Percussion excavation as blasting alternative

Opencast mining, bulk materials handling, and drilling and blasting service provider Zizwe Opencast Mining’s fleet of hydraulic ripper excavator attachments from systems developer Xcentric enables clients to mine in socially sensitive areas, such as near communities, where drilling and blasting are not feasible. The Xcentric ripper is a hydraulic attachment on an excavator that employs percussion to break or rip through hard material at a rate that is 80% more effective than a standard vibration-activated attachment or hydraulic hammer.