ROCK TOOLS
Sandvik ' s My Rock Tools - Analyze is a new mobile application designed to help customers improve their rock tool performance through analysing failure and discard reasons
an invitation from Sandvik to log in , download the app ( available both for iOS and Android ), provide some key product information , take a few photos of their worn out tool and then send it to Sandvik for analysis and feedback .
“ A big part of Sandvik ’ s DNA is continuous improvement in close collaboration with our customers , and My Rock Tools Analyze does precisely that , in a user friendly , fast and remote way . We truly believe that this will help our customers and us both in the short and long term ,” says Macfadyen . The My Rock Tools Analyze application is available for all Sandvik Rock Tools customers and can now be downloaded in App Store and Google Play Store .
Sandvik Rock Tools is also launching an entirely new product for its bench drilling Top Hammer customers : the Guide Adapter . It says that the solution enables customers to reduce hole deviation in challenging conditions by up to 50 % and achieve considerable cost savings .
Significant hole deviation (> 8 %) can pose problems
for many bench drilling companies that operate in challenging ground conditions such as bad and soft rock , as well as deep overburden . This often results in reduced productivity , safety risks and increased tool wear .
“ We are very happy to be able to offer the Guide Adapter to customers facing deviation problems in their day-to-day bench drilling operations . The Guide Adapter helps them to increase the service life of their drill string and also reduce the number of drilled holes , as well as the amount of blasting needed ,” says Fredrik Björk , Product Manager Top Hammer Surface Tools , Rock Tools Division , Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology .
Sandvik says the new Guide Adapter enables customers to achieve greater productivity , longer tool service life and improved safety . Ultimately , this can also lead to lower total operational costs .
“ We have conducted in-depth testing with our customers around the world and the results really do speak for themselves . By using the Sandvik Guide Adapter , our customers achieved a hole deviation between 3 % to 5 % - a reduction by up to 50 % - and also increased the service life of their rock tools by up to 40 %. This truly has an effect on both productivity and in turn , profitability ,” says Björk . The Guide Adapter is now available for T51 and GT60 Top Hammer threads in different diameters .
The very latest product news from Sandvik is that it will soon launch its Top Hammer XL , “ a new groundbreaking , comprehensive drilling system for large hole size top hammer drilling in surface mining applications .” It says the system has been proven in
Mincon ’ s one stop shop
Over the past few years , Mincon International has transformed its business from being a drilling consumables provider to offering a complete drilling solution from the top of the drill head all the way to the hammer and bits , whether in mining or the other markets it serves like waterwell , geothermal and construction . This includes development of products according to individual customer needs . This was exemplified in South Africa ’ s Northern Cape recently when it helped contractor Torque Africa drill to a record 1,019 m using a new Mincon reverse-circulation ( RC ) system in just nine days . This included the new MR120 hammer plus a range of RC bits .
The company told IM it has had contract wins in Chile , Africa and Australia covering turnkey solutions covering solutions as diverse as rod handling trucks to handle the Mincon rods to the drill bits themselves as well as onsite service . This transformation has been made possible by bolt-on acquisitions to increase on-the- ground service capability in certain geographies such as Pacific Bit in Canada in 2019 , which is now a fully integrated Mincon office in Vancouver serving western Canada . The company also opened a new Mincon Service Center , one of many in the US , in Statesville , North Carolina , building further on its bit manufacturing location in Benton , Illinois . In manufacturing , it has bought Finland ’ s Lehti Group in 2020 , part of Tampereen Konepajat Oy which delivers machined components and 3D-measured parts for customers . As a result of the acquisition , Mincon Nordic has become the company ’ s in-house manufacturer of geothermal drilling systems . Then there has been significant investment at the home factory in Shannon , Ireland , where all Mincon hammers continue to be made , as well as its other factories in Perth , Australia ( drill bits and pipes ); North Bay ( rotary drill bits ), Canada ; Johannesburg , South Africa ( drill pipes ) and Sunne , Sweden ( drill pipes ) plus the carbide factory in Sheffield , UK .
At Shannon , its continuous improvement strategy means there are numerous projects underway to meet the needs of mining customers . This includes new concepts for automation-enabling drill consumables and systems that are designed to work with autonomous drill rigs , not just adaptations of existing technology .
In ongoing innovation projects , Mincon also continues to develop its hydraulic DTH hammer innovation known as Greenhammer with some delays due to COVID- 19 . In its H1 2020 results it states : “ Product development has also been affected by the crisis , most notably with our customer in Australia for the hydraulic Greenhammer . Site access to the Greenhammer test site is still restricted , and with the re-imposition of lockdowns in Victoria and New South Wales we are waiting to hear when we can get back onsite . Once we get this confirmation , we will mobilise our team to get the 10 in system up and running and move to commercialisation of this exciting product for Mincon and the hard rock surface mining market .”
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020 | International Mining 53