IM 2019 July 19 | Page 45

NARROW VEIN & LOW PROFILE MINING for drilling blast holes of diameters between 41 mm and 76 mm and net length of 3.2 m, in underground workings of heights up to 6 m. The Face Master 1.7 comes in different configurations depending on the market demand, with the recently launched Face Master 1.7K, for KGHM Polish Copper Mine, boasting a spacious, air conditioned, closed cab with excellent visibility and ergonomics, GHH said. This provides for high level operator comfort and associated performance. The FM 1.7K comes equipped with a more advanced feeder guiding system, where the on-board computer helps the operator execute desired drilling patterns, as well as generate 24-hour reports showing the quantity of drilled holes, time of drilling as well as comparison of planned work to actual results. MM, together with Fletcher, provides roof bolters, with a rotary dry drilling system with dust collection for ultra-low and low seam mining. The Roof Master 1.4 mechanised roof bolter is designed for bolting hanging and side walls at a minimum height of 1.6 m with a maximum reach of 3 m and a bolt length of 1.6 m. The Roof Master 1.7 is also a mechanised roof bolter designed to operate within 1.9 m heights. It has a maximum reach of 4.5 m and is designed to install both mechanical and resin bolts at lengths of 1.6 m, 1.8 m and 2.6 m by a single operator. For narrow vein applications, MM has the highly productive, low tramming height Face Master 2.1 used for face drilling as well as long- hole drilling. This has a quick reset of the feeder The Mine Master Face Master FM 1.7 drill rig offering, but its rigorous customer and product support throughout the life cycle of the equipment, which certainly sets us apart from the rest.” More MUKIs Resemin’s MUKI family of mechanised narrow vein equipment has continued to expand in recent years, and CEO James Valenzuela told IM the position and an additional cylinder allowing for accurate drilling of the vein deposit. “GHH machines enable the lowest cost per tonne production with highest performance capabilities,” the company said. Its machines are robust, reliable, easy to maintain, simple to operate, and designed with safety in mind, GHH added. “Our machines are created to work in narrow vein applications from the deep level gold mines in Australia to the high altitude mines in Latin America, as well as in the low profile chrome and platinum group elements from the South African Bushveld Complex through to the Zimbabwean Great Dyke, in addition to the copper orebodies in Poland and the potash and salt mines across Germany,” GHH said, “We pride ourselves in the ability to constantly develop safe products that are moulded to the ever-changing customer needs, incorporating custom designed end user specific options, to make each of our underground mining products more fit-for-purpose than before, to suit specific mining operations,” the company concluded. “GHH Group is not only well known for its rock solid, robust low profile and narrow vein product company is preparing to add more products to the offering. “In addition to our versions of MUKI Front Face, long hole and MUKI Bolter, it is very likely that we will develop a scaler for narrow veins,” Valenzuela said. The Resemin chief said the company, since launch last year, has sold three MUKI Bolters to local South America customers, but sees a much wider market ahead. “The miners, each time, are asking for more safety in the bolting process,” he said. This is a departure from the Australian roof bolting method using a MUKI Front Face, equipped with Telescopic Feed 6-10, miners were previously asking for, according to Valenzuela. “This method (Australian roof bolting) is still the dominant one, but we have seen a growing demand for mechanised roof bolting processes in narrow vein mining,” he said. In addition to the recently launched MUKI Bolter, Resemin also released, last year, the narrowest ANFO/emulsion charger on the market, he said. The AC11 is just 1.3 m wide, with Valenzuela saying the use of emulsion can reduce nitrous gases produced by blasting and make the mine cleaner. Poland’s KGHM Zanam showcased its new LKP-1701 underground LHD at Bauma 2019, in Munich, which is the largest and most advanced machine to date in its range and undoubtedly one of the largest available low profile LHD machines globally. The machine is 11,500 mm long, 3,335 mm wide and 2,370 mm high with a 47 t operating weight unloaded, front axle load of 21.5 t and rear axle load of 25.5 t and a standard bucket capacity of 9.5 m 3 . Tramming capacity is 172 kN and edge of bucket breakout force is 220 kN. The machine can lift and dump in 8.5 seconds and do a full turn in 5.5 seconds with an internal turn radius of 3,450 mm and external 7,750 mm. Fourth gear speed is up to 27 km/h. It has a Deutz 12.0V6 Stage IV engine with 330 kW at 2,100 rpm. KHGM Zanam says its 1700 series LHDs are noted for high bucket capacity and lifting capacity along with their low profile JULY 2019 | International Mining 41