Epiroc has released what it says is the world’s first automated one-boom jumbo for the small segment in the form of its new Boomer S10 S.

This rig pushes the boundaries of what to expect from a face drilling rig, according to the company, providing near surgical precision in drilling and major cost savings throughout the cycle – all thanks to being the world’s first one-boom jumbo featuring Epiroc’s Rig Control System.

The consistent, repeatable and quality-assured results are made possible by advanced automation, operator-assisting features and digital drill plans, Epiroc says.

“With Boomer S10 S as our latest addition, we are proud to offer a sustainable automated operation for the small segment, with a complete range of automated rigs for face drilling, production drilling and rock reinforcement underground,” Sarah Hoffman, VP Sales & Marketing at Epiroc’s Underground division, said.

The new Boomer S10 S comes with quality drilling and cost savings in terms of wear and tear of rock drilling tools, spare parts and other consumables, according to Epiroc. Compared with traditional, non-automated one-boom jumbos, the rig decreases the consumption of consumable parts by 30%, while lowering maintenance costs by 12%.

Thanks to the digital drill plans and Epiroc’s Rig Control System, the drill rig is perfectly aligned in the drift to optimise accuracy, providing less overbreak and underbreak, and longer pull rounds, Epiroc says.

Epiroc’s Rig Control System is used for controlling several vital functions in Epiroc’s machines. It is also an enabler for several productivity-increasing, efficiency-boosting and cost-saving automation features, according to the company.

Niklas Berggren, Global Product Manager, Face Drilling Equipment at Epiroc, said: “The Rig Control System provides drilling accuracy way beyond what human eye measure could ever accomplish. It is high-quality production from start to finish, and a great milestone reached for mine development.”

When applying the High Performance Development method – a way of working during the entire drill cycle – the Boomer S10 S offers up to 25% more development metres compared with traditional one-boom jumbos, according to Epiroc. The total cycle time is reduced thanks to better pull-length, fragmentation and reduced scaling needs.

“It’s a snowball effect on productivity: accurate drilling holes means less explosives, less scaling and better tunnel profiles,” Berggren says. “In turn, a better tunnel profile means less rock reinforcement and less tear on all the machines in the drift. All this leads to significant cost reductions while increasing productivity and safety for everyone involved.”

The machine is designed for great ergonomics with lower vibration and sound levels (<75 dbA), and also offers improved visibility and a multi-functional joystick.