TERRATEC successfully completed factory testing and delivery of a new TR3000 raise boring machine on June 19, 2015. The event was held in the company’s workshop in Tasmania, Australia. The destination of the machine is China; with TERRATEC stating: “Despite the fact that mining companies and raise boring contractors in China have been using raise boring machines for years, almost all of those have been locally produced with a nominal diameter always smaller than 1.8 m.”

The mines where the raise borer will work are located in the Chinese province of Yunnan, a major hub for underground copper mining. As the mines develop deeper levels, the access requirements for ventilation, ore passes, etc increases, so the mines are now looking into bigger shafts and for this require of larger machines such as this one.

TERRATEC’s TR3000 model has a nominal boring size of 3 m in diameter and can drill to a 500 m depth. The machine uses a standard pilot hole of 311 mm in diameter and it has a maximum pilot drilling torque of 78,000 Nm, reaming torque to 237,000 Nm and breakout to 266,000 Nm. The down thrust maximum force is 1,600 kN with up thrust being 4,500 kN. The total installed power on the machine is 352 kW.

TERRATEC stated: “The raise borer is a robust piece of equipment, designed for easy operation and high reliability. After extensive research and analysis, the mining contractor in question has selected TERRATEC to supply this first large raise borer, based on its highest quality standards, the company’s well tested technology over the last 25 years, and the short delivery time.”

TERRATEC has similar raise borers working around the world, especially in mines located in Australia and North and South America. “With this one, TERRATEC achieves an important milestone expanding its sales into the Chinese market, where there will be many opportunities for the supply of large raise borers like this one in the coming years.”