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Front loaders supplied to diamond mine to be showcased at expo

PRODUCT COLLECTOR
The AR 40 front loaders can efficiently move and clean out any materials underneath conveyor belt systems and processing areas at mine sites

PRODUCT COLLECTOR The AR 40 front loaders can efficiently move and clean out any materials underneath conveyor belt systems and processing areas at mine sites

3rd July 2015

By: Mia Breytenbach

Creamer Media Deputy Editor: Features

  

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Heavy-duty and earthmoving equipment distributor North European Equipment South Africa in February supplied two Atlas Weycor AR 40 front loaders to a diamond mine in the Northern Cape.

The company has been a distributor of Germany-based machine manufacturer Atlas Weycor and parent company Atlas Weyhausen’s products since June 2010.

“The manoeuvrable AR 40 front loaders can be used to efficiently move and clean out any materials underneath conveyor belt systems and processing areas at mine sites that have [spilled] or that have fallen off the processing lines,” says North European Equipment director Stefan Otto.

He highlights to Mining Weekly that end- users have noted the necessity of the loader, as a percentage of product is lost during the mining and processing process if clean-ups are not conducted.

The AR 40 has an operating weight of 3 t and is fitted with a Perkins diesel motor FM 403D-15T that has an output of 29.4 kW (40 HP PS) at 2 800 rpm. The loader also features an output-regulated hydrostatic drive, with pressure cutoff and closed-circuit acting on all four wheels, as well as a fully hydraulic steering angle of 40° to each side, and angular movement of about 12° at the rear of the vehicle.

Other features include fully hydraulic centre- pivot steering and rigid axles, with planetary reduction gears in the wheel hubs.

North European Equipment aims to display the AR 40 front loader and demonstrate some of its capabilities in mining operations at the 2015 international construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines and construction vehicles trade fair, Bauma Conexpo Africa, which will be held in Johannesburg, in September, Otto adds.

Meanwhile, the company has also supplied three AW 1120 single-drum compaction rollers, currently used in road construction and coalfield compaction at coal dumps, to collieries in Mpumalanga, Otto points out.

The AW 1120 features a drum width of 2 100 mm, low-maintenance centre-pivot steering, a low-maintenance vibratory system with two amplitudes and frequencies, a four-stage hydrostatic drive with traction control and an optional Eco-Speed mode.

According to Atlas Weycor’s website, “the Eco-Speed allows for a particularly efficient exploitation of the power output of the hydraulic units”, as the system makes it possible to reduce the motor rotation speed by about 400 rpm, compared with the nominal rotation speed.

Meanwhile, the hydraulic system automatically ensures that its resources can be fully used, with the vibration frequencies and centrifugal forces remaining unaffected, according to the Atlas Weycor website. Advantages of this system include lower fuel consumption and reduction of the sound levels in the cabin, as well as no output losses of the hydraulic system.

“These machines have been designed and manufactured for earthmoving and compaction purposes, and, with the current shift to modernisation and mechanisation in mining, these machines will be ideal, as mines will not require much manual labour to clean and prepare the mining areas,” Otto says.

He adds that the machines would also be suitable for use in iron-ore and manganese applications, noting that the AR 40 will perform well, particularly when cleaning and collecting material around mine sites.

Modernisation Challenge
Otto notes that one of the challenges in supplying these machines to the mining industry is convincing the industry of the out-datedness of the tractor loader backhoe, also known as the backhoe loader.

“A more modern trend worldwide is to use compact wheel loaders and mini excavators on site. The combination of these machines ensures more cost and time savings, as they are more efficient in mining applications.”

Nevertheless, Otto believes that there is an increasing shift towards more modern uses of the machinery, brought about by technological advancements.

Edited by Leandi Kolver
Creamer Media Deputy Editor

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