Ausdrill has attempted to overcome the current shortage of skilled operators by placing the biggest order for surface tophammer track drills ever won by Sandvik Mining and Construction.
Ausdrill has purchased 20 tophammer surface drills for delivery by the end of 2008.
The worker shortage means machine productivity is more important than ever.
Ausdrill’s Australian operations general manager Andrew Broad said the current manpower shortage in the resource sector made it increasingly important to maximise output per machine.
“It’s a simple equation, fewer machines with more grunt mean we can achieve more productivity with less operators. The new 1500s are 30% more productive than our 1100s,” Broad said.
“Some of the new units will be used to absorb the expansion of our mining contract business and new work in civil contracts, and the balance to replace some of the older units in the fleet.”
Ausdrill worked in conjunction with Sandvik’s design and production staff to get the drill they wanted.
The multi-million dollar order was placed late in 2007. Five units have already been delivered.
Bert Butter
Sandvik Mining and Construction Australia
bert.butter@sandvik.com