Sandvik launches new DTi series tunnelling jumbos

Sandvik has unveiled the DTi series tunnelling jumbos. Featuring advanced tunnel planning software, one of the first units in the new range is being used in a Finnish tunnelling project.

Sandvik's new range of intelligent tunnelling jumbos is now available in selected markets in Europe, the Americas and Asia.

The new DTi series boasts four models including the DT920i, the DT1120i, the DT1130i and the DT1230i, for excavation of 16 to 203 m2 cross sections, including face drilling, bolt hole drilling, and mechanised long-hole drilling.

The company said the new product range is designed to be fast, accurate and user-friendly and can produce "high quality excavation with the lowest costs."

Intelligent features

Intelligent features on the DTi jumbos include data collection of production and process information such as round data, cumulative production data and drilling parameter logging. Sandvik said this data helps with production logistics planning, scheduled maintenance and productivity improvement.

Working in automatic mode, the DTi series jumbos follow a designed drill plan and drilling sequence, which "greatly adds to the predictability of the tunnelling process," the company said.

"For added flexibility in special rock conditions, there is a range of features allowing the operator to fine-tune the process on line," a spokesman said.

Lock-to-Target helps the operator to find the correct hole position, QuickStep allows the operator to alter the steps of operation, and Dynamic Correct continuously redirects drilling when the booms are moving, keeping the hole bottom as planned.

The DTi jumbos use Sandvik iSure, an advanced tunnel planning software, which offers a "new and efficient way of working with blasting and drilling pattern simultaneously."

Pertti Koivunen, product manager for tunnelling jumbos at Sandvik, said, "The iSure software takes underground excavation planning onto a totally new level. It supports high quality excavation and offers an efficient way of managing the process.

"I am convinced that iSure users will find their tunnelling project to advance faster and with a much better result."

Project

Finnish contractor, Lemminkäinen, is one of the first companies to employ a new DTi series rig. The company is currently using a DT1130i at a multi-purpose tunnelling site in Helsinki, Finland.

The rig is currently working at a site in Pasila, a suburb of Helsinki, in the second contract in the overall project, which, when complete will boast a total of about 2.2 km of tunnels.

The tunnel system is being built for energy company Helsinki Energia, owned by Helsinki city, but central heating, air conditioning, drinking water and telecommunication systems will also join the tunnel complex.

Martti Keskinen, Lemminkäinen development manager, told iC excavation work is nearing the end at the site and the contract, which began in September last year is due for completion in June 2009 - although the pipelines will not be installed at this stage.

"The new rig here is easy and accurate to operate and that means that new and less experienced workers can work more easily in this kind of environment," Mr Keskinen said.

Speaking about the development of the DTi Series, Jorma Kalliomäki, market and offering manager for Sandvik Tunnelling and Underground Civil Engineering, said, "This has been one of the most comprehensive projects we have ever accomplished. There was a global team for assessing the customer needs when we started, and our key customers have played a central role in the development work.

"We have received very good feedback already; one of the operators at Lemminkäinen - the company runs one of the first units - told us that this is the best tunnelling jumbo of all time."