With a goal to make the very latest technological advancements available to clients, JSW has been steadily upgrading its fleet with fully customised solutions and automation to increase productivity and better safety.
Behind this enhanced capability is the strategic partnership with sister company and technology innovator IDAT (Intelligent Drilling Applications & Technology). Through strategic alliances with large German manufacturers Bauer and BBURG, IDAT has been working to solve problems faced by Australian miners when drilling in the challenging local conditions.
IDAT’s solutions bring together the latest advances in automation, IoT and engineering to develop fully customised, intelligent and high performance rigs, designed specifically for the local terrains and operating environments.
The partnership with IDAT is a part of JSW’s overarching goal, bringing together cutting edge, customised and superior drilling solutions to Australian mines through tailoring rigs to suit specific applications.
One of JSW’s most recent applications of IDAT technology is its new HD2500RC drill rig, developed by BBURG and customised in conjunction with IDAT. The high powered, small footprint HD2500RC was designed especially for the challenging terrain at Fortescue Metals Group’s Solomon mine in the Pilbara, where the preparation of drill pads is difficult and expensive. The rig underwent site commissioning in July and has since proven to be more productive, safer and quieter than the existing technology on site.
The HD2500RC has the following key features:
- Low footprint with width of 3.5m
- High power with capacity to push 32.3cu.m/min of air at 500 psi down the hole
- Rod handler to increase productivity and improve safety
- 330m of rod capacity on board
- Full wireless remote control
The HD2500RC joins other new technologies in JSW’s fleet including the Equus green drills developed specifically for bauxite mines, and new drilling technology for magnetite mines being developed by IDAT in partnership with Bauer.