Atlas Copco Geotechnical Drilling and Exploration, a division within Atlas Copco’s Mining and Rock Excavation Technique business area, proudly introduces to the Southern African market a new exploration drill rig for mineral exploration core drilling. “The introduction of the new range of Atlas Copco Boyles surface core drilling rigs opens up the mineral exploration market to the widest possible field of potential users in Southern Africa including Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa,” explains Atlas Copco Exploration Products Africa General Manager, Graham Martin. The complete Atlas Copco Boyles range, which includes the C6, C6C and C8C, was officially launched in South Africa on 11th February 2013, “with the promise of additional sizes to be added to the range over a period of time,” adds Graham. Previously marketed as the ‘C-Series’, the Boyles range will complement the existing Atlas Copco Christensen CS range of surface core drilling rigs currently available to the local market. Manufactured in Märsta, Sweden, the well-established CS range has enjoyed market acceptance for more than 15 years.

The Atlas Copco Boyles C8C focuses on power and simplicity to make exploration operations available to the broadest possible range of drilling professionals. The new surface core drilling rig has been specially designed for high productivity with maximum simplicity and ease of service and maintenance. The Boyles C8C is equipped with a powerful main hoist with a capacity of 133 kN and 15 tons and a rod holder with a gas cartridge for long service life that handles rods from BO to PO size and casing up to PW. It has a proven and reliable rotation unit that can generate the highest penetration rate and a 4-speed gearbox that converts power into high torque.

The rig offers a depth capacity of 1 830 meters and is equipped with a newly designed level-wind wire line winch which rolls the wire evenly across the full width of the drum. Another advantage is that the rig is designed to allow users to carry out service and maintenance functions in the field. Discussing the range’s environmental and safety aspects, Graham says that the rigs are driven by industry proven Tier III diesel engines that conform to EU emission standards. “There is also added focus on the range’s safety features. Radio remote control, which is standard equipment on the Boyles C8C, enables the rig’s tramming functions to be precisely controlled from a safe distance, eliminating the danger of being on or next to the machine while in motion. Tramming stops automatically if radio contact is lost.”

Turning to the vital aspect of service, Graham confirms that Atlas Copco Exploration Products Africa will continue to offer full service, which will also include driller and operator services, parts, back up and support, for the new Atlas Copco Boyles range. “This is an exciting development not only for us but also for the industry; there has been much suspicion regarding equipment originating from the Asian countries, but their ability to develop and innovate has moved quickly, and we are very happy that the Boyles range of drills comes to the market with a quality product at an affordable total cost and the guarantee of full support for our customers,” concludes Graham.
Headquartered in Märsta, Sweden, Atlas Copco Geotechnical Drilling and Exploration develops, manufactures, and markets equipment for exploration drilling and ground engineering with production organised in specialised competence centres in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. “Atlas Copco is one of the world leaders in surface core drilling rigs and for more than 100 years exploration professionals have depended on our ability to deliver excellent results in conditions of extreme heat, cold, drought, humidity, or high altitude,” remarks Martin Sommers, Vice President Marketing - Capital Equipment at Atlas Copco’s Geotechnical Drilling and Exploration division.