SURFACE DRILLING
New heights and horizons
For an update on Komatsu ’ s growing line-up of surface drills in mining , IM spoke to its Product Director for Drills , Matt Collins
Q Can you provide a brief overview on the current status of the new ZR drill program in terms of commercial rollout for each model ? MC We have had great partnerships in North America introducing new drill products . Additionally , we have had success in Latin America deploying new ZR drills in iron and copper drilling applications for hard rock . The new drills are equipped with new technology , where automation has further enabled success .
Q Can you talk about any ZR developments with regard to demand for conversion to electric operation as well as the application of autonomy ? MC There has been a lot of activity happening with electric solutions . We have been working with engaged sites mapping out how electrification and autonomy impact business operations , investment required , and general ownership and operation . While we ’ re not currently able to publicly share information about that work , we expect we ’ ll be able to soon . Our history supporting a global fleet of electric drills and electric rope mining shovels has made this a welcomed transition .
Q Have you had any specific positive comments on the ZR models versus equivalents from other OEMs ? MC We have had some positive feedback on our ZR drills centred around productivity and performance . More specifically , an increased penetration rate that is delivered by the innovative mast design with a rack-andpinion pulldown , while maintaining hole quality . The method of drilling , combined with our upgraded autodrill software , enables increased production . We have also experienced success with optimising the time it takes to complete non-drilling functions , such as auto level and mast raise / lower . Those quicker cycle times pair well with operator feedback on comfort with machine stability and responsiveness . Finally , the drill diagnostics and service tools created are enabling continued advancements in the area of elimination of live work .
Q Last year , we reported that the ZR122 had performed well at a taconite customer location in Minnesota and that it had met all of its KPIs - what is the latest with this model ? MC We are building upon the ZR122 performance in Minnesota ’ s Iron Range to deploy new product into a US copper mine . The environmental conditions on the Iron Range helped us improve our cold weather kit design in very hard rock . Additionally , the auto-bit changer validated the benefit from having this functionality in a challenging application that consumes bits frequently .
Q Have all design tweaks and updates now been completed for the ZR122 ? MC The ‘ Komatsu Way ’ is a philosophy and commitment to quality and
Two Komatsu ZT44 surface drills in action
reliability . This approach is a part of our culture , which strives for continuous improvement of all our products through strong partnerships with our customers . We will continuously improve the ZR122 , along with all other products , throughout the product lifecycle .
Q Similarly with the ZR77 : What is its current status in the market - as it has been around longer , has it penetrated the market further ? MC The ZR77 is an available product , and we have experience with recent new product introductions . We see the ZR77 as an advanced drill that will provide users advantages in safety , reliability and productivity .
Q What is the latest with the ZT44 in terms of customer feedback and market acceptance ? MC The ZT44 feedback we hear generally follows along the theme of ‘ wow , I didn ’ t realise the drill can do that .’ The physical size , horsepower and increased air flow capability offers large-scale performance in a compact footprint . This point is emphasised when looking at manoeuverability , stability and tractive force to navigate a large contour drill into tight , difficult conditions . Additionally , drilling with larger diameters of + 8 in enables mitigation of application challenges such as rod-stuck conditions with machine control utilising increased bailing air and retract force . The ZT44 is not just a mining drill . It fills a need in quarry and certain construction applications as well . We recently showcased the drill at our Komatsu Quarry Days in late 2023 with great feedback , and we ’ re looking forward to sharing even more news about ZT44 advancements at MINExpo later this year . It is exciting to introduce new users to the drill and let them experience the performance .
Q Have any tweaks or upgrades been made to the 320XPC based on the newer ZR models ? Is it available with an auto bit changer for example ? MC We have implemented some newly developed technologies across the drill fleet . For example , the ZR automation functionality such as safety enablers like obstacle detection and operator awareness has been cross pollinated with the 320XPC . While we have made some new product changes , the core of our business remains the same - delivering world-class products manufactured with the highest level of quality .
amount of down time required to outfit the drill rig by more than 300 hours over a leading competitor . Data was collected in the same way as the initial testing . The drill was operated in two modes , Hexagon Drill Assist mode and OEM auto drill mode .
Stacy reported that the results were once again impressive . Effective rate of penetration increased 42 %. Depending on ground conditions , performance increases exceeding 150 % were seen . Generally , the OEM automation struggled in highly fractured or variable ground . The Hexagon solution accurately detected all down hole issues and ground condition changes and automatically corrected them without human intervention . The Hexagon solution had a 100 % success rate during this testing , meaning every time an operator initiated the drill cycle , the
Hexagon automation system was able to completely drill the hole . No negative impacts to machine health or consumable performance were
seen .
Sandvik brings it all together
IM spoke to Demetre Harris , Sandvik Product Line Manager - Surface , Automation , Rotary and Nellaiappan Subbiah , Product Manager Rotary
International Mining | APRIL 2024