Who Are the Manufacturers of DTH Drilling Rigs?

DTH drilling rigs are produced by manufacturers ranging from global mining-equipment groups to specialized Chinese and Japanese rock-drilling companies.

Major DTH drilling rig manufacturers include Epiroc, Sandvik, Furukawa Rock Drill, Caterpillar, Sunward, and Kaishan. Their product ranges differ significantly. Some focus on large integrated mining and quarry rigs, while others also manufacture compact split-type DTH rigs, water-well equipment, compressors, and drilling tools. I compare manufacturers by application rather than brand name alone.

I do not consider this an exhaustive global list. DTH rigs are manufactured in many countries, and regional model availability changes. For an industrial buyer, the more useful question is which manufacturer offers the correct hole range, hammer size, compressor capacity, automation level, service network, and lifecycle cost for the project.

Who Are the Major DTH Drilling Rig Manufacturers?

Several established equipment manufacturers currently produce DTH rigs or rotary rigs that can be configured for DTH drilling.

Representative DTH drilling rig manufacturers include Epiroc of Sweden, Sandvik of Sweden, Furukawa Rock Drill of Japan, Caterpillar of the United States, and Chinese manufacturers such as Sunward and Kaishan. Their machines cover everything from compact quarry drilling to large automated surface-mining applications.

Epiroc

Epiroc has one of the broadest current surface-drilling portfolios.

Its DTH equipment includes dedicated surface DTH rigs such as the FlexiROC D65 and SmartROC D60/D65, together with larger blasthole machines capable of both rotary and DTH operation.

The SmartROC D65 currently covers approximately:

Epiroc also offers machines such as the DM30 XC and Pit Viper series that can perform rotary or DTH blasthole drilling. Its Pit Viper 231, for example, can be configured for both methods and is intended for large surface-mining holes.

I generally associate Epiroc with large-scale quarrying, mining, automation, integrated compressor systems, and established international aftermarket support.

The company also continues to develop automation specifically for DTH equipment. In September 2026, Epiroc announced an automatic bit changer for SmartROC D60 and D65 rigs equipped with its COP M6 DTH hammer.

Sandvik

Sandvik is another major global surface-drilling manufacturer.

Its Leopard series is specifically designed around DTH production drilling.

The current Leopard DI550 is a self-contained crawler rig for mining, quarrying, and construction. Its published specification includes:

Sandvik describes the Leopard family as suitable for production drilling, quarry and mine development, presplitting, and dewatering. The DI560 can also operate a high-pressure 30-bar DTH hammer configuration.

For me, Sandvik belongs in the same general category as Epiroc when evaluating larger professional quarry and mining applications.

These machines normally emphasize integrated drilling systems, operator environment, automation, compressor management, drilling accuracy, and productivity rather than simply minimizing initial purchase price.

Furukawa Rock Drill

Furukawa Rock Drill is a Japanese manufacturer with a long history in rock-drilling machinery.

Its official product range includes crawler drills, rotary drills, and dedicated Down-the-Hole Drills.

Furukawa's current Japanese product page lists the DCR20 and DCR L130-F5 in its DTH category. The company describes its DTH machines as equipment for larger blast holes used in applications such as limestone mines, with emphasis on drilling performance, mobility, durability, operation, cabin comfort, and maintenance.

Furukawa also has dedicated sales and support organizations in several international markets, including the United States, Europe, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia.

I pay attention to regional availability with Furukawa because model lineups can differ between markets.

For example, FRD USA's current resources and discontinued-model pages do not necessarily mirror the current Japanese domestic portfolio.

That is a good example of why I confirm the actual model and service availability in the destination country rather than assuming every global model is locally supported.

Caterpillar

Caterpillar is better known for large rotary blasthole drills than for small dedicated DTH crawler rigs.

However, several Cat mining drills can be configured for DTH operation.

The current MD6200 includes a DTH tool package, while the larger MD6250 offers dedicated high-pressure DTH compressor packages.

For example, Caterpillar lists MD6250 DTH compressor configurations of approximately:

Caterpillar also manufactures DTH hammers and bits for mining applications.

I therefore consider Caterpillar mainly when the project involves a larger mining blasthole rig where rotary and DTH flexibility may be valuable.

I would not compare an MD6250 directly with a lightweight split-type quarry rig. They solve very different drilling problems.

Which Chinese Manufacturers Produce DTH Drilling Rigs?

China has a substantial DTH drilling-rig manufacturing industry. Product ranges include low-cost split rigs, integrated compressor rigs, quarry machines, water-well rigs, and increasingly intelligent mining equipment.

Chinese DTH drilling rig manufacturers include companies such as Sunward and Kaishan. Sunward offers split, integrated, boom-type, and larger surface DTH rigs. Kaishan manufactures both separate-compressor crawler rigs and integrated DTH rigs with built-in screw compressors, covering quarrying, mining, construction, and related drilling applications.

Sunward

Sunward produces a broad range of surface mining and DTH machinery.

Its current portfolio includes machines such as the SWDQ split DTH series and SWDE integrated or boom-type equipment.

For example, current published ranges include:

The larger SWDE180B, for example, is specified for approximately 138–203 mm holes, 5–7 inch DTH hammers, and uses an integrated compressor rated at about 29.8 m³/min at 25 bar.

This range demonstrates why I do not treat all Chinese DTH rigs as small entry-level machines.

Manufacturers now offer equipment across several weight, automation, and production classes.

Sunward says its mining organization has a global dealer network and produces equipment for both surface and underground mining applications.

Kaishan

Kaishan manufactures both DTH drilling equipment and the screw air compressors used to power DTH hammers.

Its current surface DTH portfolio includes split-type KG-series rigs that operate with separate compressors and KT-series integrated rigs with onboard screw compressors.

The KG420S, for example, covers approximately 90–152 mm holes with an economical drilling depth around 25 m and is designed to operate with a separate compressor.

The integrated KT range currently covers roughly 90–254 mm holes, depending on model.

A mid-sized KT11 combines a 90–140 mm drilling range with an onboard compressor rated around 18 m³/min at 20 bar, while the larger KT15C covers around 140–190 mm and uses approximately 22 m³/min at 24 bar.

This combination is relevant because compressor matching is critical in DTH drilling.

A manufacturer that produces or integrates both the drilling rig and compressor can configure the two systems together, although I still verify the pressure and airflow against the actual hammer requirement.

Kaishan reported surface DTH and integrated drilling equipment shipments to markets across Asia, Africa, South America, Europe, and Oceania during 2026.

How Do DTH Drilling Rig Manufacturers Differ?

Manufacturers may all describe their machines as DTH rigs, but their target customers and engineering priorities can be very different.

DTH manufacturers differ in hole-size range, compressor design, automation, drilling depth, machine weight, mobility, component brands, hammer compatibility, service network, spare-parts availability, and price. Some specialize in premium integrated mining rigs, while others provide simpler split rigs for contractors that already own portable compressors.

I first separate integrated and split rigs

An integrated DTH rig carries its own air compressor.

Typical examples include many Epiroc, Sandvik, Sunward, Caterpillar, and Kaishan models.

The main advantages are convenient mobility and factory-matched drilling air.

A split rig operates with a separate portable compressor.

Kaishan's KG series and Sunward's SWDQ series are examples of this approach.

Split rigs can make sense when I already own suitable compressors or want a lower-cost, lighter drilling machine.

Integrated rigs can make more sense for production quarrying where the rig moves from hole to hole frequently.

I compare application before technology level

The following comparison is more useful to me than simply asking which manufacturer has the strongest brand:

These are general portfolio descriptions, not rankings.

Exact models and regional product availability should always be checked before procurement.

Service networks also differ

A machine can have excellent technical specifications but still be a poor purchase if service support is unavailable where I operate it.

I therefore evaluate:

local dealer or direct support → stocked parts → technician availability → manuals → remote troubleshooting → warranty process → critical spare-parts lead time

Large multinational companies may offer extensive dealer infrastructure in established mining regions.

Chinese manufacturers can provide attractive equipment and broader price options, but support quality can depend heavily on the specific exporter, distributor, and country.

I verify the actual support arrangement instead of assuming it from the manufacturer's nationality.

How Should I Choose Between DTH Drilling Rig Manufacturers?

I do not begin by asking which manufacturer's rig is best. I begin by defining the hole and project, then compare manufacturers capable of meeting those requirements.

I choose between DTH drilling rig manufacturers by comparing hole diameter, drilling depth, geology, hammer size, compressor pressure and airflow, daily production target, rig mobility, component quality, fuel consumption, service access, spare parts, warranty, and total cost per drilled meter. The manufacturer should prove application fit before I compare purchase prices.

I send every supplier the same project information

For example:

Now each manufacturer is solving the same problem.

That allows me to compare:

rig → hammer → compressor → productivity → fuel → support → price

rather than comparing completely different machines.

I check compressor specifications carefully

DTH drilling depends on compressed air.

A supplier may advertise a large CFM or m³/min number, but I always ask at what pressure that airflow is available.

Sandvik's DI550, for example, publishes 24.4 m³/min at 24 bar.

Kaishan's KT15C publishes approximately 22 m³/min at 24 bar.

The machines have different drilling ranges and configurations, so these figures should not be compared independently from hammer size and hole diameter.

My comparison is always:

airflow at operating pressure + hammer requirement + flushing requirement

I compare cost per drilled meter

A lower purchase price is useful only when the machine performs reliably.

I include:

fuel + compressor efficiency + bit wear + hammer wear + drill-pipe wear + service + downtime + spare parts

A rig costing 20% less can become more expensive if it consumes more fuel, drills fewer meters per shift, or waits weeks for parts.

For me, manufacturer selection is therefore a lifecycle decision.

My insights: Who Are the Manufacturers of DTH Drilling Rigs

There are many DTH drilling-rig manufacturers, so I do not think buyers need one universal brand ranking. They need to identify the manufacturers whose equipment class matches their project.

Manufacturers of DTH drilling rigs include Epiroc, Sandvik, Furukawa Rock Drill, Caterpillar, Sunward, Kaishan, and other regional specialists. Epiroc and Sandvik have strong dedicated mining and quarry DTH portfolios; Furukawa specializes in rock drilling; Caterpillar offers DTH configurations on larger mining drills; and Chinese manufacturers provide increasingly broad split and integrated rig ranges.

My first insight is that these manufacturers do not compete in exactly the same segment

An Epiroc SmartROC D65 and a compact split-type crawler rig are both DTH drilling rigs.

They are not substitutes for every project.

The SmartROC D65 weighs around 23 tonnes, drills approximately 110–229 mm holes, and integrates a large compressor and advanced rig-control system.

A Kaishan KG420BH, by comparison, is a roughly 4.35-tonne split-type machine for approximately 90–130 mm holes and requires a separate compressor.

Both can be valid machines.

Their customers, production expectations, capital requirements, and transportation needs are different.

My second insight is to identify the actual manufacturer

In international sourcing, I distinguish between:

manufacturer → authorized distributor → independent exporter → trading company

They are not necessarily the same organization.

A trading company may provide good service.

A factory may also sell directly.

The important point is transparency.

I want to know who produced the machine, who owns the warranty responsibility, who supplies the parts, and who will troubleshoot the rig when it is thousands of kilometers from the factory.

My third insight is that compressor expertise matters

The DTH hammer is powered by air.

This makes the compressor as important as the crawler rig itself.

A manufacturer should be able to explain:

required hammer pressure → hammer air consumption → hole flushing requirement → compressor FAD at pressure → altitude correction

If the supplier cannot clearly match those parameters, I become cautious regardless of brand.

Manufacturers such as Epiroc, Sandvik, Sunward, Caterpillar, and Kaishan publish pressure and airflow specifications for relevant integrated DTH configurations, allowing buyers to compare the drilling-air package more carefully.

My fourth insight is that spare parts can decide which manufacturer is practical

I might prefer one rig technically but choose another because local parts availability is much better.

For a remote mine, I consider spare-parts lead time part of the equipment specification.

I ask for a critical-spares package before shipment.

I also want operation manuals, parts books, hydraulic diagrams, electrical schematics, controller information, and service procedures.

That support can matter more over five years than a small difference in purchase price.

My practical manufacturer-selection rule

When someone asks me, “Who are the manufacturers of DTH drilling rigs?”, my practical answer is:

The market includes major manufacturers such as Epiroc, Sandvik, Furukawa Rock Drill, Caterpillar, Sunward, and Kaishan, alongside many regional manufacturers. I do not select among them from brand reputation alone. I first define the hole diameter, depth, geology, hammer, pressure, airflow, production target, and site conditions, then compare only manufacturers whose rigs are designed for that duty.

For a large automated quarry or mine, I may begin by evaluating manufacturers with heavy integrated production rigs.

For a contractor drilling smaller bench or construction holes, a lighter split or compact integrated rig may provide better economics.

For a large mine that wants both rotary and DTH capability, a configurable blasthole platform may be more appropriate.

The correct manufacturer therefore depends on the drilling system I actually need.

Conclusion

DTH rig manufacturers include Epiroc, Sandvik, Furukawa Rock Drill, Caterpillar, Sunward, Kaishan, and others. I compare them by application fit, compressor performance, support, and lifecycle cost.