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Meet the Boring Jumbo Boomer XE4 C and Its Successor Epiroc Boomer E4, Equipment with Four Booms That Drill Dozens of Holes for Explosives Simultaneously in Tunnel Faces.
The Atlas Copco Boomer XE4 C, and its evolution in the Epiroc Boomer E4 series, are benchmarks in tunnel face drilling. This boring jumbo, with its four robotic arms, is designed to drill dozens of holes for explosives simultaneously, optimizing rock excavation in large-scale projects.
The transition from Atlas Copco to Epiroc continued the legacy of innovation of this line of jumbos. Technological advancements, such as the Rig Control System (RCS), have resulted in gains in productivity, precision, and safety, solidifying this bore jumbo as a transformative tool in the industry.
Introducing the Boomer XE4 C: A Legacy of Power in Face Boring Jumbo
The Atlas Copco Boomer XE4 C is a modern bore jumbo, with four booms, ideal for large tunnels and high productivity demands. Its high-reach console covers cross sections of up to 206 m², allowing for comprehensive drilling without frequent repositionings. Epiroc, formed from Atlas Copco’s mining and construction division in 2018, continued the development of this line.
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The design philosophy of the Boomer series, focused on high productivity, has been enhanced by Epiroc in subsequent models, such as the Boomer E4. This continuity ensures that the capabilities of the Boomer XE4 C have been amplified in the new generations of this bore jumbo.
The “Four Robotic Arms”
The Boomer XE4 C and the Epiroc Boomer E4 use four heavy-duty BUT 45 booms, designed for fast, precise, and stable positioning. The drill rigs range from the COP 3038 in the XE4 C to more powerful models like the COP 4038 (up to 40 kW) in the Epiroc Boomer E series. The drilling area coverage is approximately 205-206 m².
The “robotic” aspect is provided by the Rig Control System (RCS), especially the RCS 5 from Epiroc. This system offers advanced automation, such as the Advanced Boom Control (ABC) for automatic boom positioning, the Automatic Rod Handling System (Auto RHS E) for automated rod changes (allowing holes of up to 30 meters), and the Dynamic Tunneling Package (DTP) for creating drilling plans at the tunnel face.
How the Boring Jumbo Optimizes Rock Tunnel Excavation
The four-boom configuration of the bore jumbo Boomer XE4 C and E4 allows multiple drilling operations to occur simultaneously. The RCS orchestrates the movement and operation of each boom in a coordinated and efficient manner, whether in simultaneous drilling or optimized sequential drilling. This drastically reduces the time to complete a drilling pattern.
High-speed drills, such as the COP 3038 and COP 4038, combined with efficient hydraulic systems, multiply productivity. The dual damping system of the drills minimizes wear on consumables, contributing to greater uptime and sustained productivity of this bore jumbo.
From the Boomer XE4 C to the Epiroc Boomer E Series
The Epiroc Boomer E3 and E4 models are direct successors of the Boomer XE4 C lineage. The main innovation is the implementation of the Rig Control System 5 (RCS 5) and its automation features, such as ABC Total, Auto RHS E, DTP, and Measure While Drilling (MWD). Other improvements include battery electric drive options and data integration with management systems such as Underground Manager 2.0.
This evolution integrates into Epiroc’s “Total Tunneling” philosophy, a set of solutions for underground construction that combines automation, electrification, and digitalization. In this vision, the Boomer E boring jumbo is not just a machine, but a crucial node for data generation (MWD) and execution within a broader ecosystem, optimizing the entire tunneling process.
The Design of the Modern Boring Jumbo
The design of the bore jumbo Boomer XE4 C and the Epiroc Boomer E series prioritizes the operator’s environment, safety, and sustainability. The cabins are FOPS (Falling Object Protective Structure) certified, safe, quiet, and ergonomic, with intuitive control interfaces like the RCS 5 and joysticks with primary functions grouped.
Automation features such as Auto RHS E and remote operation enhance safety by removing operators from hazardous tasks or locations. The Boomer XE4 C already had a low-emission diesel engine, and the Epiroc Boomer E series offers fully electric battery drive options, aiming for zero-emission operations and greater sustainability.
Proven Impact
The effectiveness of the bore jumbo Boomer is demonstrated in real projects. On Route 150 in Argentina, Atlas Copco Boomer XE3 C and E2 C models drilled roadway tunnels in difficult geology. In Bodø, Norway, an Atlas Copco jumbo with the Dynamic Tunneling Package (DTP) improved precision in executing niches and variable sections.
In limestone mining, a Boomer E1C-DH with RCS and Auto RHS E provided significant productivity gains, resulting in better rock fragmentation, smoother gallery profiles, and estimated savings of US$2 million annually. These cases validate the benefits of automation in precision, reduced over-excavation, cost-effectiveness, and safety, positively impacting all subsequent operations in the excavation cycle.
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