MINE LIGHTING
HALO Solutions continues expansion
While many strip LED suppliers marketing the products for mining are now appearing , the original and premium version remains South Africa ’ s HALO Solutions , which introduced its ground-breaking HALO SERIES to the mining sector in 2011 . HALO has a long-range functionality being able to easily illuminate 100 m runs which require only one electrical connection at the beginning of the length which is all that is needed to energise the entire 100 m run ; this unique Low lumen strip LED lighting for underground and surface conveyors is a feature means that electrical cabling and growing market for HALO infrastructure usually required to be fitted throughout underground tunnels are no longer necessary meaning cost savings in equipment & manpower . This feature can be doubled up in tunnels of 200 m whereas only one power point on either end is required and HALO can light up the entire tunnel with both ends meeting in the middle .
Its specialised design and selective components provide the assurance of minimal lighting degradation with a projected 15 % over four years unlike most other lighting options which experience accelerated degradation of up to 50 % within five months in the harsh underground conditions .
Shaun Smith , Sales & Marketing Manager told IM : “ Our biggest project to date which is ongoing is at the Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine in Mongolia in tunnels 1,380 m underground . We have already completed an extensive installation there and have recently signed a new order for another 7,500 m of LED strip lighting .”
The strip LED lighting in underground mining is being used mainly on ceilings instead of standard LED tube lights for illumination of new tunnels such as in South Africa , at Petra Diamonds ’ Cullinan . It is also being deployed in specific areas that require good visibility such as maintenance bays and at the bottom of lift shafts where personnel come out of the man cage . In these areas it is sometimes even used in conjunction with other lighting .
HALO says it has a lot of queries ongoing from the Americas plus in Australia is working through sales agent Innovative Lighting Australia ( ILA ). In its home market in South Africa it has recently sold 30 km of LED strip lighting to a metallic mining operation which was due to be delivered by end-November . The company also says there is a lot of market interest in the HALO products for constant low lumen illumination of conveyor belts both for surface and underground mining applications .
The product is constantly tweaked to keep it up to date with latest components . The flagship products remain the higher voltage HALO 1 ( 220V , 110V & 36V ) and low voltage HALO 2 ( 12VDC , 24VDC and 48VDC configurations ) Constellation series ; and both of these are now on their second generation . It also now offers an ultra brightness solution called the HALO 3 Ultra which operates on 200-240VAC and provides over 2,000 lumens per metre .
US , recently introduced a dedicated Lighting Division . Expanding on its underground mobile machine lighting products , this division will feature a full range of LED lighting options for mines . This includes the company ’ s UVision platform which was launched in 2018 and combines LED and safe spectrum UV for the first time in a mine-duty lighting system .
The company told IM that applications are wide ranging underground but with a focus on mobile machines from production shuttle cars and production mining machines to small outbye maintenance rides . Matrix developed UVision with MSHA approval to go into an IS enclosure . “ The LED is 30 % brighter but still provides good visibility and is much clearer . It also has white and blue built in to make the light softer and easier on the eye to avoid glare . We customised the beam
angle around our customer ’ s preferences . The safe-spectrum UV gives more visibility to reflective clothing and items and makes them pop . Customer feedback has been really good around this . Fluorescent yellow and green on safety clothing really jump out with this light .” It also does not interfere with radio systems which has been a problem for some operators .
Matrix adds : “ Versus halogen , the LED has a softer light but higher visibility that is more pleasing and clearer . LEDs also use less power and last longer . UVision will last almost 100,000 hours as opposed to an incandescent bulb , which
is probably half of that at best . LEDs also
withstand vibration better . Their power savings , longevity and durability give them a great ROI . Also , UVision fits in the same package as the competitive light with the same size of enclosure .
It has the same footprint and overall dimensions , so space constraints are not a problem .”
The next move made with UVision is to surface mining . “ We are near release of a surface UVision light , which is a different light altogether , though it uses the same proprietary technology . It ’ s priced about the same as the brand name light in the market but is 30 % brighter and with the added benefit of safe-spectrum UV .” The company was due to start testing it at a mine in October 2020 . “ Similar safety advantages are realised in surface mining as in the underground space . The ability to add a safety component to a lighting array at a comparable price point is a win-win .”
Matrix says the light has multiple applications on different types of machinery . For large haul trucks , the light can be used in drive-light , turnlight or reverse applications . Similarly , in large earthmoving equipment , the light is versatile in its application and simply adds another layer of safety to the piece of equipment . The surface UVision lighting package is expected to be on the market in Q1 2021 .
Applying optics technology
Nordic Lights offers its Phenom Optics technology on mining lights , which is designed to give an asymmetrical wide flood light pattern that doesn ’ t reach eye-level but still illuminates the work area efficiently without glare . The technology is used as an example on the Scorpius PRO 415 PH light which can be used on medium sized mining excavators . In a recent application , four of them were placed on the counterweight of a machine , in order for people working around the vehicle to not be blinded with glare . The overall lighting solution also included three Scorpius PRO 445 lights strategically placed on the body of the excavator and two Pictor 620 lights on either side of the boom .
The company also has a new glass-lensed product which is applicable in a mining setting , Canis PRO 330 . “ Canis PRO 330 with a glass lens , which is easy to maintain and does not heat up . It is a very powerful ( 3000 operational lumens ), small robust light that can be installed in tight locations . Canis PRO 330 is also equipped with hardened glass lens , so it is a perfect light if the customer is working in high temperatures .”
Nordic Lights has also introduced glass-lensed versions for two of its mining best sellers – the “ heavy-duty champion ” Scorpius N4402 and “ the unbreakable master ” Scorpius N4401 QD . It says glass lenses are a perfect fit for applications where the equipment and lights are subjected to a lot of dirt and heat , such as mining . Another recent mining project involved upgrading the light setup for a mine wheel loader for which more details will be given in early 2021 .
IM
48 International Mining | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2020