MAINTENANCE
Metric Automotive Engineering says many
mining engines do not get the right level of
service workmanship or the best quality parts
at the latter stages of their lives
Planning ahead
From electric vehicle maintenance strategies, to
conveyors and crushers, Paul Moore takes a look at
equipment servicing across the board in mining
he rise of battery electric technology in
underground mining, being rolled out at
mines such as Goldcorp Borden and
Kirkland Lake Gold, has been well documented
in IM. And maintenance is key to the potential
success of electric mining vehicles using
batteries. MacLean Engineering is continuing to
build the business case for its fleet of battery-
electric mining equipment. Now, with over a year
of battery-electric equipment operation in
multiple underground hard-rock mines, the
company is using its EV experience to refine the
maintenance guidelines around its electric
equipment.
The main benefit of MacLean’s battery-electric
equipment, in terms of maintenance, comes
from replacing the diesel engine with a high-
performance electric motor. The elimination of
diesel engine maintenance means that the
company’s EV fleet will require regular planned
maintenance half as often, and at one quarter
the cost, compared to a diesel machine.
“Reduced maintenance costs are one of the
main benefits of our EV Series of underground
mining equipment,” said Anthony Griffiths,
Battery Electrification Product Manager at
MacLean Engineering. “Maintenance costs
associated with such a new technology can be
difficult to quantify at first, but now that we
have over a year of experience with battery-
electric units in operation, we are starting to see
the significance of reduced maintenance costs
for our EV machines, and the effect that has on
the business case for EVs from a mine’s
perspective.”
The company recently developed a series of
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) models that
demonstrate the value that electric vehicles can
bring to mining operations. By combining the
T
58 International Mining | JANUARY 2018
hourly costs of ownership (depreciation and
interest), maintenance (regular planned
maintenance plus component replacements)
and consumables (fuel or electricity, tyres,
batteries), a total hourly cost of ownership was
estimated for both diesel and electric
configurations of MacLean utility vehicles.
The numbers for electric equipment are
promising, particularly for high-tramming units
that would require significant diesel engine
maintenance throughout their lifetime –
maintenance which is eliminated in EV
equipment and leads to a lower TCO compared
to diesel. MacLean’s high-quality componentry
and long-life cycle batteries are another factor.
The batteries the company uses are long lasting
and maintenance free, which has a positive
effect on the overall cost of operating the
machine throughout its life.
As compelling as they are, MacLean’s
maintenance and TCO data are only part of the
puzzle. Their TCO models are focused on the
machine itself, and don’t include the larger
benefits that electric vehicles allow mines to
capture. Griffiths notes: “Once you add in what
is typically the biggest economic benefit of EVs
– reduced ventilation requirements – as well as
the health benefits to workers, then you start to
realise why the EV revolution is beginning to
really take off.”
A centralised reporting platform
Digital technology presents mines with an
opportunity to reduce production costs and
compete in today’s challenging economic
conditions. Monitoring solutions can help mines
achieve significant cost savings by improving
productivity, increasing efficiency, and
mitigating downtime and accidents, but these
benefits are difficult to realise without a
centralised reporting platform. The amount of
information generated by modern monitoring
solutions can be overwhelming if not managed
properly. MetricsManager™ Pro from Motion
Metrics it says “is a powerful and easy-to-use
centralised platform that transforms discrete
equipment data into actionable insights.”
Motion Metrics offers three main products:
ShovelMetrics™ is a complete monitoring
solution for shovels and excavators,
LoaderMetrics™ is a missing tooth detection
system for loaders, and PortaMetrics™ is an
accurate and affordable handheld fragmentation
analysis device. “Accessing the data stored on
individual pieces of mining equipment is often
difficult and inconvenient, but
The MacLean 975 Omnia Battery Powered Bolter has a battery pack which can be scaled to fit the
needs of specific customer applications