Ingersol Rand DM45 Drill Rig

Work Included:

• Design, manufacture & install tele-remote control package
• Modification of the drills’ hydraulic, pneumatic & electrical systems
• Design , manufacture & install audio visual package
• Manufacture portable trailer mounted operators station
• Design & supply of purpose built RF communication system
• Onsite installation, commissioning & ongoing technical support

In Summary:

GM Mining Electrics were approached by KCGM to help provide a solution to old workings & ground support in the Superpit, Kalgoorlie.

As the old workings were not documented, the drill rigs faced the prospect of ground failure during drilling & therefore the miners safety could not be guaranteed.

The solution was to convert one of their existing drill rigs to allow tele-remote control operation (as well as maintaining the manual operation) therefore removing miners from the dangerous working area.

The drill rig selected was the Ingersol Rand DM45 and the team at GM Mining Electrics set about the task of developing ‘state-of-the-art’ technology that would best suit the application. Many hours were spent in conjunction with the drillers to ensure that the remote operator’s station was replicated as close as possible to the existing drill cabin.

The drills operation system provided the team with many complex technical issues to resolve. The team designed, manufactured and installed individual packages for the electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, audio & visual aspects of the projects as well as the mobile operator’s station.

In summary, the operator sits in the comfort of an air conditioned cabin, located up to 2kms away on the pit wall, operating the drill via the ergonomic joysticks sourced & viewing the operation via multiple pan / tilt / zoom camera views, exceeding normal production targets whilst creating a safe working environment for the operator.