Epiroc drill bit recycling programme: circular consumables insights for mine teams
Reviewed by Joe Ashwell
First reported on International Mining – News
30 Second Briefing
Epiroc is rolling out a Drill Bit Recycling Program that lets mine operators return end‑of‑service rock drilling bits so tungsten carbide and steel can be recovered and fed back into new tool production. The scheme targets worn top hammer and down‑the‑hole bits that still contain high‑value hardmetal inserts, reducing primary raw material demand and scrap disposal. For drill and blast teams, this formalises a closed-loop route for consumables procurement and waste management without changing existing drilling parameters or fleet.
Technical Brief
- For other mines, the model provides a template for OEM-managed closed-loop handling of high-alloy consumables.
Our Take
Across recent coverage, Epiroc’s Drill Bit Recycling Program sits alongside launches like Bio thread grease and the ET55 drill string, signalling a push to lock sustainability features directly into core rock‑drilling consumables rather than treating them as add‑ons.
The combination of a recycling scheme for bits and the unified AirDrill hammer and bit portfolio suggests Epiroc is trying to control more of the consumables lifecycle, which can give mines clearer TCO and ESG accounting for drilling operations.
With Epiroc also rolling out automation centres and dozens of autonomous Pit Viper rigs, a formal drill bit recycling programme creates a pathway to integrate consumable tracking and end‑of‑life recovery into digital fleet management for large surface mines.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
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