ROCK TOOLS
Sandvik Rock Tools has a unique market position in tungsten carbides, from mine to R & D and insert production through to recycling
our customers and set a new standard in the industry. We are proud to be able to support the mining industry with a new, next level, sustainable drilling solution that will support the mining industry to reach their environmental goals,” said Martin Hjerpe, President, Epiroc Tools Division.
Innovations with impact
Paul Moore reviews some rock tools innovations and developments across the top hammer, DTH and rotary markets
Major pivots in rock drilling technology don’ t happen often, but a recent move by Ireland’ s Mincon could represent a step change for some markets and customers. For decades, large-diameter blasthole drilling has relied on rotary tools or pneumatic DTH systems. Both approaches suffer significant energy losses between the power source and the rock face – especially when seeking higher penetration rates.
Mincon says its new Hybrid Impact Technology™( HIT), formerly referred to as Greenhammer, replaces compressed air with hydraulic energy, transferring power to the bit more directly with reduced energy loss.“ The result is a proven combination of higher penetration rates through dramatically improved energy efficiency and significantly decreased fuel usage, which together reduce total drilling cost( TDC).”
It says it is the culmination of R & D dating back to 2013 and builds on Mincon’ s pioneering work in developing highefficiency air-powered rock drilling solutions for mining, construction, and renewable energy.“ That extensive expertise, combined with Mincon’ s innovative spirit, helped to refine and develop this patented new hydraulic DTH technology during field testing in demanding conditions, from Australia to Arizona.”
In extensive mine testing, drilling 10⅝”( 270 mm) hole size on an adapted Epiroc PV271 drill rig, at an Arizona copper mine, a HIT-powered system demonstrated significant increases in drilling speed and reductions in fuel usage per foot drilled compared to the mine’ s current rotary drilling method. These speed gains and fuel savings combined to significantly reduce the total drilling cost( TDC) of drilling operations, along with a corresponding reduction in CO2 emissions, supporting decarbonisation goals without compromising production.
Under a three-year exclusive collaboration, Mincon and Epiroc will be integrating Hybrid Impact Technology™ on Epiroc’ s rotary blasthole drill rigs. Mincon’ s hydraulic DTH expertise and Epiroc’ s market-leading Pit Viper single-pass drill rigs will bring this technology into everyday production across global sites.
The technology is designed for largediameter single-pass blast hole drilling in medium to hard rock conditions for open-pit mining applications. Mincon and Epiroc plan further pilot deployments while progressing system integration and production. They are working together to integrate HIT into Epiroc blasthole rigs, combining Mincon tooling with Epiroc hardware, software, and control systems to deliver a production-ready hydraulic DTH solution. Additional technical details and availability timelines will be shared in the coming months.
“ HIT has been designed to deliver a step change in drilling performance for the mining industry. The long-term future demand for mined minerals, along with global decarbonisation goals, will require systems that offer much higher productivity while lowering carbon emissions. We’ re incredibly proud to bring this technology, in collaboration with Epiroc, to the mining market as a showcase of our innovation and collective capabilities,” said Joe Purcell, CEO, Mincon Group.
“ Epiroc is excited to embark on this longterm collaboration journey with Mincon and combine our advanced drilling technologies to raise the efficiency and performance in the large blasthole drilling activities of
P & V’ s Ninja button bit
Padley & Venables’ new advanced carbide technology Ninja button bit it says is the perfect all-round bit suitable for most hard rock, top hammer drilling applications. The distinct angled face grooves and deeper lateral flushing flutes aid rock removal from the bit face which increases drilling speed. The open face design of the bit allows rock to fall into the void between the three face tips before being crushed which adds directional stability and helps to create a straighter hole. This in turn reduces bending stresses on the rods, shanks and couplings thus reducing breakages and reducing overall drill steel consumption. The straighter holes also reduce the need for costly secondary drilling and blasting which is often the case with deviating holes. A T38, 64 mm Ninja bit, corresponding rod and Doofor shank have been displayed at some key mining industry events in growth markets, including Mining and Metals Central Asia in Kazakhstan in September.
Padley & Venables additionally told IM:“ All our Ninja Button Bits have been
P & V Ninja Button Bits have been designed by British engineers, experienced with the drilling process at mines globally
designed by British engineers, experienced with the drilling process at mines across the world. This experience is applied alongside state-of-the-art simulation software to create bits that work. All the manufacturing and heat treatment for our button bits is carried out in-house following rigorous quality procedures that comply with iso 9001:2015
48 International Mining | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025