ROCK TOOLS
This year LKAB Wassara introduced the W120 . G3-hammer
gravity is not sufficient to fracture the rock , it is common to drill vertical holes for preconditioning / propagation purposes . The length of these holes can be as long as the ore body , in some case longer than 250 m ; and accuracy is the key . Using Wassara hammers it argues is the only production drill method can guarantee accuracy at such lengths . Accuracy in drilling parallel holes is also a key factor as this will ultimately determine the success of the preconditioning / progagation .
Also in block cave mining , the main extraction level has to last the entire lifetime of the mine . This puts high demands on the team to achieve substantial rock reinforcement , for example by using steel arches , sprayed concrete , cable bolts , rock bolts , steel mesh , etc . It is essential that the rock is not damaged at the beginning of the process , ie during the blast . Wassara ’ s waterpowered hammers allow for the straightest holes and enable optimal circumstances to achieve a successful pre-split . By pre-splitting the draw bells , the additional rock reinforcement will further improve the stability instead of forcing the team to fix any issues by blasting . In other words , using Wassara hammers it says can be the difference between having a safe and productive area and having a hazardous area with limited production capabilities .
report . That concludes stage 1 .”
In stage 2 , Robit supplies the customer with Robit tools for the same tasks . Up front , it charges 20 % of the going rate of its products while promising 5 % cost savings compared to the current supplier . “ And here ’ s the beautiful part for the customer : if we don ’ t reach those 5 % savings – we will not charge a cent more ”, Kangas explains .
The RobitSave program was first piloted at the Kemi chromium mine – the only one of its kind in the European Union – run by Outokumpu Chrome . Kemi quarries some 3 Mt of rock yearly ( two-thirds ore , one-third waste rock ), and the expected remaining lifetime of the mine is 30 – 50 years .
The RobitSave test at Kemi covered cable bolting and production drilling consumables . As per the RobitSave contract , Robit charged 20 % of the price of the goods upfront . In total , the tests at the Kemi mine took some two months . “ It went extremely well . We had all the results in black and white ; our calculation chart showed undeniably that the cost-per-metre savings were way above the 5 % we had promised . Our customer was positively surprised , and we could charge the remaining 80 %,” Kangas says .
The coming months and years will see the RobitSave site audit program gradually deployed across all of Robit ’ s markets , it says .
Robit ’ s growth in Latin America
In terms of regional markets , Robit is making strides in Latin America . Robit PLC and Sotreq have signed a distribution agreement where
Sotreq will represent Robit and its products in Brazil . The partnership between Robit and Sotreq supports Robit ’ s goal to expand the company ’ s market coverage and strengthen its distributor network . Arto Halonen , Group CEO , Robit PLC : “ We are delighted to start cooperation with Sotreq . Robit ’ s high quality products , combined with Sotreq ’ s strong presence , service and customer base , provide customers in Brazil with a strong partner for their drilling consumables needs .”
Marcelo Orberg , CEO , Sotreq emphasises : “ We believe in the power of collaboration and the strength that comes from companies working together towards a common goal . Through the assumed cooperation with Robit , we are ready to conquer new challenges and continue our journey of growth in the Brazilian market . We are very confident in the expansion of underground mining . For this , it is essential to add technology to the activity , with state-of-the-art accessories , which add productivity to our customers ’ business .”
In Peru , iron ore miner Shougang Hierro Perú has recently added Robit drilling consumables to its drilling arsenal , following a string of tests comparing down-the-hole ( DTH ) tools , the Finland-based company says . A large share of the drilling and earthmoving operations at Shougang Hierro Perú is conducted by Cosapi Mineria , a subsidiary of Cosapi SA , one of Peru ’ s biggest construction and engineering companies and the company that Robit had to impress .
An open-pit operation typically makes extensive use of DTH tools for pre-split and buffer drilling . That ’ s why Shougang Hierro Perú , was an attractive target for Robit SAC to approach with its offering . José Luis Cisneros ,
RobitSave for drilling consumables
Beyond drill bits and other rock tools themselves , there are new ways of marketing premium drill consumables to mining sites , one of which is the new RobitSave site audit program from Finland ’ s Robit . Sales Director Kimmo Kangas recently explained the concept in more detail . “ Once we have identified and contacted a potential customer , our drillmaster visits their job site , surveys the relevant drilling tools they use , and documents their performance . The drillmaster does not make or recommend any changes in the setup ; they merely observe and numerically record the performance : penetration rate in metres / minute , the lifetime of the tools etc . Once they have collected enough data – in our pilot project , this took a week – they write a
RobitSave is a new way of doing business in drill consumables
22 International Mining | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2023