UNDERGROUND LOAD & HAUL
manufacturer of battery powered underground
mining equipment, and the core technology
includes battery packs, electric motors, power
electronics, software and control systems. The
majority of battery loaders and trucks operating
currently underground are powered by Artisan
Vehicles technology.” He adds on the integration:
“Today, Artisan Vehicles is a business unit within
Sandvik Load and Haul division. The integration
is in full speed at the moment, and more
information about the way forward will be
communicated later on. We will have both
battery electric and cable tethered equipment in
our offering also in the future, as alternatives for
diesel powered load and haul equipment.”
On the market for larger underground
To expand its existing “intelligent” offering,
Sandvik recently introduced its second i-series
loader, the Sandvik LH621i
machines, Scrivens said the focus of Sandvik is
to increase the utilisation of the equipment to
achieve higher productivity rather than just
increasing the carry capacity of the machine. “For
loaders and trucks, the existing tunnel size is the
biggest limiting factor to increase the overall
machine capacity. However, the use of Sandvik
AutoMine increases the operating time of the
loader or truck. Operation can continue quickly
after blasting or during shift changes when
normally manual operation has stopped. This
increase the operating time of the loader or truck
and overall productivity of the mine. But the
mining customers are typically using the highest
possible size and capacity machines for the
tunnel size, and optimising the amount of
individual equipment to increase the capital
efficiency. Geology can also be a limiting factor
regarding the bigger tunnel sizes.”
To expand its existing “intelligent” offering,
Sandvik recently introduced its second i-series
loader, the Sandvik LH621i. “The LH621i is the
loader of choice for rapid mine development and
large-scale underground production, according to
the company, and is a matching pair with the
previously introduced 63-t payload Sandvik
TH663i truck. The Sandvik LH621i sets the
industry standard in the 21-t underground loader
range.”
It has been built on technology inherited from
the Sandvik LH621, and now enters the market
How focused are
your reviews?
.com
Due diligence
equipped with further improved features,
according to the company.
“With superior hydraulic power for fast bucket
filling and drivetrain power for high ramp speeds,
the Sandvik LH621i is designed to quickly clear
tunnel headings for rapid advance rates,”
Sandvik said. “Engineered with operator and
maintenance personnel safety in mind, the
rugged loader offers long component lifetimes
and low costs per tonne.”
The Sandvik LH621i features the latest Sandvik
16 International Mining | JUNE 2019