Element Six and Master Drilling announce partnership for tunnel development technology

Element Six and Master Drilling to partner in the implementation of diamond technology for mining, construction and trenching industries (Photo: Element Six)

The collaboration will combine Element Six’s patented polycrystalline diamond-cutting technology with Master Drilling’s fully mechanised services aimed at the mining, infrastructure, and energy sectors.

The partnership aims to deliver a new synthetic diamond-enabled tunnelling solution that reduces waste rock generation by more than 17% compared to traditional tunneling operations.

The technology has been tested under both underground and surface conditions in the UK and South Africa, involving several end-users in the mining and infrastructure industries. 

“Achieving high quality, nonexplosive tunnel construction with various aspects of value generated compared to traditional rock excavation methods is a key global challenge for tunnel builders—a challenge that Master Drilling and Element Six are uniquely positioned to address,” said Koos Jordaan, executive director of Master Drilling.

“By combining our technologies and expertise, we can offer quality tunnel development with competitive productivity, lower costs and reduced waste, enabling safer, faster, and more economical tunnel construction. This innovation holds great potential for expanding underground operations in industries such as mining, energy, transportation, and infrastructure.”