Skip to main content

Atlas Copco launches new Chinese drill rig

Atlas Copco launched its new PowerROC T50 drill rig at bauma China 2014, in Shanghai. It was designed and is now built at Atlas Copco's Nanjing China facility but aimed very much at global market needs. York Yang, product manager in Nanjing joked, “We should design a product to drill holes in the customer's ground not the customer's pocket.” And with cost effectiveness in mind the T50 was developed.
January 6, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
The new PowerROC T50 rig from Atlas Copco offers high performance, while being cost effective

161 Atlas Copco launched its new PowerROC T50 drill rig at bauma China 2014, in Shanghai. It was designed and is now built at Atlas Copco's Nanjing China facility but aimed very much at global market needs. York Yang, product manager in Nanjing joked, “We should design a product to drill holes in the customer's ground not the customer's pocket.” And with cost effectiveness in mind the T50 was developed.

There are three key components: a rock drill delivering 30kW for fast penetration, robust boom, and engine choices for different emissions requirements. The rig comes equipped with the COP 3060 hydraulic rock drill. A high feed force can be applied while ensuring holes are straight due to the newly designed extension boom. It provides easy positioning and has a robust aluminium chain-feed. There is choice of engine between a 9litre Tier 3 unit or a 9.3litre Tier 4 unit, both of which deliver 261kW.

The T50 drills holes in the 102-152mm range. Feed extension is 1.9m with a total length of 9.37m and travel length of 5.4m. Both feed rate and feed force are 50kN. It is equipped with a 20m2 filter area with a maximum cleaning air pressure of 8 bar.

“The market is looking for machines with real power, robust, easy to operate, environmentally friendly and that can deliver fuel savings,” said Goran Popski, marketing manager. It seems Atlas Copco has managed this. The rig was tested in mines in China, the USA and South Africa. Eire Contractors, the test client in South Africa, has already placed an order for five machines.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Driving advances in engines and drivelines
    February 27, 2019
    Technology advances for engine and driveline systems continue - Mike Woof writes With the Stage V emissions requirements being introduced in Europe, a number of engine manufacturers have already announced their plans. Leading engine makers such as Cummins, Deutz, John Deere, Perkins and Volvo Penta have all released information regarding the engines that they will be offering. The new standard introduces the particulate particle count (PN) and applies to all diesel engines above 19kW for off-road applic
  • New developments for soil compaction market
    March 6, 2015
    New compaction machines will meet the latest emission standards for Europe and North America while firms from China are also competing globally - Mike Woof writes. The market for compaction equipment has become very competitive in recent years, most notably in the segment for soil compactors. The major US and European firms have developed more productive machines for use in both developed and developing markets. Meanwhile Chinese manufacturers are also competing in the soil compaction segment for the local
  • Fuel sipping dozer
    February 17, 2012
    Caterpillar claims customers can cut costs on earthmoving contracts when employing the latest D6R bulldozer. The machine is said to offer low fuel consumption and reduced downtime due to ease of maintenance and is aimed at contractors operating in developing nations.
  • Epiroc looks to the future following resilient 2020 trading
    March 12, 2021
    Epiroc CEO and president Helena Hedblom said the Swedish mining, quarrying and construction equipment manufacturer is well placed for good business in 2021 after resilient trading during a heavily COVID-19 disrupted 2020.