AT the Robit Group, the focus is on drilling – further, faster.
Robit consumables are designed to provide the end user with the most productive and cost effective drilling regardless of commodity being drilled.
The company recognises that productive, cost-effective drilling is influenced by mother nature, driller capability, preventive maintenance and drill consumable selection and quality.
Robit’s focus is ensuring that end users get the right tools, knowledge and support for their operations.
The product is backed up by a large global network, expert support and cutting-edge Sense technology.
History
With its origins in Finland, Robit supplies and services customers with drilling consumables for applications in mining, tunneling, geothermal heating and cooling, and construction industries.
The company’s business is divided into Down-the-Hole (DTH) and Top Hammer business units including intelligent hole deviation measurement technology, Sense Systems.
Robit has 13 of its own sales and service points throughout the world as well as an active distributor sales network in more than 100 countries.
In 2016, the acquisition of Drilling Tools Australia Pty Ltd and Bulroc (UK) Ltd further strengthened international operations with manufacturing units located in Australia, Finland, South Korea, and the UK.
Complementing this, Robit acquired the assets and Intellectual Property Rights of Halco in 2017, boosting its DTH business.
DTH drilling
A down-the-hole drill is mainly a pneumatic powered rock or ground drill, in which the percussive hammer is located directly behind the drill bit, so the percussion mechanism follows the bit down into the drill hole.
The drill pipes transmit the necessary feed force and rotation to the DTH hammer and bit, as well as compressed air for the DTH hammer.
Air flushes cuttings up from the bottom of the hole, while drill pipes are added to the top of the drill string as the hole gets deeper.
The piston directly strikes the impact surface of the bit, while the hammer casing gives guidance to the drill bit.
The fast hammer impact breaks hard rock into small particles, which are brought to the surface by the air exhaust from the DTH hammer.
Reverse circulation
Robit’s Reverse Circulation (RC) products help users drill deeper and faster, and importantly deliver high quality samples for their customers.
They are typically used for exploration purposes to find new sites, or grade control where mining activities already exist.
Reverse circulation is achieved by blowing air down the rods, the differential pressure creating air lift of the water and cuttings up the “inner tube”, which is inside each rod.
It reaches the “divertor” at the top of the hole, then moves through a sample hose which is attached to the top of the “cyclone”.
The drill cuttings travel around the inside of the cyclone until they fall through an opening at the bottom and are collected in a sample bag.
Bit by bit
The company’s high quality drill bits meet the needs of the most powerful drill rigs.
Their characteristics include:
- Modern bit design and a unique method for installing the buttons into the bodies
- Continuous quality monitoring throughout the manufacturing process
- Robit applies ISO 9001:2015 standard in all its activities. Rigorous quality control at Robit means, for example, measuring the hardness of the body and electronic microscopic analysis of the tungsten carbide used in the buttons.
- Robit has also paid special attention to designing different button shapes for different rock formations.
Automated production
Robit has invested in the state-of-the-art production technology, such as robotised productions cells, button insertion machinery, and automated painting lines.
High level of automation increases the capacity, improves productivity and secures consistent high quality, helping the company to react on the changing markets and growing demand.
The most challenging part of the manufacturing process is the inserting of the buttons in the drill bit.
It has a crucial effect on the bit lifetime and quality, and that’s why Robit developed sophisticated methods to guarantee the best button retention and stability.
Australian-made
Robit Australasia Vice President Steve Landreth can’t stress enough the importance of buying locally made product.
Situated in Canning Vale in WA, the factory manufactures its drilling tools to the rigid quality standards that Robit adheres to.
“Continuity of supply and quality of the product are key considerations,” Mr Landreth said.
“Some overseas competitors may offer cheaper products, but their quality is questionable and unproven, as is their supply, particularly during the current COVID-19 situation.
“I urge customers to look beyond just the price factor and concentrate on cost per metre.
“We stand by our product, which is manufactured to the highest quality.
“A key to a smooth supply chain is effective forecasting through regular communication channels between the customer and Robit.
“Robit Australia has an extremely well qualified technical sales team and also offer local Drillmaster support where required.”
Mr Landreth said supporting locally-made product in turn supports local businesses and economies.
