How I Vet abi Rock Drills, Drilling Rigs, and Attachments: An 8-Step Procurement Checklist

Who this checklist is for

If you’re sourcing abi rock drills, drilling rigs, abi attachments, or abi force attachments for a crew that actually runs them—not for a brochure—this checklist is for you. I’m a procurement manager at a 120-person drilling and foundation contractor. I’ve managed our equipment and attachment budget—around $450,000 annually—for six years, negotiated with 30+ vendors, and logged every PO in our cost tracking system.

This is the 8-step process I use before I release a PO. It works whether you’re buying one rock drill or a full rig package, and whether your quote says OEM, private label, or something in between. One note: I’m not anti-low-price. I’m anti-surprise-line-item.

Step 1: Define the job before the machine

When I first started buying drilling gear, I assumed the spec sheet was the starting point. A $6,800 attachment mismatch later, I learned the job and carrier come first. Actually, the carrier comes first—then the job.

Write down:

• Hole diameter and depth range
• Rock type and compressive strength
• Carrier make, model, hydraulic flow, pressure, and auxiliary circuits
• Duty cycle: hours per shift, shifts per week
• Transport limits and site access
• Dust and water management requirements

For rock drill specifications, ask for units, test conditions, and shank type. For abi attachments and abi force attachments, confirm mounting, coupler type, pin diameter, and hydraulic requirements in writing.

Step 2: Separate drilling rig OEM vs private label—on paper

Drilling rig OEM vs private label is not a moral question. It’s a paperwork question. OEM usually means the machine is built to the original manufacturer’s specification and brand. Private label means a similar or same platform is sold under another brand. Either can work. What matters is who warranties it, who stocks parts, and who answers the phone at 6 a.m.

Ask these five questions:

1. Who manufactures the core components—engine, hydraulic pumps, rock drill, controls?
2. Whose warranty covers the complete machine, and for how many hours or months?
3. Is the serial number traceable to a build record?
4. Can I get the parts book and service manual before deposit?
5. If this is private label, what changes from the OEM version—and what doesn’t?

I’ve learned to ask what’s NOT included before what’s the price. The vendor who lists all fees upfront—even if the total looks higher—usually costs less in the end.

Step 3: Build a TCO spreadsheet before you compare quotes

I built ours after getting burned twice on freight and commissioning. If you only compare purchase price, you’re basically guessing. Use these columns:

• Unit price
• Freight, unloading, and duties
• Commissioning and training
• Consumables: bits, shanks, seals, hoses
• Spare parts kit and wear items
• Service labor and travel
• Warranty terms and start date
• Downtime risk and parts lead time
• Resale or trade-in value

When I audited our 2023 spending, freight and commissioning were the two biggest hidden lines. They weren’t huge per order. They were huge over 40 orders.

Step 4: Audit rock drill specifications against your actual rock

Spec sheets are easy to read and easy to misread. For rock drill specifications, verify:

• Hole diameter range
• Drilling method: top hammer, DTH, rotary, or other
• Impact energy or impact rate
• Rotation torque and speed
• Feed force and travel
• Air or hydraulic pressure and flow
• Weight and center of gravity
• Carrier compatibility

If the vendor can’t give you a spec sheet with units and test conditions, you’re comparing marketing, not machines. Also ask how the rig supports dust suppression. According to OSHA’s construction silica standard (29 CFR 1926.1153), drilling rock or concrete can trigger engineering controls, work practices, and sometimes respirators. Source: osha.gov. That’s not just a safety issue. It’s a cost issue if your crew has to stop and improvise controls.

Step 5: Request a line-item quote with every fee named

Here’s what I want in writing before I sign:

• Unit price and currency
• Incoterms and freight responsibility
• Unloading and site delivery
• Commissioning, training, and documentation
• Warranty start date and exclusions
• Spare parts kit contents
• Lead time and delay remedies
• Payment terms and currency risk
• Compliance documents: CE, UKCA, OSHA, or local equivalents

If a quote says “free installation,” ask what “installation” includes. If it says “standard warranty,” ask which components are excluded. The cheapest quote on page one often becomes the most expensive quote on page three.

Step 6: Check parts and service before you sign

If you’ve ever had a rig go down because a $40 seal was backordered, you know the feeling. For abi attachments, abi force attachments, and any drilling rig, check:

• Exploded parts diagrams and part numbers
• Local or regional parts stock
• Average lead time for wear parts
• Service technician availability and response time
• Manuals in your crew’s language
• Three references with similar rock and duty cycle

Don’t just ask for references. Ask what failed, how fast it was fixed, and what the vendor charged for travel. That’s where the real story is.

Step 7: Run a pre-shipment inspection and document everything

We didn’t have a formal pre-shipment checklist for years. Cost us when a “small” hydraulic upgrade showed up as a $2,300 invoice line. Now I require:

• Serial number photos
• Function test video
• Hydraulic pressure test results
• Safety decals and guards
• Manuals and parts book
• Warranty registration
• Packing list and loading photos
• Compliance file

If you’re importing, verify HS codes, duty rates, and Incoterms before the container leaves. I want to say we’ve saved around $12,000 over two years just by catching scope gaps at this step—give or take.

Step 8: Pilot one unit before a fleet order

Conventional wisdom says negotiate the biggest volume upfront. My experience with 200+ orders suggests otherwise. For abi drilling rigs and attachments, a pilot unit gives you leverage because you have real data: fuel or power use, consumable life, downtime, operator feedback, and parts lead time.

Run one unit for 30–60 days. Log the numbers. Then negotiate the fleet order with evidence instead of promises. If the vendor won’t support a pilot, that tells you something too.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Comparing bare unit price. It ignores freight, commissioning, parts, and downtime.
• Assuming OEM always means better or private label always means worse. Check the warranty and parts path.
• Skipping training costs. A rig that’s 10% cheaper but takes two extra weeks to learn isn’t cheaper.
• Accepting specs without units. “High torque” means nothing without a number and a test condition.
• Waiting until after deposit to ask for the parts book. That’s how machines become orphaned at first breakdown.
• Not documenting change orders. A verbal “we’ll take care of it” is not a scope document.

Transparent pricing isn’t about being the cheapest. It’s about knowing the real number before you commit. For abi equipment and attachments, that means comparing the machine, the support, and the total cost—not just the first page of the quote.