IM 2020 June 20 | Page 35

UNDERGROUND DRILLING robustness, efficiency, a low failure rate and easy maintenance. We utilise Montabert drills in our solutions as the Montabert drifters are more reliable and have a higher brand respect and recognition compared to local brands.” Siton’s key models include its two boom coal mining jumbo, and its one and two boom DW2-50 mining jumbos which are fitted with the Montabert HC50 as standard or HC109 as an option. The production drills XTDL-2, XTDL-3 and XTDL-4 all have a Montabert HC109 drill. Sandvik operates in China via a JV with Chinese OEM Lingong known as Lingong Mining Machinery and Rock Technology Co Ltd (LGMRT) to manufacture mid-tier level mining jumbos like the UD392 Underground Drill, while Sandvik Mining also sells its premium jumbos and production drills to the biggest mining operators direct. LGMRT also makes LHDs, underground trucks and other products in cooperation with Sandvik. It states: “LGMRT is a joint venture co-established by Sandvik Group of Sweden and Lingong Group in May 2016. LGMRT makes full use of Sandvik's advantages in mining and rock equipment products and technology, as well as the advantages of Lingong Group in the mid-end technology and mid-market operations. It provides over ten types of mining and rock equipment Epiroc's rock drill offer to Chinese drill rig OEMs includes the 18 kW RD 18U for 35-64 mm holes; a less complex option with fewer parts and settings which is intuitive to maintain and overhaul products in four categories for the Chinese market, other BRIC countries, and countries along the Belt and Road, eg surface drill rigs, underground loading and hauling equipment, underground trucks and underground drills.” Epiroc is an important player in China both with its main global range of jumbos and production drills but also through sales of its rock drills independently to Chinese drill OEMs. These are in the main RD drifters dedicated to the Chinese market rather than the COP drills. These include the RD 22U, a straightforward hydraulic rock drill for underground production drilling applications (64-102 mm) as well as the 14 kW RD 14U and 18 kW RD 18U both for 35-64 mm holes. All these drills are less complex with fewer parts and settings so are intuitive to maintain and overhaul. Discussing Chinese drifter companies, the largest is Zhangjiagang Free Trade Zone Yongda Machinery, a Taiwan company, with a factory in Jiangsu on mainland China, which has seen continual growth in recent years. Its models include the Yonda brand hydraulic drifters YHD90 (13 kW) and YHD210 (13 kW) as well as the YHD950 (25 kW) and YYG265 (35 kW). Aside from Yongda and its Yonda products there is Lianhuashan Rock Tools (LHS) in Huludao City, Liaoning Province with its main models of drifter being the HYD200 and HYD300. This is a traditional local company which benefitted from technology transfer from Secoma in the early 1980s, when Secoma sold the technology of its Hydrastar 200 and its two boom jumbo to China. Lianhuashan states: “In 1986, LHS imported production technology for the HYD200 hydraulic drifter from Secoma France and manufactured the first Chinese hydraulic drifter. Continuously strengthening innovation, research and development, LHS successively launched the new products HYD350E and YD150, and upgraded products of the HYD200E and HYD300E on the basis of HYD200 and HYD300. The introduction of the new products expands the product line of hydraulic drifters, and meets customers' requirements on hydraulic drifters for different functions.” As an example, compared to the HYD200, LHS says the HYD300E has the advantages of optimised rotation structure, leak reduction, significantly improved stability, high adaptability for complicated conditions and low maintenance cost. IM Brunner & Lay Mining & 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