Underground mining solutions company Normet has released a concrete spraying unit designed to operate at close quarters in mining operations.

The Minimec concrete spraying unit was described by the equipment company as "agile yet powerful". It occupies a similar area to a nozzle man but outperforms handheld spraying in safety, reach and productivity. Key environments for application are cross passages, shaft sinkings and small open pits.

"Despite the small size, Minimec can apply the whole capacity of the spraying pump, improving process performance," Normet said in a statement.

Operator safety and comfort is prioritised by a remote driving system that allows driving and spraying from "a safe distance".

The introduction of the new Minimec follows other key spraying developments released earlier in the year by Normet, including SmartSpray, which increases the automation level of the spraying process; and the SmartScan concrete layer thickness measuring system, which makes the quality control, inspection and reporting easier in concrete spraying operations.