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PRODUCT News
56
MODERN MINING
July 2015
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
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.
New contender in the large top hammer market sector
The new PowerROC T50 from Atlas Copco.
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
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
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
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