Taking quarrying to the next level

Epiroc to show latest drilling and cutting products and technological advances at Conexpo 2023

EPIROC will be in the vanguard of the world’s construction leaders at next week’s Conexpo show in Las Vegas from 14–18 March. A common theme for the exhibitors at this year’s event is technology and innovations that contribute to making work easier, faster, and more efficient.

Epiroc will be stepping up to the plate with a range of their latest products, including two new surface drill rigs that demonstrate the latest advances in the SmartROC series, a new DTH (down-the-hole) hammer, a new V-shaped drum cutter, and new digital tools and related aftermarket solutions.

According to Epiroc, all these products have been designed to help accelerate the transformation of quarrying into more sustainable, efficient, and environmentally friendly industry.

The product display will feature the SmartROC T25 R – a radio-remote rig built on a new platform that offers several valuable features, all of which will be showcased as part of the rig’s pre-launch. These include an exceptional coverage area, excellent ‘terrainability’ and application versatility – all backed up by a smart Rig Control System (RCS) and future-proof digital functions that improve efficiency and help to reduce the rigs’ climate impact through fuel savings.

Also on display will be the upgraded version of the advanced SmartROC T40 top-hammer rig for quarrying and construction, which is said to consume less fuel than any other diesel-hydraulic rig in its class and offer superior performance even under the toughest drilling conditions. Whilst the rig’s class-leading fuel efficiency reduces environmental impact and costs, it also comes with smart features and options that boost productivity, including enhanced automation to help increase both drilling consistency and output.

Meanwhile, the new DTH 5 hammer represents a significant upgrade that gives more drilled meters per shift and has the versatility to tackle any type of rock and task. Offering 12 configurations, the new design has a 5% higher penetration rate than its predecessor and lasts approximately 10% longer. For the operator, this translates into more productive and profitable operations with fewer time-consuming and heavy changes of tools.

In January, Epiroc also launched new DTH drill bits which are said to herald a new era for down-the-hole drilling. Thanks to a new design and the use of the new Epiroc carbide, these bits also help improve productivity and profitability for the operator.

Also on display at Conexpo will be the VC 2000, the latest V-shaped drum cutter from Epiroc for trenching and quarrying, which is said to deliver energy savings of up to 40%. Thanks to its pioneering V-shaped design that allows a cut with a flat base, no material is left untouched between the drums.

Whereas a regular drum cutter must move side to side to create an even trench, an approach that causes extra wear on the carrier arm, the VC 2000 can achieve the same result by going straight. Basically, it works like a bucket, which makes it easier to use, friendlier for the carrier and a lot less energy and time-consuming.

The VC 2000 comes with another industry first – HexPicks. Whilst the hexagonal shape may sound like a simple modification, it is an ingenious innovation that makes daily maintenance easier, faster, and less costly. The secret is that unsticking or replacement of the HexPicks can be done quickly and easily with a hexagon wrench.

Epiroc report that HexPicks are also more durable and will last up to 20% longer than other products. In addition, they come with the Epiroc QuickSnap retaining system, offering a time saving of more than 50% compared with normal circlips or knock-on retainers.

My Epiroc is a digital platform that helps operators, fleet managers, buyers, technicians to work more efficiently. This tool allows managers to keep track of a fleet and its service needs with simple ways to track orders and follow up on any faults as they arise. The information can be accessed on mobile devices using the Mobile Companion app with offline support or using a web browser.

Visitors to Conexpo will also get a sneak preview of the soon-to-be-launched Fleet Monitoring solution with easy access in My Epiroc.

RCT, one of Epiroc’s recent acquisitions, will be at the booth to showcase their automation, traffic management, data analytics, and fleet-management solutions. RCT are known for their open design ethos, which allows their systems to be tailored to any manufacturer's mobile fleets and data software programs. RCT specialists will be on hand to demonstrate their ControlMaster, SmartTrack, EarthTrack, and Muirhead solutions, which have been proven in industries such as construction, military, mining, forestry, and more.