Epiroc to debut safety products at PDAC 2026
Epiroc will introduce new drilling safety and automation products at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada convention, running March 1-4, 2026, in Toronto.
The company's headline product is the Uphole Brake, an integrated safety module built into the head assembly designed to protect underground drillers from falling equipment. The system automatically stops a free-falling inner tube assembly by deploying braking elements against the inner surface of the core barrel or rod string when downward movement exceeds the speed of the overshot.
"Safety has always been a major concern for drilling companies, especially in underground and uphole drilling operations where drillers face specific challenges such as falling equipment," said Alex Grant, vice president of marketing for OreBody Solutions at Epiroc.
Grant said the system allows for easy retraction once activated, letting operators retrieve the inner tube at any point along the rod string without loss of productivity.
Epiroc will also showcase the Diamec Automated Rod Magazine, or ARM, which automates drill string tripping. The ARM allows drill strings to be tripped out fully automatically to a pre-set position and tripped in with minimal operator input, reducing fatigue and improving safety.
"At Epiroc, safety is a cornerstone of our innovation efforts," Grant said. "These products are great examples of our commitment to providing the best possible equipment for our clients."
Epiroc will be located at booth 723, featuring core bits and underground tooling, and booth 322 for geoscience products including CorePhoto, a geological imaging solution for core samples.
More information is available at epiroc.com/pdac2026.
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