Tag Archives: Epiroc

Epiroc Pit Vipers pass automation test at Boliden Aitik

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To help increase productivity, efficiency, and safety at its Aitik copper mine, in Sweden, Boliden has looked to leverage advances in autonomous drilling.

The mine has plans to raise production at the open-pit copper mine to 45 Mt/y this year, from 36 Mt/y previously.

To meet this target, Boliden needed to increase production from its fleet of five Epiroc Pit Vipers at the operation, the mining OEM said.

“The traditional and obvious solution would be to invest in additional Pit Vipers,” Epiroc said. Instead, Boliden looked to see if utilising automation and operating its fleet with teleremote, and semi-autonomous single-row Pit Vipers, could provide the needed boost.

“One reason to convert to remote and autonomous operations is the opportunity to reduce non-drilling time, increase utilisation and gain productivity,” Epiroc said.

Aitik is one of Europe’s largest mines with a massive pit visible from space, according to the equipment maker.

Peter Palo, Project Manager at Boliden Aitik, explained: “Its depth is 450 m and it has a width of several kilometres, requiring 15-20 minutes of driving time for operators to travel to and from the surface level. There is also a satellite mine even further away. Lunch breaks in production can last for an hour.”

Another factor taken into consideration is the harsh arctic winter climate, with snowstorms and biting cold that reduces visibility, and increases the need for safe workplace conditions. Both Boliden and Epiroc were curious to see whether automated Pit Vipers could handle these conditions, Epiroc remarked.

The first step in this transition was to perform a test with one of the Pit Vipers, converting and upgrading the machine for remote operation.

A meeting room in the mine office building was converted into a temporary control room, and the WLAN in the pit was updated and fortified to increase coverage and bandwidth.

Boliden staff were trained to operate the Pit Vipers by remote control, with the primary key performance indicators yielding positive results, according to Epiroc. On top of this, the Pit Viper automation technology received positive feedback from the operators.

Fredrik Lindström, Product Manager Automation at Epiroc, said: “There’s more to converting to automated operations than you’d think. To enjoy the full advantages of automation, you have to systematically change and improve routines, adapting them to the new processes. The lion’s share of the work involves getting people to change their habits to reach the common goal.

“Boliden has done a tremendous job laying the groundwork for the necessary process changes.”

The next step involved converting the other four Pit Vipers for remote operation while upgrading the first Pit Viper to handle single-row autonomous operation. The automation, in this case, entails the operator initiating the process, leaving the Pit Viper to drill a whole row of blast holes on its own and moving autonomously between drill holes. Once the row is completed, the operator moves and prepares the machine for the next row of holes.

Comparing the semi-autonomous single row Pit Viper with a fully manually operated machine, under optimal conditions, Boliden has measured a utilisation increase from 45-50% to 80%, as well as a 30% increase in productivity, Epiroc said.

Palo said: “We’re very pleased with the results, which is why we’re converting the rest of the Pit Viper fleet to remote operation as a step towards further automation.”

The operators handled the transition to remote operations exceptionally well, Epiroc said, explaining that the onsite operations control system was designed to mimic the Epiroc Pit Viper onboard controls with the same configuration.

Palo added: “We’ve been running by remote for a year now, and everyone is happy.

“Some of the operators were wary about learning to use the technology, but that settled quickly. They appreciate working together in a control room in the office building. It’s a better work environment, easier to exchange experiences and socialise.

“Handling the winter climate was also a cinch, despite heavy snowfalls and low temperatures for days on end. Even the laser-based Obstacle Detection System coped splendidly during snowfall. The automated systems seem to withstand arctic conditions very well.”

Automation and battery-electric efforts awarded by Epiroc

Automation, IoT, Mining equipment, Mining industry recognition, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining, , , , , ,

Teams behind automation and battery-electric equipment projects have become the latest recipients of Epiroc’s two annual awards.

The United in Performance Award and Inspired by Innovation Award recognised close collaboration with a mining company that strengthened the customer’s productivity through automation, as well as the development of battery-electric equipment that brings multiple benefits to the mining industry, respectively.

The United in Performance Award, which honours exceptional customer collaboration, was presented to Olav Kvist and Per Holmberg of Epiroc’s Underground division and Johan Broström of the Technology & Digital division, as well as to mining company Boliden.

Epiroc explained: “Their extensive collaboration on automation has increased productivity significantly at two of Boliden’s mines in Sweden. For example, at the Garpenberg mine, the automated and teleremote operation of Epiroc’s Simba ME7 C production drill rig (pictured) has boosted drilling productivity by roughly 30%.”

The work is part of 6th Sense, Epiroc’s package of digital solutions that optimises customers’ processes, thereby strengthening their productivity and safety, the company said.

The Inspired by Innovation Award, which recognises Epiroc’s most innovative technical development that has become a proven commercial success, was presented to Anders Lindkvist, Patrik Roth, Markus Rantakeisu, Robert Lejonberg, Jan Fransson, Erik Svedlund and Fredrik Martinsson. The seven employees have been instrumental and represent a team of passionate people in developing Epiroc’s world-leading battery-electric mining equipment, the company said.

“The new generation battery-electric mining machines are the result of the team’s hard work and dedication in bringing significant benefits to customers including improved health and safety, lower total cost of operation and higher productivity,” Epiroc said. “The advantages are especially significant for underground operations where mining companies traditionally must invest heavily in ventilation to air out the diesel fumes.”

Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s President and CEO, congratulated the winners, saying they are representative of “Epiroc’s innovative spirit and dedication to improving customers’ operations”.

She added: “We are proud to be on the forefront of automation, digitalisation and electrification as these technological shifts are making mining and infrastructure companies more productive, safe and environmentally friendly.”

Epiroc posts Q1 results as it braces for future COVID-19 impacts

Automation, Communications in mining, Equipment maintenance, Mineral exploration, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining policy, Mining safety, Mining services, Power supply for mines, , , , , , , ,

“We expect that the demand both for equipment and in the aftermarket will be lower and that the effects of the pandemic will have a significant negative impact on revenues and profit in Q2 (June quarter).” That is the headline quote from Epiroc CEO, Helena Hedblom, in the mining OEM’s March quarter results.

While the prospects for the current quarter look far from rosy, the results for the March quarter were reasonably strong: revenues dipped only 7% (SEK9.134 billion ($903 million)) year-on-year, profits rose 3% to SEK1.4 billion and operating cash flow jumped 225% to SEK1.5 billion.

Despite Epiroc’s China business being hit in February, and its manufacturing facilities for consumables in India, South Africa, and Canada (Quebec) being temporarily closed from the end of March, there were limited COVID-19-related effects on its March quarter results, the company stated.

As the impacts of the pandemic continue to grow with restrictions from various governments and authorities, the impact has started to be felt more acutely by Epiroc. Hedblom told analysts after the results release that the commissioning of new equipment was becoming harder with such restrictions in place, as was the transportation of its products. On the latter, the company commented that its costs had risen.

Fortunately, the company is in the middle of a wide-ranging revamp to its supply chain that is seeing key parts and service personnel redeployed to hubs near its major customers. Although this program is not yet complete, the availability of local inventory has somewhat dampened the impact of the COVID-19-related restrictions to date.

Similarly, the company has managed to navigate a supply shortage of certain components in Europe, Hedblom said. Speaking to IM after the analyst call, she said the manufacturing teams were utilising existing component stockpiles to complete outstanding tasks.

Just how many future tasks the manufacturing team has all depends on how long mine stoppages in the likes of South Africa, Canada, Peru and India continue. While South Africa miners are set for a phased ramp up of operations and those miners in Quebec have been given the go ahead to reopen, there are many mines that remain on care and maintenances.

Hedblom said these dynamics were very different to financial downturns where specific commodities and companies with lower margins were hit due to cashflow issues.

“It is evenly split between different commodities,” she said referring to the shutdowns. “There are plenty of gold mines in there, for instance, and that is despite the gold price holding up well.”

During this time – and factoring in potential future supply chain issues – Epiroc is prioritising its aftermarket customers to keep existing mines operating.

One would estimate the percentage of revenue associated with aftermarket sales would, therefore, grow beyond the 72% registered in the March quarter (which itself is an 8% rise from the December quarter) based on the assumption mining companies would defer new equipment purchases until restrictions had been lifted and global economies had stabilised.

This would also mirror the March quarter results where Epiroc recognised a 12% organic increase in service orders, compared with the previous year, at the same time as orders for equipment, rock drilling tools and attachments decreased.

Yet, this all depends on how long existing mine stoppages are enforced.

Epiroc said: “Mining is deemed essential in many countries, which means that most mines continue to operate, but in some cases mines have temporarily stopped operations or operate at reduced capacity due to restrictions from governments and authorities.

“As a consequence, Epiroc estimates that revenues from the aftermarket will be negatively impacted in Q2. The magnitude of the impact will depend on how the restrictions will develop during the quarter.”

While the company is up front in its assessment that revenues and profits will be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the June quarter, the new CEO said the company would continue to invest in R&D throughout this period.

“We have consolidated in admin and marketing, in addition to manufacturing (see the latest announcement on its North Bay facility), but I am protecting R&D,” Hedblom told IM. In late November, Hedblom said the company was currently investing 2-3% of revenue in R&D.

Previous R&D investments have led to the development of many innovative products from Epiroc – mainly geared towards automation, digitalisation and electrification – and Hedblom said some “very exciting products” would be launched later this year, regardless of COVID-19 restrictions.

Some of these new products will likely help miners continue operating in environments such as those being experienced now, with Hedblom seeing the automation trend the company recognised, pre-COVID-19, picking up where it left off, post-COVID-19.

“The more people you can remove from the mine site and the more you can control the environment in which they work (remote operations, for instance), the better,” she said.

Epiroc to consolidate exploration drilling tools manufacturing in Canada

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Epiroc says it is to consolidate the manufacturing of exploration drilling tools in Canada, gradually moving its base from North Bay to Montreal and Sweden over the course of 2020.

The decision, taken on the day it announced its March quarter results, will affect about 65 employees in North Bay, Ontario, it said, with the production facility eventually being converted into a distribution centre. It reflects the challenging business climate that existed “prior to the global pandemic, which now reinforces the need to increase efficiency and strengthen the company for the future”, Epiroc said.

Employees that are part of the local engineering, sales, and product management team dedicated to Rock Exploration will remain at the North Bay facility, according to Epiroc.

The company already manufactures products dedicated to mineral exploration in Montreal thanks to the 2019 acquisition of Fordia, a company that provides exploration drilling tools such as diamond bits, down-the-hole tools, drill rods and drill casings, as well as water treatment systems and pumps, used by mining houses and drilling contractors.

Epiroc said investments will be made to support the transition of those product lines starting in May 2020 and to be completed during the year.

The production for Ground Support and its SwellexTM product line will, meanwhile, be transferred to Sweden.

Denis Landry, Vice President Exploration at Epiroc, said: “Manufacture of our world-class products, like the HobicTM core bit series and the Epiroc wireline drill rods, are moving to our Montréal facility as part of our overall plan to become more efficient and gain synergies.

“We regret that we have to let people go, but we must adapt to changing market conditions so the company is strong for the future.”

Northvolt charging up Epiroc battery-electric mining solutions

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Northvolt has recently delivered its largest order of lithium-ion battery systems to date to Epiroc, as the two companies’ partnership continues to blossom.

The delivery of systems – which will be integrated into Epiroc’s mid-sized drilling family, Scooptram ST14 LHD and Minetruck MT42 – is the latest in a series made for Epiroc since 2018 and represents the first commercial roll-out of the latest generation of battery system from Northvolt, the Swedish battery developer and manufacturer said.

In an online post from Northvolt, the company interviewed Anders Lindkvist of Epiroc’s underground division to hear about the delivery and find out what it means for the original equipment manufacturer.

“The development of the battery system solution we’re integrating into Epiroc machines, both in terms of hardware and software, has been a true collaboration between Epiroc and Northvolt,” Lindkvist said. “The most recent delivery represents a major update compared to the earlier ones.

“Implemented into the new design are a lot of improvements in terms of reliability and serviceability. These design improvements come from the learnings taken from the common trial, which Northvolt and Epiroc have been involved in over the last 18 months. The changes appear promising.”

Demonstration activities which Lindkvist spoke of began with machine testing at Epiroc’s facilities in Örebro. But, in Spring 2019, testing stepped up to involve the first real-world test for the new battery-powered machines when Epiroc, as part of the EU funded Sustainable Intelligent Mining Systems (SIMS) program, brought several electric machines into commercial operation at Agnico Eagle’s Kittilä gold mine in Finland.

The fleet, running on earlier generation batteries supplied by Northvolt, included a Minetruck MT42, an underground truck which has a 42 t payload capacity – making it one of the largest battery-operated mine trucks on the market.

Commenting on these recent experiences, Lindkvist said: “We’ve gained a deeper knowledge of the limitations of batteries and greater perspective on how to handle and operate them. The limitations are fewer than on diesel engines, but they are different, so these need to be addressed with different actions. This was something we started to learn with our first-generation electric machines, but we now have a much deeper knowledge of the issues.”

Machine performance

“The performance we’re getting from the machines is at the level we expected,” explains Lindkvist. “Actually, battery running time appears longer than estimated, and we have not yet finalised the tuning of energy management which could optimise performance further.”

With battery cell development and optimisation of battery management systems as Lindkvist noted, driving time is likely to increase further still.

“Additionally, we’ve collected feedback from operators who experience the machines to be more powerful,” noted Lindkvist. “Other benefits are becoming clear too – such things as the quietness of operations, and possibility to talk to bystanders next to machines, seem more important than we thought.”

New solutions for an electric future

Close collaboration between Epiroc and Northvolt’s industrial battery design and development teams has been critical, Northvolt says. For Epiroc, an interesting dimension to the partnership is how it has shifted the company’s approach to “surrounding product development”.

Lindkvist said: “Epiroc has a typically involved itself with implementing well-proven solutions; it is very exciting to work with technology in the forefront. Combine this with the rapid growth of Northvolt, in an area where much is happening, and you get a very inspiring and innovative collaboration.”

Looking ahead, the path is bright. Evaluation of electric machine performance and operations will continue with the demonstration project in Finland, and validation of the new battery systems will be undertaken, according to Northvolt.

“As validation is concluded, this new generation system will be available for delivery to customers all over the world,” Lindkvist says. “This will be the moment when we grow to substantial volumes and this is very significant for Epiroc.”

Epiroc already has a sense of demand for these machines. In September 2019, the company announced orders for battery-electric mining equipment from customers in several countries including Finland, Australia and Canada. The orders were for Epiroc’s latest generation of electric machines consisting of 14 t and 18 t loaders, the Minetruck MT42 and a mid-sized drilling family including face drilling, production drilling and rock reinforcement rigs.

Epiroc aims to be able to offer its complete fleet of underground mining equipment as battery-electric versions by 2025.

“We will continue to diesel engine versions, but the volume of machines running on battery power will grow fast as customer readiness develops further,” Lindkvist says.

Successful electrification of mines, of course, relies on more than just machines. To operate a battery-electric fleet effectively, mines need to be designed differently, charging stations and ancillary equipment must be in place and operating profiles for efficient machine usage need to be established.

“Fortunately, the ongoing work of Epiroc is helping to fill out an in-depth understanding of what an electric mine may look like,” Northvolt says.

While underground mines might be some of the first to go electric, in large part thanks to the potential reductions in ventilation underground that create a strong business case, electric machines will soon become common above ground, too, according to Northvolt.

It says: “Epiroc has observed that ongoing success in the underground mine market is proving the viability of the technology and its competitiveness against performance of diesel-powered equipment – points which serve to strengthen the case for developing surface mining solutions.”

This is an edited version of a post that first appeared on Northvolt’s website here.

Epiroc debuts DM30 II SP drill rig at CONEXPO

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Epiroc has introduced a new single pass rotary blasthole drill rig for quarrying and small mining operations at the CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2020 event in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The DM30 II SP (Single Pass) crawler-mounted, hydraulic tophead-drive rig offers faster hole-to-hole drilling and a lower cost per tonne through single-pass capability, it says.

Showcased at the company’s CONEXPO booth, it is built off the same platform as the Epiroc DM45 and DML blasthole drill rigs. This means it is suitable for a variety of single-pass rotary and down-the-hole (DTH) drilling applications and can achieve a clean hole depth of 11 m for single-pass applications.

The small footprint of the DM30 II makes it easy to manoeuvre on tight benches and simple to transport within the pit and over the road between pits, according to Epiroc. It also offers a low total cost of ownership, with a structure design life exceeding 45,000 hours.

The single-pass capability allows for faster hole-to-hole drilling and decreases the cost per tonne, while its design and layout grants quick and easy access to all major service points, simplifying maintenance, according to Epiroc.

The DM30 II SP is designed to handle 4-6.5 in drill pipe with a hydraulic pulldown of up to 133.4 kN and a hole diameter of 5.5-7.875 in (140-200 mm). A 36-ft (11 m) single-pass tower option increases productivity for 29-36 ft drilling conditions by eliminating the need to add a second drill steel, it said.

Customers can, meanwhile, choose a low- or high-pressure compressor to create the right configuration for their drilling operation.

Heino Hamman, Product Line Manager, Blasthole at Epiroc Drilling Solutions, said: “Built off a proven platform and with the new single-pass capability, the DM30 II SP reduces the overall cost of production per tonne and improves transportability. It offers high quality at an excellent value – and flexibility for the future.”

Outfitted with several enhancements to help keep operators safe on the job, the DM30 II SP features a FOPS (Falling Object Protective Structure) cab, ground-level isolation and an air-end safety shutdown system for high-temperature situations. A 300 gallon (1,136 litre) fuel tank allows the rig to continuously operate for more than 14 hours before refill, Epiroc claims.

“For increased operator comfort, the DM30 II SP features an insulated, pressurised, heated and cooled cab with tinted glass, a suspension seat, 80 dBA noise level and excellent visibility,” the company said.

“All operational functions are controlled from the driller’s console, and the ergonomic layout allows operators to instantly switch from drilling to tramming for increased productivity.”

In addition, the electric-over-hydraulic controls are common across the DM series, making operation easy for drillers with DM series experience.

“The DM 30 II SP is a simple machine scalable to automated features,” Epiroc said. The rig can be equipped with on-board technology capabilities such as the optional Epiroc Rig Control System (RCS) Lite for added safety and productivity.

Built on the RCS 5 platform that comes standard on the Pit Viper series, RCS Lite offers safety and interlock features, Epiroc says. “It also provides a convenient foundation to add more functionality and technology options in the future without a major rebuild of the machine.”

RCS Lite allows all Epiroc rotary drills to have the same onboard display and system for consistent operator training and service, the company said, adding that it had sold over 100 RCS Lite systems in 17 different countries around the world.

Epiroc and ASI Mining to automate Roy Hill haul truck fleet

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Epiroc has signed a contract with Roy Hill to deliver a fully automated haul truck solution for the iron ore mining operation in Western Australia.

In partnership with automation specialist ASI Mining – which Epiroc owns 34% of – Epiroc is to convert Roy Hill’s haul trucks from manned to autonomous use. The two will deliver a safe and interoperable solution for Roy Hill’s mixed truck fleet, with an ability to expand to other mining vehicle types and manufacturers, and capability to integrate with existing Roy Hill systems, Epiroc said.

Epiroc and ASI Mining will also be working closely with Roy Hill and its partners Hitachi and Wenco on truck conversion and integration of the Wenco fleet management system.

The project will see a phased implementation, with testing and production verification of up to eight trucks undertaken in the initial phase prior to the second phase of full fleet expansion from mid-2021.

Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s Senior Executive Vice President Mining and Infrastructure, said: “Epiroc is proud to collaborate with Roy Hill, ASI Mining and other partners to automate Roy Hill’s haul truck fleet, boosting safety and productivity for a crucial aspect of its mining operation. This is a very strong example of how automation will take a mining company’s operation to the next level.”

Roy Hill CEO, Barry Fitzgerald, said the mining company was well positioned to transition to automation. “Our teams on site and in our Remote Operations Centre (ROC) in Perth have demonstrated a clear capacity to deliver complex projects, sustainable change and operational excellence with the recent success of our autonomous drill program and fleet optimisation initiatives. Now is the right time to bring the combined expertise of Roy Hill, Epiroc, ASI Mining and Wenco together to convert our haul truck fleet.”

Fitzgerald added: “Care is one of our core values, with safety at the heart of everything we do. Roy Hill’s Smart Mine program is driving innovation across our business, and the automation of our haulage fleet is central to delivering safety and production improvements.”

Roy Hill is an iron ore mining project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Located 340 km southeast of Port Hedland, it has an integrated mine, rail and port facilities and produces 55 Mt/y of iron ore, with approval to increase to 60 Mt/y. Its ROC in Perth provides end-to-end integration of operations, according to Epiroc.

Epiroc gives Epsilon tricone drill bits new lease of life

Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , ,

Epiroc says the new Epsilon² premium tricone drill bit will help surface mining and construction professionals enjoy up to 100% longer distance drilled before bit discard.

Thanks to smart patented features, Epsilon² improves drilling productivity through extended bit life and a faster rate of penetration (ROP), according to Epiroc.

The new air bearing bit has been tested in the field by selected customers in operating conditions in North America, South America and Asia. The tests show an average of more than 60% longer distance drilled before bit discard compared with the previous Epsilon generation – peaking at over 100% in some cases, according to Epiroc.

Bahadir Ergener, Product Line Manager, Rotary, at Epiroc, said: “The name Epsilon ‘to-the-power-of-two’ is no coincidence. It’s more than an upgrade, it’s a new generation.

“Degrading of the bearings was long a common cause of bit failure, forcing customers to accept a slower ROP and a shorter service life than necessary. Either the bearings would corrode due to moisture from water injection for dust suppression, or overheat by friction.”

Two patented Epiroc features combine to solve the problem: Tornado, which channels cooling air over the hotter load side of the bearing, and Torrent, which removes moisture from the cooling air and therefore reduces corrosion, Epiroc says.

Allan Rainey, Global R&D Manager at Epiroc, said Epsilon² outperforms other air bearing bits on reliability, and even challenges more costly sealed bearing bits.

“Users of sealed bits can now turn to Epsilon² for comparable productivity at a lower cost,” he said.

“Longer bit life means improved personal safety through reduced operator interaction with the drill bit. With twice the distance drilled, there is no need to replace the bit every day, perhaps only once a week,” he added.

Another aspect of extended bit life is there will be fewer bits manufactured in total over the lifetime, which in turn reduces raw material use, transportation and ecological footprint.

“We believe customers will value a lower climate impact when selecting their next rotary drill bit,” Rainey concluded.

Epiroc to showcase surface drilling automation expertise at CONEXPO 2020

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Jon Torpy, General Manager and President for Epiroc USA, says the company is heading into its first CONEXPO-CON/AGG as “an experienced company committed to driving the future of intelligent infrastructure development, quarrying and mining”.

The company plans to showcase its surface drilling automation expertise at the Las Vegas show, taking place on March 10-14, with several “innovative and productive offerings” set for their North America debut.

The new Epiroc SmartROC D60 down-the-hole (DTH) surface drill rig for quarrying, mining and construction (pictured) will get a showing. This rig has been updated with Epiroc’s innovative automation-ready platform, with the D60 offering the “intelligence and power to consistently and efficiently drill high-quality blast holes with accuracy and precision”, Epiroc says.

It is loaded with smart features such as automated drilling and rod handling that increase safety, efficiency and consistency for a lower total cost of ownership, according to the company.

The automation-ready platform also includes the new Auto Feed Fold feature. With a single action, Auto Feed Fold enables the operator to fold the feed for tramming or position it for drilling. This also comes in handy when operating one or more drill rigs remotely with the BenchREMOTE option, Epiroc said.

The D60 can drill holes of 4.6-7 in (11.68-17.78 cm) in diameter and to a maximum depth of 182 ft (55.47 m). “All these features and flexibility are packed in a rig that is economical to run due to the intelligent control of the compressor and engine rpm,” Epiroc said.

The SmartROC D60 also uses 79 gallons (359 litres) less hydraulic oil than previous versions and features fewer hoses and pumps, according to the company. This helps to further reduce costs and makes servicing easier, while increasing sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of the rig.

Alongside the SmartROC D60 rig at the Epiroc CONEXPO-CON/AGG stand will be the PowerROC D60 Tier 4 Final surface drill rig.

This hydraulic DTH surface drill rig for mining and quarrying not only drills the largest holes in the PowerROC family, it is equipped with an engine that meets Tier 4 Final emissions regulations to reduce its environmental footprint, the company says.

The rig can drill large holes ranging from 4.31-7 in. In addition, the 5+1 Rod Handling System makes it possible to drill holes down to a depth of 98.5 ft, according to the company.

“The rig features a pilot hydraulic system and straightforward electronics which make the PowerROC D60 both easy to operate and simple to service,” Epiroc says. “The powerful rotation unit ensures that the rig can operate reliably in all types of rock conditions. In addition, a highly effective dust collection system ensures that the work environment is kept clean and safe, which protects both machine and personnel.”

The last big rig to go on display will be the Epiroc DM30 II.

Built off the same platform as the DM45 and DML blasthole drill rigs, the Epiroc DM30 II is suitable for a variety of multi-pass rotary and DTH drilling applications, Epiroc says. The compact yet heavy-duty design of the DM30 II delivers powerful performance and easy transport between benches or even between properties, according to the company.

A crawler-mounted, hydraulic tophead-drive rig, the DM30 II can achieve a clean hole depth of 28 ft for single-pass applications and up to 148 ft for multi-pass applications with a starter rod under the rotary head. It also features a 30-ft drill pipe change and a four-rod carousel. It is designed to handle 4-6.5 in drill pipes with a pulldown of up to 30,000 lbf (133,446.7 newtons) and a hole diameter of 5.5-7.875 in.

The mainframe and layout of the machine has been updated for 2020 to better assist customers needing a small-profile machine for tight drilling conditions or transit between sites, Epiroc said. Reductions include: working width (to 14.16 ft); transport width with ladders and non-cab side jack removed (12.3 ft); and height, tower down (15.4 ft).

Customers can choose a low- or high-pressure compressor to create the right configuration for their drilling operation. The DM Series drill rig can be equipped with on-board technology capabilities with the optional Epiroc Rig Control System (RCS) Lite for added safety and productivity.

The company will also use the show to talk up its new digital fleet management solution, My Epiroc.

My Epiroc is available on web and mobile devices with features for increasing fleet efficiency and safety. The platform enables mining and infrastructure operations to optimise fleet performance, with the solution to be demonstrated at the Epiroc booth.

“Regardless of role – a fleet manager focusing on uptime, a machine operator getting the job done, or a member of the service team keeping on top of equipment performance, safety and reliability – My Epiroc is built to assist in accomplishing jobs and improving work flow,” the company said.

Epiroc will also exhibit rock drilling tools solutions for integration with the FlexiROC T30 R, PowerROC D60 and SmartROC D60 drilling rigs, while presenting its TCO supervisory agreement to improve fleet maintenance and lower total cost of ownership.

Aramine and Epiroc sign mining and tunnelling distribution deal

Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , ,

Building on an already strong partnership, Epiroc and Aramine have signed a distribution contract that will see the France-based company become Epiroc’s official distributor of underground mining and tunnelling equipment in France and several Central and West African countries.

Aramine, which is already the official distributor of Epiroc drilling, loading and rock transport products, said: “The Epiroc product range for mines and tunnels perfectly completes the portfolio of machines dedicated to galleries of small and medium sections designed by Aramine.”

The African countries that Aramine will service include the Central African Republic, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea-Conakry, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo, according to the company.

Marc Melkonian, President of Aramine, said: “Epiroc’s trust is a mark of recognition of our long-standing partnership, and this obvious collaboration between our two companies allows us to offer a wide and complete solutions range for mines and tunnels to our customers.”

Aramine is strengthening its presence in certain countries in line with the Epiroc distribution deal.

For France, Pierre Donnadieu, a specialise in underground mining and tunnelling will join as the new Regional Sales Manager, while, on the African continent, the distribution of Epiroc products is ensured by Aramine Burkina, located in Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou.

Jean-Baptiste Corona, Director Epiroc France, said: “The long-term link between Aramine and Epiroc is historic regarding both our collaboration and the distribution of the products of our respective brands. It is therefore an important evolution of these relations since we work hand in hand in very active and demanding markets such as France and West Africa. We are developing a new local offer with this partnership, combining expertise, services and quality products.”