For surface drill rigs
Faster and more precise hole navigation with Xsite® Machine Control.
Save time and increase hole quality
Machine Control helps to eliminate positioning and orientation errors. The system guides the operator to navigate to the right hole and reach the right depth with correct inclination.
Fast, accurate and safe working
Wireless data transfer and cloud connection speed up the drilling process and enable real-time documentation and reporting of work.
Savings on total cost of ownership
Xsite Machine Control improves the efficiency of the entire production chain and reduces overall operating costs (TCO).
Novatron’s drilling navigation system takes site safety to a new level in the mining industry
For more than thirty years, Finlandbased Novatron has been developing machine control systems and software for measurement, geospatial, mapping and planning needs.
From easy-to-use equipment and systems to ensuring the safety of customers’ sites, safety is a major theme for Novatron. In addition, advanced sensor technology and digital site data transmission provide sustainable working models that allow easy verification of the quality of work. Mining contractors can use the drilling navigation system to optimise the outcome of open-pit mining with precise surface drilling.
VP Product, Teemu Virtanen is responsible for Novatron’s product and system offering. The company’s mining solutions focus on three phases of open pit mining: drill schematic and surface design with 3D modelling software, data model-based earthworks and safe open pit mining with drilling navigation. Novatron’s digital workflow and machine control solutions help to improve efficiency, reduce safety risks and avoid wasting mineral resources.
”With Novatron’s Xsite® DRILL RD (Remote Display) drilling navigation system, we introduced a new product that allows the cabless surface drill to be navigated to the correct position. The device allows the operator to achieve the correct drilling angles and depths easily and safely,” says Virtanen.
The system pays for itself quickly
”By getting the holes in the right place, there is no need for re-breaking and loading is improved. The drilling speed also improves, and costs are reduced as a result,” Virtanen continues.
The equipment has been developed in cooperation with drill manufacturers, listening to end users. Feedback from users is that professionals who have been drilling for decades find the demanding work so efficient that it is fun.
This efficiency is further enhanced by the wide usability of the solution. Novatron always interfaces on the equipment manufacturer’s terms.
“Novatron’s drilling systems are compatible with most surface drills, including Furukawa, Sandvik and Epiroc models,” says Virtanen.
Novatron components are also reliable in a variety of applications. Components developed for professional use have been tested on excavators and demanding infrastructure projects in the Nordic countries. Novatron’s solid understanding of the industry’s requirements is reflected in its installation design: placing GNSS antennas at the rear of the drill rig reduces vibration in the system and is the best way to achieve a reliable system.
Xsite® DRILL
Satellite-based drilling and hole navigation system for TH and DTH drill rigs. Navigate to the correct hole position and achieve the correct drilling angles and depth quickly and safely.
Xsite machine control for drill rigs
Xsite® DRILL is a high-precision satellite-based drilling and hole navigation system that helps the drill operator to navigate to the correct hole position and assists in achieving the correct drilling angles and depth quickly and safely.
The easy-to-use and intuitive user interface, real-time information, and professional local support guarantee the best possible user experience.
The Xsite® DRILL system can be installed on nearly any TH (Top Hammer) and DTH (Down The Hole) surface drills.
With Xsite® DRILL, the drill operator can create a drill plan from scratch without leaving the cabin. This speeds up the blasting process remarkably – No need for manual hole markings or waiting for a surveyor to visit the site. A built-in guide helps you through the process step-by-step, so you won’t have to use your time browsing manuals.
3D system components
Ultrasonic sensors
Display unit (10”)
Remote Display is available as an option.
GNSS Antenna on top of antenna mast
Novatron® G3 IMU Sensor
Machine Control Computer (MCC) GNSS Receiver
MOBA
Xsite® DRILL RD (Remote Display)
Drilling and hole navigation system with remote display. Designed especially for non-cabin drill rigs (TH).
Xsite® DRILL RD is a high-precision tailormade satellite-based drill navigation system for non-cabin drill rigs.
The system helps the drill operator navigate to the correct hole position and assists in achieving the correct drilling angles and depth quickly and safely.
Xsite Machine Control improves the efficiency of the entire production chain and reduces overall operating costs (TCO). Additionally, wireless data transfer and cloud connection speed up the drilling process and enable real-time documentation and reporting of work.
3D System components
Novatron® G3 IMU Sensor
GNSS Antenna on top of antenna mast
Remote Display
Machine Control Computer (MCC)
GNSS Receiver
MOBA
Ultrasonic sensors
Article: Kjell Foss drills with precision to create barriers to stop landslides
The Xsite® DRILL RD by Novatron is a satellite-based drilling and hole navigation system that facilitates precise and efficient drilling operations using cabinless surface drills. Kjell Foss, a Norwegian company specializing in blasting and drilling services, works in demanding conditions that put the capabilities of the Xsite® DRILL RD to the test.
Kjell Foss, which has around 115 employees, operates throughout Norway. The company has a landslide prevention project along National Road 80 in Bodø. The goal is to remove around 30,000 cubic meters of solid rock to eliminate the risk of landslides in the area. Anders Sætre Torp, Project Manager and Blasting Manager for Kjell Foss, says the company chose Novatron’s solution for the project due the practical considerations on the site.
– We chose the Xsite DRILL RD system due to the project’s complexity and the many contour lines that need to be drilled with precision to create barriers to stop landslides, Torp explains.
“We chose the Xsite DRILL RD system due to the project’s complexity and the many contour lines that need to be drilled with precision to create barriers to stop landslides”
Anders Sætre Torp, Project and Blasting Manager for Kjell Foss
Contour blasting is used for bench, trench, and tunnel blasting. This reduces the cracking of the remaining rock surface, thereby reducing overburden and the need for reinforcement and creating an aesthetically pleasing surface. As an alternative to contour blasting, seam drilling can be used, which involves uncharged boreholes in a line with small hole spacing. The Xsite DRILL RD enables the precise and effective manipulation of these areas.
Working with Xsite DRILL RD. The goal is to remove around 30,000 cubic meters of solid rock to eliminate the risk of landslides in the Bodø area.
Adding to the tools of the trade
The Xsite DRILL RD’s performance is enhanced by various advanced features. The impressive feature set is not just for show, either, as it translates into a number of practical, real-world advantages.
Surface models, design models, and drill plans can be wirelessly uploaded to the system or created on-site using the integrated Drill Plan Wizard. The system also includes a reach indicator to determine the optimal positioning of the equipment quickly. Furthermore, the versatile drilling view provides real-time metrics, such as speed and penetration rates, while the auto-stop function ensures better safety and precision.
The system’s operation panel is a reliable and durable piece of equipment offering an intuitive interface for the operator. Meanwhile, the system has broad support for different file formats and industry-standard correction formats. Data can be transferred via USB, third-party services, or the secure Xsite MANAGE cloud service.
Christoffer Bodum works as a drill rig operator for Kjell Foss. Using the Xsite DRILL RD system on the job, he appreciates the way it allows a quick and good overview of the surface or contour line being worked on. He also points to the seamless documentation of the project, which frees him to focus on his main task: drilling as efficiently as possible and finding the best way to do it.
– What I really like is that you can see the live data from the drilling while you drill, and it gets documented directly into the system, he says, summing up his experience.
A perfect match
Blasting work manages one of the greatest risks in a project, requiring great precision and control from any equipment used when executing blasting work. Accurate documentation is also essential, as following regulations and plans reduces the risks inherent in this type of work. This ensures the safety of everyone involved and leads to the perfect result when carrying out the job. Additionally, Torp notes the Xsite DRILL RD’s smooth integration with systems already in place on the drilling rig before the installation of Novatron’s solution.
It is very important to control and document all executions. We also integrate with Blast Manager, our quality and blasting reporting systems, to document everything we do. Everything must be carefully documented in the smallest detail.
Torp goes on to add the increased precision and accuracy of drilling patterns and drilling depth to the list of practical benefits from installing the solution on the company’s drill rigs.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to achieving high performance without compromising safety, and the Xsite DRILL RD enables Kjell Foss to excel in both. From Torp’s point of view, this makes the system too good to pass up for those in the industry looking for a way to take their operations to the next level.
– We had high expectations for the collaboration with Novatron, and for us overall, they have been the best partner for GPS rig systems.
Hella Maskin AS is Xsite® reseller in Norway, specializing in construction technology, machine control, scales, hand-held measuring equipment, data flow and documentation. They serve Kjell Foss locally and are dedicated to delivering advanced solutions for demanding infrastructure projects.
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