Tag Archives: surface drills

Sandvik seals largest-ever single surface drills order from Country Boy Supply

Automation, Mining equipment, Mining services, Mining software, , , , , , , , , ,

Country Boy Supply, LLC, one of the newest dealers for Sandvik in the USA, has selected Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions to supply 34 surface drill rigs to replace its current contractor fleet in Georgia and Tennessee, the largest-ever single surface drills order for Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions.

Country Boy Supply (CBS) already had a large order focusing on the construction market in Georgia and Tennessee when Two Eight Drilling, its largest customer, approached CBS with a decision to switch to Sandvik equipment.

The record-setting order includes 16 Leopard™ DI650i drills, six Leopard DI550 drills, five Pantera™ DP1600i drills, three Ranger™ DX800 drills, three Ranger DX700 drills and one Pantera DP1500i drill.

“We were impressed with the productivity and uptime of the Sandvik surface equipment and made a strategic choice to flip our entire fleet,” CBS customer Brent Taylor, CEO of Two Eight Drilling, said. “We look forward to gaining all productivity improvements and testing the latest automation technology. CBS and Sandvik support was also un-paralleled.”

Deliveries are scheduled to start in the March quarter of 2024.

Jake Schmidtlein, General Manager of Country Boy Supply, LLC, said: “The key to getting this across the finish line was that both teams at CBS and Sandvik, along with the other members of the supply chain, worked together seamlessly. This is an excellent example of how business-led collaboration across the whole chain can create value for all parties.”

The surface drill rigs will be used for production drilling in various large quarries or open-pit mines, as well as construction work sites. Sandvik intelligent surface drill rigs bring the latest technology to surface mining applications, the OEM says. Designed to work in the toughest operating conditions, these rigs combine power with precision and are designed for efficiency and operator comfort.

“We are delighted to partner with Country Boy Supply and deliver the most productive and powerful surface drill rigs available to upgrade their fleet,” Ville Keinänen, Business Line Manager for Surface Drills, Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, said. “These new drill rigs will help increase profitability and productivity over their lifecycle. Our partnership will further strengthen Sandvik’s position in the surface drilling solutions market.

“Automation will be a key feature in the fleet upgrade as some of the drills will be equipped with AutoMine® readiness. We look forward to continuing to work hand-in-hand to add value to CBS’ business.”

LiuGong appoints Kris Kulkarni as it strives for ‘world-class’ mining product line

Automation, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining people, Mining services, , , , , , , , , ,

LiuGong Machinery has made Kris Kulkarni Vice President, Global Mining, at LiuGong North America.

Kulkarni began his professional career at Caterpillar, in 1996, in structures, and steadily progressed in engineering roles across diverse mining products including large wheel loaders, mining trucks, surface drills, and hydraulic shovels, LiuGong said.

“LiuGong has an emerging portfolio of mining products, including trucks, large tonnage wheel loaders, excavators and bulldozers,” the company said. “Kris is exceptionally well qualified to help lead the transformation of this mining product line to world-class levels.”

LiuGong Vice President of Strategy & Aftersales and Chairman of LiuGong North America, Kevin Thieneman, said: “Kris’ extensive background and knowledge of the mining industry brings an exciting new dynamic to our company. As LiuGong is committed to expanding not only product its current line-up of mining machines but its overall understanding of these highly specialised customers, Kris will be an invaluable part of that growth.”

Kulkarni said: “I am excited to have the opportunity to join an organisation so focused on customers and employees. LiuGong has a rich 60-year history, and an inspiring vision for its future. I look forward to helping write the next chapter as we broaden the portfolio by designing and manufacturing machines in a larger-size class which offer our customers the lowest total cost of ownership.”