Sandvik Mining is introducing the new Fast Cable Anchor at Afrirock 2025, in South Africa, this week, an addition to its ground support solutions offering that is meant to provide an innovative design for rapid development.
This newest addition to the portfolio significantly increases cable bolting productivity in hard-rock mining, Sandvik says.
A tool-less connection to the cable enables the use of bulk cables, allowing for fast mechanical installation with Sandvik cable bolters, the company explained. Even manual installation becomes more efficient, as every step of the bolting processes, from drilling to plating and tensioning, can be done directly in succession. There is no need to wait hours or even days for the grout to cure, as the tensioning can begin immediately after anchor insertion.
In addition, the new Fast Cable Anchor also enhances safety in mining operations. The anchor engages securely with the rock wall of the borehole, providing additional installation stability. During the installation process, the anchor will push the grout even in the smallest cavities and gaps, Sandvik claims.
“With typical curing times of at least 12 hours and an average waiting time of 24 hours before tensioning, our innovative new design can reduce re-entry time by as much as a full day,” Jamie Wang, Research & Development Engineer – Bolting at Sandvik Mining, said. “We are happy to present this new Fast Cable Anchor for the first time at Afrirock 2025, and to show our visitors how our latest innovation supports rapid development in underground mining.”
