ROCK TOOLS
severe negative on the overall fragmentation of
the blast.”
With the controlled amount of deviation LKAB
can achieve a significantly improved ore recovery
and also minimise the amount of dilution. “Lean
production is generally being described by two
fundamental principles: just-in-time and
automation with a human touch. The just-in-time
principle is built on the concept of minimising as
much wastage as possible in the beginning of a
process. This is exactly what the Wassara hammer
focuses on. By ensuring that the drill design
becomes a reality, the basis of an optimal
fragmentation will be achieved. The optimal
fragmentation will decrease operating times since
less dilution has to be handled and numerous
studies show that a homogenous fragmentation
will increase the overall throughput in the following
mining pr ocesses. In other words, hole accuracy is
the key to limiting the amount of wastage.”
The second key principle, automation with a
human touch, is also a principle that the Wassara
hammer emphasises and is necessary in order to
achieve the desired fragmentation. In the LKAB
mines, the drilling process is very autonomous
with just one drill operator controlling two drill
rigs. When drilling with Wassara, the dimension
of the hammer should always be matched with
the dimension of the drill bit. This process can be
autonomised by programming the drill rig to
know when it is time to exchange the Wassara
hammer. “Without this feature, which lean
production refers to as automation with
intelligent machinery, the fragmentation would
most likely be worse.”
New drilling service agreement for
Sandvik in China
In an industry where an hour of downtime can
cost thousands, Sandvik says its 365 service
agreements can save customers millions. At a
remote Chinese mine the company says it has
created a win-win situation of reduced costs and
improved, predictable productivity. Following a
30-year-long business relationship, Guizhou
Kailin Group Co Ltd (Kailin) chose a Sandvik 365
service solution to complement the company’s
fleet of 65 Sandvik drill units in operation
across its four mines in Jinzhong, in southwest
China.
A Sandvik-branded maintenance container is
equipped with professional maintenance tools,
testing tools, original parts and a back-up drill to
reduce downtime. Since the agreement was
signed in 2016, Sandvik has provided on-demand
services that include on-site inspection,
evaluation, maintenance and overhauling, and
Sandvik technicians run a service exchange at
the Kailin service yard in the centre of Jinzhong.
“Kailin and Sandvik have been cooperating for
more than 30 years, so we know each other’s
methods very well,” says Jun Chen, Sandvik Key
Account Manager. “We have matched and aligned
our operational method according to Kailin’s.
Everything from the supplying of the parts to the
operations to the after-market service is
designed with customer satisfaction in mind.”
As the mining operation expands, so does the
pressure on the Sandvik fleet. In 2016, Kailin
approached Sandvik with a need to improve
maintenance routines. Lin Ouyang, Vice Manager
of Drilling at Kailin and Chen from Sandvik, have
a flexible arrangement based on mutual trust.”
“The container solution is designed to
increase our ability to perform maintenance and
repairs on site,” says Ouyang from Kailin. “It
helps us to reduce the likelihood of problems and
fix the problems that do occur in a more efficient
way. Before the regular maintenance was
introduced, drilling a single blasthole could take
up to 90 seconds. Now, with the machines
properly serviced, the average is down to 60
seconds. The price we pay for this service
contract is very small considering the efficiency
improvements we are seeing.”
Xingfeng Lu is one of the Sandvik technicians
based in Jinzhong. He says the convenience to
the customer is the biggest benefit, but he notes
that flexibility is required. “The plan is to give the
local technicians training whenever there is an
issue with the rock drill, but in such remote areas
we need to work together and be prepared to
pitch in,” he says. “If the customer is short on
Your
complete source
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DRILLING rock
SURFACE
DRILLING TOOLS
Whether you are drilling thru a mountain or a mole hill, we’ve got a durable,
dependable solution for you. If you need tools for construction, mining, or
demolition—we’re the only name you need to know.
Call (800) 872-6899 or visit BrunnerLay.com
46 International Mining | NOVEMBER 2017
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UNDERGROUND
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