Top Jumbo Drills used in Underground Mining | An Underground Miner

Underground Mining requires the use of specialized heavy-duty equipment that can handle the hard rocks and other related barriers.

Some of the heavy-duty tools required in mining include jumbo drills, drifters, bolters, trucks, and LHDs.

Several companies make and distribute these heavy-duty mining machines.

The top-rated heavy-duty mining machinery has certain qualities and characteristics that make them stand out.

Their manufacturing industries have a global reach where they deliver their products to different parts of the world.

Knowing the leading mining companies that make top mining equipment will come in handy when choosing the best company to buy mining equipment.

Read on to learn more about the top mining companies that manufacture modern drilling jumbos.

This company has more than 90 years of experience developing, manufacturing, and distributing underground mining machinery.

Former mining equipment powerhouses, Joy Global and P&H were purchased by Komatsu and integrated into the Komatsu family of companies.

This makes them a formidable player in the mining equipment global market. 

The main attribute that makes Epiroc rated as one of the top mining equipment suppliers is its extensive use of modern technology.

Most of the company's mining equipment is technologically oriented, which makes them more efficient.

Technology also enhances safety in the equipment made by this company since operators can monitor and control the equipment more conveniently, even when mining in risky places.

For a long time, Sandvik has been aspiring to provide total solutions to miners by providing an assortment of mining machines that can handle almost every mining type.

The company has more than 150 years of experience in the mining industry, understanding almost all machines needed for effective mining.

The company has used this experience to develop sophisticated mining equipment to provide solutions to different customers.

The outlined mining companies make different specialized tools that are dominant in the mining world. Among those tools are jumbo drills used in different kinds of mining.

Here are the top five jumbo drills (or Drill Jumbos as they are sometimes called) currently available in the market.

Holger.Ellgaard, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This rugged drilling jumbo's primary feature is that its design uses state-of-the-art technology, including an intelligent control system.

Its power consumption is minimal, making it one of the most economical drills currently available in the market.

There is an ergonomic cabin that is put in place to ensure the operator is optimally comfortable.

This drill's total weight is 26 000 kilograms, which provides it with the necessary stability required for accurate drilling. There are two engine options where you can switch between engines depending on the type of mining.

The entire unit's power is 119 kW, which is enough to do most types of drilling, including hard rock.

You also get durability with this drilling jumbo. It has a design that can last for years without breaking down, provided you use it in the right manner.

Most people prefer this drilling jumbo because of its ability to fit in places with minimal space. You can easily navigate through tunnels with sharp corners and with limited space.

This jumbo drill has received awards for being one of the best-performing drills in the mining industry.

These awards are mostly from stakeholders, including miners and manufacturers of mining tools.

The design of this jumbo drill and its drilling boom is in such a way that it can drill horizontally and vertically.

It can also drill angled holes into the ground, making it popular for different kinds of mining.

The drill has coverage of 29.2 feet by 23.3 feet, and its outer turning radius is 12.0 feet and 21.0 feet.

Another essential feature of this jumbo drill is that it comes with an IntelSense drilling control system with several attributes, including collaring, anti-jamming property, control levers, auto return to start position, and an automatic water monitoring feature.

It also has a robust carrier and drilling hydraulic system that has an assortment of displacement piston pumps.

When it comes to the power source, it uses diesel while tramming and electric power while drilling.

You also get engine options when using this jumbo drill. It has a tier-III MSHA and EPA-certified engine.

The engine options give users the option to switch the engines depending on their use. 

The drilling jumbo design is in a way that it observes all environmental attributes as it is FOPS certified.

It uses an advanced climate and filtration control system that, besides reducing emissions, ensures the drill operator has enough protection.

It also has noise reduction attributes to ensure that it produces minimal noise when being used.

Reliability is among the primary attributes of this modern jumbo drill, and you can use it for heavy-duty performances.

The feature that makes the drilling jumbo so reliable is its powerful engine which provides it with the necessary power. 

It also has a stable performance where you can use it to drill accurate tunnels without much wastage.

This drill's dimensions are a height of 5,800 millimeters, a length of 15,310 millimeters, and a width of 3,100. Its total weight is 48,000 kilograms, which provides the drill with the required stability.

You can control the drill easily using the advanced control system with clear labels to see everything.

The design of this drilling jumbo is in a way that it produces minimal noise and emissions.

The primary purpose of this is to make the entire unit environmentally friendly. It has even been certified as one of the drilling tools that does not harm the environment.

You can also expect enhanced performance with this drill, as it can work for days without unnecessary heating.

This drill is primarily used for lime-stone mining and can drill headings of up to 60 feet wide and 35 feet high.

It uses a diesel-hydraulic engine that provides it with enough power to work for an excess of ten hours. The drill uses four ram-type stabilizers, which provide rear and front performances.

There is a 250-gallon water carrier on the drill, which helps carry the water needed for pelletizing.

The cabin is optimally comfortable where it has 24vdc solenoid controls to reduce noise and emissions getting into the cabin.

The engine compartment is easy to open and close if you need to do some repairs.

Another outstanding feature of this jumbo drill is that it comes with air/hydraulic compressor coolers, which are correctly mounted to cool the engine.

It also has an environmentally friendly design where the engine produces minimal noise despite being so powerful.

Most features of this particular drill are self-controlled, and you need to guide them using the simplified control system.

You have more options with this particular jumbo drill because it is available in both XE and WE sizes.

It comes with an advanced control system that allows the drill to move faster and more accurately.

It also has a self-diagnostic design where it gives a clear warning if there is a part that has a problem.

Another feature of this powerful drill is that it has a cross-section of up to 205 square meters.

This allows it to fit well in small spaces, and as a result, it is ideal for drilling tunnels that do not have a lot of space.

It also has a heavy-duty body that is ideal for drilling the hardest rock, which might challenge most common drills.

Flexibility has also been given priority in designing this drill where you can change different operations without struggling.

The flexibility further plays a role in making the jumbo ideal for construction sites where speed is required.

The drill's main components can be removed and reassembled later, making the entire unit very portable.

This jumbo drill also comes with a certification to confirm that it has superior features, ideal for different drilling processes.

The drill is stable, and it can work accurately without moving unnecessarily. It produces minimal emissions to protect the environment and the people operating the drill.

If you work in the mining industry, you can choose the ideal jumbo drill from the ones highlighted. You need only to go through the features to confirm that the drill you select has all the features you need.

We've also included information about different manufacturers of heavy-duty mining equipment to help make your decision easier and well-informed.

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This article was written by An Underground Miner