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Unique Service Agreement Leads to Improved Productivity Adapted from a Press Release by Sandvik We’ve all been in a situation where we’ve pondered the worth of a service agreement. In the mining industry, an hour of downtime can cost thousands, so would a service agree- ment be a good investment? A remote Chinese mine has discovered the answer for their operation. The company reduced costs and improved predictable productivity thanks to the Sandvik 365 service agreement. Guizhou Kailin Group Co. Ltd. (Kailin) has been a long-time customer of Sandvik with a fleet of 65 drill units in operation at its four mines in southwest China. The company decided to try the Sandvik 365 service solution. Since the agreement was signed in 2016, Sandvik has provided on-demand services including on-site inspection, evaluation, maintenance, and overhauling. Sandvik techni- cians run a service exchange at the Kailin service yard in the center of Jinzhong. “Kailin and Sandvik have been cooperating for more than 30 years, so we know each other ’s methods very well,” said Jun Chen, Sandvik key account manager. “We have matched and al igned our operational method according to Kailin’s. Everything from the supplying of the parts to the operations to the after-mar- ket service is designed with customer satisfaction in mind.” In 2016, Kailin approached Sandvik with a need to improve maintenance routines. A Sandvik-branded mainte- nance container equipped with profes- sional maintenance tools, testing tools, original parts, and a backup dri l l to reduce downtime was selected. L i n Ouyang , v i ce manage r o f drilling at Kailin said, “The container solution is designed to increase our abil- ity to perform maintenance and repairs on-site. It helps us to reduce the likeli- hood of problems, and fix the problems that do occur in a more efficient way. Before the regular maintenance was introduced, drilling a single blasthole could take up to 90 seconds. Now, with the machines properly serviced, the average is down to 60 seconds. The price we pay for this service contract is very small considering the efficiency improvements we are seeing.” Xingfeng Lu, one of the Sandvik technicians based in Jinzhong, said the convenience to the customer is the biggest benefit, but flexibility is still key. “The plan is to give the local technicians training whenever there is an issue with the rock drill, but in such remote areas we need to work together and be pre- pared to pitch in,” he stated. “If the cus- tomer is short on staff, we can lead the maintenance activity with Kailin person- nel providing support. It’s a very flexible arrangement.” 4½" flush joint pipe in 20’ lengths Elevators SkyRex We Support Our Troops! Stock Sizes: 1” thru 24” for casing, column pipe, tubing, and drill pipe. *Load test certificates available *Offered with or without base UsedWorldwide Ideco Drawworks DRILL COLLARS From 3 ½ " to 10 " 30’ and 40’ Lengths Family Owned & Operated office fax 806-791-3731 806-791-3755 www.rexmcfadden.com March Madness Sale! Call for Specials Drill Pipe Swivel 6WC Slips 5/8 ‐ 3/4” Sucker Rod Elevator In Stock 34 MARCH 2018 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®