Skip to main content

Compact and efficient drilling

Using MOBA MDS-2000 drilling system controls to monitor blast hole drilling in a limestone quarry is helping ensure optimum accuracy.
February 22, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
The MOBA drilling control is playing a key role in ensuring Schaefer Kalk's quarry operations are efficient and productive
Using 1228 MOBA MDS-2000 drilling system controls to monitor blast hole drilling in a limestone quarry is helping ensure optimum accuracy. At the 2981 Schaefer Kalk limestone quarry in Germany's Rhineland-Palatinate, located close to the village of Hahnstätten, a MOBA MDS-2000 drilling system is playing a vital role in optimising drilling operations.

This is an important factor when drilling blast holes as it helps boost blasting efficiency, reducing the risk of over-sized materials that require secondary breaking and also reducing problems of under-sized fines that can be of little commercial value. Accurate blast holes also minimise the risk of fly-rock and excessive shocks being transmitted, which can pose safety problems and environmental issues. By drilling precisely, the quarry floor will be smoother and place less wear and tear on loading and hauling equipment, while optimising the size of blasted material boost productivity through the crushing and screening operation as well as minimising wear. Overall, efficient blasting with straight blast holes can be a major factor in ensuring cost effectiveness from a quarrying operation. Using the Moba unit is allowing the operation to drill the blast holes at the correct angle and to the 15-20m depths required at the operation.

The unit is being used for controlling drilling on a 2982 Hausherr HSB2000 rig. "The MDS-2000 increases the efficiency of our work processes. With this system, we can drill about 5% more holes than before in the same amount of time. And this in turn saves time and money", said Antonio Polizzi, quarry foreman at Schaefer Kalk.

Polizzi explained that the MOBA system features slope sensors and rotary sensors and uses these to record drilling data such as drill hole depth, angle and drilling time. This information is displayed to the rig operator on a graphic display and saved there or sent directly to the office or to a mobile end device via telemetry. For two years now, Schaefer Kalk has been using the MDS-2000 system on its Hausherr HSB2000 rig at the Hahnstätten and Steeden quarries.

According to Polizzi the Moba unit has proven itself reliable in use, rugged and easy to operate and outperformed a drilling system from another supplier that was initially tested at the same time. Due to its modular design based on CAN-open, the Moba system can be modified for customer-specific requirements while future product developments can also be integrated.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Innovations in crushing and screening technology boosting efficiency
    July 15, 2015
    The crushing and screening sector has seen a flurry of new model launches in recent months, with a series of new equipment introductions - Mike Woof writes. Crushing and screening systems play a vital role in the overall cost effectiveness of a quarrying operation. Ensuring that a quarry runs efficiently relies heavily on the appropriateness of the entire crushing and screening set-up for the material input, the output grades and the compatibility of each separate unit. Mobility has been a key issue in rece
  • In control - with machine control technology
    June 21, 2016
    Advances with machine control technologies are providing major benefits right across the construction sector - Mike Woof writes With the massive bauma 2016 exhibition now having run its course, the construction sector look set to benefit from a range of new machine control technologies. These systems are being offered across a range of different segments in the equipment sector. Bulldozing was one of the first portions of the earthmoving segment to benefit from machine control systems, but a vast array o
  • New tunnelling technology offering greater efficiency
    January 4, 2017
    Tunnelling technology is seeing major developments that will boost construction efficiency - Mike Woof writes Both in tunnel drilling and TBM systems, new machines are now being built that offer major gains in performance. Sandvik is introducing a number of major new models developments to its tunnelling drill range. Three new tunnelling jumbos are now available that suit different drilling requirements, the DD422iE, DT912D and DT922i. The firm says that its advanced DD422iE rig offers major advantage
  • Efficient aggregate production with new technology
    December 9, 2022
    New equipment is providing major benefits for aggregate production, offering superior product quality as well as increased throughput, while also being able to better meet sustainability targets for customers