Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

Sudbury, Ontario, is home to several mining and mineral processing facilities. In these processing facilities, core is studied, cut, sampled and stored in core racks. Over time, the combination of these various activities, which can also include the transportation and storage of the core racks outside on the mine site property, may compromise the structural integrity of the racks. Currently, the core storage racks are designed and constructed with two different materials: wood and steel. The combined weight of all the core frequently compromises the wooden structure of the rack, meaning that the racks must be replaced due to safety concerns. Further, ergonomic research on the structural features of the core racks carried out by the Centre for Research in Occupational Health and Safety at Laurentian University, has determined that some of the rungs may be contributing to higher levels of muscular-skeletal disease among workers. Additional damage to the core racks is caused by various environmental and adverse weather conditions as the racks are often stored outside on the property at many mineral processing facilities. To address these durability and safety concerns, DHL Machine Work will collaborate with a professor and student from Collège Boréal's Welding and Fabrication program to design, construct and evaluate an enhanced core storage rack prototype with the goal of commercializing the new prototype to Canada's mining exploration and mineral processing sectors.