Modern Quarrying Q4 2018

The Leopard DI650i joins Sandvik’s other i-series drill rigs compatible with the latest scalable automation solutions. “This results in maximum flushing pressure and penetration rates in challenging rock conditions, while still retaining the low fuel consumption of the traditional pressure control approach in easy ground conditions,” says Cooke. Lars Engström, President, Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology, says the machine is a game changer for Sandvik. “We see the trend towards digitalisation and autonomy in the mining sector as part of the industry’s response to low productivity and tough market conditions,” he says. He reveals that Sandvik already has significant number of machines operating in autonomous setups globally. The Leopard DI650i joins Sandvik’s other i-series drill rigs compatible with the latest scalable automation solutions. The latest onboard options include the TIM3D drill navigation with wireless data transfer; My Sandvik fleet monitoring system; and full-cycle drilling automatics, which merge functionalities such as uncoupling, feed auto aligning and feed auto positioning into a single efficient sequence. The capabilities can be further upgraded with more advanced modules such as single-rig or fleet remote control systems by Automine ® Surface Drilling. Ideal for contractors Andrews reasons that the new Leopard DI650i is ideally suited for the contract mining market because it speaks directly to lower fuel consumption,

The machine made its global debut at Electra Mining Africa 2018.

increased productivity and safety, three key parameters of sheer significance to mining contractors, especially in light of the current tough operating conditions. Consequently, mining contractor Aveng Moolmans has become the first company to deploy the first Leopard DI650i to work at its Northern Cape mining project. According to Stuart White, MD of Aveng Mining, the mining contractor is already a proud owner of over 50 Sandvik surface drill rigs. “The skills set we need for drills is intense, and we believe it makes sense for us to standardise our drills with the Sandvik range,” he says. White is mostly excited about the drill’s increased availability of up to 20% compared with conventional DTH rigs at a similar technology level. This is complemented by up to 15% reduced fuel consumption compared with conventional DTH rigs. “About 25% of the costs of contract mining are related to fuel. A 15% saving on fuel is significant and we are excited to be deploying this unit to work at our operation,” says White. White also mentions the versatility of the drill as another major talking point. “We will be able to drill hole diameters from 115 mm to 203 mm at the top end, and that’s quite a range,” he says, adding that normally rigs of this size range from 140 to 200 mm. In conclusion, White notes that

Joanne Cooke, President of Surface Drilling and Exploration at Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology, at the global launch at Electra Mining Africa 2018. mining starts with a hole in the ground, and if you don’t get it right, you end up with poor blasts and poor floor conditions. “Drilling is the first unit operation in the mining process and has a crucial impact on the performance and cost of subsequent unit operations. An increase in the degree of fragmentation gives loading equipment a higher rate of productivity. This translates into lower costs per tonne moved. The effect of wear and tear also decreases, offering lower operating cost per hour. All this starts with the right hole, and the new Leopard DI650i will give us exactly that,” concludes White. l

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MODERN QUARRYING QUARTER 4 - 2018