The versatile down-the-hole (DTH) rig is designed for drilling 110-178mm (4 5/16-7in) holes in a wide variety of applications and challenging drilling conditions.

According to Atlas Copco, the D60's hole-navigation (HNS) and auto-positioning systems ensure that the rig will locate the exact position of each hole and then accurately collar and drill them to precisely the required depth and inclination; this gives a better fragmentation and improves both the loadability and crushability.

In addition, the robust, standard feed carrying 5m tubes features built-in sensors in the rod-handling cylinders and carousel motor, promising more reliable rod handling and eliminating the need for inductive sensors. The rig also has auto rod handling as a standard feature to automatically add and then extract the rods when the desired depth is reached.

Another advantage is the low fuel consumption: this is achieved through intelligent control of the compressor load and engine RPM, resulting in an estimated fuel saving of up to 15% compared to the FlexiROC D60, the manufacturer said.

Mike Wentworth, product manager for Atlas Copco in the US, said: "What we have in the SmartROC D60 is robustness and intelligence working together to achieve optimum performance and cost-efficiency. The result is that the owner gets more holes per shift and consistently high productivity."

Mattias Hjerpe, product manager at the surface and exploration drilling division in Sweden, added: "The development of this rig is the latest in our drive to produce a wider range of surface drill rigs that can give better results at lower costs. It's the smart way to go in today's economy."