Emerging Namibian drilling contractor KODO Drilling has taken delivery of two Leopard DI650i surface drill rigs from global engineering company Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions’ Namibia branch.

The rigs – the first to be delivered to the country –  will be put to work at an opencast gold mine, where KODO Drilling is undertaking down-the-hole (DTH) production drilling.

The units arrived at the mine site in early November.

According to Sandvik Namibia territory manager and acting MD Andries van Wyngaard, the contract is an important step in the company’s expansion strategy.

Over the past year, its field service department has grown to seven trained full-service technicians in-country.

“As Sandvik Namibia gears up to support more equipment sales into the local market, we are grateful to KODO Drilling for their confidence in our innovative products and committed service,” says Van Wyngaard.

“With the values of KODO Drilling and Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions so closely aligned – including safety and service excellence – this is a perfect fit.”

He highlights that the DI650i, a diesel-powered crawler mounted intelligent DTH rig, is designed for demanding production drilling applications in surface mining.

The self-contained unit is equipped with an ergonomic iCAB operator’s cabin, fixed boom, dry dust collector and drill pipe changer – incorporating a modern design and layout.

“The rig comes with a range of new or redesigned components to boost its productivity,” he says.

“It has the capacity to drill a wide variety of hole sizes from 90 mm to 165 mm. We have also run trials in Namibia with our RH560 hammer and we’ve seen exceptional performance – drilling holes from 11.5 cm to 20.3 cm.”

KODO Drilling director Vilho Hanghome says his company’s progress is based on its constant drive to deliver innovative services and perform in a safe and environmentally sustainable manner.

“Having previously procured exploration rigs from Sandvik, we have valued the equipment quality and service we have received – as these have allowed us to deliver performance within budget,” says Hanghome.

“We are therefore pleased to be investing in Sandvik’s state-of-the-art DTH technology and we will rely on their high-level technical support going forward.”

Van Wyngaard says the contract shows KODO’s faith in Sandvik Namibia’s ability to support its DTH offering with exemplary aftermarket service.

He points to the considerable interest the local market has shown in the delivery of the two rigs.

“After we signed off on the deal and sent the units off from our Khomanani headquarters in Kempton Park, Gauteng, many of our Namibian customers have noticed them on the road and posted excited comments online,” he says.

“The mine where the rigs will operate is also looking forward to benefiting from the results of the new machines’ performance.”

Among the advantages that the units offer is ground level access to all daily maintenance and service points.

This improves safety as technicians do not have to climb around the machine; it also adds to productivity, as quicker maintenance means less downtime.

Sandvik says that the rigs’ silent and ergonomic cabin is a leader in the market and boasts excellent visibility for safety and operability.

Contributing to its low total cost of ownership are its intelligent hydraulic and compressor systems, which can deliver 38% to 42% better fuel efficiency.

Incorporating intelligent technology, the Sandvik DI650i rigs can accommodate scalable automation from on-board options to full automation systems.

Sandvik Namibia has made encouraging progress with recent equipment sales into Namibia, explains Van Wyngaard, and he looks forward to a new era of engagement with both the surface and underground mining segments.

“Building on our long-standing relationship with KODO Drilling, we look forward to many more successful ventures with them and other customers,” he concludes.