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PANORAMACANADAAir power for CanadianQuarryFormed at the beginning of the year, Forexplo hasquickly established itself as a drill and blastspecialist in Canada’s Quebec Province, winning areputation for meeting clean and efficient productiontargets, on-schedule and within budget. Thecompany is using Atlas Copco XRVS 1000 CD6 aircompressors to power two 750 hp drill rigs.Jointly formed by Mr. Bilodeau and Mr. Vachon earlier this year,it followed many years experience by both men operating for othercontractors.Quickly winning its first drill and blast contract with Beauval forall their quarries - the first one in Valleyfield, Qc 40 km west ofMontreal and the site Ange Gardien, some 55 km south ofMontreal and near to the Appalachian mountain range. A thirdaward was soon to follow at Herbertville on Lac St Jean. Andalready the company is confident it is set to be awarded two furthercontracts.Having always used American-brand compressors in the past,Mr. Bilodeau and Mr. Vachon were impressed with the fuelconsumption promised by Atlas Copco. The XRVS 1000, ratedwith a free air delivery of 1000 cfm at 25 bar (365 psi) is powered by a Caterpillar C13 ACERT T3 diesel engine andAtlas Copco FuelExpert to provide fuel consumption figures of just 60-62 l/h.“This exceptional figure compares with the 90 l/h from our previous American compressors,” said Robert Bilodeau,adding, “Over a year this represents a significant cost saving.”The Ange Gardien quarry was first established in the 1960s and was acquired by Beauval in 1981 to offer a broaderdiversity of crushed stone comprised mainly micritic limestone and slate and serves the Monteregie and Easterntownships.With reserves for at least another 25 years, the quarry rock features micritic limestone and a black argillaceous slate.Featuring three bench levels along the l km long quarry, Forexplo are drilling and blasting 8-12 m deep bench heights.Depending on Beauval’s requirements, Forexplo are typically drilling 56 holes for a blast to provide approximately20,000 t. Using Atlas Copco standard or Speedbit 140 mm diameter drill bits and hammer, Forexplo is drilling up to 30m/h.“Use of the speedbit in the harder rock ensures a 10% faster production rate,” said rig operator, Guy Gouthier, “This,together with the Atlas Copco compressor giving me air power on demand, makes a great combination.”Atlas Copco Airpower nvITALYCompact loader for tunnellingprojectA Bobcat T300 compact tracked loader has provided a unique, costeffectivesolution for removing spoil in the construction of a pedestriantunnel at the site of the 14th century monastery of Santa Caterina delSasso. This is a popular destination for pilgrims and is located at thebase of a sheer cliff face above one of the deepest points on theeastern shore of Lake Maggiore in Italy.Linked to a new 12-person lift system taking visitors down from thecar park, the tunnel will make it easier for everyone to visit themonastery, particularly the elderly and disabled, access for whom wasseverely hindered by the steep steps that were previously the only waydown the 50 metres from the car park to the entrance to the monastery.Page 6