Atlas Copco has received significant orders valued at over €13m from Hindustan Zinc in the first quarter of 2012. This is one of the largest underground mining contracts for Atlas Copco India.

Atlas Copco will deliver a total of 24 machines, which includes face drilling rigs, long hole drilling rigs, bolting rig, loaders and trucks. The long hole drilling rigs Simba 1254 and Simba 1354, 15t loader Scooptram ST1530, 50t Minetruck MT5020 and the 60t Minetruck MT6020 mark their maiden entry into the underground mining market in India. The delivery of all 24 pieces of equipment will be completed in 2012.

Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL), a Vedanta Group Company, is the world’s largest integrated producer of zinc and India’s largest producer of lead and silver. The company also operates the world’s largest zinc producing mine called Rampura Agucha in Rajasthan. HZL also has the distinction of being the world’s lowest-cost producer of zinc.

Atlas Copco and HZL have been associated together for the past 30 years owing to the excellent productivity and proactive service shown by Atlas Copco. The Atlas Copco fleet will be used by HZL for two of its newest underground mining projects; Kayad Mines and Rampura Agucha Mines.

Atlas Copco and the Kayad Mines share a long history together, Atlas Copco having sold an investigation drill Diamec 262 for exploration about ten years ago. Kayad mine, which is now being developed, is located 9km from Ajmer in Rajasthan and will produce zinc and lead.

Rampura Agucha Mine, located 230km north of Udaipur in Rajasthan, has an annual ore production capacity of six million tons from their open pit where Atlas Copco hydraulic DTH rigs form the backbone of surface drilling operations. Atlas Copco India is now going to support the underground mining operations of Rampura Agucha Mine by supplying high capacity equipment there.

Anirban Sen, business line manager for Atlas Copco Underground Rock Excavation, India, said, "This equipment is of higher capacity than the existing equipment in the market. HZL has invested in our products to achieve ambitious production targets. This order is an excellent example of close coordination between teams in Udaipur, Pune and Sweden, displaying teamwork with a focus on customer centricity!

"This order confirms the confidence that Vedanta has in our abilities to provide products which would help them to boost productivity while lowering costs. Apart from the capital equipment sales, we are in the process of finalising complete back up for these machines for a period of 20,000 hours or five years of operation, whichever is earlier. This means that Vedanta would operate the machines and everything else would be taken care of by Atlas Copco" said Sanjay Ahuja, General Manager Atlas Copco Mining and Rock Excavation Technique CC India.