First Mining Drc-Zambia July/Aug 2019 First Mining DRC-ZAMBIA July-August 2019 digital | Page 17

The latest innovations in
underground mining
T
he mining industry is overflowing
with radical equipment.
Key
Players in the underground mining
equipment market include Caterpillar,
Komatsu (Joy Global), Volvo, Hitachi
Construction Machinery, Sandvik, Atlas
Copco, Metso, ThyssenKrupp, Liebherr-
International, ZMJ, FLSmidth, Doosan
Infracore, China Coal Group and
many more and have launched some
of the most technologically advanced
machinery in recent years and the pace
isn’t slowing down.
Equipment is becoming smarter, faster,
and safer, helping mining companies
improve productivity while keeping
operating costs at a minimum. With the
new innovations in underground mining
equipment, the future is looking quite
abundant for miners looking to maximize
profits and productivity.
earth’s surface. The mining methods
required for underground extraction are
selected based on parameters such as
geographical conditions, spatial and
geometric characteristics, the economic
value of ore, estimated operational
costs, and availability of raw materials.
Globally, APAC region generates the
highest consumption value, followed
by the North America, Europe, South
America and Africa. The growing mining
activities in developing countries of APAC
such as China, India, and Australia,
are the major factors influencing the
growth of the market. Also, the growing
demand from coal industry will drive the
underground mining equipment market.
Cat announces first battery-electric
LHD
Caterpillar has announced the R1700
will form its first battery-electric platform,
using fast, on-board charging.
The OEM believes battery-powered
LHD machines have the potential to
significantly impact the economics of
underground mining and the viability of
opening new mines.
Underground mining involves mineral
production
by
extracting
natural
resources such as metals, coal, and
minerals, including iron ore, titanium,
bauxite, and copper, and various non-
metallic products from beneath the
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