36 AUGUST 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® CUSTOM SPECIALTY WINCHES FOR WELL DRILLING AND PUMP HOIST TRUCKS Manufactured with your specifications in mind BLOOM MANUFACTURING, LLC Custom Engineering Solutions Since 1910 Independence, IA 50644 USA www.bloommfg.com P: +1 319-827-1139 P: 800-394-1139 F: +1 319-827-1140 DESIGNED FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE & SAFETY MAINLINE WINCHES 3000 to 35,000 pounds Up to 130 feet per minute SANDLINE WINCHES 1800 to 8000 pounds Up to 800 feet per minute WINCHES Leading the Way with Lead-Free Detonators Adapted from Information by Austin Powder Austin Powder has developed a lead-free primary explosive for detonators, before regulators mandate the change. The company began looking for a lead-free alternative to lead azide at its detonator facility, Austin Star Detonator, back in 2007. The initial work was started by Morris Bannerman and Göran Jidestig. “Developing, testing, and producing a new primary explosive is the biggest nightmare for any explosive/detonator maker,” explained Jan Jidestig, director of research and development and quality control. “It is a project that has taken us nearly 15 years. The new substance was designed by experienced chemists who worked collaboratively with the engineers to design the production process. We couldn’t rush the process, and we had some dead ends and had to significantly change the product design, and even parts of the entire manufacturing process. But we did it.” By 2016, a pilot-scale reactor was designed to produce smallscale batches, which was used to develop the method and produce enough powder to perform a qualification test. The first field test was conducted in 2018, in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, with 8500 detonators. At the time, a full-scale reactor was being developed by Daniel Rontey and the engineering team at Austin Powder. The first full-scale reaction was done on April 5, 2019. Production with the new component started in late 2020, with over 93,000 detonators shipped to the field for trials. In 2022, a total of 2.6 million detonators were shipped and used throughout Mexico and the U.S. Otta Greben global director of detonator products said, “There is a rule for any explosive makers - don’t change it if it works. But the world is changing, and our approach to safety and health within our production is changing. Here, we have internal and external contributors to drive the change. We also have requirements from regulators and our own decision to improve production hygiene and safety. However, we proactively made the decision to develop lead-free detonators way in advance.” Homer Solis, director of Austin Star Detonator agreed saying, “The world is changing, and so is Austin Powder. Like most responsible companies, we felt obligated to contribute to making this world a better place. Sure, it was a difficult decision since the biggest fear was a change, but our advantage was that we were not producing the primary explosive. It took years to develop, but our young team of chemists and chemical engineers were able to accomplish this challenging task.” EXB
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