Epiroc Donates Drill rig to Missouri Experimental Mine

Published: 30/9, 2019

Epiroc has donated a FlexiROC T20 R drill rig and consumables to the mining engineering program at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Mo. The FlexiROC T20 R replaces outdated equipment at the schoolÕs nationally recognized Experimental Mine, where students gain valuable hands-on experience with real equipment and mining practices.

The Missouri S&T mining engineering program provides a broad engineering education with strong expertise in mining engineering and a cultural foundation for the mining industry. At the Experimental Mine facility, students gain first-hand experience in surface and underground methods, blasting, ground control, ventilation, and pyrotechnic displays, as well as extensive research in air blast and ground vibrations. 

Home to a popular Summer Explosives Camp for high school students, the mine has topped a Popular Science magazine list of Awesome College Labs multiple times.

The compact and highly versatile FlexiROC T20 R drill rig is an ideal fit for the Experimental Mine site, where vertical and horizontal drilling needs vary depending on the surface or underground application. The consumables utilized with the T20 R differ from those used with the outgoing air track drill, so Epiroc provided some of its rock drilling tool technology to get the university off to a productive start with the new rig.

There was a dire need to update our drilling equipment so we could train our mining and explosives engineering students on a machine used in the industry today, says Dr. Kyle Perry, associate professor of explosives engineering at Missouri S&T and director of the Experimental Mine. The FlexiROC T20 R drill rig will make a night-and-day difference compared to what we have been using. The equipment, training, and support we have received is well beyond expectations, and we are truly grateful for everyone's generosity and support of our program.

The donation was facilitated by Chris Upp, vice president and general manager at longtime Epiroc customer Conco Companies, and a Missouri S&T alumnus. Upp is also a member of the development board for the school's mining and explosives engineering programs.

I have great appreciation for Epiroc and the folks that made this happen because it means a lot to the university, Upp says. We've been very impressed with the performance of our Epiroc machines and the support we get through our dealer. Epiroc did a great job of following through on this donation, and it's going to be an excellent tool for the university.
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