Atlas Copco Displays Impressive Product Line at IntermatAtlas Copco has been at the forefront at the big Intermat show held in Paris 13th to 17th May, 2003. Among the highlights from the Atlas Copco display for the tunnelling market, visitors admired the Rocket Boomer XL3 C tunnelling rig and the Swellex Manganese Line rock bolts and MAI Self-Drilling Anchors, both state-of-the-art support systems for fast and safe rock reinforcement.The Rocket Boomer XL3 C, widely regarded as the most powerful and "intelligent" underground tunnelling rig on the market, is one of the family members of the new 3-boom series, fully-computerised unit. It is also equipped with a state-of-the-art cabin offering an outstanding working environment for the operator. The JV of Razel, Pizzarotti and GRA has chosen the XL3 C for the Saint-Martin-la-Porte access adit, a 2,040 m-long tunnel required to descend to the axis of the future Lyon-Turin basis tunnel. More from benoit.etienne@atlascopco.comAtlas Copco also launched two new versions of its Manganese Line at the Intermat show - Swellex® Mn 24C and Swellex® Mn 24H Hanger. The Swellex® Mn 24C (the C stands for connectable) is a rockbolt comprised of sections that can be threaded together to achieve a desired length. The robust R-type thread makes coupling easy and is well suited to the underground environment. The Swellex® Mn 24C rockbolt installation can be fully-mechanized, semi-mechanized or manual. Because Swellex® Mn 24C is comprised of sections very long bolts can easily be installed in confined openings.The Swellex® Mn 24H (the H stands for Hanger) is a versatile rockbolt having a flanged head that has a female M30 or M36 thread. The bolt has a static load carrying capacity of 200kN and is designed for hanging services while reinforcing the rock. After the bolt has been installed by using an inflation adapter, a forged eye-bolt (M30/M36) is screwed on. Utilities can be suspended directly from the eye-bolt. Cables can also be passed through the eye-bolts to form lacing or truss in rock-burst prone ground or to reinforce friable or weak formations.The success of the Manganese Line has also led to the development of a highly effective pressure pump for installing Swellex rock bolts. The Swellex Pump HC1 is a robust, reliable low maintenance hydraulic fluid displacement pump intended for mounting on drill rigs and rigs used to install Swellex bolts. For mechanized installations it is activated by means of a simple on-off switch mounted on the operator's console and for manual installations it is mounted on the installation arm. More from mario.bureau@atlascopco.comRegarding surface drill rigs, the highlights from Atlas Copco have been the ROC F9 C, a new high performance surface drilling rig. This is the latest version in the range of ROC crawler rigs having the combination of exceptional power and intelligence. This rig is equipped with a 25 kW rock drill, the COP 2550. This added power has been combined with intelligent operating and handling possibilities, supported by a computerized Rig Control System (RCS). This is the system that enables automatic rod adding and feed positioning - new features that make the job easy for the operator and shortens the time for set-up and collaring as well as drilling. Designed for applications in the 89-127 mm (3 ½"-5") hole range, with the ability to drill to 28 m. It takes the power and flexibility of the well-proven ROC F9 to a new level and also brings RCS intelligence to surface applications for the first time. More from lennart.lundin@atlascopco.comAtlas Copco also presented its new rig-mounted semi-automatic grinder, the Secoroc Grind Matic Jazz. Equipped with a timer, the semi-automatic Grind Matic Jazz is readily centered on the bit and activated by the operator. The result is that the bit remains as sharp as the day it was first used.The Secoroc Magnum SR32 for drifting, tunnelling and rock bolting has been specially designed for hole diameters of 38-41 mm. Thanks to the new Magnum SR conical thread system, bits are quick and easy to uncouple and with fewer damaging shockwaves in the rod. All in all, Secoroc's Magnum SR32 makes for more straight holes drilled and a sharp increase in drilling productivity.The new Atlas Copco Secoroc Premium Plus bits offer a 10-30% increase in bit life. The buttons have been repositioned for faster penetration and designed to protrude more - for improved cuttings removal, less secondary crushing and easier bit grinding. And, finally, to reduce the risk of jamming in the hole, the taper on the bit head is shorter with a larger clearing. More from alf.stenqvist@se.atlascopco.com. Also visit www.atlascopco.com/intermat or click here. 21/03.