Epiroc Accelerates the Transformation as its Autonomous Drills Reach Milestone
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN -- Epiroc, a leading productivity and sustainability partner for the mining and infrastructure industries, continues to accelerate the transformation of the mining industry toward lower emissions, strengthened safety and higher productivity. Epiroc’s autonomous drill rigs have now achieved another milestone: they have successfully drilled the equivalent length of more than one round around the world.
Epiroc’s drill rigs, used by mining and construction customers across the world, are increasingly operated autonomously. The company’s Pit Viper surface drill rigs have now drilled holes totaling more than 41 million meters, exceeding the world’s circumference of 40.1 million meters. The societal benefits generated so far are significant, including a reduction in CO2e emissions of more than 100,000 tons. An equivalent in effect would be to plant a new forest the size of the Swedish capital. The reduction in CO2e emissions is achieved through increased efficiency of autonomous drilling, higher-precision drilling and significantly less need for travel to the rigs, which can be at a far distance from the control room.