Sandvik has secured an order from Glencore to provide three DR413i rotary blasthole drill rigs for the restart of the Bajo de la Alumbrera copper mine in Argentina. The order was booked in Q1 2026. The primary DR413i is scheduled to reach in Argentina in April with the remaining two following in This autumn 2026.
Moreover, Sandvik will present rebuild companies to Glencore for 3 D75KS rotary blasthole drill rigs and three DP1500 crawled-based floor drill rigs, in addition to labor and components for upkeep of the entire fleet.
Operations are anticipated to renew at Alumbrera in 2027, with first manufacturing slated for 2028. The mine is projected to supply round 73,000 metric tons of copper till June 2031, alongside gold and molybdenum, over an preliminary four-year life. Past its direct output, the restart is strategically essential because it helps the broader mission by sustaining infrastructure, workforce functionality and lowering future improvement danger, whereas contributing to Glencore’s ambition to increase copper manufacturing in response to rising power transition demand.
The Sandvik DR413i rotary blasthole drill rig is a high-capacity, crawler-mounted machine designed particularly for floor mining functions, together with large-scale open pit copper operations. Able to drilling gap diameters from 251-349 mm (9.88-13.75 in) with a single-pass depth of as much as 17 m (55.70 ft), the rig combines a robust rotary head with a excessive weight-on-bit capability to ship constant, high-productivity drilling efficiency even at excessive altitudes. Its clever options – such because the Sandvik Clever Management System Structure (SICA), onboard diagnostics and automation instruments, like iDrill – present real-time efficiency suggestions, enhance accuracy and guarantee hole-to-hole consistency, whereas lowering operator intervention.
Maximiliano Davico, Enterprise Line Supervisor, Rotary Drills – Gross sales Space Andean & South Cone at Sandvik Mining, added: “Sandvik has equipped varied gear to Minera Alumbrera prior to now and we’re delighted to assist Glencore with the mine’s upcoming restart. The DR413i is especially nicely suited to open-pit copper mines due to its strong design, excessive torque rotary system and options comparable to a travelling centraliser that allows straighter, extra correct holes, for optimum blast outcomes and downstream productiveness. Mixed with automation capabilities, diminished gas consumption and a maintenance-friendly design, the rig helps decrease working prices, enhance security and improve general mine effectivity.”
