What are Austin Powder's main areas of operation and key markets?

Austin Powder is an explosive company that started back in 1833 in Ohio. Around half of our global business still comes from the US, and, a new shareholder (American Industrial Partners, or AIP) is helping us leverage our depth of experience gained in our historical markets to accelerate our growth plans.

We support iron ore mines in northern Minnesota and critical mineral operations in the western US as well as underground mining in Missouri and Tennessee. Our work also spans Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Alaska, and Colorado. US Steel is one of our largest clients, and we also work closely with Doe Run and Nyrstar, both in the underground mining sector. Around the world, we have partnered with some of the largest players, including First Quantum, Grupo México, Anglo American, and Barrick.

What are some of Austin Powder's key strengths in navigating supply chain challenges?

We are fortunate that we manufacture almost all of the key raw materials and products that we use, and we also provide the services needed for mines, quarries, and construction projects. One of the keys to our growth in the US mining industry is access to domestic ammonium nitrate (AN) supply, which we both manufacture internally and access from our supply partners. We also have in-country production of detonators and boosters, along with the technical expertise to help our customers find the right solutions.

When the Ukraine war broke out, there was a worldwide TNT shortage that created a lot of uncertainty across the industry.. Even before the TNT shortage, we had already been working on a TNT-free booster, and now we are close to launching a US-based plant that will allow us to produce TNT-free boosters domestically. 

What are some of the key innovations and advantages of Paradigm and E*STAR?

I believe Paradigm is one of the best blast modelling technologies available for blasting in mining, quarrying, and construction. What makes Paradigm unique is that it lets us run the entire blast digitally before we even drill or lay out the shot. We can simulate it, meaning we can model for fly rock risk, predict ground vibrations, and evaluate how blasting might impact neighbors or nearby infrastructure – all from a safety-first perspective, but giving our customers the confidence to blast in otherwise inaccessible areas of their mine or quarry.

One of the more recent advances we have made is in air overpressure modeling, so popular that some customers now use Paradigm for every single blast, checking variables like wind direction and weather conditions that day to help avoid any disruption to the surrounding area. 

We are also proud of our industry-leading E*STAR line of electronic detonators, particularly the E*STAR Diamond, which is already in use in other parts of the world and features temperature-sensing capabilities.

What direction is innovation taking at Austin Powder?

One area is verifying blast hole locations and inspecting detonator connections to improve efficiency and reduce the likelihood of human error. On the sustainability side, Austin Powder reduced its carbon footprint from 2023 to 2024. As a US-focused company, we do not depend on overseas imports, which helps both our supply chain reliability and our environmental footprint. 

What role does community engagement play in modern blast design?

One of the biggest things we have learned is how important it is to maintain good relationships with external stakeholders, including local communities and, of course, regulators. Here is where tools like Paradigm come in, helping us promote safe blasting practices by modeling air overpressure, vibration, and other factors before the blast occurs.

What makes Austin Powder a strong fit for the next wave of US mining development?

As we continue to grow in the Western US, we will bring our deep domestic experience together with insights from our global operations to come up with unique solutions for each customer. We have been around for nearly 200 years, and we are a manufacturing, service, and technology partner that quarry, construction, and mining customers have relied on for generations.