THE WIN WIN
WAY AHEAD

Atlas Copco's Magic Combination assures success for new partnership.

Combining Atlas Copco products to achieve higher production and lower costs has proved to be a winning formula for the partnership of a major U.S. mining company and a new exploration contractor.

The major producer Zinc Corporation of America (Z.C.A.) has teamed up with the newly-formed exploration contracting company Adirondack Exploration in what is described as a "win-win" strategy.

The two companies are increasing their diamond core drilling production while reducing the costs of their underground exploration programme.

Z.C.A. was investigating alternative strategies to counter the decline in metal prices when Adirondack Exploration came up with a proposal to combine the advantages of Atlas Copco core drilling equipment - the highly productive Diamec 262 underground core drill, the 48 TT thin kerf core barrel system and Xsafe impregnated coring bits and reaming shells.

This package of products has become known in the business as "The Magic Combination."

Right choice

At Z.C.A.'s headquarters in the Adirondack mountains of upper New York State, head geologist Bill deLorraine said the reasons for the partnership between between the two companies were simple:

"The lower cost per foot as a direct result of the equipment Adirondack proposed to utilize; the fact that they were local and an owner-operator company - which meant they could better respond to our requirements; and their belief that choosing Atlas Copco as their supplier meant that they would be well supported in terms of after-sales service.

"It was clearly a win-win situation for Adirondack Exploration and for our company."

The two companies knew they had made the right choice soon after the new Atlas Copco equipment was delivered. Previous average performances, using other equipment, were shift production of 125 feet and bit life of 400 feet. Average figures with the new equipment are shift production of 160 feet, life of Xsafe KX-3CF impregnated bits 810 feet and life of Xsafe reaming shells 3,300 feet.

In addition - thanks mainly to the worm-gear and turntable assembly features of the Diamec 262 - moving and set-up takes half the time it did with the previous contractor and equipment.

Extensive experience

Mark and George Thomas, of Adirondack Exploration, have extensive experience with Atlas Copco core drills and knew that their new company was getting the best unit on the market. But the performance of the Atlas Copco consumable products surprised even them.

For example, George says about the KX-3 bits and AWJ rods: "The bits have a fast penetration rate and are very easy to sharpen. The bit life is far beyond our expectations. The rods are stiff and durable and you get virtually no deviation. After more than 7,000 feet of drilling, they are basically like new!"

And Mark comments on the reaming shells and the 48TT core barrel system: "The reaming shells are the best we have ever seen and we have achieved more than 3,900 feet with them. The core barrel has worked very well and we're pulling core in 50-foot lengths without any problems. To date, we've not had to make any adjustments."

Both men are confident that the Atlas Copco equipment will not let them down when, in the near future, they will be carrying out deeper exploration drilling to depths of 2,200 feet at new locations.