Tag Archives: Robert Grandin

Sandvik launches the CT55 and CT67, its most advanced top hammer tool systems yet

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Featuring an industry-first curved thread design, Sandvik’s new CT55 and CT67 top hammer tool systems are, the OEM says, the most advanced it has launched.

The unique design increases efficiency and reduces cost while saving fuel and simplifying automated drilling in surface bench and underground longhole applications, it says.

The new multi-patented, first-of-its-kind curved thread design from Sandvik reduces stress levels by distributing them over a larger area inside the tool. This enables the system to handle higher drilling power and a drill rig’s full potential.

“We are proud to offer an innovation that delivers significantly increased efficiency, since higher drilling parameters are allowed with fewer stops for breakages,” Anders Brungs, Vice President Product Line Top Hammer at Sandvik, said. “Our design increases productivity by 15% while reducing fuel consumption by 15%, as faster drilling means less flushing time.”

Sandvik’s unique new curved thread CT system is designed to increase drilling productivity and reduce cost both underground and on the surface.

“Surface drill rigs have much more power than current standard tools can handle,” Fredrik Björk, Product Manager for Top Hammer Surface Tools at Sandvik, said.

“This means the full potential of the drill rig cannot be used. Our new CT system radically increases the fatigue strength and we’ve also seen 30% longer tool life together with better hole precision in our product evaluation tests with early-adopting customers. This is a fully optimised system that includes the drill rig, the rock drill and the rock tool. The CT system also brings out the full potential of Ranger™ DXi and Pantera™ DPi rigs.”

The higher productivity of the CT systems can be reached with more aggressive settings for parameters like percussion, rotations and feed.

“Trouble-free drilling is key when operating underground,” Robert Grandin, Product Manager for Top Hammer Underground Tools at Sandvik, said. “In addition to higher productivity and lower cost, the extended service life of our CT system will be especially important for underground operations where tool breakages create frustration and interrruptions.

“The stronger geometry that comes with the curved thread design boosts tool service life by more than 30%. The curved design also makes the CT system automation-ready, since easy coupling and uncoupling in itself is an important enabler for automation, a vital technology in many underground operations.”

Sandvik’s new curved thread systems, CT55 and CT67 for surface mining and CT67 for underground mining, are now available. Drill bit diameters are 89-127 mm on CT55 and 102-140 mm on CT67, plus reaming bits 152-204 mm.

Sandvik brings new Alpha thread profile to top hammer drilling applications

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Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions is launching Sandvik Alpha™ 340 asymmetric drilling tools, a new thread concept within its top hammer drilling offering for mining and tunnelling that replaces the Sandvik Alpha 330 thread system.

The new concept delivers up to 30% longer service life and increased productivity, according to the company.

The new Sandvik Alpha 340 thread is designed for use in face drilling and bolting in mine development and tunnelling, with hole sizes ranging from 43-51 mm. It features an entirely new asymmetric thread profile and has a larger diameter on the bit end thread of the drifter rod, reducing stress levels in critical areas, according to the company. Uncoupling is also easier than in previous designs, saving both time and effort.

Perhaps the biggest potential lies in the increased service life of the drill rod: with Sandvik Alpha 340, customers can achieve up to 30% longer service life – significantly increasing productivity and reducing cost per metre advanced, Sandvik says.

Robert Grandin, Product Manager Top Hammer Underground Rock Tools at Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, said: “The Sandvik Alpha 330 concept has served our customers extremely well over the past 20 years, ensuring highly reliable and productive drilling. With the launch of its successor, we create a revolutionising new way of working with top hammer rock tools, thanks to its asymmetric design. This new concept will deliver both immediate and long term value for our customers.”

The new thread concept also comes with improved drill bits. Sandvik’s PowerCarbide™ grades will be more widely available in the standard assortment, and many bits get design upgrades with more gauge angles or larger buttons for increased robustness.

“The new system is the driller’s choice,” Grandin said. “It is very user friendly and provides easy uncoupling – which saves a lot of frustration for the driller – but also increases productivity, leading to better drilling results.”

The new Sandvik Alpha 340 thread concept will replace its predecessor Sandvik Alpha 330 in a phase-out process over the coming quarters.

Sandvik extends grinding intervals and service life with new rock drill carbide grades

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Sandvik has launched what it calls the most significant carbide innovation in the rock drilling industry for decades, with the two new additions to its PowerCarbide family.

The two new carbide grades extend grinding intervals and service life by up to 30% compared with standard carbides, according to the company.

The GC80 (Gradient Carbide) and SH70 (Self-Hardening) PowerCarbide grades give users several other benefits, such as lower cost per drilled meter, less time for changing bits and improved safety.

Robert Grandin, Product Manager for Underground Top Hammer at Sandvik Rock Tools, said: “Sandvik was the first company in the drilling history to manufacture rock tools with cemented carbide, and we are working continuously on developing new and more advanced solutions. The new PowerCarbide grades are based on an improved knowledge about the wear of the drill bit in different types of rock.”

The GC80 is developed for abrasive ground conditions with high silica levels in the rock, Sandvik said. A new, unique method makes it possible to produce buttons that are wear-resistant on the outside, while the centre provides a toughness that pushes the service life and grinding intervals even further.

The SH70, developed for hard, competent ground, is a grade with homogeneous properties throughout the material. It is called “self-hardening” because the enhanced deformation hardening makes it more wear resistant as you drill. “The surface hardness is continuously ‘refilled’, which means that the hard top never wears off,” Sandvik says.

Sandvik says it has more laboratory capacity and human resources for cemented carbide development than any other company in the industry.

Grandin added: “Controlling the whole chain, all the way from our own tungsten mine to the production of drill bits, is a unique enabler for developing groundbreaking rock tools. Since we have the most advanced range of carbides, we almost certainly have something in our product range that is perfect for each customer’s conditions.”

Earlier this month, Sandvik introduced a new drilling tool system, the Alpha 360, and what it believes to be the fastest drill bit in the industry, Speedy bit.

Sandvik breaks new ground with introduction of industry’s fastest drill bit

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Sandvik thinks it has introduced the fastest drill bit in the industry with its new Speedy bit.

In addition to 10% higher drilling speed compared with standard bits with ballistic buttons, the Speedy bit also delivers great collaring accuracy and hole quality, according to the company.

Sandvik said the increased speed enables Speedy bit users to save one hour per day for each drill rig.

Robert Grandin, Product Manager for Underground Top Hammer at Sandvik Rock Tools, said: “Sandvik is continuing to break ground in the drilling business with the introduction of Speedy bit. With increased drilling speed, customers can expect significant cost savings. This can translate into more than $100,000/y.”

He added: “Since drilling faster also reduces machine-related costs per metre advanced, such as for operators and maintenance, the Speedy bit is an excellent example of our aim to always maximise the output of our customers’ investments.”

The Speedy bit, which features one of Sandvik’s new PowerCarbide grades, outperforms the standard bits in the industry with aggressive buttons that penetrate deeper with each strike and increased cutting size, according to Sandvik.

The patented elevated front breaks the rock in two levels and improves the flushing flow, while large sludge grooves enable quick removal of large cuttings.

Sandvik Speedy bits are available in three dimensions: 45 mm, 48 mm and 51 mm.

Grandin said the Speedy bit has proven its performance in the field during more than 20 trials in mine development and tunnelling. “On average, drill speed increased by 9% compared to bits with ballistic buttons, including several regrinds,” he said.

Sandvik offers a full drill string from shank adapter to bit, designed for reliability, performance and longevity. The Speedy bit, which is available to order, is developed to boost productivity in the whole drilling process.

The introduction of the Speedy bit comes a day after Sandvik released its new drilling tool system, the Alpha 360.

Sandvik releases next generation Alpha 360 drilling tool system

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Sandvik is introducing a new drilling tool system, the Alpha 360, which it says is an improved and amplified version of the company’s best-selling Alpha 330 top hammer system (pictured).

With a reinforced design, Alpha 360 can last twice as long as a standard industry thread. Its hole accuracy also enables higher productivity in tunneling and mine development, according to Sandvik.

The system has been developed to deliver “unprecedented rock tools performance” and, at the same time, boost productivity in the whole drill-and-blast cycle, Sandvik said.

Robert Grandin, Product Manager for Underground Top Hammer, at Sandvik Rock Tools, said: “Alpha 360 is yet another example of our aim to provide customers with products that will maximise the output of their investments.

“High drilling accuracy is crucial to ensure that the tunnel gets the desired direction and profile. Straight and parallel holes also improve the advance per blast.”

The Alpha 360, which is designed for Ø48-51-mm-hole sizes in face drilling and bolting, features a strong thread design. The short thread on the round rod gives superior resistance towards bending stresses, improved bit guidance and excellent energy transfer, according to Sandvik.

The sturdy thread is guided inside the bit skirt, which enables high precision collaring also in complex rock formations and against uneven surfaces.

Grandin said: “As a leading supplier to the rock drilling industry, Sandvik continues to drive the technology forward. We always offer a full drill string from shank adapter to bit, designed for excellent reliability, performance and longevity.”