Winsford Salt Mine

SES' Special Projects team is a major Tunnelling services provider in the UK.

Our team has a close working relationship with the British extraction giant Compass Minerals who own and operate a salt mine in Cheshire.

In order to develop roadways into the next phase of the mine reserves, without sacrificing production, the Mine commissioned SES to use their experience in hard rock excavation to create a new access road using drill and blast techniques.

Being 10m wide and 6.5 high even the largest of mine machines were able to access the new area with ease. The cross measure strata encountered halite and Marl bands which were systematically inspected, scaled and supported where necessary.

The blasted rock was loaded onto an SES installed extended conveyor which took it up the incline to a central collection bay from where large front end loading shovels disposed of it.

A computer controlled single boom drill rig was installed, maintained and operated by the SES tunnellers who used ANFO explosives to excavate the rock face.

The 600m tunnel was completed safely, on time and on budget.