I'm a procurement manager at a mid-sized construction and mining outfit. For the past six years, I've managed an annual budget of roughly $1.2 million for heavy equipment and attachments—drill rigs, hydraulic hammers, rock tools. If you're sourcing Epiroc drill rigs or an Epiroc hydraulic hammer for the first time, or even if you're a veteran but want to tighten your process, this checklist is for you. It's the exact list I built after a few (expensive) missteps.
This isn't theory. It's a 7-point checklist I run through for every major acquisition. It has saved us an estimated $40,000 in potential rework and hidden fees over the last three years. Here's how it works.
Who This Checklist Is For
Use this checklist when you're:
- Comparing quotes for a new Epiroc drill rig (e.g., SmartROC T-series or FlexiROC D-series).
- Evaluating suppliers for an Epiroc hydraulic hammer (like the HB-series).
- Considering a lease vs. buy decision for a specific model.
- Renewing a maintenance contract on existing Epiroc equipment.
If any of these apply, pull up this list before you sign anything. It's seven steps, and it'll take you about an hour to work through.
Step 1: Verify the 'Complete Machine' Quote
This is where I got burned the first time. A vendor quoted a great price on an Epiroc hydraulic hammer. But the quote was for the hammer body only. No mounting kit. No hoses. No control system.
What to do:
- Ask: 'Is this a complete working package? What exactly is NOT included?'
- Get a list of every component—the hammer, the mounting bracket, the hoses, the pressure accumulator, the control block, and the quick coupler (if needed).
- Ask for the part numbers and cross-reference them on Epiroc's parts catalog or a trusted source. If they say 'this is a standard HB 5800 setup', ask them to spell out what 'standard setup' means.
Checkpoint: The final quoted price should equal the sum of the individual components. If it doesn't, you're missing something (not that they're hiding it—often it's just an oversight).
Step 2: Navigate the 'Crane Club NYC' of Specifications
You might be scratching your head at that phrase. Bear with me. 'Crane club' is a term that's thrown around in equipment circles referring to high-spec machines often found in dense, complex urban job sites (like NYC). It's code for: 'This machine is built for specific, demanding conditions with specialized attachments.'
The risk here is paying for a 'Crane Club' spec when you need a standard spec, or vice-versa. For an Epiroc drill rig, this means getting a model with high-pressure flushing when your rock is soft, or getting a standard rig for a deep foundation job that needs an auto-rod changer.
What to do:
- Define your rock conditions (hardness, abrasiveness, fracture pattern) and your hole pattern requirements.
- Ask the vendor: 'Why this specific model and configuration? What happens if I use a standard SmartROC T40 vs. a T45 for this job?'
- Don't assume the most expensive is the best. I've seen a $50,000 upcharge for a feature that wasn't used in 70% of applications.
Step 3: Ask About the 'Bucket Bag' Approach to Maintenance
I learned this from a veteran mechanic. He carries a 'bucket bag' (a heavy-duty waterproof tool and parts bag) with critical seals, filters, and wear parts for the specific machine he's working on. On our site, this translates to a pre-negotiated spare parts and service package.
What to do:
- Ask the vendor for a 'basic service kit' quote for the first 1,000 hours—oil filters, fuel filters, hydraulic filters, wear plates, and seals.
- Get a price for the 'bucket bag' of critical spares (hoses, accumulator bladders, pressure relief valves) that can keep you running if something fails.
- Ask: 'What parts have the longest lead time? How much do they cost?' You might find a $6,000 hose assembly that takes 12 weeks to ship.
Checkpoint: The cost of your initial spare parts kit should not exceed 5-7% of the machine cost. If it does, you're being charged a premium for parts that should be standard.
Step 4: The 'Heron vs Crane' Freight Drill (Ugh, logistics)
When I was starting out, I confused the freight types. A 'crane' is for lifting; a 'heron' (a type of ship-to-shore crane) is for port handling. The analogy holds for equipment logistics: you have to know exactly how your Epiroc rig is arriving and what you need to offload it.
What to do:
- Get a written freight quote from the vendor. Ask if it's FOB (you pay from the dock) or delivered to your yard.
- Ask for the machine's dimensions and weight. A large drill rig may require a low-boy trailer and a permit. A hydraulic hammer is heavy but manageable with a standard rigging truck.
- Ask about the offloading requirement. Do you need a crane at your yard? A forklift? Will the rig be shipped with its tracks on or in a crate?
One time, we got a drill rig delivered to the curb, and we had to rent a crane for $1,200 to offload it. That wasn't in the budget.
Step 5: Unpack the Warranty (The Real TCO)
A warranty isn't a free pass. It's a contract. I've seen warranties that cover parts but not labor, or that exclude wear items like hydraulic hammers' chisels and wear sleeves.
What to do:
- Get the full warranty documentation in PDF format. Read it.
- Ask: 'What is NOT covered?' The answer is often more important than what is covered.
- Ask about the response time for a warranty claim. 'If the main pump fails on Monday, when will the repair technician arrive?'
- Ask about the 'wear item' list for the specific model.
Checkpoint: The warranty should cover the machine for at least 1 year or 2,000 hours, whichever comes first. If it's shorter, negotiate. If the vendor says '1-year all inclusive' but has a list of 40 exclusions, that's a red flag.
Step 6: Check the 'Bucket Bag' Upgrade Options
Building on Step 3, ask about a proactive maintenance contract. This is like a subscription for your fleet. You pay a fixed monthly fee, and they handle all scheduled maintenance and priority repairs.
What to do:
- Compare the cost of a 3-year maintenance contract vs. pay-as-you-go repairs. Use a simple spreadsheet.
- Ask: 'What is the cost per hour for the maintenance contract?' For a drill rig, you might see $15-$25/hour. For a hammer, it might be $8-$12/hour.
- Ask about the escalation clauses. 'What happens if fuel prices go up 20%? Does my contract price change?'
We switched to a maintenance contract for our two Epiroc rigs earlier this year. It's costing us $18/hour, but it covers everything except fuel and wear bits. My cost tracking shows it's paid for itself already—we avoided a $7,000 hydraulic pump rebuild.
Step 7: Define Your Exit Strategy
Most people don't think about resale value when buying. That's a mistake. The way you spec and maintain a machine directly affects its future value.
What to do:
- Ask the vendor: 'What is the estimated residual value of this machine after 5 years or 10,000 hours?'
- Get a buy-back quote. If they offer a guaranteed buy-back, that's a strong signal. They trust the machine's durability.
- Ask about the cost of a 'certified pre-owned' inspection when you go to sell it. If you keep all service records, it's easier to prove.
Checkpoint: If the vendor is unwilling to provide a ballpark residual value, that's a warning. I've sold a used Epiroc drill rig for 65% of its purchase price after 4 years. That's a good number. A bad number is 40% or less.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
After using this checklist for my last 15 major procurement cycles, here are the traps I still see people fall into:
- Focusing only on the machine price. The hammer might be $30,000, but the mounting kit and installation are another $8,000. The total is $38,000.
- Assuming all 'Epiroc' parts are equal. Genuine Epiroc parts for a hydraulic hammer are different from generic 'will-fit' parts. The cost difference is real, but so is the performance difference.
- Ignoring the power unit. For a drill rig, you need the right engine rating. For a hammer, you need the correct flow and pressure from your carrier. Mismatches are expensive.
- Skipping the fine print on the 'Bucket Bag' contract. I had a contract that said 'covers all wear items' but the fine print excluded 'chisels and wear sleeves'—which are the primary wear items. (ugh, again).
This checklist isn't perfect, and I'm not an engineer. My experience is based on about 15 major procurements and 40+ smaller purchases over 6 years. If you're working with a different brand or a new application, your experience may differ. But for Epiroc drill rigs and hammers, this has been my go-to system. It's saved me money, and it'll save you time and headaches.
(Note to self: I really should update the checklist with the new digital monitoring features on the latest rigs.)
