Buying a down-the-hole drill rig is a significant investment for small- and medium-sized construction companies in Colombia. Business owners don’t just look at the equipment price – they also calculate the long-term costs: how many meters can this machine drill per day? How much fuel will it burn per month? How much will maintenance cost over a year? And if the machine breaks down for one day, how much production loss will that cause? With these questions in mind, more and more Colombian customers are seriously evaluating YG’s dth drilling equipment – because it not only offers a reasonable purchase price, but also gives reassuring answers on fuel economy and reliability. The two real customer stories from Colombia below may give you some inspiration for your own equipment selection.
YG DTH Drilling Equipment Parameters
| Model | YG412 | YG420 |
| Drilling diameter(mm) | 50~203 | 50~150 |
| Rock hardness | f=6~20 | f=6~20 |
| Drilling depth (m) | 30 | 40 |
| Walking speed(km/h) | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Gradeability | 30° | 30° |
| Power type | Diesel | Diesel |
| Fuel tank volume(L) | 85 | 85 |
| Hydraulic oil tank volume(L) | 188 | 188 |
| Weight(Kg) | 6300 | 6300 |
| Dimension(mm) | 6600*2110*2500 | 6600*2110*2500 |
Selection reference: For rocks below medium hardness, choose the YG412 (suitable for 76- 130 mm hole diameter); for medium hardness or above, choose the YG420 (suitable for 90- 180 mm hole diameter).
Case 1: Antioquia Gold Mine – YG412 Compact Model Solves Narrow-Tunnel Drilling Challenges
Customer background
The customer is a medium-sized gold mining company in Antioquia, Colombia. The mine is located deep in the Andes Mountains, where the tunnels are narrow and traditional large drills cannot enter. The ore rock is mainly moderately hard altered andesite (f=8-12), requiring daily blast hole drilling with diameters of 76- 103 mm and depths of 20-25 meters. They had been using an old top-hammer drill with low efficiency and serious hole deviation, which negatively affected blasting results and ore output.
YG solution
The customer submitted an inquiry through the YG website. Based on the rock quality report and tunnel dimensions provided by the customer, YG’s technical team recommended the YG412 dth drilling equipment. With a total width of only 2.1 meters, it can easily enter and exit narrow tunnels; the 120 kg-class impactor perfectly matches f=8-12 rock, and the 76- 130 mm diameter range covers all the customer’s needs.
Communication process
At first, the customer was concerned about the equipment’s high-altitude performance – the mine is about 2,400 meters above sea level, where thin air can affect compressor efficiency. YG engineers explained in detail the adjustment plan for the compressor under plateau conditions and provided operational data from similar equipment used in high-altitude mines. After three rounds of technical discussions and video demonstrations, the customer confirmed the purchase of one YG412.
Results
After the equipment arrived, drilling speed reached over 2 meters per hour in moderately weathered andesite – about 40% faster than the old machine. The hole walls were straight, hole deviation was controlled within 1%, blast fragmentation was uniform, and ore recovery significantly improved.
Case 2: Cundinamarca Quarry – YG420 Power Model Doubles Limestone Production Capacity
Customer background
The customer is a large limestone quarry near Bogotá, with an annual capacity of about 500,000 tons. The rock is hard, dense limestone (f=14-16), requiring daily bench blast holes of 115- 150 mm diameter and 30-35 meters depth. Their old equipment was badly worn, and drilling speed dropped sharply at deeper holes, reducing the monthly blasting frequency from the planned 8 times to just 5-6 times, directly restricting production.
YG solution
The customer found the YG website through a search engine and contacted us after seeing the product introduction for the down the hole drill rig. Based on the rock hardness and deep-hole requirements, YG recommended the YG420 power-model dth drilling equipment – its 200 kg high-torque impactor is specifically designed for f=14+ hard rock, with a maximum drilling depth of 40 meters and a 90- 150 mm diameter range that perfectly matches the 115- 150 mm blast hole design.
Communication process
The customer’s main concern was whether the dth boring machine price was reasonable. YG provided a detailed configuration list and price comparison, explaining the cost-performance advantages of the YG420 compared to equivalent models, while also highlighting that the standard intelligent fuel monitoring system would help the customer reduce fuel costs by 15%. The customer also asked for actual operation videos of the equipment under similar rock conditions. YG arranged a remote video link to show the YG420 drilling in hard limestone. The customer was very satisfied with the drilling speed and slag removal efficiency, and completed payment within a week.
Results
After the YG420 was put into operation, the single-hole drilling time for a 115 mm diameter, 30-meter-deep hole was reduced from 45 minutes to just 20 minutes, greatly improving blasting efficiency. The quarry’s monthly blasting frequency returned to over 8 times, and monthly production increased from 40,000 tons back up to 55,000 tons – exceeding the original designed capacity. Even more surprising to the customer, the intelligent fuel monitoring system showed that actual fuel consumption was about 18% lower than the old equipment, saving over $1,200 per month in fuel costs.
What Factors Affect the DTH Boring Machine Price?
When purchasing a dth rig machine, the price is affected by several factors. Understanding these will help you make a more reasonable budget plan:
- Impactor specifications: The price difference between the 120kg-class impactor (YG412) and the 200kg-class impactor (YG420) is significant – larger impact force means a higher price.
- Integrated vs. split type: The integrated type comes with a built-in compressor, so the total machine price is higher, but overall cost is lower; the split type has a lower bare-machine price but requires a separate compressor.
- Rock hardness matching: Harder rock conditions require more powerful impactors and compressor configurations, which increases equipment price.
- Optional features: Add-ons like intelligent monitoring systems, extra drill pipes, spare impactor pistons, etc., will increase the total price, but they offer long-term returns.
- Shipping and tariffs: International freight, destination port clearance fees, and local import duties are also important parts of the landed cost.
- After-sales service packages: Extended warranty, spare parts kits, on-site installation and commissioning training, and other value-added services will be reflected in the final quote.
Choose YG DTH Drilling Equipment
Whether you are in Colombia or any other South American country, YG can provide you with reliable dth drilling equipment solutions and competitive quotes. From the compact YG412 to the powerful YG420, from equipment selection to after-sales support, we help you achieve efficient drilling and optimal cost. Contact YG for a customized solution and the latest price.
