South African Mining Technology

Advanced Mining Robotics for Rapid Access Mining

Booi Industries develops integrated, modular robotic mining systems designed to improve advance rates, reduce labour exposure, and enable continuous underground development.

6x

Advance Rate Improvement

97%

Cost Reduction Potential

17m

Daily Advance Rate

3

Modular Systems

The Challenge

Current Mining Methods Are Holding Back Progress

Traditional drill-and-blast mining faces fundamental limitations that impact project economics, safety, and productivity.

Rising Development Costs

Mine development costs continue to increase, putting pressure on project economics and reducing viable ore reserves.

Depth & Complexity

Mines are getting deeper, increasing operational complexity and extending time to reach productive ore bodies.

Slow Advance Rates

Drill-and-blast methods limit advance rates to approximately 3m per day, delaying access to ore and reducing NPV.

Labour Risk & Inefficiency

Labour-intensive mining introduces significant safety risks, high dust exposure, and operational inefficiency.

"Time to ore determines mine economics — current methods are too slow."

The Solution

Integrated Mining Robotics

Booi Industries develops integrated mining robotics systems that combine excavation, support, and material removal into a continuous mining process.

Continuous Cutting

Continuous mechanical cutting replaces cyclic drill-and-blast operations, enabling uninterrupted advance.

Integrated Systems

Excavation, conveyance, and ground support combined into a single coordinated system for maximum efficiency.

Hybrid Cutting Technology

PCD disc cutters, percussive wedge bits, and oscillating scrapers work together for optimal rock breaking.

Deep-Level Ready

Engineered specifically for deep-level and narrow-reef mining conditions found in South African operations.

Modular Design

3 integrated modules

Cutting

Conveyance

Power

Continuous operation cycle

System Architecture

Three Integrated Modules

Our modular system architecture enables continuous mining operations through coordinated excavation, material handling, and propulsion.

Module 01

Cutting Head Assembly

Hybrid Rock Breaking System

  • PCD disc cutters for hard rock
  • Percussive wedge bits for fracturing
  • Oscillating scrapers for material removal
  • Integrated roof bolting system
  • Dust suppression and ventilation

Simultaneous cutting and ground support

Module 02

Intermediate Support & Conveyance

Continuous Material Handling

  • Continuous internal conveyor system
  • Real-time material removal from face
  • Structural stabilisation
  • Articulated joint connections
  • Modular segment design

Efficient ore removal is critical to advance rate

Module 03

Power & Haulage Unit

Propulsion and Control

  • Tracked propulsion system
  • Diesel-electric or full electric options
  • Operator control station
  • Remote operation capability
  • Haulage system integration

Platform for autonomous operation

01

Cut

02

Convey

03

Haul

Continuous Mining

24/7 Operation

Product Platforms

Purpose-Built Mining Systems

Three distinct platforms designed for different mining applications, all built on our integrated modular architecture.

Flagship

RAM Continuous Miner

High-Power Excavation

Continuous excavation system designed for rapid access tunnels with high cutting power in the 400-600 kW range.

Cutting Power400-600 kW
ApplicationRapid Access
OperationContinuous
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Rapid Access Miner

Mechanised Tunnelling

Integrated tunnelling solution combining excavation and transport systems for faster development cycles.

SystemIntegrated
TransportBuilt-in
CycleFast
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Narrow Reef Robotic Miner

Selective Mining

Low profile system for narrow reef mining (0.6m - 1.8m) with selective mining capability and minimal dilution.

Profile0.6-1.8m
DilutionMinimal
AutonomyRoadmap
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Performance Advantage

The Numbers Speak for Themselves

Our integrated robotics approach delivers dramatic improvements over traditional drill-and-blast methods.

6ximprovement

in advance rate potential

MetricBooi SystemDrill & Blast
Advance Rate
~17 m/day
~3 m/day
Cost per Meter
~R2,375
~R84,236
Operational Cost
Lower
Higher
Labour Exposure
Reduced
High
Operation Mode
Continuous
Cyclic
Dust & Noise
Controlled
Significant

Booi System

17m daily advance

Drill & Blast

3m daily advance

Automation Strategy

Path to Autonomous Mining

A realistic roadmap from operator-controlled to fully autonomous operations, with current development focused on semi-autonomous capabilities.

L0

Manual

Full operator control of all functions

L1

Assisted

Operator with automated assistance functions

L2
Current Focus

Partial

Automated execution with operator oversight

L3

Conditional

Remote operation with minimal intervention

L4

High

Autonomous operation with exception handling

L5

Full

Fully autonomous continuous mining

Our automation strategy prioritizes safety and reliability, progressing through validated stages before advancing to higher autonomy levels.

Engineering Excellence

Built for Underground Reliability

Our systems are engineered for the demanding conditions of underground mining with a focus on reliability, maintainability, and safety.

Safe Shutdown

Self-diagnostics with automatic safe shutdown protocols

Predictive Maintenance

Real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance systems

Navigation Systems

Advanced navigation with obstacle avoidance capability

Modular Components

Replaceable modules for rapid maintenance and upgrades

Hot-Swappable Controls

Control modules can be replaced without full system shutdown

Extended Campaign Life

Designed for 10,000-hour underground campaign operation

Business Impact

Value Beyond the Technology

Our robotics systems deliver measurable improvements across safety, productivity, and project economics.

Faster ROI

Improved NPV

Faster access to ore bodies dramatically improves project net present value and return on investment.

Reduced Risk

Enhanced Safety

Reduced human exposure at the mining face minimizes safety risks and improves working conditions.

6x Advance

Higher Productivity

Continuous operation and reduced cycle times significantly increase labour productivity metrics.

97% Lower

Lower Operating Costs

Integrated systems reduce per-meter development costs compared to traditional methods.

Development Stage

Technology in Development

We are transparent about our development stage. Our technology is in early engineering with core IP established and moving toward prototype validation.

Technology Readiness Level

TRL 3

Experimental proof of concept

1

Concept & IP

Completed
2

Engineering Design

Advanced (ongoing)
3

Prototype Development

In Progress
4

Pilot Testing

Pilot Engagements Open
5

Commercialisation

Planned
Applications

Where Our Technology Applies

Our robotic mining systems are designed for a range of underground mining and tunnelling applications.

Deep-Level Mining

Engineered for the extreme conditions of deep underground operations, reducing human exposure at depth.

Narrow Reef Mining

Low-profile systems designed for selective mining of narrow ore bodies with minimal dilution.

Mine Development

Accelerate access tunnel development and main decline construction with continuous excavation.

Rapid Access Tunnels

Fast development of access infrastructure to reach ore bodies and critical mining areas.

Underground Infrastructure

Development of underground chambers, substations, and other mining infrastructure.

Strategic Partnerships

Seeking Pilot and Development Partners

We are actively seeking partnerships with forward-thinking organisations to advance mining technology and bring our systems to operational environments.

Mining Houses

Operational partners for pilot testing and deployment

Engineering Firms

Technical collaboration on system integration

OEM Collaborators

Component and subsystem development partners

Investors

Capital partners for development acceleration

Contact

Get in Touch

Interested in discussing a pilot, partnership, or investment opportunity? We'd love to hear from you.

Delisile Booi

Founder & Director

Booi Robotics is based in South Africa and actively seeking partnerships with mining companies, engineering firms, and investors interested in advancing mining technology.