Peru-based manufacturer Resemin reports that the underground mining industry in South America is increasing significantly, with the industry demanding about 240 drilling rigs a year.

The company notes that, in the last two months, it has supplied ten drilling rigs for underground mining operations on the continent, and is expecting a further 60 rig orders at the end of the year.

To meet this demand, the company is planning to open an office in Brazil, says Resemin MD James Valenzuela, adding that the company focuses on the manufacturing of rigs for a niche market and offers some of the best options in terms of cost-benefit ratios on drilling rigs for underground mining and on civil works for tunnels.

These rigs include tunnelling jumbos, production long holes and roof-bolting jumbos for engineering company SubTerra, Peruvian mining company Volcan, diversified miner Glencore Xstrata, underground construction and mining company Constructora Gardilcic and Chilean mining company Minera San Geronimo.

The drilling jumbos operate on excavations that are between 3 m and 5 m deep and Valenzuela adds that they are reinforced, easy to operate and more affordable than conventional rigs.

Technologies incorporated into the rigs include increased automation to mechanise operations and increase the safety of the operators.

“The rigs are simple and robust in design, facilitating the operation and training of unskilled personnel,” says Valenzuela.

The machines are also manufactured to operate in the extreme conditions associated with underground mining such as excessive humidity, heat and corrosive environments.

Resemin’s underground drill rigs are designed in a range of sizes, including 1.3 m wide drill rigs, which are designed to facilitate narrow-vein mining; up to the bigger 1.9 m wide jumbos, which are suited for most mining drifts.

Meanwhile, South African manufacturer Dickinson Mining Equipment and Services has been appointed by Resemin as its exclusive sub-Saharan Africa distributor. Dickinson stocks the full range of underground drill rigs and provides sales, training and support for Resemin’s machines.

The solutions offered are production drilling up to 35 m, development drilling, support-hole drilling and anchor installation. Resemin roof-support rigs are designed to handle various bolt dimensions and most of the commonly used bolts.

Resemin’s engineering department can design and modify any of the existing equipment to improve applications in underground mining.