Member Spotlight: Dyno Nobel, Sustaining Member
Alex Schwenk
Field Engineer-IRWO
Why are you an IMA member?
Dyno Nobel supports the IMA to ensure we are doing our part to promote a healthy iron ore industry. The communities that our families and friends live in rely on the success of each of these taconite operations and the challenging futures they have ahead of them.
What does your organization/company do?
Dyno Nobel provides world-class customer solutions through our people, our products, and our services. We are a global leader in the commercial explosives industry with employees around the world, including some of the most highly trained blasters in the industry. We offer a full range of cutting-edge explosives products from manufacturing plants worldwide and blasting services from a distribution network unmatched in the industry.
Our R&D focuses on practical ways to use new technologies to benefit our customers throughout the entire value stream. Renowned for our excellent safety performance and innovative explosive products and services, Dyno Nobel continuously delivers trusted technology, unmatched expertise, and explosive results.
How does the iron mining industry impact your company’s operations?
Dyno Nobel operates a site in Biwabik, Minnesota, that supports the blasting operations of the Mesabi Iron Range and an emulsion manufacturing/service site in Ishpeming, Michigan, that supports the Marquette Iron Range. The taconite mines across these two regions are the core customers for our team.
How has the iron mining industry changed during your career?
In the past 12 years I have spent working with Dyno Nobel, the technological advancements in blasting alone have completely changed the product application and design methodology for the engineers and blast crews. Dyno Nobel is an industry leader in both bulk explosive and detonator technology with a strong history of incorporating changes within the Iron Range. It has proven to be a very successful process for our internal teams and our customers’ teams, pushing each other to advance safety, environmental stewardship, and product performance.
