When it comes to drilling and blasting there is a lot to know. Here we have assembled the most frequently asked questions that we get from our customers. If you can’t find the answer to your question feel free to pick up the phone or drop us an email, we are more than happy to help.
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Q. Where is Fullbore based?
A. The Fullbore Quarry Services headquarters are in Wodonga, Victoria
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Q. What types of general services does Fullbore provide?
A. We offer drilling, integrated Rock On Ground, blasting, explosives supply, transport and storage, and heavy haulage. We also provide technical services such as safe work method statement & blast management plan preparation, initial blast design, boretracking, vibration & overpressure analysis & reporting.
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Q. When was Fullbore originally established?
A. Our Origins date back to 1971 when Mr Wayne Martyn established the WJ & JC Martyn’s Earthmoving company. The company supplied logging and earth-moving services to Ovens Valley Sawmills, Porepunkah Sawmills, Selwyn Timbers, and Terrance Sawmills Benalla.
Wayne and his team successfully delivered the Bulk Earthworks and Clearing operations for the Dartmouth Dam project in NE Victoria.
In 1983 Mt Hotham Resorts contracted Wayne & his company to supply bulk earthworks and deliver power to the mountain. The successful completion of this project helped Wayne secure many future Victorian ski field development projects including Falls Creek, Mt Buller and Mt Baw Baw.
Fullbore Quarry Services was established in 2011 and has been in operation ever since.
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Q. Which market segments does Fullbore provide services in?
A. We offer an extensive range of services for quarry, construction & mining operations.
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Q. Which Australian states does Fullbore provide services to?
A. We have helped with projects in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, and Western Australia. That said, we are willing and able to undertake any drilling and blast work anywhere within Australia.
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Q. Why should you choose Fullbore?
A. We are accurate, safe, efficient and flexible. We have consistently achieved a 96% average score in accuracy and an 84% drill in availability. This is in line with industry best practices. For 5 years running, we’ve maintained high safety standards with Zero Lost Time Incidents (LTI).
As a family-run business, we are flexible enough to meet your exact needs. We use state-of-the-art equipment to provide the most safe and efficient operation for your project. We engage with our customers throughout the project to ensure we’re providing cost-effective and timely solutions.
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Q. What are the most important aspects of Fullbore service quality?
A. We guarantee a rapid response, accurate drilling to design, availability of high level equipment, effective communication and technical support throughout the lifespan of your project.
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Q. What does Fullbore’s drilling and blasting process involve?
A. We offer a 6-part drilling and blasting process. Our consultative approach begins with a thorough analysis. We then design, survey, drill, and blast. At the end of the project we provide a full blast report in which we provide environmental results and a video of the detonation.
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Q. What type of Drill Rigs are included in Fullbore’s fleet?
A. The Fullbore fleet consists of both Top Hammer drill rigs (TH) and Down the Hole Hammer (DTH) drill rigs.
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Q. What differentiates Fullbore drilling services from other service providers?
A. Fullbore provides creative drill and blast solutions to our customers using the latest technology in the market. Since 2016, Fullbore has been pioneering GPS hole navigation system (HNS). The entire Fullbore fleet of drilling rigs uses GPS drilling guidance systems.
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Q. Why does Fullbore focus on drilling accuracy as the most important aspect of drilling service quality?
A. The primary purpose of any borehole is to allow the placement of a specific explosive charge, in a specific location, to achieve a specific result. This requires accuracy in borehole placement, alignment, depth, and diameter. Any deviation from these design parameters can negatively affect the quality of the blast.
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Q. What are the main challenges affecting drilling quality outcomes?
A. Multiple mechanical, geological and human factors determine drilling quality results. We utilise quality control across all of these factors to ensure the best possible drill and blast outcomes.
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Q. What type of communication methods are acceptable for Fullbore drillers?
A. All Fullbore drill rig operators must communicate precisely, verbally and in writing using drill logs. This accurately conveys the necessary information to the blasting crew and site supervision management.
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Q. What minimum information MUST drillers record in the Drill Log?
A. The minimum requirements for a drill log record include date drilled, driller name, bit diameter, pattern dimension, hole ID, hole depth, and hole angle. Drill log records must also include geological conditions encountered at depth, general ground conditions, and water existence or any pattern anomalies.
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Q. What is recorded in the Drill Log for geologic information?
A. Drillers record the depth and thickness encountered in hard, medium or soft zones, the existence of cavities or cracks, broken ground and or water.
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Q. Does Fullbore transport its own equipment ?
A. Yes, Fullbore has a heavy haulage fleet to efficiently transport and deliver drill rigs, excavators, Moxy trucks and similar equipment. We do this safely and reliably, whenever and wherever you need the equipment.
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Q. What type of heavy equipment does Fullbore use for transport and what is the maximum capacity?
A. The Fullbore Heavy Haulage fleet primarily consists of Volvo FH prime movers and Drake 4×4 FULL Winder LD trailers. Since equipment reliability is key to our transport efficiency, our fleet is regularly maintained to exceptionally high standards. The Fullbore team handles under and over dimensional loads up to a capacity of 34 tonnes.
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Q. Is my load insured during transport?
A. Fullbore has transport and heavy vehicle insurance that covers your load in the event of damage. However, we still recommend contacting your insurance company to ensure you have the appropriate coverage.
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Q. Can Fullbore transport oversized or over-dimensional machinery?
A. Yes. Fullbore can handle any load that exceeds the standard or ordinary legal size or weight limit for specific roads. We use heavy hauler trucks and trailers to create specialised routes and ensure your load gets to you safely. Depending on the shipment, we may travel overnight to avoid potential obstacles.
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Q. What does Integrated Rock on Ground Services entail?
A. Fullbore’s Integrated Rock on Ground service is our end-to-end managed service that covers all aspects of the drill and blast process. As part of this service, we take full responsibility for blast design, drilling pattern, QA boretracking, explosives supply, loading and shot firing, overall blast management and reporting.
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Q. Do Fullbore customers need to take responsibility for any part of the blasting operation after contracting Fullbore for Rock on Ground services?
A. No. Fullbore simplifies the process so the customer can focus on the big picture. We manage all drill and blast operations and provide customers with broken stocks to process on time.
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Q. Does Fullbore engage any subcontractors to assist with Rock on Ground projects?
A. No. Apart from our suppliers, there are no subcontractors involved in Rock on Ground services. Fullbore provides an entire team of drillers, shotfirers, surveyors and in-house technical engineers to manage the entire Rock on Ground process.
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Q. Who is responsible for the blast outcome in a Rock on Ground Project?
A. Fullbore takes full responsibility when handling the Rock on Ground Project. The expected blast outcome is always communicated to the customer in written and verbal communication before the operation commences.
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Q. How does Fullbore manage safety during blasting and ensure an incident-free operation?
A. Safety is Fullbore’s number one priority. We always abide by the minimum government safety rules to guarantee a high level of blasting safety. Fullbore has voluntarily taken steps to develop, implement and enforce multiple internal blasting safety policies, procedures and practices. This prevents any blasting related incident or accident that may cause harm to people, damage to property or the environment.
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Q. What Type of technical blasting services does Fullbore provide?
A. Some of the technical blasting services we provide include blast survey and design, drilling, boretracking, special blasting technical evaluation, environmental monitoring, blast risk assessment, and blast management plans.
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Q. Why is a safe and efficient blasting operation necessary in mining, quarrying and construction?
A. Blasting is the most efficient way to fracture rock to be excavated by earth moving equipment. Drilling and blasting are essential components of most mining, quarrying and construction operations. These are the primary processes that impact every downstream unit of operation. A safe and efficient operation saves time and prevents property damage, harm to people and the environment.
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Q. How long does Fullbore take to respond to a blasting service inquiry?
A. The Fullbore management team responds to any inquiries within 24 hours. Immediately after the initial meeting, we schedule a site visit to discuss the project requirements in detail. Depending on the project’s complexity, we will prepare a quotation within 48 hours.
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Q. What type of explosives does Fullbore store, transport or supply to customers?
A. Fullbore stores, transports and supplies all types of bulk, package and initiation explosives for customers.
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Q. Does Fullbore supply explosives only for its own needs and projects?
A. Fullbore can supply explosives to other contractor projects for companies not operationally involved in drilling and blasting services.
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Q. Does Fullbore have its own fleet to transport explosives?
A. Fullbore operates and maintains a fleet of fully licenced and insured explosive vehicles authorised to transport explosives by road. All our vehicles are GPS monitored and operate to the highest possible transport safety and security standards. We deliver explosive products to remote locations throughout Australia.
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Q. Is it possible to return surplus explosives to the Fullbore magazine on the blast day?
A. Yes. However, you need to notify Fullbore in advance so we can organise it. Once blast has been charged, collect all surplus explosives carefully, pack them into their respective carrying cases and return them to the Fullbore magazine.