LONGWALL COAL MINING
the user , allowing more full cuts per shift .
An additional advantage of using a cutting head with rotating drums is that there is no longwall face deviation from a straight line .
“ The cutting head of this system moves just like a printer head , taking one full step forward at each end of the longwall ,” FAMUR explained . “ This greatly simplifies the software that controls the automatic operation of the system and provides a real possibility of taking personnel out of the longwall entirely .”
The premiere implementation of the first version of the MIKRUS mining system took place in 2013 , and the technology has since come a long way .
In July 2020 , the first MIKRUS system commenced production at the Shigetai mine in the Shendong area of Shanxi province , China , owned by China Energy , and a second mine in China has now acquired a system .
This latest unit , sold in November 2021 , comes with a slightly shorter longwall than the China Energy installation . The former was for a 260 m- long longwall and the latest unit is for a 200-mlong longwall , requiring one less armoured face conveyor ( AFC ) line , the company explained .
FAMUR sees potential for future orders from China too .
“ Generally , because China has quite a lot of thin coal seam deposits ( around 30 % of all coal deposits ) and because the coal mines have to extract it in accordance with the latest Chinese Government regulations , we see China as the main target for the MIKRUS system ,” the company told IM .
Hauhinco entry
There could soon be a major new player in the longwall coal mining sector after Caterpillar agreed to sell its longwall business to Hauhinco Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co KG , based in Sprockhövel , North Rhine-Westphalia , Germany .
The deal , announced in February and pending approval , will effectively see Caterpillar completely withdraw from the underground coal and soft-rock mining market after other transactions with India ’ s Gainwell Mining and USbased Simmons Equipment Co , plus confirmation in 2020 that it was closing its Luenen , Germany , underground coal longwall ( and plow ) mining equipment factory with production moved to Asia .
There is a history of cooperation between Hauhinco and Caterpillar – notably Hauhinco working with the Caterpillar facility in Luenen to design complete water hydraulic systems for Caterpillar underground longwall mining systems .
Hauhinco ’ s mining focus relates to designing customer-specific high pressure emulsion pump stations for roof supports in longwalls as well as water spray pump stations , supplying the shearer water spray or the coal plow water spray and the cooling systems for the drive motors with the necessary pressure and volumetric flow rate .
Caterpillar Inc ’ s executive office made this statement on the pending transaction : “ Caterpillar has entered into a preliminary agreement with Hauhinco to divest the longwall product line . Subject to the negotiation of a final agreement , the deal is expected to be completed in Q3 ( September quarter ) 2022 . Caterpillar and Hauhinco will work together to ensure a smooth transition to minimise any impacts to customers and dealers .”
On the reasoning behind the move , the company stated : “ To stay focused on Caterpillar core products and services , the company has made the decision to exit the longwall product line .”
No further details were given but Caterpillar ’ s remaining longwall business includes hydraulic roof supports , high-horsepower shearers , automated plow systems and AFCs with intelligent drive technology controlled and supported by advanced longwall automation .
Automation race
Anglo American ’ s new Aquila mine achieved its first longwall shear of steelmaking metallurgical coal on schedule and on budget earlier this year , marking the project ’ s final stages of construction and commissioning .