Working with PCP Pumps and Explosives on your MMU in 2025

1. From Slurry to Smart Delivery (1960’s to Modern Day)

For 60+ years now, the mining industry has been utilizing emulsion products in blasting operations around the world. And over those decades, those products have evolved from simple slurry mixes for wet holes, to advanced mixtures for specific use cases and site conditions.

1964 – Egly & Neckar patent the first water‑in‑oil explosive emulsion, creating the backbone for today’s emulsion products.
1970‑1990s – Progressive‑cavity pumps (PCP) begin to appear on MMU trucks, as water-based blasting agents become more common, allowing miners to load wet blastholes reliably.  Early systems utilizing sensors, switches, and burst discs become standard safety equipment for these pumps, including the first generation for the Tread PumpGuard system.
2000‑2015 – Advancements in safety systems like Tread’s PumpPRO continue to improve safety and effectiveness of PCP pumps in the field. Some of these improvements include: User friendly digital screens and real time information to replace basic LED indicators, more robust sensors and switches, and easier disassembly for cleaning.
2020‑2025 – Advanced closed-loop/cloud-based systems arrive at the mine site through systems like Tread Corp’s AXIOM Controls. Now the truck’s onboard controls can monitor and adjust things like flow-rate and mixture down to the millisecond, while also displaying all that information and potential issues on-screen and in the cloud for remote access, making hole loading and troubleshooting easier and safer than ever.

2. Modern System Upgrades Worth Adopting

New pumping options: XG Series stainless steel mono gear pumps have arrived on scene, that use fewer moving parts than conventional pumps, feature a top or bottom drive for convenience, and can operate in a temperature range of 0 to 50 °C.
[Image from: https://www.nov.com/products/xg-gear-pump]

Cloud‑linked pump diagnostics: AXIOM Control Systems allow operators to remotely see any system faults or indicators immediately, making troubleshooting faster and easier.

Recipe‑on‑the‑run software: AXIOM also allows for on-screen or remote adjustments to things like flow-rate, mixture, and density updates — even as you are pumping, if needed, helping to optimize blast results.

Analyze every part of the job: All that information being available in the cloud also allows you to build analytic tools for measuring metrics like cost optimization, efficient resource use, and preventing over- or under-charging of blast holes.

3. Tried and True Ways of Minimizing PCP Pump Risks

[As seen in the 2009 ISEE Magazine article: “Pump Protection Systems on Mobile Equipment”by Tread Alum- Tom Watts]

1.     Make sure your equipment has a Pump Safety System. A well-engineered pump safety system is critical and should be used in conjunction with all progressive cavity pump applications.

2.     Operator training. Every pump truck operator should receive annually recurrent training in the hazards of pumping emulsion explosives, and the operation of the pump safety system.

3.     Daily checks. Each operator should verify the correct operation of the safety devices daily.

4.     Responsible maintenance. The pump safety system must be responsibly maintained. Any defective devices should be expeditiously repaired or replaced. It is never acceptable to by-pass a safety device.

5.     Quarterly re-qualification. The full and correct function of the safety system should be verified and signed off by a responsible company official on a quarterly basis.

Looking Ahead: Smarter Systems, Safer Sites

As emulsion technologies and pump systems continue to advance, the role of smart, responsive control systems like AXIOM is no longer a nice-to-have — it’s the new baseline. Combining decades of real-world experience with forward-looking engineering, these systems give today’s operators the tools they need to work more efficiently, more safely, and with greater confidence than ever before.

Whether you’re running a single truck or managing a full fleet, investing in modern PCP systems and proven safety practices isn’t just about staying compliant — it’s about staying competitive. And at Tread, we’ll keep doing what we’ve done since day one: building the safest, smartest, and most reliable delivery systems for the job.

Wanna learn more about what Tread has to offer?