Below you can read about who we are and what we do. In short, you can here read all about what LKAB Wassara has to offer.
LKAB Wassara - who are we and what we offer
LKAB Wassara develop, manufacture and sell energy-efficient, high-performance drilling systems for both surface and underground drilling. The heart of our drilling system is the water-powered DTH hammer, but we also provide instrumentation and services for measuring boreholes with our newest product Wassara explorer™.
LKAB Wassara's water-powered DTH hammer is the most environmentally friendly percussion drilling method available today. The water-powered technology offers several advantages such as the ability to drill long straight holes, high energy efficiency and a low impact on the environment.
The company has about 60 employees and has operations in Stockholm, Malmberget and Kiruna, Sweden. All sales are made through local distributors and cooperation partners from all around the world.
LKAB Wassara AB was founded 1988 and is 100% owned by the Swedish mining company LKAB, situated in Kiruna.
The Technology
The heart of the Wassara drilling system is the world patented water powered down-the-hole (DTH) hammer.
Wassaras water-powered DTH hammer is the most environmentally friendly percussion drilling method existing today. The DTH hammer is powered by water. No oil is used for lubrication, meaning no contamination of air or water. The water is effectively suppressing dust as well.
The incompressibility of water is a key factor allowing the features of the Wassara hammer system. It also gives a major energy cost saving compared to air DTH technology, and reduces the energy demand to power the hammer.
The use of water for transmitting the power to the hammer brings numerous key benefits:
• Long straight, clean and stable holes
• High drilling performance
• Safe and benign drilling
• Environmentally friendly drilling
• Cost effective drilling
The Applications
The drilling systems have been used for more than 30 years in various applications within many industries:
• Ground engineering (including Maritime, Dams and Geo energy)
• Tunneling (including Anchor drilling, Cut-of walls, Ground reinforcement, Forepoling and Survey, grout and drainage holes)
• Mining (including Mineral exploration)
Our experience covers more than 30 million drilled meters working in different applications and locations around the world.
The Wassara Drilling System
Wassara drilling systems consists of several products. Read more about them here:
• DTH hammers
• Drill bits
• Drill rods
• Check valves
• Swivels
• Hose
• Pump units
• Water sedimentation unit
• Jet-grouting system
• Drilling optimization (OWD)
Our own Production - Clear Clean Quality
Effective product development, precision in manufacturing and strict quality control characterizes the daily work at Wassara AB. We work closely with you, which guarantees constant, excellent service and support. In addition, we are always cautious about our impact on nature, safeguarding a conscientious, long-term environmental perspective. In other words, clear, clean quality.
The owner
LKAB is Europe's largest iron ore producer. The core product is mined in north Sweden and shipped out to the rest of the world from Narvik and Luleå.
LKAB is a high-tech international minerals group, world leading producer of processed iron ore products for steelmaking, and a growing supplier of mineral products for other industrial sectors. Main markets include Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. LKAB employs just over 4,200 people. (www.lkab.com)