Modern Mining July 2015

PRODUCT News

New contender in the large top hammer market sector

standards in this drill rig,” states Hedley Birnie, Business Line Manager – Surface Exploration Drilling (SED) for Atlas Copco Mining and Rock Excavation Technique. “And the result of this perfect combina- tion is a high performance, rugged and reliable machine that drills bigger holes faster, requires very little maintenance and maintains high production levels for low- est overall cost of ownership.” The straightforward modular design includes simplified hydraulic and elec- trical systems for easier operation and maintenance. “What makes the drill rig particularly attractive, especially in this tough economic climate, is its extremely fuel efficient capability,” continues Birnie. The machine’s effective management system allows for low fuel burn at full pro- duction, giving fuel burn as low as 27 litres per hour on large holes. The machine’s Tier 3 diesel power pack delivers 261 kW at 1 800 rpm and provides more tons per litre of fuel which has a direct and positive result on productivity. groundwater – eliminates the need for costly protective pipe coatings and sleev- ing. These highly flexible pipes also have exceptional creep resistance and resistance to environmental stress cracking, making them suitable for deep-level dewatering operations.” According to Rusch, GRP mine dewa- tering pipes have proven advantages over HDPE pipes, another pipe material which is regularly used in open-pit mine dewatering applications. He says that GRP pipes can be manufactured at greater

The drill rig’s high penetration capa- bility comes from the powerful COP 3060 30 kW hydraulic rock drill, a proven high performance unit in the Atlas Copco range. While output is dependent onmineral type and location, the drill rig/rock drill combi- nation’s output capabilities are extremely impressive, ranging from 200 m/h in medium rock (coal) to 70 m/h in hard rock. The machine can drill holes that range from 102 to 152 mm in size and 35 m in depth. The motor driven aluminium feed delivers a maximum feed rate of 0,7 m/s and achieves straighter and more consis- tent holes compared to a steel feed. The double dampening system ensures con- stant hole bottom contact. Hole quality is further assured by the constant and suf- ficient supply of air delivered by the Atlas Copco screw type air compressor. Weighing only 22,8 tons (without con- sumables), the compact drill rig’s high ground clearance and tracks ensure easy manoeuvrability and transportation. Atlas Copco South Africa, tel (+27 11) 821-9000 diameters at a lower cost than HDPE. In addition, GRP pipes can be optimally designed to meet the internal pressure and stiffness requirements of underground pip- ing applications, unlike HDPE pipes. When compared to steel and DICL pipes, GRP pipes are hydraulically smoother and require a lower pressure head, which reduces overall energy consumption for pumping. Their high strain allowance results in lower transient wave speeds dur- ing water hammer events and eliminates the need for expensive water hammer pre- vention infrastructure. IWC, tel (+27 11) 466-0699

Atlas Copco South Africa claims to have set the benchmark in the large top hammer market sector with the introduction of the PowerROC T50. “Uncomplicated sur face drilling technology meets Atlas Copco’s supe- rior quality design and engineering

The new PowerROC T50 from Atlas Copco.

GRP pipes well suited to mine dewatering The proven resilience of glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) pipes in harsh terrains, extreme climates and unpredictable site environ- ments makes them the superior choice over HDPE, steel and DICL (ductile iron concrete lined) pipes in the demanding environment of a mine dewatering system.

This is the view of Roger Rusch, CEO of IWC, who says: “Unchecked groundwater can affect the stability of the mine stopes and affect the depth of excavation. GRP’s resistance to abrasion from harsh chemi- cals – including hyper-saline and acidic

56  MODERN MINING  July 2015