Boart Longyear started shipping U.S.-made drill rods to customers in the United States and Mexico in November.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah—For the first time in more than 70 years, the manufacturing of exploration drill rods has returned to the United States, according to a provider of drilling equipment and performance tooling for mining and drilling companies.
Boart Longyear, a drilling services and performance tooling specialist, announced in December that it has begun producing exploration drill rods domestically. By doing so, Boart Longyear is affirming its commitment to U.S. manufacturing, supply chain resilience, and support for the North American mining industry, the company said in a release.
In November 2025, Boart Longyear started shipping U.S.-made drill rods to customers in the United States and Mexico. (Image courtesy EIN Presswire/Boart Longyear)
In November 2025, the company started shipping U.S.-made drill rods to customers in the United States and Mexico. Its Salt Lake City factory, already home to its diamond bit production, is now manufacturing SuperQ, RQ, and XQ thread rods, using U.S.-sourced steel.
“This is more than an investment in capacity. It’s a statement,” said Ermanno Simonutti, CEO of Drilling Products at Boart Longyear, in a statement. “We’re proud to bring exploration rod manufacturing back to the U.S., using American steel to produce coring rods closer to where our customers operate.”
“With this move, Boart Longyear becomes the only exploration drill rod manufacturer producing drill rods in the United States,” added Ivan Rodriguez, vice president, Mining and Exploration, in the release. “We’re reducing lead times, mitigating supply chain risks, and delivering stronger local support to drilling contractors and mine operators throughout North America.”
The addition of rod manufacturing in the U.S. is said to further strengthen Boart Longyear’s global production network while “creating a stable, high-quality domestic source for critical exploration tooling, built to perform in the world’s most challenging geological conditions.”