This case follows Budi’s mining team in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Their old drill rig was slow, limited to 300m depth, and produced broken core samples, restricting deep copper and gold exploration. Needing an 800m NQ core drilling rig for rugged jungle terrain, Budi selected the YG-800 NQ hydraulic core drilling rig after a successful demonstration in Java. Delivered in early 2026, the crawler hydraulic rig hit 750–800m boreholes with over 95% core recovery and boosted daily drilling speed. It cut reliance on costly contractors, navigated rough ground easily, and earned reliable after-sales support. Want to get a similar effect? Contact YG at +86 139 3718 3205.
1990s–2024
The Old Rig Problem
Budi’s mining company in East Kalimantan had relied on an old mechanical drilling rig for many years. The machine was slow, heavy, and required frequent maintenance. It could normally drill only around 300 meters, with an average drilling speed of about 30 meters per day. In hard rock, frequent bit changes caused additional delays. Core samples were often broken or contaminated, making geological analysis more difficult. As the company explored deeper copper and gold deposits, the limitations of the old rig became increasingly serious. The team realized they needed a more powerful, reliable, and mobile drilling solution.
Feb 6, 2025
Looking for a Deeper Drilling Solution
The geology team suspected that valuable ore bodies could be located 600–800 meters below the surface. Hiring external drilling contractors was expensive and made project scheduling difficult. Budi began searching for a new full hydraulic core drilling rig that could provide greater depth, better core recovery, and more reliable operation. He compared equipment from manufacturers in Europe, Canada, and China. His main requirements were clear: the rig needed to support NQ drilling, reach around 800 meters, work efficiently in remote mining areas, and have enough mobility to move through challenging terrain without extensive road construction.
July 16, 2025
Discovering the YG-800 NQ Hydraulic Core Drilling Rig
uring his research, Budi learned about YG Machinery and its YGX-800. The machine immediately attracted his attention because its specifications matched the project requirements. The YGX-800 offered a rated hydraulic pressure of 25 MPa, hydraulic flow of 260 L/min, and a 92 kW Yuchai engine. It provided a lifting force of 24 tonnes and a feed force of 12 tonnes. Its crawler-mounted design also made it suitable for remote and difficult terrain. After discussing his drilling depth, NQ requirements, and working conditions with YG engineers, Budi decided to arrange a demonstration before making the final purchase.
Dec 26, 2025
The Demonstration
YG arranged a demonstration at a test site. Budi and his drilling supervisor traveled there to inspect the YGX-800 in real drilling conditions. They watched the NQ hydraulic core drilling rig complete a 200-meter test hole efficiently. The core samples were clean and well preserved, giving Budi confidence in the machine’s drilling performance. He also examined the crawler system, hydraulic system, cooling system, and operating controls. Budi still had concerns about working in East Kalimantan’s hot, humid, and muddy environment, so YG engineers explained the machine’s cooling and crawler design in detail and provided technical support information.
Jan 13, 2026
The YG-800 NQ Hydraulic Core Drilling Rig Arrives in Indonesia
After the successful demonstration, Budi’s company ordered one YGX-800. The machine arrived in Indonesia in early 2026. YG also sent two technicians to assist with assembly, commissioning, and operator training. The technicians worked with the local drilling team and explained machine operation, maintenance procedures, and daily inspections. Thanks to the training and technical support, the crew quickly became familiar with the equipment. Within approximately one week, the new crawler hydraulic core drilling machine was ready for field operations. The company could now begin its deep exploration program with its own drilling equipment instead of depending on external contractors.
Jan 30, 2026
Reaching 750–800 Meters
The first major exploration hole targeted a depth of 750 meters in a remote part of the mining concession. The YG-800 completed the hole in approximately 18 days, achieving an average of more than 40 meters per day. Core recovery reached more than 95%, providing the geology team with cleaner and more reliable samples. Over the following months, the machine completed three additional holes, with depths ranging from approximately 700 to 800 meters. The NQ core remained consistent throughout the drilling program. The crawler system also allowed the machine to move between drilling locations with less site preparation, improving the overall efficiency of the exploration project.
YG Hydraulic Core Drilling Rig Parameters
| Model | YGX-400 | YGX-600 | YGX-800 | YGX-1000 |
| Drilling Depth(M) | 180-400-500 | 200-600-650 | 400-800-1000 | 500-1000-1100 |
| Rated pressure(MPA) | 21 | 21 | 25 | 28 |
| Rated Flow(L/min) | 168 | 192 | 260 | 300 |
| Heat Dissipation Mode | Air cooling+water cooling | |||
| Engine Brand | Yuchai | Yuchai | Yuchai | Cummins |
| Rated power/speed | 78kW/ 2400r/min | 92kW/ 2400r/min | 92kW/ 2400r/min | 154kW/2400r/min |
| Drilling Angle(°) | 0-90 | 45-90 | 45-90 | 45-90 |
| Lifting Force(T) | 12 | 16 | 24 | 30 |
| Feed Force(T) | 6 | 8 | 12 | 15 |
| Hydraulic Mud pump flow | 30-90（L/min） | 30-90（L/min） | 90-180（L/min） | 90-180（L/min） |
| Hydraulic Mud pump power | 4-7(MPA) | 4-7(MPA) | 4-7(MPA) | 4-7(MPA) |
| Dimension | 4000*1900*1800mm | 4000*2000*1800mm | 5500*2100*2000mm | 6000*2200*2400mm |
| Weight | 4.3T | 4.5/5.5T | 6.5T | 7.5T |
Common Core Extraction Methods Parameters
| Specification | Drill Bit Outer Diameter (mm) | Core Diameter (mm) | Outer Diameter of the Reamer | Drill Pipe Outer Diameter |
| BTW | 60 | 42 | 60 | 56.3 |
| NTW | 75 | 56 | 75.8 | 75.3 |
| HTW | 95 | 71 | 96 | 91.5 |
| BQ | 59 | 36.4 | 60 | 55.6 |
| NQ | 75.7 | 47.6 | 75.8 | 69.9 |
| HQ | 96 | 63.6 | 96 | 88.9 |
Budi Advises Others When Buying an NQ Hydraulic Core Drilling Rig
Budi is now a vocal advocate for YG. He’s spoken at two mining conferences in Jakarta. He’s shown videos of the YGX-800 drilling. He’s even invited neighbouring companies to see it in action.
“If you are looking for an NQ hydraulic core drilling rig, don’t just look at the price,” Budi says. “Look at the depth capacity. Look at the core recovery. Look at the support. YG gave us all three.”
He also appreciates the training. “The technicians stayed until we were comfortable. They showed my crew how to run it. They gave us a maintenance schedule. We’ve had zero major problems.”
When asked about the NQ hydraulic core drilling rig price, he says, “It’s not the cheapest. But it’s the best value. We’ve finished more projects with it. It’s paid for itself many times over.”
Choose YG. Choose the YGX-800. And drill deeper than you ever thought possible.