MINING
shaft plugs
Underground inflatable shaft plugs are specialised, heavy-duty expandable bladders used to temporarily or permanently block, seal, or isolate subterranean passages. They function like massive, industrial-grade balloons that expand under pressure to conform perfectly to the uneven walls of pipes, tunnels, or mine shafts.
Applications
These plugs serve critical safety, environmental, and structural functions across municipal infrastructure, civil engineering, and mining operations.
Shaft and Tunnel Plugs (Mining and Subterranean Spaces)
Mine Fire and Ventilation Control
Plugs made from Fire-Resistant Anti-Static (FRAS) fabrics are inflated to choke off oxygen supply to underground mine fires or redirect ventilation airflow after a passage collapses.
Concrete Formwork (Capping & Abandoment)
When permanently closing old mine shafts or ore passes, low-pressure inflatable plugs are deployed remotely to act as a "false bottom" or stable platform. Concrete is then poured directly over the plug; once the concrete cures, it creates a permanent, solid seal.
Grouting Operation (Grout Bags)
Large-scale plugs are positioned in abandoned galleries, inflated with air or water, and filled with liquid concrete or grout to seal massive voids permanently.
Inflatable Innovations offers a customized and bespoke pontoon for inflatable shaft and pipe plugs
We use heavy duty German inflatable boat fabric to manufacture the plugs
All seams are either hot-air thermo-welded or Radio Frequency electrically welded
The inflatable cylinders have multiple webbing slings to attach the salvage
Tethering anchors are fitted as per directives of the customer)
Lifting Bags are crated and will be delivered to any physical address in Gauteng – South Africa
load testing water bladder for ore skip
Load Testing Water Bladder for ore skip - United Mining Services (Pty) Ltd
Inflatable Innovations manufactured a water bladder that fits into a ore mining lifting skip, for the purposes of Load Testing the skip. An ore mining lifting skip is a heavy-duty, high-capacity steel container used in underground mines to transport extracted minerals (ore) and waste rock from deep within the earth to the surface. Operating much like an ultra-fast, industrial-sized elevator for rock, skips travel up and down vertical or inclined mine shafts guided by steel rails.
