Hidden champion with superior technology
Separating/breaking the rock from the wall is an indispensable part of the extraction and processing chain, as are transport, crushing, screening and marketing. Specialized service providers are best equipped to handle this kind of activities, which can be executed independently of the rest of the process. In addition, drilling requires advanced technology and, ideally, skilled workers with extensive expertise. Even in large companies, these resources are often not utilized sufficiently to be truly profitable. For service providers, lasting success also depends on many factors. Olaf Kerker, a drilling specialist at Kautz Bohrtechnik GmbH, sums it up: “Only those who drill the best will stay in business.”
Olaf Kerker should know. The drilling expert and technical manager at Kautz Bohrtechnik GmbH has worked at the owner-managed family business for 25 years, playing a key role in shaping its drilling division under two generations of managing directors. The company’s transformation into a provider of blast holes in quarries has been an entirely organic process. The company was founded in 1955 as a pure transport company and is now celebrating its 70th anniversary. At that time, the company was based in Dortmund. The first “approaches“ toward the quarrying industry took place as early as the beginning of the 1970s. Starting with loading activities in front of the quarry face, the company gradually supplemented its activities with various services using its own construction machinery.
The next significant step came in the early 1980s when crawler-mounted drill rigs started being used for blasthole drilling in quarries. From the outset, Kautz relied on equipment from Tamrock, the immediate predecessor of the current Sandvik brand. At Kautz, it all started with a Tamrock DHH800 without a cabin, which had a separate compressor pulled behind the machine. This was swiftly followed by a Tamrock Zoomtrak DHA800 with an integrated compressor, a DHA1000 and, finally, a CHA1100. Following the transition to Sandvik, Kautz has used the Pantera™ series since 1997, beginning with the Sandvik Pantera™ DP1100. Since then, business has grown rapidly. As the fleet grew, so did the possibilities, as well as the company’s reputation as a competent service provider. Kautz and Sandvik have been a reliable team for decades, with the Pantera™ series firmly established as standard equipment at Kautz Bohrtechnik – a status it continues to hold today. Kautz currently has seven Sandvik Pantera™ DP1500 top hammer drill rigs in use, along with a Pantera™ DP1100i and a Sandvik Ranger™ DX700. The revolving upper structure of the DX700 enhances Kautz’s capabilities, particularly for special applications in confined spaces. In addition to top hammer systems, their equipment range also includes DTH machines. Thanks to this diverse range of machinery, Kautz Bohrtechnik GmbH from Duisburg is now one of the market leaders in this niche industry – a true hidden champion.
The latest addition to the impressive fleet is a brand-new Sandvik Pantera™ DP1500i, which was first used in March 2025 at MHI in Hildfeld. According to Olaf Kerker, this type of project is typical but demanding. There is a Paleozoic diabase deposit in Hildfeld in the Sauerland region. The rock is considered challenging due to its massiveness and irregular fracturing. In total, around 2000 m of drilling has been planned, with individual boreholes ranging from 16 to 26 m. The calculated workload is ambitious: between 250 and 350 m of drilling per 10-hour shift. This catches the attention of every industry expert, as the range of tasks requires optimal configurations of equipment. This is another reason why an experienced driller like Olaf Kerker is personally operating the machine.
“It’s the collaboration between Kautz and Sandvik that makes all the difference – right down to the finest detail.” Olaf Kerker can rely on the technology: “The Pantera™ DP1500i has become our standard machine, not because it’s new, but because it consistently delivers reliable performance under the toughest conditions.” In this case, the project requires 102 mm boreholes. Sandvik is also relied on for this, as the new Pantera™ DP1500i comes equipped with the recently introduced Sandvik CT67 rock tools. This demonstrates that Kautz and Olaf Kerker are more than just users of Sandvik technology. A partnership has developed in which Sandvik has come to appreciate the skills of Kautz Bohrtechnik, and particularly the expertise of Olaf Kerker. He was one of the drillers who tested the new curved thread top hammer drilling system for Sandvik in Germany for a year and the Swedish market leader knew exactly who they were bringing on board. Olaf Gruner, Sandvik’s Surface Drilling Sales Manager, says: “Olaf Kerker is without a doubt one of the most experienced drilling masters in Germany. With a natural drive to keep developing and to try out new approaches, he is constantly exploring innovations. Kautz has greatly benefited from his curiosity and ambition – the determination of a drilling master who simply wants to find out whether a new product truly delivers more.” Three machines have been fitted with the new drilling system and are now fully operational. Alongside the Sandvik Pantera™ DP1500i, this setup has set a new standard at Kautz. “The CT67 rod truly boosts the performance of even the most advanced top hammer machines”, confirms Olaf Kerker. In addition to its long service life, the drill steel works in perfect harmony with the Pantera™ DP1500i, ensuring maximum precision when sinking boreholes. This is more important than now ever, as it helps minimize noise and dust emissions while optimizing the efficiency of the explosives used.
