CUBEX QUARTERLY REPORT
Cubex is an industry
leading drill manufacturing
corporation focused on
the creation and servicing
of drilling equipment
world-wide. The company
has expanded
progressively, with leading
edge equipment located in
each major mining centre
world-wide.
Cubex Heavy Hoist mast,
and Heavy Slide System,
designed for V-30
30” (762mm) drilling
August 2009
CUBEX GLOBAL SUCCESS WITH
V-30 DRILLING
Globally, the Cubex V-30 configuration is
gathering significant momentum. Meters
Down Under (MDU) based in Australia has
had consistent success with drilling
30” (762mm) shafts in excess of 130 ft (40m).
MDU has been operating for 11 years, special-
izing in underground ITH drilling. MDU drilled
their first V-30 hole in June 2004, and have
completed nearly 11,500 ft (3,500m) of V-30
raises to date. Approximately 1,970 ft (600m)
of these shafts have been down holes.
“The V-30 pushdown drilling performs
very well. For example, all the down-
holes we have drilled so far have been
in hard ground conditions and we have
had few problems completing the holes
using the V-30 method.” Brian Eaton,
Principal Mining Engineer MDU. (Aug
2009)
For MDU, penetration rates are generally 6.5
ft (2m) to 16.5 ft (5m) per shift, depending on
hardness and abrasiveness of the ground. The
rod string is stabilized every 4 rods while drill-
ing the V-30 raise, which minimizes whipping
(bending) of the rod string.
Configuration of Cubex Machines
At Vale Inco’s Garson mine, the V-30 was used for up reaming 90 ft (28m) as well as down
reaming 100 ft (30.5m) between levels. Most of the raises drilled are 90° by 90°.
“One of the advantages of the Cubex machine is that it is very versatile. We could use
the machine for V-30 drilling one day, and carry on with production drilling the next. In
comparison with conventional raise boring, with set-up time being factored in – the V-30
was a better option for us. In one shift of drilling in ore, we were able to complete 40 ft
(12m) of drilling with the V-30 head.” Cory Moore, underground supervisor at Vale
Inco’s Garson Copper Mine (Aug 2009)
 Increased Ore Recovery
Vale Inco’s Coleman Mine typically drills V-30 blind
bore raises of 60 ft (18m) to 70 ft (21m). Prior to
switching to the V-30, Coleman mine personnel
were constantly having their drop-raises freeze.
Their copper recovery increased from around 60 to
70% to being 90 to 95% with the V-30, and they
were able to adequately drill in stopes with 9 ft x 9
ft (2.7m x 2.7m) headings. The angle raises at Cole-
man are drilled from 70° to 90°.

John O’Shaughnessy, mine superintendant at

Cubex Orion V-30 drill beginning an upward raise
Coleman mine states that ‘the key points of V-
30 drilling is that since it’s a positive raise,
there’s no need to try and blast a full length
raise. With two men working a 40 hour week,
we were able to complete one raise per week.–
I would definitely recommend the V-30 to other
mines.” (Aug 2009)

Solid Reputation
Cubex’s long-standing partnership with Machines Roger International (MRI) continues to assist the mining
industry in engineering solutions for economical, efficient raise drilling and reaming. Our companies have
been working together for over 25 years and are recognized by the industry as a solid solution for unique
mining applications.

Global V-30
locations

Conventional, downward and upward raises with V-30

drilling solutions for the global market

1218 Redonda Street

Box 13, Group 524, RR5
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
R2C 2Z2
Ph. +1 ( 204 ) 694-5505
Fax. +1 ( 204 ) 633-0665
www.cubex.net