Titeline Drilling: Automating the future

What began as a modest drilling operation in Ballarat Victoria has evolved into a powerhouse of innovation in the global mining industry. Over the past 23 years, Titeline Drilling has transformed from a regional contractor into a trailblazer in autonomous underground drilling, driven by a deep well of expertise and a bold vision for the future.

Founded in 2001 by seasoned industry professionals — Bill Ricciardi, Michael Ashton, Stephen Gavin and David D’Astoli — Titeline quickly made its mark by contributing to major mineral discoveries such as Prominent Hill, Carrapateena and Hillside. Today, the company continues to support exploration efforts in key regions like Olympic Dam and the Tanami Desert, applying its mastery in both surface and underground diamond drilling.

But Titeline’s ambitions extend far beyond traditional drilling. In a strategic move to harness its in-house knowledge, the company joined forces with Exploration Drill Masters and Newland Drilling & Mining Equipment to form Ultonotec — a venture dedicated to revolutionising underground drilling technology.

At the heart of this collaboration is the ULT-R68, a next-generation autonomous core drilling rig. This state-of-the-art machine is more than just a piece of equipment — it’s a leap forward in safety, efficiency and data-driven operations. Powered by robotics, automation and IoT, the ULT-R68 is designed to operate intelligently in challenging underground environments, reducing human risk while maximising productivity.

“The ULT-R Series is redefining what’s possible in underground drilling,” says Matt Zanette, CEO of Titeline Group.

“Our goal is to build a fully connected ecosystem where real-time analytics, machine learning and predictive maintenance converge to create smarter, safer and more efficient drilling operations.”

With a proven track record in Australia and successful ventures in Papua New Guinea, Ecuador, Chile and Mongolia, Titeline is poised to expand its global footprint. Its commitment to innovation, backed by decades of hands-on experience, positions the company as a leader in shaping the future of mineral exploration.

Titeline Drilling, supported by a team of around 300 employees, has established itself as a leader in the drilling industry through its commitment to fleet uniformity and maintenance excellence. This success is rooted in long-standing partnerships with suppliers and its own partner manufacturing company, Exploration Drill Masters (EDM). Together, they’ve refined and evolved drill rig designs, incorporating safety and productivity enhancements across both new models and retrofitted machines, including UDRs and KWLs.

The company’s underground division features custom-built, track-mounted LM110s and MKII rigs, which integrate industrial robotics for fully autonomous rod handling. On the surface, Titeline operates a fleet of modern UDR top drive rigs capable of reaching depths of up to 2500 metres NQ. Their expertise in directional drilling — using downhole motors and wedging techniques — enables precise execution of complex programs. These underground rigs can drill to depths of 1200 metres NQ for exploration and are agile enough to switch to shorter, resource-definition tasks that require efficient manoeuvrability.

Safety has always been a cornerstone of Titeline’s operations. From its inception, the company has invested heavily in hands-free technology, leveraging internal expertise to continually enhance its equipment. The move into rig manufacturing was driven by client demand for safer, more automated systems that reduce human exposure to high-risk zones. In 2013, Titeline identified a gap in the market: existing solutions for manual rod handling were costly, slow to deploy and inefficient. In response, the company collaborated with EDM in Chile to develop a hydraulic rod feeder that could be easily retrofitted. This system, equipped with a hydraulic plug spinner, eliminates the need for manual lifting and ensures secure rod connections with minimal effort. Over 60 units have been deployed globally, significantly reducing strain-related injuries and earning strong operator approval.

Building on this success, Titeline ventured into the development of a fully autonomous underground drill rig. Partnering with a robotics and automation firm, the company designed and tested a robotic system capable of automated rod handling — with or without personnel present — and semi-automated tube handling. This innovation has enabled Titeline Underground to complete more than 1000 single-operator shifts, creating new opportunities for workers who may not typically engage in physically demanding underground roles.

Titeline’s capabilities have been proven in the field through major projects such as the Prominent Hill ore body. Beginning in 2004, the company operated alongside two other contractors, including a global major, in some of Australia’s toughest drilling conditions — described as “steely hematite.” Titeline collaborated with Hardcore Diamond Products to develop specialised bits and techniques that maximised productivity and minimised cost. Their performance quickly distinguished them as the preferred contractor, leading to a ramp-up to nine rigs and over 60 personnel on site. Between 2004 and 2011, Titeline drilled more than 200,000 metres of diamond core at Prominent Hill and surrounding tenements, maintaining a steadfast focus on safety and production. This partnership with Oz Minerals continued through the development of the Carrapateena deposit, where Titeline’s directional drilling expertise played a pivotal role.

In late 2017, after years of collaboration on surface exploration projects, MMG approached Titeline Drilling with a new challenge: to become a long-term partner in underground drilling operations on Tasmania’s West Coast. The goal was ambitious — MMG needed a company that could innovate, ensure safety and deliver cost-effective solutions while maintaining high productivity. With mine planning requiring at least 80,000 metres of diamond core drilling annually to keep pace with mining rates, the stakes were high.

Titeline responded by designing a custom underground drill rig from scratch. Working with engineers, the team developed a track-mounted, mobile rig with self-propulsion for easy setup and relocation. The rig was equipped to drill from +90 to -90 degrees, featured a Boart Longyear automated rod handler and included a 110KW power pack for deep-hole drilling. It could seamlessly switch between 700 and 1300 series feed frames and was fitted with a DCI electronic control panel for automated drilling between shifts. Within just 14 weeks, four rigs were built, mobilised and deployed to site, performing beyond expectations.

Beyond Australia, Titeline demonstrated its capabilities in Papua New Guinea at Harmony Gold’s Kili Teke project in the Hela Province. Starting in November 2014, the remote, helicopter-supported site posed significant logistical and geological challenges. Poor ground conditions and fluid loss due to a limestone cap required a tailored approach. Titeline partnered with drilling fluid supplier Mudex to develop a mud program that reduced helicopter payloads and improved hole stability. This collaboration led to a 30% increase in productivity and monthly savings of approximately AUD$40,000. In December 2015, Harmony announced a maiden resource of 1.2 million ounces of gold and 506,000 tonnes of copper, publicly acknowledging Titeline’s contribution.

Building on this success, Titeline and Mudex refined their fluid system further, introducing Geobond MK11. This advanced formulation combines a polymer lattice with micron-sized absorbent materials to form a robust filter cake, reducing fluid ingress and mitigating hydration issues in shear zones. The results have been exceptional, especially in challenging geological conditions.

Despite industry-wide challenges in recruiting experienced personnel, Titeline has embraced the opportunity to train and mentor new operators. These green recruits have shown remarkable adaptability, quickly learning to operate advanced technologies and embracing new methodologies.

Supply chain constraints and rising costs have added complexity to operations. With key electrical components sourced from Europe and Japan and rare earth material shortages affecting availability, Titeline has had to plan months ahead to maintain continuity. Nevertheless, the company remains committed to supporting Australian manufacturing, relying on trusted suppliers like Hardcore Diamond Products and Mudex to keep rigs running efficiently and tailored to field requirements.