In an environment where the move towards intelligent drilling continues to gather pace, the Sandvik DR412i rotary drill rig, equipped with scalable surface drill automation architecture, brings new levels of precision, productivity, efficiency and safety to opencast mining operations.

Part of the Sandvik i-Series range of surface drill rigs, the DR412i was designed in response to the mining industry’s move towards intelligent drilling, and as such, uses scalable surface drill automation systems for a customised path to the level of automation each customer needs.

Available in South Africa, the Sandvik DR412i is a diesel-powered self-propelled crawler-mounted blasthole drill for surface mining, that is equipped as standard for rotary with optional down-the-hole (DTH) hammer drilling power.

Sandvik offers various automation levels including iDrill for onboard operation and AutoMine for remote operation.

The AutoMine product group – Line-of-Sight, Control Room and Autonomous – offers autonomous and remotely operated drilling, enabling operators to simultaneously control and monitor multiple surface drills from the comfort and safety of a remote-control room.

Automated onboard functions enable the rig to work from a partial state of autonomy to fully autonomous.

The operator monitors at fleet level and takes control only when required.

The onboard automation functions of Sandvik’s i-Series rotary drill rigs form the basis for the remote operation, reducing the risk of human error.

Efficient Kit

“Designed for soft to medium/hard rock formations, the DR412i can drill 203- to 311-mm-diameter blastholes with a single-pass capacity of 17.65 m or multi-pass capacity of 75.5 m. Primarily used in surface mining, it can also be deployed in oil and gas applications,” explains Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions surface drills department sales engineer Trinity Nkosi.

While the DR412i differentiates itself with its automation-ready capabilities, it retains the same robustness as the predecessor range, the KS-Series.

With a heavy steel body and a powerful engine, the machine is built for longevity.

The wider, 360o walkways enable enhanced drill access for easy pre-shift inspection and routine maintenance, while an optional hydraulic main-access stairway can be mounted to provide a parallel step onto and off of the drill.

The advanced Compressor Management System reduces the load on engine by isolating the compressor during non-drilling applications to improve efficiency and reduce fuel burn. Sandvik claims that the system can save customers up to 30% on fuel, with a proportional reduction in carbon footprint and extension of engine and compressor life.

An example of this system in action was evidenced by a coal mining operation in Australia where the DR412i was central to an 18 m/hour increase in penetration rate, resulting in a 43.4% reduction in fuel consumption a metre compared to other drills operating on site.

“Having brought the first DR412i into Africa some two years ago, we are glad to report that it has consistently delivered high levels of power, precision, productivity and efficiency in a coal mining application in South Africa, which is why the customer has expressed the desire to expand the fleet,” says Nkosi.