Epiroc SmartROC D65 DTH Surface Drill Rig

The Epiroc SmartROC D65 is a highly automated Down-The-Hole (DTH) surface drill rig purpose-built for large-diameter blast-hole drilling in open-pit mining and quarrying operations. Designed for hole diameters ranging from 140 mm to 229 mm and drill depths exceeding 45 metres per pass, the SmartROC D65 brings intelligent automation to operations that have historically depended entirely on operator skill and manual adjustment. The rig is powered by a fuel-efficient Stage V compliant diesel engine delivering 336 kW of continuous output, coupled to a purpose-designed rotary head and DTH feed system that maintains constant down-hole pressure regardless of formation hardness changes. Its Epiroc Rig Control System (RCS) — a full CAN-bus machine automation architecture — monitors over 200 real-time parameters, automatically adjusting feed force, rotation speed, flushing air flow, and percussion energy to optimise penetration rate and minimise drill string wear without operator input.

Saudi Arabia's phosphate mining operations at the Maaden Wa'ad Al-Shamal complex in Al-Jalamid represent exactly the application for which the SmartROC D65 was engineered. The Maaden phosphate open-pit mine at Al-Jalamid requires large-scale production drilling to fragment phosphate ore and overburden across a geologically varied deposit, where consistent hole quality directly determines blast fragmentation results and downstream crushing efficiency. The D65's AutoDrill function maintains precise bit-loading profiles as the operator tramtracks between collars, reducing operator fatigue on long shifts in the 45°C summer heat of the Northern Borders region. Its climate-controlled, FOPS/ROPS-certified cab is equipped with full ergonomic controls, a 12-inch touchscreen displaying real-time drill data, and a high-flow HVAC system specifically rated for desert ambient conditions, ensuring operator productivity across double shifts.

Beyond Maaden phosphate operations, the SmartROC D65 is deployed across Saudi Arabia's expanding gold mining sector. At the Ad Duwayhi gold mine operated by Maaden Gold, large-diameter blast-hole drilling is required to mobilise ore grades efficiently ahead of heap-leach or carbon-in-leach processing, and the D65's precision depth control ensures consistent bench heights that simplify grade control sampling. The Mansourah-Massarah gold complex in Al-Qassim, one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in the Middle East, has incorporated Epiroc surface drill rigs into its mine development plan as commercial production scales. Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) exploration programmes across the Arabian Shield — the geological province covering most of western and central Saudi Arabia — also rely on DTH surface drilling technology for reverse-circulation and coring drill programmes targeting copper, zinc, gold, and rare earth mineralisation.

Razz Middle East supplies and supports the Epiroc SmartROC D65 in Saudi Arabia, providing operator training, spare parts stocking, and preventive maintenance contracts. Our technical team coordinates with Epiroc's regional service hub to ensure uptime commitments aligned with mine production schedules, and we offer SAR-denominated quotations with rapid delivery from regional inventory to Riyadh, Dammam, Jubail, and remote mine sites across the Kingdom.