The MD6250 is configured to suit hard rock 12m benches - an essential requirement in Western Australian open cut mines.

The drill, which has been available globally since March 2017, builds off the legacy of the earlier Reedrill and Bucyrus drills Caterpillar acquired when it bought Bucyrus in 2010.

"We are really excited to be the first dealer to bring the MD6250 to the Australian market," said Jarvas Croome, WesTrac WA CEO. "It is perfectly designed for the unique hard rock conditions of the WA landscape and is ergonomic and comfortable to operate as well as demonstrating high fuel efficiency."

Matt Jacobs, global commercial manager for drills at Caterpillar, commented that the MD6250 had numerous features that allowed substantial cost savings for owners. These include air volume control for optimum up hole velocity, less engine load and lower fuel consumption and Cat Product Link Elite to provide statistics on machine health, location and production. The Cat Product Link information gets sent back to the office in real time.

The MD6250's cab comes with large windows for better operator visibility, a drill depth indicator, and virtual head stops and interlocks as standard. It also has auto drill assist, which automates part of the drilling cycle for improved accuracy and efficiency.

Cat Minestar options also allow for remote control or semi-autonomous drilling. The Cat Terrain for Drilling feature uses satellite guidance to increase pattern accuracy by up to four times, while Cat Command automates the drilling cycle, allowing a single operator to manage multiple machines at the same time.

A standard fuel tank enables 14 hours of continuous manned operation, and there is an optional fuel tank providing capability for 26 hours of autonomous operation. Additionally, the compressor is suited to both high-pressure down-the-hole and low-pressure rotary drilling.