Modern Mining February 2024

UNDERGROUND MINING

Underground drilling technology is moving apace to deliver not only greater accuracy and productivity but also more detailed operating data, alongside the opportunity for safer drilling practice by remote control. Future of drilling has arrived, from intelligent to battery electric

W ith its wide range of underground drill rigs and bolters, Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions is seeing customers moving steadily towards the concept of intelligent drilling – with some looking at the battery electric models for the future. According to Khomotso Duiker, Business Line Manager for

Khomotso Duiker, Business Line Manager for Underground Drills at Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions.

Underground Drills at Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, the Sandvik 400 Series of larger drilling machines – as well as

the Sandvik 300 Series – now includes models with intelligent features. “Using our iSURE®

iSURE ® allows users to run automated drilling cycles.

machines,” he says. “Our in-house training depart ment is then able to conduct any orientation and training that the customer requires for itsoperators and maintenance teams.” He emphasises how important it is for operators to understand the full benefit of the automated func tions, which include higher levels of safety and better productivity. The levels of automation can vary from one machine to the whole fleet and can extend to full automation that can complete an entire develop ment end without operator intervention. A valuable innovation in the intelligent machine models is their ability to download the mine’s drill plan for the development ends, he points out, and to execute the drilling process exactly according to that plan. This improves the profile drilled, which enables a more effective blast that avoids any underbreak or overbreak. “The tele-remote function allows the drill to be controlled from surface, as long as there is the required on-site network infrastructure,” says Duiker.

Intelligent Sandvik Under ground Rock Excavation software, users can run automated drilling cycles,” says Duiker. “In Southern Africa, certain of our diamond mining cus tomers are already using our DD422i development drill rigs, as well as our DL422i and DL432i top hammer longhole drill rigs.” He highlights that the integration of intelligent technology is an exciting but demanding phase in which Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions works closely with customers to train operators and sup port the change management process. Making a key contribution here are Sandvik’s Product Masters, who are experts in the equipment being rolled out. “They are the ‘best of the best’, and we deploy them to facilitate the introduction of first-in-country machines, and to support commissioning of new

Sandvik’s recycling initiative has been extracting over six tonnes of carbide material annually.

Right: Sandvik’s Digital Driller™ allows operators to learn anywhere, anytime. Below: Data collected from the drill rig improves the work cycle and the drill and blast excavation process.

32  MODERN MINING  February 2024