REBUILDS
Centre , which now calls the mining hub of Sudbury , Ontario its home .
With similar Epiroc Reman facilities opening their doors across the globe , this Reman Centre is a modern addition to the program , which manages the process of recycling components to the newest and latest specifications . This global program guarantees availability of components and offers an industry leading warranty to give customers added confidence in their component ’ s performance capabilities on site .
The Reman Program is designed to have a high level of interaction with customers and their machine operating fleet . It is a commitment to work together and achieve operational excellence through collaboration .
By working closely with customers and utilising forecasting tools , the Reman Program takes a predictive approach and ensures components are accessible so they can meet the needs of each mine ; the global supply chain keeps equipment flowing to customer sites right as they need it , ready to perform . The highly trained on‐site technicians routinely utilise modern testing equipment to ensure no fault goes unchecked and the component is remanufactured to its fullest potential .
Since the testing methods are the foundation of a successful rebuild , the Epiroc‐designed test bench uses engineered program tests to confirm the product quality is able to meet or surpass the strictest of standards .
Managing the cores is a key element of the program and utilising Core Notification Management Systems ensure this part of the process flows seamlessly .
“ This investment into new facilities in Tucson , Arizona ( USA ) and Sudbury , Ontario ( Canada ) combined with the launch of our new Reman Program will allow us to support the mining industry with much more than just traditional powertrain components ,” says Jess Kindler , President Epiroc ’ s Parts & Services division . “ The program sets the highest quality and performance standards with continuous lifecycle improvements , delivery and reliability through our interactive forecasting system and an industry leading recycling and remanufacturing strategy .” straddles the Andes close to the Chilean border and is an eight-hour drive from the nearest city of San Juan . It is located in the gold-rich Frontera District at over 5,000 m above sea level at its highest , where the temperature ranges from + 30 ° C in the summer to -50 ° C in winter . The operation is also subject to high winds of over 100 mph .
Central to the whole gold mining operation , the machines have been working there since it opened in 2005 and are still performing well with an 84 % availability rate . The Sandvik D90 is one of the most powerful self-propelled crawler mounted blasthole drills for mining . They are designed to rotary drill 9 ” to 13.75 ” ( 229- 349mm ) diameter holes – at depths of up to 85m . They boast good visibility , powerful slewing and strutless mast support , helping them drill very productively . With blasting on a continuous basis , all year round , the Sandvik D90s at Veladero are working continuously , drilling 40 holes each a day , sufficient for up to 1 Mt of rock with each blast .
That ’ s not to say they don ’ t break down . As Maximiliano Davico , Sandvik ’ s Key Account Manager in Argentina , says : “ In these conditions , ultimately everything breaks in the end . But these drills have been incredibly reliable – and outlasted even our most optimistic expectations . They were forecast to last for 70,000 hours – or 11 years . But here they are , well north of 100,000 hours and 15 years , and still proving to be more productive than newer competitor machines on the site . Even the factory is surprised at how well they are working . They are proving to be worth their weight in gold .”
Much of the secret of success Sandvik says is a close relationship with client and manufacturer , with Barrick sharing machine data and drilling plans , allowing Sandvik to establish an effective maintenance plan for each rig . The machines have enjoyed comprehensive overhauls during their lives , including replacement engines and compressors , subgroup assemblies and proactive component exchanges before failure . Despite their age , Sandvik ’ s focus on constant support has stabilised the reliability of the Sandvik D90s . Smart Inspections help identify potential problems , which produce action reports that , over the years , has included , among many other things , the replacement of the entire 30 t mast assemblies . The extreme cold is also tough on frames , with temperatures swinging from -50 ° C on startup to + 40 ° C when at operating temperatures – a thermal shock of 90 ° C causing steel expansion that can lead to structural cracking .
Given its remote location , and strict government import regulations , ensuring a ready supply of spare parts is crucial to keeping these essential machines operational . To prevent rig downtime an ample supply of parts is kept at the mine ( by a consignment agreement ) and in a buffer store in the capital , Buenos Aires . “ Having worked for so long at this site , we have had ample failure data to form accurate predictions on component lifespans at the site ,” says Davico . “ We base our replacement strategy using this data , to prevent unplanned stoppages due to component failure . Key to the success of this is our good relationship between Barrick ’ s maintenance and operations departments , which helps to minimise the impact of taking machines out of the line for repair .”
Veladero is also home to some 5,000 workers , all housed in a well-appointed mining community that includes its own 4G communications and hospital . Barrick has committed to extend the life of the mine for 10 more years and elevate it to a Tier One asset that produces over 500,000 oz a year of gold . The Sandvik D90s , soon to be fitted and connected by Newtrax with monitoring systems , have years of productive drilling ahead .
IM
Overhauls as part of long term performance
Five Sandvik D90 crawler-mounted blasthole drills have been operating for over 16 years at the Veladero gold mine in Argentina – now a JV between Barrick and Shandong Gold , in what is one of the world ’ s harshest environments , high up in the Andes . With more than 100,000 hours on each machine , these drills have been kept in top form , thanks to the right approach to planning , parts and maintenance . Veladero
Five Sandvik D90 crawler-mounted blasthole drills have been operating for over 16 years at the Veladero gold mine in Argentina
FEBRUARY 2022 | International Mining 73