A down-the-hole (DTH) drill rig introduced to the market in 2018 has become the preferred choice for surface mines across Southern Africa, particularly in high-capacity production drilling applications.

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions says its Leopard DI650i DTH drill rig has surpassed expectations with a high uptake in markets across Southern Africa and the world at large.

“In Southern Africa alone, we have over 60 machines operating in the field, which is remarkable,” notes Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology sales engineer: surface drills department Trinity Nkosi. “Over the years, we have had a positive uptake, especially in South Africa, with coal, platinum group metals and iron-ore among the key recipient commodity markets to date.”

The machine features scalable automation packages to fully automate systems and increase overall productivity. iDrill onboard automatics cover the automated drilling cycle, ensuring consistent high-quality drilled holes. It is also compatible with AutoMine Surface Drilling to enable fully autonomous fleet operation from a control room.

“The machine’s ground-level access for daily service and maintenance tasks has led to up to 20% more availability compared with conventional DTH rigs at a similar technology level. The modular design of the machine further allows for easier repair or replacement of components,” says Nkosi.

Increased efficiency is another design benefit that has popularised the rig in the DTH market. The intelligent control technology applied in both the compressor and the hydraulic system’s cooler fan, helps to reduce fuel consumption compared to conventional DTH rigs.

“Up to 15% less fuel consumption per hour is achievable largely due to our efficiency-driven design of minimising recirculation of hot air to coolers and having an energy-on-demand principle across the entire machine,” adds Nkosi. “In addition, the compressor management system reduces compressor load for non-drilling activities, thus reducing fuel consumption.”

The intelligent control system also contributes to improved operational precision and efficiency. The company says its aligning system guarantees parallel direction holes while GPS technology allows for accurate hole placement. The one-hole full cycle drilling automatics with auto collaring and rock detection minimise hole losses and maximise drill bit life.