Brazil is rich in strategic mineral resources, including iron ore, lithium ore, and nickel ore. Its mining investment pipeline from 2026 to 2030 totals USD 76.9 billion. Meanwhile, data from the National Mining Agency of Brazil (ANM) shows the country holds more than 250,000 active mining rights. Such huge mining demand makes traditional blasting methods far from ideal: they involve tedious approval procedures, carry high safety risks, and create severe noise and dust pollution, making them almost unworkable in densely populated or environmentally sensitive zones. The integrated rock drill and splitter from YG Machinery is developed to tackle all these pain points. It integrates drilling and splitting functions into one excavator attachment to realize static and controllable hard rock excavation. This article cites two cases of Brazilian clients to demonstrate how this equipment helps local mines and quarries achieve safe, eco-friendly, and high-efficiency rock breaking.
Parameters of the YG-152 Integrated Rock Drill and Splitter
| Parameter Name | Unit | Value |
| Piling Beam Length | mm | 4850 |
| Drilling Advanced Stroke | mm | 2600 |
| Max Drilling Thrust Force | KN | 50 |
| Max Drilling Pull Force | KN | 32 |
| Piling Advance Stroke | mm | 1800 |
| Max Piling Thrust Force | KN | 160 |
| Max Piling Pull Force | KN | 100 |
| Hydraulic Pressure (Max) | MPa | 35 |
| Hydraulic Flow (Minimum) | L/min | 240 |
| Weight | kg | 6200 |
| Dimensions | mm | 5270×1485×1840 |
| Operation Mode | — | Remote Control |
Case 1: Granite Quarry in Minas Gerais State
Client Background
Located in Minas Gerais, Brazil, this quarry mainly produces granite blocks for construction with an annual output of around 30,000 cubic meters. The mining area sits right next to residential areas, so traditional blasting activities are subject to strict restrictions. Vibrations and loud noise from blasting also trigger constant complaints from nearby residents.
Problems Encountered by the Client
The quarry faced three tough issues. First, local environmental authorities have an extremely low tolerance for blasting vibration and noise. Each blasting application takes weeks to get approved, severely delaying production schedules. Second, conventional breaker hammers generate powerful shockwaves that create microcracks inside granite. This greatly lowers the integrity rate of finished blocks and turns massive high-quality stone into waste. Third, constant noise and flying rock debris lead to frequent resident complaints and fines for the enterprise.
YG’s Solution
To address the above issues, the YG team customized an operation plan using a hydraulic rock drill and splitter for the quarry. First, the equipment adopts static hydraulic splitting technology, producing no vibration, flying rocks, or blasting noise during operation. It completely eliminates environmental complaints and approval troubles — no blasting permit is required, so work can start anytime. Second, two-stage splitting cylinders apply pressure synchronously, delivering a long hole penetration and splitting stroke with cracks up to 5.5 centimeters wide. It fully splits rock from the bottom without residual rock connections, effectively preventing shockwave damage to stone blocks and raising the rate of intact finished products. Third, drilling and splitting are combined in one machine. There is no need to switch attachments frequently. The whole unit is operated via remote control; a single worker can finish splitting quickly with strong continuous operation capacity, filling the production gap caused by blasting downtime.
Project Process
After two video conferences and one equipment demonstration, the client recognized the machine’s fast drilling speed and outstanding splitting performance. The client finally purchased a YG-152 unit to match their existing Caterpillar 336D excavator.
Operation Results
After deployment, the granite mining efficiency reached four times that of traditional breaker hammers. Daily block output rose from 80 cubic meters to 320 cubic meters. The intact block rate jumped from 70% to over 95%, waste rock was drastically reduced, and resident complaints dropped to zero. The client commented that this integrated rock drill and splitter doubled their output while keeping them fully compliant with environmental rules, freeing them from worries about approval delays and public disturbances.
Case 2: Open-pit Iron Ore Stripping Project in Pará State
Client Background
This project is a medium-sized iron ore overburden stripping operation in Pará State. Large-scale excavation in hard rock layers is needed to prepare for subsequent ore extraction. The mine is in a remote area with difficult logistics supply, so equipment must feature high reliability and low maintenance costs.
Problems Encountered by the Client
Three major obstacles troubled the project team. First, blasting plans are heavily affected by rainy seasons, and delayed environmental approvals seriously held back stripping progress. Second, most mine working faces feature steep slopes. Ordinary heavy integrated drilling and splitting units shift the excavator’s center of gravity forward when the arm is lifted high, creating tipping hazards and making stable construction on inclined surfaces impossible. Third, spare parts are hard to source in remote mines. Equipment breakdowns lead to long repair cycles and heavy production losses.
YG’s Solution
The rock drill and splitter supplied by YG provide targeted solutions to all the above difficulties. To solve blasting restrictions, the machine requires no explosives at all. It generates a splitting force through a hydraulic boosting system, enabling non-stop operation regardless of weather or approval status. For safe work on steep slopes, the weight of the rock drill and splitter is concentrated on the rear of the excavator’s boom and stick. This avoids forward center-of-gravity shift when lifting or extending the arm. Even 20-ton small excavators can work steadily on slopes and move flexibly in narrow working zones. For difficult maintenance, the machine uses Swedish rock drilling technology and Italian hydraulic systems with a relatively simple structure. Daily maintenance only involves lubrication and replacement of wearing parts, cutting reliance on frequent external part supplies. In addition, wireless remote control allows operators to stay far away from dangerous slopes for better workplace safety.
Project Process
The client initially had doubts about Chinese-manufactured equipment. YG arranged a live remote demonstration. On granite of equal hardness, the YG hydraulic rock drill and splitter met the client’s expectations in both drilling speed and splitting response speed. The client immediately placed an order for two YG-152 units. After delivery, YG provided online installation guidance and operator training, and full production was achieved within one week.
Operation Results
After putting the two units into service, the project’s daily hard rock stripping volume hit 600 cubic meters, three times the output of the previous blasting hammer solution. The machines ran stably with no major faults for three consecutive months and with extremely low maintenance expenses. Operators reported that this excavator rock drill and splitter allows efficient stripping without blasting. It can easily drill and split rock on steep slopes previously considered inaccessible, greatly expanding the mine’s exploitable areas.
Why is the YG Integrated Rock Drill and Splitter so Popular in Brazil?
Mines and quarries across Brazil commonly face strict environmental regulations, lengthy blasting approval cycles, sensitive community relations, and complex terrain conditions.YG’s integrated rock drill and splitter replaces explosives with static hydraulic power. It creates no vibration, loud noise, or dust during operation and can work normally near residential areas or precision equipment. Combining drilling and splitting in one machine cuts down frequent attachment replacement time and shortens each full operation cycle. More importantly, the well-balanced weight distribution prevents small excavators from tipping even when their arms are lifted or fully extended, allowing stable operation on mountainous and steep terrain. Compared with traditional breaker hammers, the excavator rock drill and splitter deliver obvious advantages in overall efficiency. It also resolves a series of practical issues, including damaged stone blocks, slope safety risks, and complicated maintenance. This is the core reason it has gained steady traction in the Brazilian market.
Contact YG
If you are operating hard rock mining in Brazil or other regions and struggle with environmental compliance and low efficiency, contact YG Machinery for customized solutions. We offer full one-stop services, including equipment selection, installation, commissioning, and operator training. Our products have been exported to over 80 countries and regions worldwide. Let the YG integrated rock drill and splitter help you realize safe, high-efficiency, and eco-friendly rock excavation!
