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Company Announcement: Atlas Copco Features Underground Mining Equipment at the 2012 MINExpo in Las Vegas

22nd January 2013

  

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Atlas Copco South Africa (Pty) Ltd  (0.17 MB)

Atlas Copco introduced their world class equipment, technology and systems at the MINExpo in Las Vegas in September 2012. The exhibitions included the Minetruck MT85 which boasts to be the world’s largest underground articulated mining truck, a new multi-directional ANFO (Ammonium Nitrate/Fuel Oil explosive) charging truck, upgrades to Boomer rig packages as well as the SwedVent underground ventilation system. Atlas Copco gave visitors to MINExpo a sneek peek at the world’s largest articulated underground mining truck, the MT85 which has been designed for demanding conditions with its main focus on safety, ergonomic and operators comfort to maximize productivity in underground haulage.

The 3.4 m wide and 3.5 m high MT85 has high capacity (but fits in a small envelope) and easily fits into 6.0 x 6.0 m drifts. Despite its 14.0 m length, it has an impressive turning radius of 44 degrees which is largely thanks to its electro-hydraulic steering of the rear axle which gives maximum maneuverability. Ben Thompson, Product Manager at Atlas Copco’s Underground Rock Excavation Division, explains: “This truck is designed to fit the same drift dimensions of 50 and 60 tonne class trucks with one essential difference. It will haul 85 tonnes which gives a tremendous productivity boost in terms of fewer trucks and tonnes/kilometers per hour.

This truck also offers a high degree of modularity and options. The dump box can be tipped at the side of the vehicle as well as at the rear. There are also two tailgate configurations (hinged at top or at bottom), three engine power alternatives (535, 760 or 1 010 hp) as well as four wheel or six wheel drive to full fill different customer’s needs or mine requirements. Thompson emphasises that the Minetruck MT85 is also fast and highly maneuverable on ramps and inclines. “This means that fewer cycles need to be made which, in turn, reduces the cost of transport in relation to the amount of material hauled. Not only that, he adds, “the new MT85 truck now gives mining companies a more cost effective way to haul ore in the mine. It makes it more attractive to go for deeper ore bodies by ramp instead of sinking a shaft.”
MINExpo was also the platform for the launch of Atlas Copco’s new multi-directional ANFO (Ammonium Nitrate/Fuel Oil explosive) charging truck. The Chargetec UV2 has a high speed charging capacity of 130 kg per minute with high density. This model is the latest generation of charging trucks originally developed by the underground products division of GIA Industri AB, acquired by Atlas Copco in the first quarter of 2012.                     

The single-boom truck is equipped with one or two vessels for optimised charging of a full drill pattern with fixed carrier positioning. The ANOL CC charging vessels are available in volumes of 300, 500, 750 or 1,000 liters. “The heavy-duty carrier has articulated frame steering and 4-wheel drive, giving it high flexibility and maneuverability through the small turning radius of narrow drifts and may be equipped with diesel or electric hydraulics,” according to Hans Ramström, Product Manager Utility VehiclesAtlas Copco GIA AB. Atlas Copco previewed their new package upgrades to its Boomer underground mining and tunneling rigs at the show. The new series, represented by the Boomer M2 C, is characterised by simplicity, user-friendliness and safety and offers: An upgraded control system with a user-friendly interface; a larger intuitive touch screen; only two multi-functional joysticks instead of four, and the latest rig support planning software – Underground Manager. This new Windows™ based software package is designed for use in conjunction with Atlas Copco's range of intelligent underground drilling equipment. The new software incorporates functions that were previously separated into individual products, such as Tunnel Manager for face drilling and Ore Manager for long-hole drilling.

Underground Manager also introduces functions and features not previously supported, such as blast design and blast simulation. Features such as Computer-Aided Design (CAD) file import/export will allow users of the software greater flexibility in such areas as drill plan design. It contains a new drill plan generator, complete 3D view of the tunnel, smart interpolation of contours and improved logging and reporting functions. The Boomer rigs can be equipped with up to four booms providing a coverage area of 16–208 m2, and the most extensive range of high performance rock drills on the market (16-30 kW) designed to tackle most rock types and drilling conditions. Johan Jonsson, Product Manager at Atlas Copco’s Underground Rock Excavation division, explains: “The new Boomer combines all the benefits of Boomer technology together with a wide range of new features and functionality to meet any challenge that miners may face." “With these improvements, we are confident that the new Boomer series offers one of the most powerful and productive underground mining rigs and tunneling rigs on the market.”

Jonsson adds that the new series satisfies the increasing demand for automation as well as documentation of all drilling operations. The entire package of upgrades and improvements will be applied to all new computerized Boomer rigs beginning in the second quarter of 2013. The introduction of the underground SwedVent ventilation system, which followed the acquisition of the SwedVent product line and other underground products from GIA Industria AB in the first quarter of the year, features high pressure fans delivering air along extensive lengths of tunneling, with a capacity of 2.5 to 175 cubic meters per second.

“For high efficient noise reduction, the fans are equipped with silencers that are manufactured with mineral wool as absorbing material, including a center core that also reduces the high frequency sound,” explains Product Manager Underground Ventilation Systems, Tomas Otterberg. Atlas Copco considers system design to be an important part of the overall package, taking into account system pressure, total leakage, motor load, airflow and other safety considerations and energy consumption.
Atlas Copco strives for the very best in terms of product and customer relations, maintaining the ability to produce service and maintain quality state of the art equipment. This industrial group with world-leading positions in compressors, expanders and air treatment systems, construction and mining equipment, power tools and assembly systems, delivers solutions for sustainable productivity through innovative products and services.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

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