SURFACE DRILLING
productive time can be assessed; the other
showing what has actually been achieved with
autonomous drilling, which was very close to what
the models predicted.
Looking at much less digitised drill models, at
CONEXPO-CON/AGG, Epiroc showcased the DM30
II SP (Single Pass) rotary blasthole drill for
quarrying and small mining operations. The
crawler-mounted, hydraulic tophead-drive rig it
says offers faster hole-to-hole drilling and a lower
cost per tonne through single-pass capability.
Interestingly, this is effectively another global
launch of what is already one of the market
leading drills in India, where Epiroc has been
offering the DM30 II for a number of years (see
REL section including India market discussion). It
was launched originally in 2014 replacing the low
pressure DM30 and has been manufactured in
Above and below: Blasthole drill productivity – the autonomous upside from real results
Epiroc made a global launch of its DM30 II SP
drill at CONEXPO
Nanjing, China. Aside from India it has also proved
popular in Indonesia and Mongolia.
Built off the same reliable platform as the
Epiroc DM45 and DML blasthole drill rigs, the
DM30 II SP is suitable for a variety of single-pass
rotary and down-the-hole (DTH) drilling
applications. It can achieve a clean hole depth of
11 m (36 ft) for single-pass applications. The small
footprint of the DM30 II makes it easy to
manoeuvre on tight benches and simple to transport
within the pit and over the road between pits.
“The DM30 II SP offers a low total cost of
ownership, with a structure design life exceeding
45,000 hours. The single-pass capability allows for
faster hole-to-hole drilling and decreases the cost
per ton. Its design and layout grants quick and
easy access to all major service points, simplifying
maintenance.”
APRIL 2020 | International Mining