Precision instruments for detonation velocity and detonator delay measurement.
Kontinitro SA designs and manufactures precision measurement systems for the explosives industry, mining, quarrying, underground excavation, laboratories, energetic materials applications and research institutes worldwide. By choosing Kontinitro, you can be sure of the reliability of measurement tools designed in Switzerland, field-tested, and used in more than 60 countries. We’re here to ensure and validate your blasting performance.
Explore instruments Explomet™ 4, available now
Swiss made Geneva, Switzerland, established 1936
Company
Innovative technologies since 1936.
Kontinitro SA is a public limited company within the Kontinitro Group, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The company quickly specialized in precision measuring instruments for the explosives industry. High-performance chronographs were developed to measure very short time intervals in order to determine propagation speeds ranging from tens to several thousand meters per second.
For several decades, we have been proud to serve loyal customers in over 60 countries. Our precision workmanship and the quality of our products are a guarantee of reliability for our customers. We have been leaders in the field of Velocity of Detonation (VOD) measurement instruments for over 40 years.
Measuring instruments
Built for one purpose, refined for decades.
New product, available now
Explomet™ 4
The latest generation of V.O.D. measurement systems and delay measurement systems for electric, electronic and pyrotechnic detonators is now available.
Discover the Explomet™ 4
Technology fields
From the laboratory to the blast hole.
-
V.O.D for explosives and propellants
Velocity Of Detonation measurement
Measure. Monitor. Optimize. Explomet instruments enable you to precisely measure the velocity of detonation or combustion (V.O.D.) of your products and instantly verify their compliance with expected performance standards. V.O.D. is a key parameter for controlling the behavior of energetic materials. It directly influences critical factors such as rock fragmentation, propulsion performance, and the precision of detonation sequences. Measuring V.O.D. transforms technical data into a powerful control tool. By regularly monitoring product performance, you can detect deviations, ensure production consistency, optimize processes, and avoid unnecessary testing or material waste. Precise V.O.D. measurement can thus lead to significant savings in time, raw materials, and costs. Explomet: V.O.D. measurement driving performance.
-
Delay control for detonators and ignitors
Detonator delay measurement
Measures detonator delay times. The Explomet 4/Detomet 4 units allow for the precise measurement of actual detonator delays, as well as the practical speed of shock tubes and other signal transmission components. The Detomet mode specifically enables the simultaneous measurement of delays for 1 to 5 detonators with an accuracy of ±0.01 microseconds. Precise delay measurement is a crucial factor in verifying detonator conformity and consistency. It allows for the identification of discrepancies between theoretical values and actual measured delays, particularly by accounting for the effective speed of the shock tube. Measuring actual delays means mastering timing, improving blasting reliability, and optimizing detonation synchronization.
-
V.O.D in mining and quarries
Large scale field measurement
Explomet instruments and their accessories are designed for large-scale V.O.D. measurements directly in the field, under actual operating conditions. For over 30 years, Kontinitro has worked closely with mining and quarrying professionals to make velocity of detonation measurements simple, reliable, and efficient. Fragmentation depends on velocity. The velocity of detonation directly influences rock fragmentation. Verifying that the measured V.O.D. matches the expected value allows for monitoring charge performance and optimizing energy consumption across drilling, blasting, and crushing operations. Monitoring the charge along its entire length. By using probes positioned along the explosive column, it is possible to verify that the charge has functioned correctly throughout its length and to measure its velocity of detonation. These measurements can reveal issues such as insufficient compaction, water infiltration, or incomplete initiation. Measure directly in the field. Verify the actual performance of your charges. Optimize your blasts.
-
Underground excavation and tunnels
Timing accuracy for safer blasts
Explomet 4 and Detomet 4 instruments enable precise measurement of the actual delay times of electric and pyrotechnic detonators. Simple, fast, and efficient, they allow for the monitoring of detonator performance prior to use and the verification of delay times against expected values. Precision in the blasting sequence is essential. In underground and tunneling operations, blast quality depends directly on controlling the detonation sequence. Timing scatter can disrupt the firing sequence and affect blasting results—particularly regarding fragmentation, vibration, overbreak, and advance rates. Measure for better control. Testing a sample of detonators allows for the determination of their actual delay distribution and the verification of batch performance before firing. These measurements provide objective data to validate the blast plan and improve operational control. Measure actual delay times. Master the blasting sequence. Optimize your underground operations.