Mining and construction in Canada, and across the globe, is an industry where success hinges on maintaining productivity and reducing downtime wherever possible. Achieving this goal while still prioritizing worker safety is a defining achievement for any operation. To support this objective, mining suppliers strive to provide quality machines backed by responsive service teams to help keep sites running efficiently.
In a perfect world, the rigs operating in underground mines and open pits would require almost no maintenance and service calls would be few and far between. However, the reality is breakdowns do happen, especially in the gritty environment and challenging terrain found on mine sites.
For this reason, durability and longevity become an important consideration when deciding which machines, whether loading, hauling or drilling, will be the right fit for a particular project. It will require maintenance regardless, but if the rig itself is built to withstand harsh conditions and is properly serviced, it can provide reliable productivity for a considerable amount of time—saving costs and helping achieve targets in the process.
When it comes to durability, Epiroc’s Pit Viper PV-351 has put forward an impressive track record, with one rig in Western Canada reaching a noteworthy milestone: 25 years in operation on site. The powerful blasthole drill rig is primarily used for drilling 270 mm to 406 mm (10-5/8” to 16”) holes with up to 19.8 m (65 ft) single pass capability. It is extremely effective when battling against hard rock and comes with a standard Rig Control System (RCS).
The machine in question was originally sold in the year 2000 and was prepped to send to Canada shortly after making its debut at the MINExpo International trade show in Las Vegas, Nevada. It started its first drilling assignment at the Kemess mine, an open-pit copper and gold mine in the Omineca Mountains of northern British Columbia.
Eventually, the rig was acquired by the Copper Mountain mine, which is owned and operated by Hudbay Minerals Inc. After two decades of drilling at Copper Mountain, the machine had clocked over 96,000 drilling hours. Another five years later, and the machine is still on site making an impact.
So, what makes a machine able to withstand the extreme demands of an open-pit mine for a quarter century?
The Pit Viper 351 has a robust design and is easy to maintain, which means it can drill continuously with minimal intervention required. Even with this built-in advantage, the Epiroc team provided steady technical support, which helped contribute to the success of the rig. When Copper Mountain logged the drill’s performance in late 2020, they found the machine was running at 92% mechanical availability—an impressive achievement after many years of drilling.
This particular machine has become a flagship drill at Copper Mountain and has regularly delivered the highest productivity on site. Beyond the drilling capabilities of the Pit Viper, the high production levels could be attributed to the strong working relationship between Epiroc personnel and the team at Copper Mountain, which allowed for proactive maintenance planning. This means any required servicing was carefully planned, so there were no unexpected surprises, and downtime was kept to a minimum.
With 25 years of drilling behind it, the Pit Viper 351 has earned its reputation as a pillar of productivity on site. The rig’s mass and pull-down force has contributed to its effectiveness, and it boasts a mobility that is unique for a drill rig of its size.
Over the years, Epiroc has installed upgrades onto the machine to keep it up to date with the latest technology and ensure the drilling performance can remain consistent. This regular upkeep has contributed to its overall longevity on site.
As it continues its drilling campaign in Western Canada, how much longer it will last is anyone’s guess, but for now, it shows no signs of slowing down.
