Mining and construction contractor Sandvik launched its Sandvik MB670 bolter miner last week in Amsterdam, which will help mines increase productivity, reduce total cost of ownership and improve safety and ergonomics for operators in longwall mining.
“Our new Sandvik MB670 bolter has a new sump frame mechanism that incorporates cutting and bolting, which allows coal cutting and ground support for installation simultaneously,” explains Sandvik Mining underground coal and minerals product line manager Bruno Reumueller.
He adds that the machine is stabilised for installing the ground support, while the sump frame mechanism continues to move forward to cut out the next cycle. This enables Sandvik’s customers to get more out of their mines.
Having designed the first bolter 25 years ago, approximately 300 Sandvik bolter miners are in operation. For Sandvik, this shows that the design of its product has helped and continues to help its customers drive down their total cost of ownership and improve productivity.
As part of its service offering for longwall mining, Sandvik ensures that its customers are supplied with the necessary equipment needed for longwall development. This ranges from excavation support and loading products to transportation and logistics. With the bolter miners, miners can cut, support, gather material and convey it into shuttle cars, coal haulers or a continuous haulage system so that it is ready for transport.