AEL’s dedicated cutting edge Research and Development (R&D) department has one driving force and that is to develop cutting edge commercial explosives and initiating systems. This ensures that AEL remains at the fore front of technology in its field whilst pursuing sustainable profitability and growth for companies operating in the Southern African, African and selected international explosives markets.

Our offering

Housing a dedicated team of scientists and technicians who all offer vast and varied backgrounds in chemistry, physics, chemical and mechanical engineering, AEL’s R&D team covers a growing spectrum of scientific approaches to explosives and initiating systems.

The department exists to explore cutting edge research while offering field and plant support on all new and existing developed technologies. The team also ensures that the group maintains a firm grasp on the anticipated changes and developments in the world of explosives.

To further its efforts in doing so the team attends many conferences across all disciplines – including the National Institute of Explosives Technology, the South African Society of Rheology, the International Society of Explosives Engineers, the International Pyrotechnics Society, SAFEX and the European Federation of Explosive Engineers.

Innovation and Trends

Renowned for introducing several new approaches to mining and explosives, AEL’s R&D team are credited for the development and introduction of several mine modernisation techniques. These include environmentally-friendly primary explosives, underground bulk pump systems, the gassing of emulsion explosives through sensitisation and, more recently, encouraging the adoption of its locally developed electronic detonators.

However, the list of current patented innovations currently being implemented are numerous and include:

• A waste oil explosives formulation that is current being internationally commercialised


• The spray drying of pyrotechnic powders - a world first


• Hot Hole temperature technologies


• Robot assembly – a project that has seen AEL’s research abilities being outsourced


• Non-metallic detonators


• Green detonators


• Novel pumping systems for explosives


• The ability to transport bulk explosives directly to deep level mines


• Novel homogenisers for explosives


• Lead-free, environmentally-friendly pyrotechnics


• Lead-free detonators


• Novel connecting systems


• Non-explosive initiators

Ongoing developments include five or six key projects, which are being kept under wraps pending their meeting with local security and safety regulations, one of which centres around the use of non-metallic detonators as a base to develop products that will ultimately be exported easily and safely across the globe.

AEL’s team offers cutting edge research and development using the experience of the past to develop the innovation of today while brainstorming the products and technologies of the future.

Contact Name: Dr. Piet Halliday
Tel: +27 11 606 0213
Fax: +27 11 605 0251
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it