Drilling solutions leader, JSW Australia is putting the finishing touches to a custom high-powered, small footprint drill rig that will enhance mineral drilling performance in difficult terrain at its Solomon operations in the Pilbara.

The new rig draws on the vast knowledge, expertise and technology of respected German drill manufacturer BBurg, with which JSW has established a strategic alliance.

The BBurg HC2500RC, which is presently under construction and set for deployment in the coming weeks, has received a stamp of approval from veteran drill expert, Steve Payne, JSW's General Manager of Operations.

"This is an amazing machine that will change our entire approach at Solomon and provide an array of benefits for both our client and our drill crews," said Mr Payne.

"I have been in the drill industry for more than 25 years and have been involved in the development of many drills in that time, but I have seldom been as impressed as I am with this powerful and compact new machine.

"It has also been a refreshing experience working with BBurg who have brought a unique and innovative approach to helping us tackle challenging drilling conditions at Solomon which will result in significant productivity and cost savings in future.

"By establishing a co-operative alliance with BBurg, we shared ideas based on our learnings at Solomon and many other mines over the years and combined this with BBurg's vast experience designing and building drill rigs for many mining applications. The result is a machine that JSW and BBurg believe will set the benchmark for drill rigs in this class".

Over the past two decades, Mr Payne has led several significant projects from R&D to development, amongst them JSW's proprietary sample drilling systems and technology, and the development of multiple, small footprint, high capacity RC drill rigs similar to the HC2500RC.

"This new rig is designed by drillers, and is driller-friendly. It is also based on BBurg's customer-driven German engineering approach, which enables rigs to be tailored to the requirements of specific applications. It was this special ability that attracted JSW to an alliance with BBurg".

Amongst the key features of the HC2500RC drill are:

• Low footprint  with a width of 3.5m
• High power with on-board capacity to push 1150 cfm of air at 500psi down the hole
• Rod handler to increase productivity and improve safety
• 330m of rod capacity on board
• Full wireless remote control

 "There was an opportunity for us to create a customised drill able to utilise smaller drill pads at Solomon where the terrain makes the preparation of large drill pads difficult and expensive. The result is a rig that is of exceptional quality, is robust and highly tolerant, maintenance friendly and fuel efficient.

"Our drill crews on site are eagerly-awaiting the arrival on the rig so they can put it through its paces," Mr Payne said. 

The first of two new BBurg HC2500RC drills will arrive at Solomon in the coming weeks with a second due for delivery later in 2020.

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