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

Launched in South Africa about two years back, the Sandvik DR412i is a diesel-powered self-propelled crawler-mounted blasthole drill for surface mining. It is standard equipped for rotary with optional down-the- hole (DTH) hammer drilling power.

“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 Trinity Nkosi, Sales Engineer, Surface Drills Department at Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions.

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. It comes with Sandvik’s scalable surface drill automation architecture, which allows for a customised path to the level of automation each customer needs, when they need it.

Sandvik offers various automation levels – iDrill (onboard operation) and AutoMine® (remote operation). Automated onboard functions allow the rig to work from partial to full 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, minimising the risk of human error.

The AutoMine® product group – Line-of-Sight, Control Room and Autonomous – offers autonomous and remotely operated drilling. It allows operators to simultaneously control and monitor multiple surface drills from the comfort and safety of a remote control room,” explains 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, 360-degree walkways enable superior drill access for easy pre-shift inspection and routine maintenance. 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 in order to maximise efficiency and reduce fuel burn. The system can save customers up to 30% on fuel, with a proportional reduction in carbon footprint and extension of engine and compressor life.

To provide context, in a coal mining operation in Australia, the DR412i was central to a massive 18 m per hour increase in penetration rate, resulting in a 43,4% reduction in fuel consumption per 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.