IM 2020 April 20 | Page 63

SURFACE DRILLING extends functionality across entire fleets of drills for example. SICA also offers a high degree of A team from contractor Basil Read on a visit to REL’s manufacturing facility in Coimbatore, India interoperability. Harris says: “Both SICA combined with the drill’s design not only enable automation functionality; but are a core difference between our solution and the other solutions on the market. Software between solutions, with time, can be duplicated, transferred, or improved; but to maximise efficiency and reduce fuel burn thereby also reducing CO 2 footprint and extending engine and changes to the core architecture and machine design are a bit more permanent. Sandvik opted not to rush out a solution and instead has worked hard to get the architecture and design right; which are geared towards automation but also maintainability and performance.” On the main blasthole drill range, the latest model release from June 2019 was designed to compressor life. Revathi Equipment looks overseas again India’s leading manufacturer of mining blasthole drills is Revathi Equipment Limited (REL) based in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The company reminded IM of its unique history, as it was founded in 1977 as improve efficiency and deliver dependable penetration in the world’s harshest mining conditions especially in large copper and gold operations. The Sandvik DR416i delivers a single- Revathi CP Equipment Ltd (RECP) following support in the form of financial and technical collaboration from Chicago Pneumatic in the US. pass capacity of 21 m, the longest single-pass mast in its class. Constructed for large diameter (406 mm rotary drilling, the Sandvik DR416i is automation-ready, scalable, and the company says Atlas Copco then bought RECP in 1987. Then when Atlas Copco bought Ingersoll Rand in 2002, the Delhi, India-based Renaissance Group acquired REL. In 2004 the company began collaborating with Bucyrus, which ran to October 2010 and saw supplies the highest rotational torques and pulldown forces at the lowest possible operating cost. It’s also equipped with the patented Compressor Management System (CMS), designed to reduce the compressor load allowing the operator to manage air volumes and pressures Bucyrus 33, 35 and 37 DTH drills made in India and sold worldwide with Caterpillar engines. Customers included Vale in Brazil, Kinross Gold, OCP in Morocco and several Australian miners. When Bucyrus bought Terex in 2010 the agreement was not extended because of conflicts of interest then Bucyrus itself was bought by Caterpillar. The point is that under CP and Atlas Copco, then through the tie-up with Bucyrus, the company acquired a vast amount of design and Brunner & Lay Mining g & Construction Tools American made and Family owned since 1882 PAVING BREAKERS DEMOLITION TOOLS ROCK DRILLING American Made! Quality, Performance, Value and Reliability, since 1882. 1510 N Old Missouri Rd, Springdale AR 72764 ph 479 756-0880 fx 479 756-5366 Call (800) 872-6899 or visit BrunnerLay.com