Press release

Great news for open pit miners

The SmartROC D65 complements Atlas Copco’s range of surface drilling rigs, offering an advanced drilling solution for every mining and construction application.

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Atlas Copco has long and broad experience of its computerized Rig Control System (RCS) that forms the basis of the SmartROC platform. With the SmartROC D65, all the benefits of this system are now also available for open pit miners. RCS controls the entire handling of the drill rig, including everything from the drilling cycle to automatic tube handling and the optional hole navigation system. The system also facilitates the easy transfer of planning and performance data between the rig and the mine office.
 
The SmartROC D65 is designed for drilling in the 110–203 mm hole range. It uses Secoroc COP 44, 54 or 64 down-the-hole hammers to a maximum depth of 54 metres. The drilling power is provided by an onboard Atlas Copco XRX10 compressor that supplies 30 bar pressure while a Caterpillar C15 engine, rated at 539 hp powers the rig.
 
Symbol of the future
“This is the future of small-hole drilling in open pit mining operations,” says Olav Kvist, Product Manager, Atlas Copco. “The capabilities of the ROC L8 and SmartROC have now been brought together in a single rig that offers a completely new drilling experience. One example is that the rig can automatically add and retract drill tubes, which relieves the operators of this tedious task so that they are free to prepare materials on the bench while the rig completes the hole by itself.”
 
The new SmartROC D65 has been undergoing rigorous testing by mining contractor NCC Roads at the Aitik copper mine in northern Sweden where it has completed some 45 000 drillmetres in about six months. The results have been impressive, prompting NCC Roads to purchase this rig and an additional rig to be commissioned at the end of the year.
 
Advanced technology
NCC Roads has a fleet of 18 Atlas Copco rigs including SmartROC D7C rigs for construction work. Martin Malmsten, Operations Manager says: “At NCC we always try to offer the most advanced technology available and that’s exactly what we are getting with this new SmartROC.”
 
 “During the test period, we really came to appreciate the benefits of the RCS and automated systems which allow our operators to perform other important tasks around the site, while letting the rig do the drilling work by itself. This saves us a good deal of time and manpower.”
 
With three ROC L8 rigs in the fleet, in addition to ROC D7C and ROC D9C rigs, NCC’s operators are already well acquainted with the Atlas Copco Rig Control System, says Malmsten.
 
 “Our operators are used to the Atlas Copco systems and they are positive to using the automated functions. They are very happy about getting the SmartROC because it makes their job easier – not only at Aitik but at many of the other sites where we are responsible for the drilling.”
 
With its first SmartROC D65 in place, NCC is now able to move from test drilling operations to full production drilling using SmartROC technology at the Aitik mine. The second unit has been earmarked for commissioning later this year as production demands increase.
 
The open pit Aitik mine, located outside the town of Gällivare, is one of Europe’s largest copper mines and also produces substantial quantities of gold and silver. annual ore production exceeds 18 million tonnes.