Proven performance, zero emissions

The Nye Ellingsrudåsen school project in Oslo is being built for the client, Oslobygg KF. The groundwork covers two new school buildings, and the existing school next door stays in operation. Before the new buildings can rise, the rock on site must be excavated.

“This project is about building a new school. We are going to excavate some 13,000 cubic meters of rock. Everything has to be electric on this site,” said Sebastian Ihlang of Kjell Foss A/S.

The project uses fully electric drilling and blasting to reduce emissions, noise and vibration. Working this close to the existing school raises the demands on safety, precision and planning.

Putting the rig to the test

The DC310RiE was not an obvious fit at first. Ihlang initially thought the project might be too much for the rig. His view has since changed.

“It has surprised us in every possible way. It drills really well, both small and large holes, deep and shallow. It is more than powerful enough for the task. I have drilled to 12 meters without any issues,” he said.

The rig’s electric operation raised its own questions. “I was a bit skeptical about the range and the cable and about the actual operation, but it actually worked out without any issues,” said Ihlang.

The DC310RiE can be powered directly through a cable connection. Optional battery tramming adds flexibility when moving around the worksite, and an optional cable reel simplifies cable management. “You have the option to tram just with the battery. That is a huge advantage,” Ihlang added.

For Ihlang, the comparison with a conventional rig is straightforward. “I would say the performance is optimal. It performs just like any other rig I have ever used,” he said. The rig is equipped with the updated Sandvik RD212 rock drill.

Lower costs, lower noise

Running an electric rig changes the cost picture. Fewer engine-related components mean fewer routine service items.

Petter Andre Olsen of Petter A Olsen A/S shared his view on electric machines at a Sandvik customer event showcasing the DC310RiE. “You have much lower maintenance costs. There is no need for coolant or engine oil change. You don’t need diesel or all the filters, that is quite a lot of money saved annually,” he said.

Reduced noise is another gain next to the school. “There is noise only when you actually drill,” Olsen noted from seeing the rig in action. Ihlang sees a difference when temperatures drop. “It is also more efficient in cold weather, it warms up a bit faster,” he said.

The first all-electric top hammer surface drill rig from Sandvik

Proven electric technology from mining now extends to construction and infrastructure drilling. The all-electric DC310RiE is built for worksites where requirements for emissions and noise are getting stricter, offering zero-emission operation and lower noise levels than conventional equipment. In the Nordics, targets for fully electric construction sites are already in place.

Familiar operation keeps the transition simple. Built on the established Commando™ platform, the rig uses well-known controls and drilling processes that help operators get up to speed quickly. Compact dimensions and good reach make it effective on confined urban sites and larger infrastructure projects alike, and options such as tracks and NoiseShield allow the rig to be configured for the job.

Electric is here to stay

On this site, the electric rig has exceeded expectations. For Kjell Foss, electric operation is a practical advantage. Olsen shares that view. “Electrical machines are here to stay. I see them as a benefit,” he said.

Ihlang said that using an electric rig on all job sites would mean lower fuel costs, less engine maintenance and fewer harmful emissions. “It drills incredibly well,” he concluded.