Sandvik Mining has proudly commissioned a new high-load, hard rock-cutting test rig as part of its continued investment in research and technology and commitment to hard rock mechanical cutting.
The official inauguration ceremony took place on 3 March in Zeltweg. Members of Sandvik’s research and development (R&D) board and representatives from business area Sandvik Mining joined the special occasion.
Sandvik Mining has identified hard rock continuous mining as a strategic initiative to align with its customer focus and innovation values to develop safer, more productive and more cost-efficient system solutions for its customers.
As a result, the competence centre for mechanical cutting in Zeltweg has continued to investigate suitable cutting technologies and machine concepts, and the critical need for a full-scale test rig to validate hard rock cutting became evident for future product development.
The engineering design, planning, construction and assembly of the high-load rock-cutting test rig commenced in August 2013 and was completed at the end of 2014.
Since the beginning of this year, various cutting tests have been initiated, which would all contribute to the development of different hard rock-cutting technologies for application in rapid mine development and production machine concepts.
Vice-president product development and global technology, global equipment Janne Uotila pointed out the necessity of this investment. He emphasised the need for continuous pioneering results to stay relevant as a tool and equipment supplier, for which the cutting test rig will be of great value.