NRE Drill Rig

Efficient and safe drilling performance

NRE DRILL RIG AT GLANCE

EFFICIENT AND SAFE DRILLING PERFORMANCE

The purpose of NRE Drill Rig is to drill the panels in order to prepare them for blasting. The operator can perform all of the functions from a safe operating distance. Its robust design, small dimensions, low noise level, and nil gaseous emission make this machine the most suitable tool for underground applications. The NRE Drill Rig is battery power driven and operated by remote control.

KEY FEATURES

The NRE Drill Rig is designed to work in stoping widths from 0.9 to 1.7m, and can work in reef inclinations of up to 22°. The NRE Drill Rig has a 3-drill drifter configuration, allowing 3 face holes to be drilled simultaneously. Its lightweight, standalone remote control allows the operator to remain at a safe operating distance during the production process.

VIDEO SYSTEM

DRILL RIG TOOL

  • • Adjustable and efficient 3 boom simultaneous automated operation

STANDARDISATION

  • • Common prime mover for drill rig/support rig
  • • Standardisation of internal electronic components (stock levels reduced)

EASY MAINTENANCE ACCESS

  • • Divided compartments (hydraulic, power, control)

INTEGRATED FAST CHARGER

  • • Can be charged by mine standard grid & plugs

HIGH MOBILITY

  • • Low profile tracks

HEIGHT 660 mm

  • • Ultra low profile dimensions allows access to confined areas

ELECTRIC DRIVE

  • • No gas emission reduces ventilation requirements
  • • Low noise

REMOTE CONTROL CAPABILITY

  • • Allows operator to remain at a safe distance while operating machine

1. VIDEO SYSTEM 2. DRILL RIG TOOL

  • Adjustable and efficient 3 boom simultaneous automated operation

3. STANDARDISATION

  • Common prime mover for drill rig/support rig
  • Standardisation of internal electronic components (stock levels reduced)

4. EASY MAINTENANCE ACCESS

  • Divided compartments (hydraulic, power, control)

5. INTEGRATED FAST CHARGER

  • Can be charged by mine standard grid & plugs

6. HIGH MOBILITY

  • Low profile tracks

7. HEIGHT 660 mm

  • Ultra low profile dimensions allows access to confined areas

8. ELECTRIC DRIVE

  • No gas emission reduces ventilation requirements
  • Low noise

9. REMOTE CONTROL CAPABILITY

  • Allows operator to remain at a safe distance while operating machine

EFFICIENCY

Single button automated drilling cycle

3 x boom (drills simultaneously)

Advance rate – 2 m/blast

Drill steel – length 2.3 m, max diameter hole 41 mm

Penetration rate 0.7-1 m/min

Adjustable tool kinematics

Electro hydraulic drifters

Laser positioning system

Adjustable burden spacing

Adjustable drilling angles

Narrow reef prime mover platform

Interchangeable support rig and drill rig tool attachments

GALLERY

TECHNICAL DATA

Dimensions
Prime Mover 4150 x 1976 x 745 mm
Toolset 4600 x 1995 x 790 mm
Ground clearance
Clearance 130 mm
Weight
Prime Mover 10 000 kg
Toolset 4000 kg
Power system
Battery Type LiFePO4
Battery Pack Nominal Voltage 346 V DC
Working off the electrical grid via trailing cable 380 – 550 VAC 3ph
On board fast charger
Charging time 1 hour
Charging source 380 – 550 VAC 3ph
Drilling system
Drifters type Hydraulic
Drifters power 15kW each
Drifters per tool 3

All technical characteristics are provided for informational purposes only and DOK-ING Ltd. reserves the right to make changes without notice.

NRE Equipment Suite

Industry: Underground mining
Customer: One of the world’s largest mining companies (South African market)
Challenges: Impossibility to fully mechanize the mining cycle (drill, blast, clean & support) in the narrow reef mining equipment which is a very labour intensive, unsafe and inefficient
Customer’s requirements: Development of a fully electrically powered and remotely controlled equipment which will ensure the full mechanization of the mining cycle
Results: Developed electrically powered and remotely controlled NRE Equipment Suite which provides health and environmental benefits of clean power technologies

 

  • Who is the customer and what industry does it belong to?

In 2008, DOK-ING was approached by Anglo American to develop electrically powered equipment which could operate in working heights as low as 900 mm in narrow reef mining environments. Anglo American is one of the largest diversified mining houses in the world.

  • What were the challenges the customer faced? Why was it necessary to develop a new machine? Why the existing solutions on the market could not be used?

At the time when DOK-ING was appointed to develop this equipment, it was not possible to fully mechanize the mining cycle (drill, blast, clean & support) in the narrow reef mining environment. Traditionally, mining in narrow reef ore bodies is a very labour intensive, unsafe and inefficient process. In order to improve narrow reef mining safety and efficiency, remotely controlled, mechanized mining equipment was selected by Anglo American to make this possible.

  • What were the requirements of the customer, what kind of machine did they want to develop for themselves?

The client required suitably sized <650 mm in height equipment, which was fully electrically (battery) powered and could be operated at a safe distance from the working face. The development commenced with the prototype for battery powered Dozer utilized in the cleaning cycle. Afterwards, prototypes for the drill rig were completed and tested. Finally, a support rig (roof bolter) was developed and tested, ensuring the full mechanization of the mining cycle could be achieved by means of remotely controlled equipment. This suite of equipment can operate in the stoping width of between 0.9 m and 1.7 m at working angles of up to 22°.

  • What is the result of the whole process? What kind of machine has been developed? What are its characteristics and advantages over other solutions on the market?

By 2019, a 3rd generation of the full suite of NRE equipment had been produced and is now ready to roll out in narrow reef mining operations within Anglo American and other mining houses. The NRE Suite comprises of the following equipment:

  • NRE Dozer Prime Mover
  • NRE Dozer Blade/ Bucket Attachment
  • NRE Sweeper Attachment
  • NRE Drill Rig/ Support Rig Prime Mover
  • NRE Drill Rig Tool Attachment
  • NRE Support Rig Tool Attachment

  Currently, there is no other company in the world which has developed and tested a complete suite of electrically powered, remotely controlled equipment. The main benefits of this equipment are as follows:

  • Ability to mine in working areas as low as 0.9 m (reduction of dilution – increase in mined grade – g/t)
  • Remotely executed mechanized mining activities
  • Safety improvement – removing personnel from working in hazardous areas
  • Health and environmental benefits of clean power technologies
  • Cost benefits of having the same prime mover and various tool attachments and standardization of equipment interchangeable parts.