Dando is continuously looking at ways of improving existing machines and bringing new, innovative products to market to meet the current demands and requirements of the drilling industry. There are a number of latest innovations that include the new two headed Dando Terrier rig. This has been designed to permit the use of a wide range of drilling techniques in the same borehole, using the tried and tested Terrier drive sampling system and powerful Terrier rotary system alternately in the same hole without having to switch.

Designed to trip out either drive sampling/SPT rods or rotary drill rods in 4 m lengths, the new Terrier operates by hydraulically sliding the drive sampler or rotary drill into position over the borehole when required. With this new machine it would be possible to sample and perform a standard penetration test to a depth of 15 m+ and then take a core of hard rock to about 50 m.

A new safety feature for the Multitec 9000 is a fully automated rod handler which can handle 100 m of rod from a hydraulic indexing rack fitted to the rig. The Dando hands free rod handler is built to lift 168 kg and can handle up to a 6 m length of 4-1/2” RC drill rod from a horizontal position and align the rod with the tilting top head of the drilling rig.

The Multitec 4000 is a new addition to Dando’s line of multipurpose top-drive rotary rigs and is the smallest in the range so far. Designed to be ultra-compact, lightweight and easily transportable, the rig has a pullback of 4,000 kgf and is capable of a wide range of drilling techniques in the water, mineral and geotechnical sectors.

Dando’s non-conventional gas drilling rig has been specially designed for CBM and shale gas drilling. Ideal for drilling with air, the truck mounted Dando CBM rig boasts the following advantages over conventional drilling rigs:

• Compact design with a low profile allowing the rig to operate on a smaller footprint than a conventional drilling rig
• Cuts labour costs by reducing the personnel needed
• Minimum rig-up and displacement procedure times
• Capable of a large range of drilling operations; the rig can easily handle 3” 2,000psi circulation piping and range III pipes
• High torque rotary head.