Cementation Americas reposted this
🍁 Cementation Americas, a valuable #CANSEE #member, has a rich history dating back over 100 years. Founded by Albert François in 1910, the company pioneered the Cementation Process, revolutionizing #mining by enabling shaft sinking through water-bearing ground using high-pressure cementitious grouting. 🏆 Today, over a century later, Cementation continues to push boundaries in mining and remains dedicated to #innovation. ⤵️Check out the full story below! #CementationCanada #MiningInnovation #HistoryOfMining #ShaftSinking #MiningLegacy #Grouting #MiningIndustry #EngineeringExcellence #MiningSolutions #ConstructionInnovation #PioneeringTech
“Why are you called Cementation? Are you a concrete company?” We have been asked that a fair bit over the years and thought we should share some of our history and how the name came about… Cementation’s roots go back +100 years, when Belgian, Albert François, founded the François Cementation Company in Doncaster, England in 1910. In 1914, François patented the Cementation Process and successfully developed what is now known as cementitious grouting, a technique that specifically allows the sinking of shafts through water-bearing, difficult ground for mining. Using pumping, François was interested in improving the process of grouting associated with shaft sinking for coal mining. Having worked throughout Europe sinking shafts through water-bearing ground in Germany, Belgium and France, François improved the process such that high-pressure cementitious grout could be injected in holes drilled within the shaft and below the water table. Pre-injection of chemicals sealed some finer fissures and provided lubrication for the cement particles to travel further. After patenting his cementation process, François bought land to headquarter his operations within the largest Yorkshire coalfield, tendered for, secured, and was completely successful in sinking two shafts at the Hatfield Thorne Colliery in England where all other methods had failed, and water inflows were 10,000 gpm! The work reduced the inflows by 90% and within the capabilities of contemporary pumps. At the time the Mines Inspectorate recorded the achievement “As an example of dogged perseverance against overwhelming odds, the operations at Thorne are probably unrivalled.” In December 1919, the François Cementation Company Ltd. was officially incorporated in England. François Cementation was known locally as the Frankoys – “good at shaft sinking.” The management at the time played on this renown by saying “if you get that sinking feeling, don’t bother calling the doctor, call Cementation.” Now, over 100 years later, “Albert” is back in the United Kingdom, where it all began, visiting mines to see where we can help and what we can learn. Cementation has been in London, visiting the Mines and Money, Resourcing Tomorrow conference. Contact us if you want to chat about your project! Watch this space to see where “Albert” will crop up next…