New Drill Rods Increase Service Life Up to 70 Percent
Contractors can now reduce tool replacement frequency by utilizing rods that redistribute impact energy to the shoulder.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Remote Work
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Since early 2025, Robit has leveraged field trials at the Kevitsa mine in Finnish Lapland to refine its drilling tool designs. These tests are helping the manufacturer optimize component performance under extreme temperature fluctuations for mining operators.
Why it matters
By incorporating real-world ground condition feedback into hardware iterations, Robit is seeking to close the gap between theoretical laboratory durability and the actual wear rates experienced by drilling contractors.
RG45 rods demonstrate service lives 50 percent to 70 percent longer than standard C45 tools in Finnish site applications. The testing program at the Kevitsa mine monitors performance across a wide temperature range of negative 40 degrees Celsius to 35 degrees Celsius.
The players
Robit
A global manufacturer of drilling consumables that operates production facilities in Finland, South Korea, and the UK.
Boliden
A metals mining and smelting company that provides test sites for drilling equipment validation.
Bohus Bergsprängning
A drilling services contractor that integrated RG45 rod technology into its operations in 2025.
Alingsås Sprängtjänst
A Swedish drilling and blasting firm that began using new rod designs in late 2025.
The details
The design shift focuses on the rod shoulder, which is engineered to absorb impact energy instead of the thread, thereby increasing overall tool stiffness. This modification allows the hardware to maintain structural integrity in diverse ground conditions. Robit manages this development cycle through manufacturing hubs in Finland, South Korea, and the UK, and direct site support from its Kalgoorlie-Boulder branch.
Timeline
Robit began testing the H8 hammer at the Kevitsa mine in early 2025.
Bohus Bergsprängning started utilizing RG45 rods in spring 2025.
Alingsås Sprängtjänst adopted the RG rod technology in October 2025.
Market Landscape
The transition to the RG45 drill rod design marks a shift in engineering strategy that prioritizes tool stiffness by moving impact absorption away from the threaded connection. This follows a broader industry trend of adjusting consumable life through structural redesigns based on site-specific performance monitoring.
Contractors should evaluate the service life of their current consumables against the 50 percent to 70 percent benchmark achieved by these updated rods. Consider reviewing equipment procurement cycles to prioritize components that shift load-bearing stress away from threaded interfaces.
The takeaway
Operational feedback loops are as critical as material science when extending the lifespan of high-impact mining tools. Operators should audit the failure points of their current drilling rods to determine if structural redesigns, such as shoulder-loading, could reduce frequency of equipment replacement.
Further reading
For more on industry infrastructure and site-based operational equipment, visit the Remote Work section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Australian Mining.
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