The Cost Controller's Checklist for Buying Epiroc Rock Drills (Without Blowing Your Budget)

Who This Checklist Is For

If you're a procurement manager or equipment buyer responsible for selecting rock drills, and you've ever been burned by a "good price" that turned into a budget nightmare later—this list is for you. I've managed drilling equipment budgets for seven years across three mining operations, and I've made pretty much every mistake you can make. The steps below are the result of tracking every penny across 40+ vendor quotes and 15 deployments.

The 5-Step Cost Control Checklist for Epiroc Rock Drills

Step 1: Compare the Sticker Price, Then Immediately Ignore It

The first number a sales rep throws at you is almost meaningless. What matters is the total cost to get a working drill on your site. When I compared two quotes for an Epiroc rock drill last year, the cheaper unit ($47,200 vs $52,800) ended up costing $6,400 more after we added shipping, install, and the mandatory first-year service contract. The vendor with the higher upfront price—an authorized Epiroc dealer—bundled everything. Simple.

Checklist items for this step:

• Ask for a full itemized list: base unit, shipping, customs (if cross-border), installation, commissioning, and any mandatory training.
• Get every quote in the same format so you can do a line-by-line comparison.
• If a vendor says "free shipping," ask what's included. I've seen “free” turn into $3,200 when they add surcharges for remote locations.

Step 2: Check Consumables and Spare Parts Availability (the Forgotten Line Item)

Most buyers focus on the drill itself and forget that rock drills chew through bits, seals, and percussion parts. An Epiroc rock drill is powerful, but if you can't get replacement parts within 48 hours, that drill is an expensive paperweight. When we bought our first hydraulic breaker attachment, we didn't check local spare stock. The result: a $1,200 redo when a critical seal failed and the nearest part was 2 weeks out.

Checklist items for this step:

• Confirm stock levels of common wear parts (drill bits, shank adapters, piston seal kits) at your nearest Epiroc distribution center.
• Ask for the list of concrete drill bit sizes and shank types the drill supports—and whether those bits are readily available from Epiroc or third-party suppliers.
• Request a consumable usage estimate per 100 hours of operation. Good suppliers can give you ballpark numbers.

Step 3: Factor in Training and Operator Learning Curve

A new drill doesn't run itself. Even experienced crews need time to adapt to a different control layout or automation system. Our second purchase included a 2-day on-site training package—but the quote didn't mention that meals and travel for the trainer were extra. That added $1,400. (Ugh.) Also factor in production loss during the first few weeks while operators dial in the optimal settings.

Checklist items for this step:

• Get a written training package: number of days, who pays for travel/lodging, what happens if you need extra sessions.
• Ask for references from other companies that bought the same model—especially smaller operations. (This is where the small-friendly mindset matters: good suppliers treat a 1-unit buyer the same as a fleet buyer when it comes to support.)
• If you're ordering a concrete drill bit attachment for the rock drill, make sure training covers bit change procedures and torque settings.

Step 4: Negotiate the “Small Order” Treatment Upfront

When I was starting out, we bought our first Epiroc rock drill as a single unit test purchase. The vendor who took my $2,000 order seriously—returned my calls, sent detailed specs, even offered a site visit—earned my loyalty. I've since placed over $200,000 in orders with them. The vendor who didn't return my call? They're not in my procurement system. Don't let the size of your order make you feel like a second-class customer. Good suppliers know that today's small test order is tomorrow's fleet order. But you have to ask for it.

Checklist items for this step:

• Before signing, ask: “What level of support does a first-time buyer with a single drill receive?” and watch the reaction. If they hesitate, that's a red flag.
• Ask for a dedicated account rep even for small accounts. Many Epiroc dealers have regional teams that handle all sizes.
• If they require a minimum order of spare parts to qualify for bulk pricing, negotiate a phased commitment: “I'll commit to $X in parts over 6 months, but give me the bulk rate now.”

Step 5: Run the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Model Over 5 Years

This is the step most people skip because it takes an extra hour. But that hour can save you tens of thousands. I built a simple spreadsheet after the third time our "affordable" drill caused a production delay. The TCO includes: purchase price, installation, training, consumables (drill bits, seals, filters), maintenance contracts, expected downtime, and resale value. Epiroc rock drills tend to hold value well, but only if you maintain them properly. Get a PDF of the recommended maintenance schedule and estimate hourly cost.

Checklist items for this step:

• Ask the supplier for typical maintenance intervals and parts cost per interval. A good rep will have this data.
• Include downtime cost in your model: if your drill is down one day a month, what does that cost in lost production? Our site lost $8,400 per day once; we now include a downtime penalty clause in every purchase agreement.
• Factor in operator efficiency improvement: a modern Epiroc rock drill with automation might cost more upfront but reduce fuel and bit wear by 15–20%. That math changes everything.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Ignoring delivery lead time. We didn't have a formal process for verifying lead times. Cost us a month of downtime when our first drill arrived two weeks late. Now every contract includes a timeline check with penalties for missed dates.

Assuming training is included. I wish I had tracked training costs more carefully from the start. What I can say anecdotally is that about 30% of our equipment purchases required additional training that wasn't itemized.

Going with the cheapest quote and calling it a day. Total cost of ownership includes base product price, shipping, installation, training, consumables, and potential downtime costs. The cheapest quote is rarely the cheapest when you factor in everything. (Take it from someone who learned the hard way.)

Pricing mentioned in this article is based on quotes received in Q4 2024 and Q1 2025. The market for steel and electronics moves fast, so always verify current rates before budgeting.