Tag Archives: drill rigs

AZIZE Equipment showcases Sunward drilling rigs, excavators at South Africa event

Mining equipment, Mining events, , , , , , ,

AZIZE Equipment says it has secured the sole rights to supply, service and support the full line of Sunward drill rigs and excavators to South Africa and surrounding countries.

Listed on the Shenzen Stock Exchange in China, and a top 50 global construction equipment manufacturer that produces over 11 000 excavators and drilling rigs a year, Sunward Equipment Group is a highly reputable and experienced partner for AZIZE, the South Africa based company said. The extensive Sunward offering was unveiled during a launch event in Carolina, Mpumalanga, South Africa on June 7-8, “laying a solid foundation in Southern Africa’s surface drilling industry”, AZIZE said.

Pascal Mbambo, Managing Director of AZIZE Equipment, said: “We are extremely excited about the birth of a 100% black-owned AZIZE, a Level 1 company, and our partnership with the globally renowned Sunward Equipment Group. The name AZIZE is of Afro-Asiatic origin meaning powerful and valuable, which is a perfect representation of our company, products and services as well as how we perceive our customers.”

Mbambo is supported by a team of experts including Company Director Basie Roelofse, who brings a wealth of engineering and drilling expertise to the AZIZE table. The AZIZE team boasts a strong operational background in and deep knowledge of the surface drilling sector and can meet the challenges faced by this complex industry, the company says.

Roelofse said: “Our hands-on experience with a variety of drilling rigs has given us a unique insight into the key success elements enabling us to equip customers with the right tools to manage their drilling operation.”

Sunward is not new to the African continent; outside of South Africa, numerous Sunward machines operate in Namibia, Zimbabwe and the DRC, according to AZIZE. “Having owned, operated and maintained various different brands of drilling rigs, including Sunward machines, and having drilled in all typical geologies, we were highly impressed by Sunward’s holistic capabilities,” Roelofse said.

Sunward machines are significantly less complex than many other options on the market, according to AZIZE. “This straight-forward no-frills package signifies ruggedness, reliability, simple and easy operation and serviceability for improved uptime and enhanced profitability at the lowest total cost of ownership,” the company said. “Through these perfect fit-for-Africa machines, AZIZE has the potential to further grow the Sunward footprint across the continent.”

 AZIZE is targeting surface drilling companies engaged primarily in blasthole drilling in all geological formations across the mining, quarry and construction industries. The Sunward range is ideally suited to mine owners, drilling contractors, and drill and blast contractors looking for modern, safe, efficient and reliable surface drilling rigs that positively impact their bottom line, AZIZE says.

The company offers three distinct Sunward surface drilling machines; two crawler-type top hammer models (from 64 mm up to 115 mm diameter with hole depths up to 25 m) and a range of down the hole drilling rigs (from 90 mm up to 255 mm diameter with hole depths up to 36 m). Rounding off the product portfolio is the Sunward excavator range with 105 mm to 165 mm diameter and up to 36 m hole depths.

“Powered by Tier 111a engines, the fuel efficient, low emission Sunward machines uphold standard ergonomics and safety designs, featuring cab air conditioning, radios as well as LED lights,” AZIZE said.

The AZIZE launch last month showcased several Sunward machines including the SWDE165A drilling rig (pictured above) with fully automatic hands-free carousel, ROPS/FOPS, a cyclonic dust suppression system as well as rod lubrication system, a compliant FOGMAKER automatic fire suppression system and a 20 bar compressor, all fitted as standard. “Also generating a great deal of interest at the launch was the SWDR138H excavator rig, currently the only drilling rig to have a full OEM certification that covers the full rig, from tower to compressor and everything in between,” AZIZE said.

The extensive product suite is supplied from AZIZE’s Carolina head office, which houses a 12-strong sales and service team in a 2,500 sq.m facility for administration, service and parts.

AZIZE says it has invested substantially in training, a key element to ensure the correct and safe operation of Sunward machines for optimal and reliable performance. Three factory-trained engineers have moved to Carolina to train and transfer skills to the service and commissions team. Plans for substantial expansion include a training centre and test site that will offer a turnkey solution for its drilling customers. The training centre will also accommodate trainees during conversion and training on machines.

DDH1 after WA iron ore contract growth with Ranger Drilling acquisition

Mining equipment, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , , , , , , , , ,

DDH1 Holdings says it has acquired Ranger Drilling as it looks to grow the Australia iron ore RC drilling specialist’s business.

DDH1 Holdings now consists of three drilling businesses, namely DDH1 Drilling, Strike Drilling and Ranger Drilling.

Ranger was established in 2005 by Matt and Julie Izett and specialises in providing reverse Circulation (RC) drilling services to customers operating in the Western Australian iron ore market.

DDH1 Chief Executive Officer, Sy van Dyk, said: “Ranger will continue operating as a separate company, under the same management from the same premises. DDH1’s intention is to continue to grow the Ranger brand, while preserving their culture of leadership, productivity, innovation and safety. These are the qualities that attracted our investment in Ranger and we want to ensure it is protected and fostered going forward.”

Ranger’s Managing Director, Matt Izett, said: “DDH1 is a natural partner for Ranger to further our growth ambitions by providing additional capital to the business in a cost-effective and disciplined manner. I look forward to continue leading and growing the business Julie and I founded in 2005 and to deliver superior drilling solutions to our loyal customer base, whilst contributing at a senior level to the wider group’s operations”.

DDH1 Drilling, Strike Drilling and Ranger’s capabilities are highly complementary, DDH1 said, and the combination of the businesses provides the opportunity to offer clients the full suite of drilling services required across the resource life cycle, from discovering new deposits to extending existing mine lives. “The group’s drill rig fleet is modern, standardised and highly productive,” the company said.

DDH1 Managing Director, Murray Pollock, said: “DDH1 and Ranger have worked together on a shared contract basis, during which time we have observed Ranger’s premium customer service offering, the productivity gains delivered by their modern fleet and quality management team led by Matt Izett. Together, we are committed to being the drilling contractor and employer of choice in the Australian drilling industry.

“The group now has 84 Tier One drill rigs and employs over 700 staff to provide our customers with end-to-end drilling solutions. I am also pleased that as part of the transaction Matt and Julie Izett will become significant shareholders in DDH1 Holdings and we look forward to working with them.”

Epiroc wins order for copper-zinc underground mine in Dominican Republic

Base metals, Mine operation news, Mining equipment, Mining services, ,

Epiroc is to supply Corporación Minera Dominicana’s (Cormidom) Cerro de Maimon copper-zinc mine in the Dominican Republic with a new mining fleet as it transitions to an underground operation over the next few years.

The machines will allow the company, owned by Australia’s Perilya, to operate the new underground mine with “significantly increased productivity as well as enhanced safety and improved cost efficiency”, Epiroc said.

The order totals more than $24 million and was received in the June quarter 2018. It includes a Boomer M2 face drill rig (pictured), a Simba E7 hydraulic long-hole production rig, a Scooptram ST18 18 t LHD and Minetruck MT65, among other machines and rock drilling tools. The equipment will be delivered over the next two years in time for the mining transition.

Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s Senior Executive Vice President Mining and Infrastructure, said: “We are proud to be a key partner of Cormidom as they develop the Cerro de Maimon mine for significantly higher production.

“We are committed to delivering more productivity and safety to our customers at a lower total cost of operation.”

Perilya has been mining oxide and sulphide ore at Cerro de Maimon since October 2008 and flagged up the possibility of going underground in various studies around five years ago.

Paul Arndt, Managing Director of Perilya, said: “Perilya has a long and successful operating history with Epiroc in Australia. We see this as a chance to build on this relationship and develop further a strong partnership utilising Epiroc equipment throughout all the key phases of the mining cycle.”