Spotlight Feature Articles Joy Global Surface Loading & Drilling April 16 | Page 13

SURFACE DRILLING AND LOADING

To help its drilling customers get even more out
of their machines, Joy Global says it is working
on three add-ons that will bring increased
automation to the line

developments are aimed at improving safety by
helping remove people from harm’s way, as well
as increasing machine utilisation.
Matt Collins, Joy Global’s Product Manager for
drills, said the company’s push for increased
automation is to deliver added value for
customers in key areas including safety and
production. “Our automation work will help
customers mitigate operating risks, such as
potentially unstable ground conditions, in addition
to providing repeatable operational consistency
and an opportunity to increase machine utilisation.
We want our drill customers to be able to do more
with less, while protecting their assets.”
Enhanced automation can result in incremental
production footage gains by reducing any
potential overdrilling, for example, and allowing
for more holes drilled per shift through increased
machine utilisation.
Next up for the company’s drill line is a new
machine, designed for the 75,000 lb max bit load
class. This machine will come in diesel and
electric options and maintain the reliability that
P&H is known for, while offering even greater
flexibility in operation.
Brian Fox, Vice President of Product Management

for Joy Global surface mining, said, “With this new
machine and the recent developments in
automation, we aim to offer mining customers
another choice in blasthole drills. We have the
opportunity to leverage our global direct service
network to ensure that our evolving product line
and technology yield the reliable, low-cost
operation that P&H shovels are known for.”

Drill tool developments
Fast and accurate grade control is the key to an
effective mineral extraction process and
ultimately to mining productivity and

profitability. That’s why Atlas Copco Secoroc
says it has opted to extend its RC hammer range
with the COP RC45 – which it claims is “the
smallest, lightest and fastest reverse circulation
hammer ever.”
The 120 mm (4.5 in) COP RC45 reverse
circulation hammer features a revolutionary new
design. “Since it is 40% shorter than the nearest
competitor and more than 30% lighter than most
hammers doing the same job, one man can easily
handle the hammer by himself.” The COP RC45
hammer also works with an extremely high impact
frequency – up to 52 Hz at 30 bar. This is possible
thanks to a unique air chamber design. Much
smaller air chambers build up pressure faster and
make the piston strike at a much faster rate. The
marginally lower impact force is more than
compensated for by the much higher impact
frequency. Tests have shows excellent penetration
rates in all types of rock – also in difficult rock
formations.
Like the RC50, the COP RC45 hammer
features Atlas Copco Secoroc’s unique tube
retention system. This design allows fast and
easy service, and tubes are quickly replaced
without disassembling the hammer. The
company says this means less time servicing
the hammer, and more time producing samples.
Atlas Copco Secoroc says it has all the
technical features to help users reach their
sampling goals but while handling a much
lighter weight. IM

Office-based Atlas Copco Pit Viper drill
automation centre

APRIL 2016 | International Mining