Rock solid performance

Malayasia's first Tamrock Pantera 1100 drilling rig, fitted with Rock Pilot hydraulic control, is helping a granite quarry operator to maintain its high production levels. More than 150000 tonnes of crushed granite is produced each month at Cemex's Golden Plus Quarry in Kuala Lumpar - sometimes up to 44000 tonnes per week.

The quarry is currently being worked simultaneously from three benches and the Pantera 1100 rig is moved between the benches as needed. “We needed a heavy duty machine because our granite contains a high proportion of silica which makes it very abrasive and we operate six days a week,” said Cemex drilling and blasting manager Gopal Singh.

The Pantera's Rock Pilot drilling control system reacts to changing rock formations and adjusts the drilling power to suit conditions. According to Mr Singh, the system helps to ensure that the 265 m of blasting holes it bores each day are both smooth and straight even though the granite is highly fractured.