENGE IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF LIFE.

Redpath’s engineers designed, developed, installed and commissioned a complete sinking plant, involving a Galloway and conveyances, shaft steel, loading pocket, conveyor and feeder as well as underground skips. The scope also included a fully automated, permanent ore handling system, with headframe, hoists and surface ore bins.

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A NEW APPROACH TO ENGINEERING

OTHER KEY PROJECTS

with extensive involvement from Redpath’s engineers

BHP JANSEN SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA This Thyssen Redpath Ledcor (TRL) partnership at the Jansen Potash Project, initially involved sophisticated engineering and technical support to construct hydrostatic shaft liners in concrete and steel for two 9 m x 1,000 m deep frozen shafts. The current project scope includes early development of the critical mine excavations with mechanical cutters.

ALAMOS DUBREUILVILLE, CANADA Alamos Gold’s Island Gold mine is undergoing an expansion to double the operation to 2,400 tpd, and Redpath’s engineers were an integral part of a collaborative approach with all involved stakeholders. The engineering team worked in close collaboration with the headframe designers to accommodate the collar doors, dump doors and winch sheaves into the headframe. Redpath’s engineers also worked with the headframe supplier and erector, planning the installation of the sinking components into the headframe. In an effort to minimize work at site and reduce elevated work, the Galloway was shipped in two erected components. The Redpath-designed and fabricated components were pre-assembled with lifting points in order to minimize erection time.

LEANDRE VEILLETTE, P.ENG. Senior Engineer, Mechanical, Redpath Canada Limited

For more information, see: www.alamosgold.com/operations/ producing-mines/island-goldcanada/default.aspx 10

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Sinker’s steel (collar and sheave decks) tailored to support shaft sinking in an existing headframe design.

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A NEW APPROACH TO ENGINEERING

WOODSMITH MINE FRANK OTTEN, DIPL. ING./CIVIL ENGINEER Senior Vice President, International Projects Redpath Deilmann

NORTH YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND Redpath Deilmann applies its broad shaft sinking experience and excellent track record in mechanized sinking with SBR technology to this UK project. The scope includes two 1,500 m deep mine shafts and a 320 m deep MTS shaft with lateral development.

Redpath Thonket’s KMVS TEAM posing in front of the Redbore 90.

OBUASI MINE

BENNIE BURGER General Manager, Mining and Raiseboring, Redpath Mining Africa

GHANA Redpath, together with joint venture partner Thonket, has worked on the Kwesi Mensah Ventilation Shaft (KMVS) since mobilization in August of 2022. The project scope consists of drilling a 941 m deep ventilation shaft to a diameter of 6.5 m. The shaft will be used to ventilate the extension of the Obuasi underground gold mine.

Once completed in early 2024, it will be the world’s biggest raisebored hole drilled to date.

The milestone will be achieved with Redpath’s compact and efficient Redbore 90 drill. The drill is considered one of the most advanced raiseboring machines on the market, and is the result of decades of performance optimization

by Redpath’s engineering teams.

Redpath Thonket has achieved several noteworthy milestones on redpathmining.com

the KMVS project including the completion of the pilot hole with an exceptional accuracy of 0.03%. The halfway reaming mark was reached in November 2023, and the project has maintained an accident-free record since inception. Reaming is expected to be complete by March 2024.

The project has challenging boundary conditions; it is located in a national park and the rock becomes much harder near the 800 m depth. Presinking investigations show that the shaft is anticipated to intersect high pressure ground water. The expectation is that Redpath’s teams can sink through these challenges with high sinking rates, just like what was done in Belarus.

The pilot hole was drilled using a Rotary Vertical Drilling System (RVDS) - a specialized directional drilling technology that corrects pilot hole deviation. The RVDS is used in conjunction with Redpath’s Redbore 90 raise drill and provides the additional accuracy required to maintain verticality of pilot holes.

In November 2022, Redpath Thonket set the world record for the longest run (691 hours) on one RVDS. The exceptional reliability of the RVDS system, along with skilled personnel and ideal conditions, were key contributors to Redpath Thonket’s achievement of this record. In 2009, Redpath set the previous world record for the longest run (641.6 hours) on one RVDS at the Doyon Gold Mine in Québec, Canada.

OTHER KEY PROJECTS

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REDPATH

ENGINEERING TEAMS

ENGINEERING TEAMS DELIVERING TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE FOR A COMPLEX INDUSTRY

The clocks in Redpath’s North Bay reception show the local times in Redath’s global offices and are reminders of how the engineering teams work “around the clock” to provide operations colleagues and end users with specialized technical solutions.

Top photo, front (left - right): Wade McNeice, Kirsten Melnyk, Jeremy Berg, Mark Feeney. Middle (left - right): Alain Forest, Sharad Barvaliya, Dusty Nerpin, Mark Cotnam, Louise Boucher, Michael Chadwick, Rick Jylha. Back row (left - right): Rick Bender, Carlo Valente, Nekoda Daniels, Jules Beland, Kirby Salmon, Alan Chute, Patrick Laferriere, Tyler Foy, James Mulligan.

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ENGINEERING TEAMS

Engineering discipline: Mining Title: Manager, Engineering and Technical Services Years with Redpath: 12 Location: North Bay, Canada

TYLER FOY TYLER FOY

Q: Why is it important for Redpath to maintain an internal engineering team to support the company’s development operations?

Redpath’s internal engineering team offers a more efficient engineering resource to our projects than would typically be acquired externally. This efficiency is often derived from the internal team having already been involved in the initial bidding process of the work, or simply from easier internal collaboration and communication between site and engineering, paired with past experience with similar requests.

What can we do to make it better than it’s been?

Q: What impact does the close collaboration between engineers, constructors and operators have on the ability to implement an effective technical solution?

Q: As an engineer, what attracted you to Redpath?

As a new graduate looking for my first Engineering-in-Training position, Redpath stood out to me as having exceptional diversity of opportunity.

At the time, I wasn’t exactly sure which direction I wanted my career to go. Having the availability of on-site exposure, head office engineering, as well as travel opportunities offered the diversity I would need. redpathmining.com

This type of collaboration provides two distinct benefits to the design process. During the design process, the implementation of knowledge from those who will construct and those who will use the design in question is invaluable and often drives positive change based on experience.

This improvement of information baked into the design process is also carried forward. Lessons learned this way from previous designs and feedback are carried forward to future efforts, providing a continuous improvement effect.

Q: From the client’s perspective, what are the advantages of involving the mining contractor’s technical expertise in the early planning phase of a mining project?

The main benefit to this involvement is really the culmination of the results from the previous questions.

Involving a mining contractor early in the planning phase allows the client to take advantage of that contractor’s knowledge base. This knowledge base is derived from improvements based on constructor and operator experiences over time.

Following this, if the early involvement is pulled forward into detailed design and construction, the client is also benefited by the contractor’s technical services working efficiently with their own internal construction and operation.

Q: What are you most excited about in the near future in your job as a technical leader with Redpath?

I think the most exciting future I see on the horizon for Redpath’s technical services is the drastic shift that’s underway in how our designs are approached from a software perspective and what new technologies will allow an evolution of our traditional designs.

Legacy pieces of equipment and designs are now being approached with three-dimensional software and the ability to ask ourselves “how could new technology improve its function? What can we do to make it better than it’s been?”

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ENGINEERING TEAMS

Q: As an engineer, what attracted you to Redpath?

When I decided to join Redpath, it was the interesting projects in a niche industry that attracted me most. I started my career as an apprentice at Deilmann-Haniel at the age of 17.

I was immediately addicted to the collieries in the Ruhr Valley because being underground feels like being in another world. A world that is forever hidden from most people. Here at Redpath, the days in the office and the days at construction sites are never the same. That way, new

learning opportunities arise every day. Finally, I like the people here at Redpath Deilmann who, with their honest and always relaxed manner, make going to work a pleasure every morning.

Q: From the client’s perspective, what are the advantages of involving the mining contractor’s technical expertise in the early planning phase of a mining project?

Q: Why is it important for Redpath to maintain an internal engineering team to support the company’s development operations?

We as Redpath engineers can support our clients from the very beginning. Our clients like this because we can make recommendations, share our experience based on previous projects and steer the client’s project towards cost reduction or safety improvements. Sometimes it takes some convincing, for example when new technologies and methodologies are introduced. But in the end, everyone is happy.

This is essential. Our construction sites and activities are complex.

Machines and special equipment for shaft sinking and maintenance work cannot be bought from supplier catalogues. Every mine and every shaft is different in terms of use, size, layout, weather conditions and geology. This makes it impossible to have a standard. Everything needs to be tailor-made. Without engineering knowledge and experience, we would not be successful with our projects.

Q: What impact does the close collaboration between engineers, constructors and operators have on the ability to implement an effective technical solution?

Engineering knowledge and experience are important aspects, but even more important is the expertise of our constructors. Our operations teams are out in the field every day.

As engineers, we go out to our sites often to get inspiration and expertise.

Without collaboration between the different parties, we would not know what is needed, what is important and what is of secondary importance.

Q: What are you most excited about in the near future in your job as a technical leader with Redpath?

There are many exciting changes coming to the engineering profession.

Rapid developments in software solutions and emerging technologies are unstoppable. This will help us plan more accurately and efficiently, but we need to be aware of the risks, such as data protection. Likewise, we must not lose focus on the actual engineering work. In my 20 years of experience in design and planning, there have been many changes.

The transformation from 2D to 3D CAD software was a big step. At least, that’s what I thought 17 years ago. I am very excited about what is to come.

I am very excited about what is to come.

SEBASTIAN BURMEISTER

SEBASTIAN BURMEISTER

Engineering discipline: Mechanical Title: Manager, Head of Design Department Years with Redpath: 18 Location: Dortmund, Germany

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ENGINEERING TEAMS

SUDESH DEONARAIN Engineering discipline: Mining Title: General Manager, Engineering and Northam Operations Years with Redpath: 7 Location: Northam, South Africa

SUDESH DEONARAIN Q: As an engineer, what attracted you to Redpath?

Being in the mining industry and looking at the number of forward-thinking companies around, I believe Redpath is stationed at the top as one of the most innovative contracting companies. I was immediately attracted to the global reach of the company and the amount of skill set available across the globe. Over the years of being in the company, my initial thoughts regarding Redpath proved to be true and I am truly honoured to be part of a great engineering team within the company.

Q: Why is it important for Redpath to maintain an internal engineering team to support the company’s development operations?

Engineering is the lifeblood of any mining operation. Design, innovation, and changes in operational regulations (specifically Trackless Mobile Machine) are all part of the daily tasks of the engineering team.

It is therefore critical that the knowledge and skill set remain in the company. This gives us a competitive edge and allows Redpath to ensure that there is succession within the industry and that the engineering skill set is passed from mentors to protégé.

Q: What impact does the close collaboration between engineers, constructors and operators have on the ability to implement an effective technical solution?

This collaboration is crucial.

It ensures that the solution is redpathmining.com

well-rounded and practical, considering both the theoretical design and real-world operational aspects. Engineers bring technical expertise; constructors provide insight on construction feasibility and operators offer practical insight for optimization and usability. This collaboration helps identify potential issues early and streamline the implementation process, ultimately leading to more successful and efficient solutions.

Q: From the client’s perspective, what are the advantages of involving the mining contractor’s technical expertise in the early planning phase of a mining project?

Firstly, optimized design; contractors provide input to optimize the project’s design for construction with regards to efficiency, cost effectiveness and operational feasibility.

Engineering is the lifeblood of any mining operation.

Another advantage refers to the feasibility assessment; contractors can assist with the evaluation of the mining operations and identify challenges and obstacles to propose possible solutions.

Risk mitigation is yet another advantage. The contractor can identify and mitigate potential risks related to construction methods, equipment selection, scheduling/ planning, which can result in reduced wastage and costs.

In general, involving the contractor at early stages improves the likelihood of accurate costs, budgeting and realistic timelines, as the contractor combines previous experience with more efficient methods.

Q: What are you most excited about in the near future in your job as a technical leader with Redpath?

Rapid technological advancements present opportunities to innovate and create solutions that can provide a safer and more productive workplace.

They also provide an abundance of readily available data that can be used for efficient and productive solutions.

I would also like to see increased mentor and protégé partnerships which will guide the next generation of engineers within our field of work.

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NEXT GENERATION BUILDING THEIR REDPATH CAREERS

MICHAEL CHADWICK

Engineering discipline: Mechanical Title: Engineer in Training Years with Redpath: 3.5 Location: North Bay, Canada

Q. How did you start your career with Redpath?

I started as an intern after completing my first year of studies at McGill University. I grew up in North Bay and Redpath had been on my radar as a local company with global outreach.

I went on to complete an MSc in Mechanical Engineering at ETH in Zurich, Switzerland and the global nature of Redpath really appealed to me when I returned to North Bay to start my career. I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity to work with site teams across North America and to collaborate with engineering groups in business units abroad.

Q. What do you enjoy the most about your job?

I like that my job connects me with experts in many disciplines across the mining sector. This includes senior engineers but also designers, project controllers, and the experts in the field. I’ve also spent time in the field, developed research papers, and participated in conferences. The mentorship and these experiences have provided me with a really engaging introduction to the mining industry and to engineering at Redpath.

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MEND-AMGALAN BAYARTSENGEL

Engineering discipline: Mechanical Title: Project Engineer Years with Redpath: 1 Location: North Bay, Canada

Q. How did you start your career with Redpath?

I started at Redpath in 2018 as a summer student. My first big assignment was to learn the ins and outs of a brand-new 3D printer that the engineering team had just purchased, and print a scale version of a Galloway structure that was used for one of the projects. It was a challenging and exciting assignment.

The model took the whole summer to finish but I’m happy to say that the fruits of my labour still stand in the North Bay office to this day.

footprint. My first duties were the supervision and maintenance of our head office building and the logistic movement of machinery to and from our head office to various Redpath sites. The easing of the COVID-19 regulations and restrictions allowed me to gain valuable exposure in various Redpath Mining projects, including raiseboring projects and mining operations in gold and platinum mines.

Q. What do you enjoy the most about your job?

I enjoy the challenge of solving problems I never knew existed prior to my journey with Redpath Mining Africa. I also enjoy the experience of working on various projects and the mentor and mentee relationship which provides a constant flow of information and guidance as I continue my journey in becoming a well-rounded engineer.

KIRSTEN MELNYK

Engineering discipline: Mining Title: Project Coordinator, Borden Mine Years with Redpath: 5 Location: North Bay, Canada

Q. What do you enjoy the most about your job?

Problem solving and seeing my solutions come to life are the most enjoyable aspects of my job. I’ve always been sort of a “tinkerer” ever since I was a kid and engineering aligned with that part of me.

PHILA CELE

Engineering discipline: Electrical Title: Engineer in Training Years with Redpath: 4 Location: Kempton Park, South Africa

Q. How did you start your career with Redpath?

My journey with Redpath Mining Africa began on June 3, 2019, that date is still vivid in my mind as I felt overwhelmed with excitement being chosen to be part of a company with such global experience and

Q. How did you start your career with Redpath?

I was very fortunate to be accepted into Redpath’s Graduate Development Program shortly after completing my Master’s degree in mining engineering, which gave me the opportunity to see many different facets of the mining contracting industry.

Q. What do you enjoy the most about your job?

I’ve recently changed roles and I’m only in the first few shifts of my new position so it’s still too early to say.

During my five years with Redpath I’ve worked with so many talented people, so in general I would say the teamwork and people are a huge part of what makes my job so enjoyable.

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SEAN FITZGERALD

Engineering discipline: Civil (Post Grad Mining) Title: Graduate Engineer Years with Redpath: 2.5 Location: Federation, NSW Australia

Q. How did you start your career with Redpath?

My Redpath journey started as a fresh civil engineering graduate with a phone call from Mitch Gowland (Graduate Coordinator Australia), asking if I wanted to move 3,500 km away from home to work with the “Raisebore” department. Having no idea what a raisebore was, I said yes and spent the next 6 months on and off site, setting up, assisting, and demobilizing the project.

Q. What do you enjoy the most about your job?

of experiences I have been fortunate to gain. I have been part of the raisebore team, seen a well set-up mine at Lady Loretta, started a decline at Federation, and experienced a high-speed development contract at Dugald River. All whilst completing different roles and gaining a greater understanding of underground mining.

NIKLAS RÜPING

Engineering discipline: Mechanical Title: Technical Product Designer Years with Redpath: 6 Location: Germany

Q. How did you start your career with Redpath?

That experience arose my interest in this field of activity and led to an apprenticeship with DeilmannHaniel Mining Systems in 2016.

Between 2017 and 2019, I completed an apprenticeship with Redpath Deilmann and received my Technical Product Designer title after completing that apprenticeship.

Q. What do you enjoy the most about your job?

During my years with Redpath, I have already worked on many different projects in many areas. I enjoy the variety of tasks, which include the design of steel assemblies and mechanical engineering parts. I also really like the cooperation and the atmosphere among the colleagues.

Back in 2013, when I was still in school, I completed my student internship at Deilmann-Haniel Mining Systems, followed by some temporary jobs in the design department in 2014 and 2015.

The highlight of my graduate journey has been the wide range

THE NEXT GENERATION THE NEXT GENERATION THE NEXT GENERATIO REDPATH GRADUATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AUSTRALIA The goal of Redpath Australia’s Graduate program is to develop the graduates’ management and technical skills by providing the training and experience required to successfully complete the First Class Mine Managers Certificate of Competence.

The annual program welcomes 10-15 graduates from a variety of disciplines every year, including from Mining, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering, as well as Occupational Health and Safety programs.

CANADA Redpath Canada’s program spans several years, during

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which selected graduates will acquire experience from different departments and field work.

Although the program welcomes graduates from a range of programs, Engineering graduates make up the bulk of the participants pursuing this path.

GERMANY Graduates are very welcome at Redpath Deilmann. Frequently, graduates have the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in practical applications while writing their thesis. Many of the graduates are subsequently offered further employment, during which they can gain theoretical experience in the office as well as practical experience at construction sites.

SOUTH AFRICA Graduates from various disciplines can apply for a graduate program and a learnership program with Redpath Mining South Africa.

Through these programs, they are provided with an opportunity to obtain field experience and find employment. The engineering graduates work towards the Government Certificate of Competency whilst the mining graduates study towards their Mine Managers Certification of Competency. Both are required for a legal appointment at all South African mining operations.

To communicate with each region, please use contact forms at www.redpathmining. com/en/regions/

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REDPATH

CONCEPT TO GAME-CHANGING PRODUCT

FROM CONCEPT The latest models of hydraulic, stage-mounted shaft mucking systems are the result of lessons learned from projects in Canada and Mongolia.

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The third-generation hydraulic mucker was used to sink the last shaft, #5, at the Oyu Tolgoi Mine in Mongolia.

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Over the last 10 years, while sinking potash shafts in Saskatchewan, Redpath developed a hydraulic, stage-mounted shaft mucking system with an Integrated Tool Package (ITP). The ITP provided Redpath crews with a flexible approach to the complicated shaft-sinking programs.

Traditional potash shafts in Canada were “chipped” through frozen unconsolidated horizons with hand-held machines. The hydraulic system afforded Redpath with the options to either “chip” the ground with a rock-breaker attachment or cut with a drum-cutter attachment, and finally revert to drill and blast techniques once through the soft ground conditions.

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CONCEPT TO GAME-CHANGING PRODUCT

TO GAME-CHANGING PRODUCT SHAFT EXCAVATOR S-22

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The S-22 hydraulic shaft mucker is based on the original S-20 excavator family and is a unit that allows for concurrent tasks to be executed.

Redpath Deilmann re-designed and manufactured the S-22 in 2022 for Redpath Canada’s involvement in Odyssey Mine. The unit can be operated remotely, allowing for concurrent work opportunities.

The S-22 is an evolution of the S-20, and is designed to increase reliability and performance. Tools such as a hydraulic hammer and a cutting drum can be attached by using a hydraulic quick coupling system.

SHAFT EXCAVATOR RD S-100 The S-100 is designed for heavy duty drill-and-blast shaft sinking and is the latest of Redpath Deilmann’s shaft excavators.

It includes a double drill unit which allows for blast hole and anchor drilling. The drill is remotely controlled and has partially automated control systems; the bucket position can be saved for easy shovel discharge.

Relocation to the next drill hole position can also be programmed.

Detailed designs for a telescopic support for S-100 are also under development. This innovation will allow the S-100 to de-couple from the stage and continue mucking remotely while other tasks are performed concurrently.

The drill attachment contains two drill feeds with adjustable spacing, which enables concurrent drilling of two holes.

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