Production Master 2.312: a new fully automated longhole drill rig

The Production Master 2.312 is the latest longhole drill rig in the Mine Master range. The machine drills production blast holes up to 54 metres long and performs the entire drilling cycle in fully automatic mode. Testing was completed in July 2026, and the first unit is heading to a mine in Chile.

What is new in this model

The PM 2.312 is based on a design already operating in Chilean mines. The new model introduces three changes:

• a modified drilling system, adapted for automatic rod handling,
• upgraded hydraulics, with continuous monitoring of parameters during drilling,
• new software that runs the complete hole drilling sequence.

We did not design the new model from scratch, and that was a deliberate decision. A mine buying a production drill rig needs above all a machine that is reliable and ready for operation on every shift. The carrier, the drivetrain and the main structure of the machine have years of underground service behind them, and the automation is what we added to that proven platform and tested separately.

Application and drilling range

The rig drills production blast holes: fans, parallel holes, upholes and downholes, in vertical and inclined planes.

The drilling range depends on the feed installed:

The feed variant is selected according to the requirements of the individual mine, depending on the hole length needed. Full specifications are available on the Production Master 2.312 product page.

The automatic drilling cycle step by step

In automatic mode the machine carries out the successive stages of drilling a hole on its own:

1. Retrieving a rod from the magazine.
2. Connecting the rod to the rock drill and starting the hole.
3. Drilling according to the pre-programmed parameters.
4. Adding further rods automatically as the hole depth increases.
5. Monitoring hydraulic parameters and drilling performance throughout the operation.
6. Disconnecting the drill string once the required hole length has been reached.
7. Returning the rods to their designated positions in the magazines.

The operator supervises the work from the cabin. Automation covers the drilling of the hole, while tramming between drilling positions and setting up the machine remain the operator's tasks.

Rod magazines and bit changes without leaving the cabin

The rig has two magazines, each holding 18 T45 rods, giving a total of 36 rods. The magazines also include positions for rods fitted with drill bits.

This allows the operator to change the tool without leaving the cabin. There is no need to approach the machine while it is running, and the break between holes is shorter. On a fan of a dozen or more holes, this adds up to real time saved during a shift.

Operator's station

The cabin is equipped with a large touchscreen. Operation is intuitive, working parameters are presented clearly, and the operator retains full control over the drilling process.

We improved the ergonomics of the station while the machine was still being built, based on feedback from the design engineers, the production crew and the service team. The changes included the position of the drilling control panel, the wiper linkage that had previously restricted visibility, the operator's seat rotation mechanism, and handles on the cabin pillars that make getting in and out easier. These are details that never appear on a datasheet, but that make themselves felt after eight hours of work.

What automation delivers

Automatic drilling improves the repeatability of the work. Holes drilled to pre-programmed parameters are more consistent regardless of who is at the controls or which shift is operating the machine. In practice this means:

• easier control of drilling parameters throughout the hole,
• greater accuracy of the holes drilled, which matters for blast results,
• fewer operations carried out manually by the operator,
• less dependence on the experience of a particular operator.

Testing at the Kozia Góra quarry

Between 29 June and 10 July 2026 the machine underwent comprehensive testing at the Kozia Góra quarry. The aim was to assess it in conditions as close as possible to actual underground work.

The project team checked the operation of individual assemblies, observed the behaviour of the structure during drilling and tested the entire automation system. Field testing allowed the team to refine the software as the trials went on, and minor faults and observations were analysed and resolved immediately. The tests were completed successfully.

An independent specialist with many years of experience in longhole drilling technology took part in the trials over several days. His observations proved particularly valuable in assessing the automatic drilling system. Combining practical user experience with the knowledge of our design engineers and programmers allowed us to match the machine even more closely to the conditions in which it will operate.

Where the PM 2.312 sits in the Production Master family

The Production Master family has evolved towards increasingly comprehensive automation of drill string handling:

• PM 2.1 is a narrow vein drill rig with manual rod handling, designed for headings from 3 × 3 m.
• PM 2.310 is a self-propelled rig for parallel upholes and downholes as well as fans and rings, with a rod magazine and a top hammer system.
• PM 2.3M is a self-propelled rig for longhole drilling in small to medium-size galleries, with a boom-mounted drilling unit.
• PM 2.311 introduces a high level of drilling process automation, on a completely redesigned drilling system mounted on the FM 2.320 carrier.
• PM 2.312 is the newest design in the series: a fully automatic hole drilling cycle, two rod magazines and a drilling range up to 54 m.

Production drilling automation across the industry

Automation of the drilling cycle is no longer the preserve of the largest manufacturers alone. The PM 2.312 automates not only the drilling itself, but also the handling of the entire drill string throughout the cycle, from retrieving a rod from the magazine to returning it once the hole is complete. This level of automation directly reduces the number of operations the operator must perform for each hole. The machine joins our range of automated machines for underground mining.

Our advantage does not lie in production volume, but in the way we work with the customer. The machine configuration is established together with the mine at the specification stage, taking into account heading dimensions, the required hole length and diameter, and the drilling method. It is the mine that sets the requirements, not the catalogue.

It is worth being precise about terminology here. The PM 2.312 automates the drilling cycle, but it is not an autonomous machine in the sense of moving around the mine and planning subsequent tasks by itself. The distinction between automatic drilling, tele-remote control and full autonomy matters when comparing offers, because each of these levels places different demands on mine infrastructure.

First deployment in Chile

The first PM 2.312 unit is heading to a mine in Chile, which follows naturally from the history of this design.

Earlier Mine Master machines from this family have been operating in the Chilean market for years. Experience from their operation, feedback from users and the requirements of mines there fed directly into the shape of the new model, including the changes to the drilling system and the hydraulics. The PM 2.312 therefore develops a design with a proven service record in that market, and the first unit of the new version returns to the market where the operating experience that shaped the design was gained.

Commissioning and technical support

Commissioning at the customer's site is carried out by Mine Master specialists together with the local distributor. After-sales support covers service, spare parts supply and operator training.

Frequently asked questions