Sandvik’s world first battery-powered cable bolter

Sandvik is expanding its industry-leading battery-electric underground drill offering to include a battery-powered cable bolter, the first of its kind.

Designed for cement grouted cable-bolt installation in underground mines and tunnels, the Sandvik DS422iE is a rock reinforcement drill rig which uses lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery power instead of a diesel engine and offers zero emissions tramming, drilling, bolting and grouting.

The LFP battery chemistry provides maximum safety underground while delivering the highest level of productivity and utilisation of the equipment.

Due to its revolutionary electric driveline system, the highly automated cable bolter consumes no fuel and generates less heat and noise than conventional drivelines. The result is safer, healthier and more productive cable bolting in underground operations.

Sandvik DS422iE can install up to 25m long cable bolts with several steel strands per hole. The drill rig has an on-board automatic cement mixer and 600kg capacity cement silo, reducing the need for manual handling and refilling between holes.

Utilising Sandvik’s patented charging while drilling technology, the bolter executes a full drilling cycle on battery power, with batteries capable of continued operations up to four hours where no electrical network is available.

Sandvik rock support drills product manager Ari Kopperoinen says the introduction of the first battery-electric cable bolter on the market is a significant milestone in Sandvik’s battery-electric vehicle competencies.

“The ability to continue rehab work off-grid using battery power is a transformative feature for mines with an unstable electrical grid,” he said.

“Combined with our industry-leading battery technology, operations have never been more productive or independent.”

Sandvik DS422iE is also compatible with Sandvik’s digital offering including iSURE, Sandvik DrillConnect, Digital Driller and My Sandvik remote monitoring.