Sandvik rock processing restores critical gold mine equipment in Ghana with full OEM-standard rebuild

At its well-equipped technical workshop in Kumasi, Sandvik Rock Processing recently completed a comprehensive refurbishment of critical rock breaking equipment for a major gold mining customer in Ghana.

The project highlights the company’s technical expertise, strong local support capability and commitment to restoring equipment to full OEM performance standards.

The large range Sandvik BR3288i hydraulic breaker, mounted on the Sandvik BB8094R breaker boom, is positioned at the mine’s run of mine ROM grizzly. Here, it performs the essential task of breaking oversized boulders after blasting, preventing blockages and ensuring a smooth, uninterrupted crushing process.

“This project restored a vital asset that plays a central role in the mine’s primary crushing circuit,” Amos Fordjour, Senior Service Technician at Sandvik Rock Processing, says. “Our extensive rebuild has returned the machine to OEM performance standards, significantly improving the mine’s reliability and production continuity.”

A Three Week Rebuild That Restored Production Continuity

After more than five years of continuous operation, the rock breaker was due for its scheduled refurbishment. The process began on site, where Sandvik Rock Processing dismantled the 11-tonne boom assembly using the mine’s cranes. The components were then transported over three hours to the Kumasi workshop for a full technical overhaul.

“Once in the workshop, our technicians stripped the units completely checking for critical components such as pins, bushings, cylinder seals and mounting brackets that required replacement,” he says. “The boom was sandblasted and inspected for cracks, the hydraulic cylinders were rebuilt and pressure tested and the hammer was fully refurbished.”

Maintaining a strong inventory of genuine components and spares proved critical in accelerating the turnaround time. According to Haqq Abdul Rahman, Graduate Technician at Sandvik Rock Processing, many mines face challenges with oversized material reaching the ROM grizzly. Temporary mobile breakers often take significantly longer to process these rocks, directly impacting throughput.

“It was important that we controlled the turnaround time on this project so the mine could put the equipment back to work as soon as possible,” Rahman says. “This particular unit breaks oversized rocks much faster than the smaller mobile units that the mine had to rely on while this one was being refurbished.”

Engineered for Performance and Efficiency

The Sandvik BB8094R breaker boom delivers 55 kW of input power, with a maximum reach of 12.7 metres, a nominal horizontal reach of 9.8 metres and a nominal vertical reach of 9 metres. Its 360° swing capability ensures optimal positioning at the ROM grizzly.

Paired with the 2.3 tonne Sandvik BR3288i hydraulic breaker, the system is built on an innovative operating principle that optimises stroke length, blow energy and Sandvik’s idle blow protector. This design enables operators to adjust the breaker for various applications while improving hydraulic efficiency and operational safety.

Fordjour emphasises that quality assurance underpins every stage of the rebuild process at Kumasi.

“We follow strict operating procedures and standards in everything we do,” he says. “This includes using only genuine Sandvik parts which allows us to guarantee the quality of both the components and the workmanship.”

Following completion of the refurbishment, Sandvik Rock Processing returned to site for installation and commissioning. The three-week process required careful coordination with the mine to manage crane access, electrical connections, equipment positioning and strict safety protocols.

“We work very closely with customers during removal, installation and commissioning,” Fordjour notes. “In this case, the mine provided the cranes and support equipment, and we handled all the technical work; that collaboration is critical.”

Now fully restored, the refurbished boom and hydraulic breaker are delivering measurable operational benefits. Restored OEM clearances and structural integrity ensure smoother swing and boom movement, improved energy transfer and high twist capacity. The result is enhanced durability under high impact conditions and, most importantly, consistent uptime.

“For the mine, the biggest impact is uptime and production,” Rahman says. “Without this breaker, their crushing circuit slows down considerably; now that it is back to full performance and production is consistent again.”

Beyond commissioning, Sandvik Rock Processing continues to support the operation through quarterly inspections, checking pins, seals and structural integrity, while remaining available for rapid response service call outs.

With local expertise in Kumasi and a commitment to OEM quality refurbishment, Sandvik Rock Processing is reinforcing its role as a trusted partner to Ghana’s gold mining sector, keeping critical assets operating at peak performance and safeguarding production continuity.