To enhance the logistics of underground mining operations, concrete equipment and material-placing equipment manufacturer Putzmeister has developed the Minelift 4 scissor-lift platform.
Yet to be integrated into an actual mining operation, the Minelift 4 is manufactured in Madrid, Spain.
It has a lifting height of 4 m and 4 t capacity to provide a mobile and secure working platform for load and personnel lifting in underground mining as well as for installations, such as piping and ventilation.
It features compact design with heavy-duty axles and four steering and driving wheels (4 × 4), as well as a six-cylinder, 130 kW diesel engine.
The platform’s integrated continuously variable drive without a gear shift enables one to leverage the maximum engine power at any time without breaks in traction, making operation easier for the driver.
The combination of the hydrostatic drive system, slope-measurement and Putzmeister control software forms the core of the automatic downhill speed-control system.
The equipment automatically adapts its maximum speed to the slope, taking full advantage of the engine retention capacity, thereby reducing the probability of operational errors.
The service brakes on both axles are multidisc in an oil bath and are hydraulically operated with two independent circuits.
This system also provides improved stopping power and a long working life, including in particularly demanding conditions, to ensure greater operational safety, performance and durability of the equipment.
Minelift 4 further features a falling object protection system and roll-over protection system, also known as FOPS/ROPS, and a certified driving cabin, designed according to ergonomic standards to reduce operator fatigue and increase productivity.
The equipment has light-emitting diode work lights on the platform and the vehicle, providing operators with a safe environment inside the mine.
The reverse camera with night vision allows the operator to manoeuvre accurately in reverse.
At the request of the customer, the equipment is also available with an enclosed cab, which can include air conditioning and heating.
Minelift 4 is available in a configuration that is set up for the installation of water, air, drainage and tailing pipes in underground mining.
This configuration incorporates a drop-wing platform extension that expands the wide lateral by 70 cm, providing a work surface total of 3.4 m × 2.55 m.
The high-load-capacity crane allows pipes to be lifted safely and easily.
For mounting, Minelift 4 incorporates a pipe handling system with two independent telescopic arms, designed for pipes from 100 mm diameter to 200 mm diameter and with load capacities of 300 kg each.
For ease of operation in ventilator mounting, Minelift is available with an auxiliary lift platform that provides a load capacity of 2 500 kg and lifts up to 1.1 m from the main platform. By incorporating this optional equipment, Minelift 4 enhances lifting and installation work in underground mining.