Sandvik Rock Processing says it has completed a full refurbishment of a hydraulic breaker and a breaker boom at a gold mine in Ghana.

The large range Sandvik BR3288i hydraulic breaker, mounted on a Sandvik BB8094R breaker boom, is positioned at the gold mine’s run-of-mine (RoM) grizzly, where it breaks large boulders after blasting to prevent blockages and streamline the crushing process.

“This project restored a vital asset that plays a central role in the mine’s primary crushing circuit,” says Sandvik Rock Processing senior service technician Amos Fordjour.

Fordjour explains that the work began on site, where the company dismantled the 11 t boom assembly using the mine’s cranes. The components were then transported to the company’s facilities in Kumasi where technicians stripped the units and checked whether critical components such as pins, bushings, cylinder seals and mounting brackets required replacement.

According to Sandvik Rock Processing graduate technician Haqq Abdul Rahman maintaining a strong inventory of components and spares is key to speeding up refurbishment projects. He notes that many mines struggle with oversized material arriving at the RoM grizzly and temporary mobile breakers typically take far longer to process these rocks.

“This particular unit breaks oversized rocks much faster than the smaller mobile units that the mine had to rely on while this one was being refurbished,” explains Rahman.

After the rebuild was completed, Sandvik Rock Processing returned to site to install and commission the breaker. The company says the three-week process required close coordination with the mine to manage crane access, electrical connections, equipment positioning and safety protocols.

Rahman explains that the refurbished boom and hydraulic breaker deliver several operational benefits. Restored original equipment manufacturer clearances and structural integrity ensure smoother swing and boom movement, more efficient energy transfer and high twist capacity, all of which contribute to improved durability under high-impact conditions.

“For the mine, the biggest impact is uptime and production,” he says. “Without this breaker, their crushing circuit slows down considerably; now that it is back to full performance production is consistent again.”

Fordjour adds that the company conducts quarterly inspections to check pins, seals and overall structural condition and that the service team remains available for call-outs whenever required.