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MBI Global launches its Versadrill autonomous drill rig

After years of R&D, testing, and perfecting, the drilling solutions provider, MBI Global, is now ready to make its latest innovation – the VersaDrill autonomous drill rig – available to its customers.

 MBI Global is making its latest innovation, the VersaDrill autonomous drill rig, available to its customers

MBI Global is making its latest innovation, the VersaDrill autonomous drill rig, available to its customers

The mining industry is not impervious to modern technological advances and MBI Global's innovative autonomous drill rig is, therefore, a step towards the automation of all mining activities.

Automation is a new trend that offers many benefits, both in terms of finances and security. For instance, the autonomous drill rig reduces the time needed to accomplish a task, in turn reducing associated costs. Operations can now continue without interruption through shift changes (day shift to night shift).

The autonomous drill rig is a solution to the challenges faced by the mining sector, such as labour shortages and operating and material costs—major concerns for mining companies. Only one operator is needed instead of two (where regulations allow) to run this type of drill rig.

To protect operators, MBI's autonomous drill rig is equipped with safety features like an optical guard, an inner tube puller, and a direct communication tool that allows the underground driller to communicate with the surface team if the mining operation has LTE communication capacities.

These features also improve the machine's performance. In addition to being autonomous, the drill rig improves efficiency through data acquisition. Access to real-time information allows for adjustments to be made during operation and reduces costly equipment changes.

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