Month: June 2025

RG45 & RG51 rods set new standards for Top Hammer

Posted on by Jari Silver

Robit’s product development has long focused on the final part of the drill string: the drill bit. Recent years have seen major innovations in hammers as well. The latest breakthrough is for the middle of the drill string: the RG45 and RG51 drill rod for Top Hammer applications.

The part of the rod most susceptible to impact wear is the thread. The RG45 & RG51 rod threads feature shoulders that take the impact energy; the threading only transmits rotation, making the rod significantly stiffer and more durable than standard ones. This improves wear resistance, penetration rate, and even hole straightness, says Robit’s Sales Manager Santeri Sillanaukee.

“A shoulder-driven rod is not a new invention in itself; it has primarily been used in underground drilling and larger equipment before, but in open pits in the Nordics, the method is new,” Santeri explains.

“Compared to the competition, the RG45 & RG51 are much easier to use. They are fully compatible with standard C45/T45 or C51/T51 shank adapters and drill rods. This means that installing the RG45 & RG51 are extremely straightforward and does not require any modifications to the drill rig,” Santeri says.

PEAB, the largest Nordic construction company, runs several open-pit quarries in Finland as part of its aggregate business. PEAB has tested the RG51 rod at its quarries for several years, and the results are compelling. Drill strings equipped with the RG51 rod have significantly better durability than the competition. The penetration rate and hole straightness have also clearly improved. PEAB has almost entirely switched to RG51 rods for Top Hammer drilling in Finland.

Since the early test phases, PEAB driller Tapani Kalmukoski has gained firsthand experience with the RG51 rod in extraction blasting at various crushing sites.

“Rod breakages have decreased a lot. The RG51 is much more durable than a standard rod. Breakage at the thread is very rare. Wear resistance is also excellent. We achieve at least one-third more drill meters than a standard rod and even up to 50% more in difficult conditions. Everyone at PEAB is satisfied with the RG51,” Tapani says.

The RG45 and RG51 rods were developed in Finland under the leadership of R&D & Top Hammer Specialist Daniel Kujanen. The rods are manufactured at the South Korean factory, and demand is growing steadily. “Currently, the next batch is already pre-sold,” says Santeri Sillanaukee.

Sotreq looking to grow with Robit in Brazil

Posted on by Jari Silver

The mineral sector is a crucial part of Brazil’s economy, contributing significantly to its GDP, almost 4%, as well as exports and employment. According to the latest Brazilian Mineral Yearbook, production exceeds BRL 350 billion (about € 55 billion) per year.

A major player in this field, Sotreq has become the exclusive distributor of Robit products in the Brazilian market. Their Robit product portfolio includes hammers, shank adaptors, couplings, rods, and bits for Top Hammer, DTH, and geotechnics solutions.

According to Rafael Puga, Corporate Market Development Consultant at Sotreq, the company joined forces with Robit because the partnership allows them to maintain service standards comparable to market leaders, going beyond the mere sale of products to make a difference.

Service options for varying needs
Sotreq offers two service options for customers with Robit products: off-the-shelf direct purchase or annual contract. The latter is ideal for ensuring high productivity and continuous operations, and it comes in two versions: Basic and Full.

In the Basic package, the customer purchases parts and technical support from Sotreq, which offers a dedicated price list for imported goods. Once imported, Sotreq keeps the goods available, allowing monthly purchases as needed. Sotreq guarantees a continuous supply of consumables, with a tool technician and a manager responsible for the stock.

In the Full package, the customer is charged per drilled meter. A specialized team is assigned to serve the customer and ensure operational efficiency. A unique feature of this package is that Sotreq monitors the entire operation, ensuring its correct execution and bringing cost savings. Sotreq also provides training to ensure optimal drilling results, regardless of the equipment used.

Always on the lookout for growth opportunities in Brazil, Sotreq has identified underground mining as one of the most promising sectors in this respect. Their partnership with Robit, now in its second year, has already proven a strategically wise step.

Picture taken at Robit 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner: from left James Kwack and Martin Rodriguez from Robit & Rafael Puga and Eduardo Coli from Sotreq

WINTER 2024-2025 – HILLA’S TRAINING DIARY

Posted on by Jari Silver

A corporate supporter of sports, Robit signed a sponsorship and cooperation agreement in 2021 with Hilla Niemelä, one of the most promising young skiers in Finland. Hilla has been keeping a training diary for our readers; here is episode seven.

The first year on the national A-team is now behind me. It was a season full of lessons, both in training and competition. Making the jump to the A-team was incredibly motivating, and I got to train alongside skiers stronger than me. I was excited about the training season, and it went very well. As winter approached, I felt great physically and confident mentally.

The first races of the season got off to a promising start. But getting sick threw a wrench in my plans, and I had to take my time to recover and rebuild.

Overall, the competition season wasn’t what I had hoped for. I narrowly missed making the World Championship team for Trondheim, which was a huge disappointment. My expectations were high, and while my skiing wasn’t exactly bad, I had set much bigger goals for the year. I still believe I was in the best shape I’ve ever been, but that didn’t directly translate into results.

Mid-winter brought a long break from racing (there just weren’t any), so I had time to train well at home. The ski tracks in Tampere were in great condition, and after all the setbacks, it felt good to be home, focusing on training.

The end of the season went pretty well. Two highlights stand out: the team sprint at the Lahti World Cup and placing fifth in the Finnish Nationals in Taivalkoski, just three seconds off the podium. All in all, my performance level stayed steady, and my baseline clearly improved. Even on off days, I was able to perform decently, which is important for your mental game as well. That said, I’m still hungry for more in the seasons to come.

The Olympic season is now officially underway. In May, the main focus is prepping my body for summer training, where stringing together good days, weeks, and months really matters. Our first A-team camp was in mid-May in Vuokatti, and we’re heading back there again the week after Midsummer. There’s an excellent spirit in the team right now. We’re pushing each other forward in a season where everyone’s ultimate goal is, of course, the Milan–Cortina Olympics in February. That’s where we’re headed, focused, but not forcing it.

Cheers,
Hilla