Mr. Julian Wong is the co-founder and director of Archie Mining Services (“AMS”). AMS is an authorized explosive supplier approved by Mines Division of the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) of Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) of the Hong Kong SAR Government.

Julian has 20 years relevant experience and exposure in the provision of blasting and explosives products with professional customer and technical services including explosive manufacturing, blast planning, blast designing and blast supervision. Julian works closely with global leading explosive manufacturers and introduces comprehensive blasting solutions for customers in quarrying and infrastructure projects in Hong Kong.

Julian’s team at AMS supplied explosives and provided blasting solutions to numerous infrastructure projects and some eye catching blasting solutions are as below:

• Supply and assist customer using dual delay detonating system for all blasts at Central Kowloon Route – Ho Man Tin Access Shaft – Contract No: HY/2014/09
• Supply and support customer using electronic detonators for triple decks application at Lam Tin Tunnel & Associated Works – Surface Blasting Zone - Contract No: NE/2015/01
• Supply and support customer using KAPRA Pulse Plasma Rock Fragmentation Technology for Queen Mary Hospital Redevelopment – Phase 1 : Main Works at Pok Fu Lam Road

Conventional hard rock excavation is most often achieved either using heavy duty rock breaking equipment or by adopting drill and blast methods using commercial explosives. Breaking rock with rock hammer or chemical agents is considered slow and ineffective, and is in general not suited to sites with hard rock where the project has to be completed within a challenging timeframe or has a sensitive site location. Drill and blast methods may often have social and environmental concerns especially where the site is located in a densely populated urban area such as Hong Kong.

Pulse Plasma Rock Fragmentation Technology is a new technique in Hong Kong, but is a very well controlled rock breaking solution widely used in the construction industry in South Korea. As a new technique in Hong Kong, it is important to understand how it works and how it can be used to minimise the adverse environmental impacts associated with conventional methods of rock breakage, by reducing the dust, vibration and noise. More importantly, it can be demonstrated to be a safe and reliable rock breaking solution for hard rock excavation operations in our urban area in future.

Pulse Plasma Rock Fragmentation Technology, developed by Korea Accelerator Plasma Research Association (“KAPRA”), a research consortium in South Korea, allows breaking of hard rock with less vibration, air blast, gas and dust than conventional blasting methods, and it is much faster and quieter than hydraulic or air hammers.

The Pulse Plasma Rock Fragmentation Technology has been widely used in South Korea for hundreds of projects and now it is catching on in other markets such as Hong Kong. We are excited about the prospects for the use of this technology where ever-tightening controls on noises, vibration, environment, storage and transportation regulations are making conventional blasting methods more difficult to adopt.

In Hong Kong, the Pulse Plasma Rock Fragmentation Technology does not comprise any components that fall within the definition of Category 1 Dangerous Goods, making safe transport and storage simple. However, the use of the product has been deemed by the Commissioner of Mines to fall under the category of pyrotechnic effects, and as a result an assessment of the effects of its use at a site is required following the established procedures adopted for the use of explosives. Although many of the existing guidance documents refer to blasting, the proposed method will be referred to as “Pulse Plasma Rock Fragmentation method” or “Electro Power Impact (“EPI”) rock breaking method”.

By reviewing all Pulse Plasma Rock Fragmentation monitoring data at different sites in Hong Kong, the results have been shown to be satisfactory and controllable with acceptable projected production volume and vibration levels. The new Plasma method of rock breaking is an important advance, and a great new tool to help the construction, building and mining industries to improve their productivity in the face of ever-tightening regulations in Hong Kong.