WORLD PROSPECTS_visuals 23/08/2016 09:11 Page 4
WORLD PROSPECTS
also contributed to substantially increasing
productivity. In addition to minimising machine
damage and increasing productivity, the systems
have evolved a safer mining method.
RCT Account Manager Geoff Steele said both
site management and production people were
extremely pleased with the results. RCT’s
systems increased ore recovery to 95% in blind
uphole stopes at the Costerfield mine site. “Apart
from improving ore recovery from previously
inaccessible areas, Mandalay is pleased to give
our staff the opportunity to learn new skills of
operating Teleremote loaders, in the air
conditioned environment of the Teleremote
Operator Cabin,” said Costerfield Operations
Mine Manager Melanie McCarthy. “This improves
safety outcomes for our loader operators because
the Sandvik LH203 loaders are currently open
cabin loaders.” It was Mandalay’s first project
with RCT, but not its last. Following on from the
overall success of the project Mandalay has
decided to progress with a second full Teleremote
and Guidance systems to be installed onto a
second loader, along with a second new
operating station. The second unit is scheduled
for delivery shortly.
Earlier this year RCT successfully delivered its
ControlMaster® Guidance ATX2200 Teleremote
training course to operators
at Renison tin mine in
Tasmania – it says with an
overwhelming response. RCT
Product Trainer Alan Barton
executed two separate, level
one courses (both theory and
practical) to 12 participants
who were keen to try out the
new system fitted to their
new Caterpillar 2900G loader.
The site had previously
used RCT’s Teleremote systems, so while some of
the operators were familiar with RCT technology,
none of them had any previous exposure to
Guidance (which is an upgrade from Teleremote).
The operators’ level of experience varied quite
substantially from no experience with remotes at
all, to line of sight experience from years ago, to
Teleremote operators with more than 10 years’
experience. “Without exception they were blown
away by the performance of the Guidance
system,” Barton said. Barton said he felt very
positive about the feedback he received from all
of the operators throughout the duration of both
courses. “Everyone was very keen to take
ownership of the system, and to make it work to
the best of their advantage,” he said.
Komatsu launches 980E-4 ultraclass truck
omatsu Australia has announced the
release of the 980E-4 electric-drive haul
truck, with a payload capacity of 363 t.
Power for the 980E-4 comes from a Komatsu
SSDA18V170 Tier 2 engine, rated at 2,611 kW
which in combination with GE Mining’s dual
IGBT electric drive system provides a top speed
of 64 km/h. According to Scott Harrington,
Komatsu Australia’s National Product Manager,
Mining, this engine provides one of the lowest
brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) levels in
this truck class.
Applications for this truck include iron ore, coal
and other resources requiring bulk material
movement when matched to large loading tools,
to deliver the lowest possible cost-per-tonne. As
with other trucks in Komatsu’s ultra class electric
drive haul trucks range, the 980E-4 was designed
and developed by Komatsu America Corp and
manufactured at its Peoria operation in Illinois.
“In addition to the its fuel-efficient engine
and Invertex II AC control group, the 980E-4
features multiple disc oil cooled (wet disc) brake
design, Payload Meter 4 and frame castings in
high stress areas continuing Komatsu’s
unsurpassed life and structural integrity of the
main chassis,” he said. A number of
components will remain common to Komatsu’s
successful and well proven 960E-2 truck,
including the engine, radiator, alternator,
retarder and cab. However, certain major
components have been designed specifically for
the new 980E-4, engineered for the 362 t rated
payload. Major component changes include
larger wheel motors, the GDY108C based on the
K
12 International Mining | SEPTEMBER 2106
proven GDY108B design. The new wheel motor
is longer to accommodate the 44 in rims and
includes a number of gearing and bearing
design changes.
Komatsu says it has always maintained a
simple and reliable hydraulic system and the
980E-4 continues that design philosophy. Hoist
cylinders, steering cylinders and suspension
cylinders have all increased in capacity. This will
enable Komatsu to maintain a known rated
hydraulic system pressure and Komatsu
component design life targets.
An interesting metric a number of customers
are now monitoring is the labour hour to
machine operating hour ratio. “The reliability
features and maintenance friendly design of
Komatsu electric drive trucks is providing our
customers with lower labour hour to machine
operating hour ratios than many of our
competitors. The 980E-4 incorporates this
maintenance friendly criteria including
removable power module design,
simple hydraulic design with one
common tank, removable pump sub
frame, oil cooled multiple disc brakes
providing reduced brake wear and
maintenance requirements compared
to dry disc brakes, less lubricants than
similar class trucks and advanced
machine diagnostics including the
Komtrax Plus satellite communication
system.”
The 980E-4 can also be fully
integrated with management systems
such as Modular Mining’s Dispatch
“They saw Guidance as a big benefit to them
and could see that it was going to make their
wo