NARROW-VEIN & LOW-PROFILE MINING
terms of breakout force – than the 9,600 kg ( tilt ) and 11,000 kg ( lift ) offered by the L350D , with the new battery-electric machine also benefitting from Aramine ’ s patented QRS system . This system offers a quick disconnect battery module with a W-type aligning system and an auto locking device that can safely replace the battery with the help of a small crane in 10-15 minutes , according to Aramine .
By leveraging all the engineering developments the company has carried out since 2015 on a battery-electric narrow vein loader and since 2020 on the diesel-powered L305D , Aramine is now confident enough to build two L440Bs at the same time – one to test at its own facility in the south of France and one to test at a third-party mining operation .
On the latter testing , Paul said of the mining operation : “ The mine set to test the machine already has a generation-one L140B and has tested out the newest generation machine too . They knew we wanted to make a 4-t-payload battery-electric loader , and said it had to be tested at their mine first .”
Testing at both locations could start in the December quarter of this year , with prototype machines due for assembly in the next few months .
Ahead of that date , the company is due to dispatch another new battery-electric machine designed for narrow-vein mining environments . The entry of the T500B truck will allow the company to soon offer a battery-electric loader and truck pairing , with the truck based off the 4.2-t-payload diesel-equivalent T500D and matched to the soon-to-be-released L440B .
Paul said the company has four T500B units due for production later this year , which will also leverage the learnings of the latest-generation L140B .
After that – in 2023 – the company could start assembling a battery-electric version of its DM901HDE miniDriller ®, which has been designed to tram off battery power and plug into the mine infrastructure while drilling .
On all these developments , Paul commented that the company was focused on providing the most efficient and reliable machines on the narrow-vein market .
He concluded : “ We don ’ t want to make machines for machines ’ sake ; we want to make them as efficient as possible , leveraging our extensive engineering expertise .
“ Aramine has invested over the last few years in developing a modern , clean , reliable and safe range of machines to promote the economic revival of narrow-vein mines under the best possible conditions , which corresponds to the value we attach to respecting our planet – at a crucial time when we are fully measuring the environmental impact of every tonne extracted !”
The ‘ one stop shop ’
GHH Group has long specialised in the supply of products and services for the low-profile and narrow-vein mining space , with a product offering that , it says , is one of the most comprehensive and diverse around .
This includes low-profile loaders and lowprofile rigs , auxiliary machines , scalers and a large range of utility vehicles with various cassette offerings , making GHH a “ one stop shop ” for low-profile mining .
GHH currently has the SLP-3H and SLP-14H – the latter being the largest low-profile loader on the market – running in low-profile operations in Europe . The new SLP-14E electric tethered loader , based off the diesel-powered SLP-14H , is due to be released later this year .
In the PGM minerals and chrome operational space in southern Africa , the SLP-5 , SLP-6 and SLP-8 low-profile loaders support operations in either production or development operations depending on the customer-specific tonnage and size requirements . Although the products are standard , they are customised where needed and updated as regulatory needs and legislation drive industry change , GHH says .
Two of the company ’ s new SLP-5.2 LHDs were recently dispatched from the company ’ s GHH Mining Machine ’ s facility in South Africa , with plans for it to be deployed at the Anglo American Platinum-majority owned Mototolo mine on the renowned Bushveld Complex . These machines come with not only an air-cooled engine offering , but also an innovative water-cooled engine design – a first for GHH Mining Machines .
To support the low-profile primary fleet of GHH loaders , mining operations can rely on the Mine Master range of low-profile equipment , including drill rigs , roof bolters and auxiliary machines . The FLP1400 and Roof Master 1.4 are ideal for development works and roof support in sections as low as 1.6 m with optimum drilling coverage and performance , GHH says .
Low-profile room and pillar operations , meanwhile , can benefit from using the Face
The largest narrow-vein loader in the GHH offering is the 7 t LF-7 loader , which is payload matched with the 20 t MK-A20 dump truck
Master 1.7 and Roof Master 1.7 , both of which are engineered for excavations as low as 1.9 m .
These machines come in different configurations depending on market demand . The Face Master 1.7K for KGHM Mine , for example , boasts a spacious air-conditioned closed cabin with excellent visibility and ergonomics , providing a high level of operator comfort and associated performance , GHH says . The Face Master 1.7R with rotary drilling system is an optimal option for soft-rock applications , while the Face Master 1.7D can tram and drill on diesel engine power alone .
The Roof Master 1.7 , manufactured in cooperation with J . H . Fletcher , is designed to install both mechanical and resin bolts at lengths of 1.6 m , 1.8 m and 2.6 m , with the “ Man-in-Position ” system allowing carrying works by a single operator . For high temperature working conditions , the machine can be equipped with a spacious air conditioned cabin .
Battery-electric technology has also come into the GHH Group low-profile portfolio , with Mine Master offering a battery-driven drill rig and bolter . Based on the same chassis for simplified maintenance , with 120 kWh batteries on-board , the Face Master 1.7KE and Roof Master 1.8KE are the perfect choice for low-profile operations where ventilation cost and operator wellbeing are of great concern , GHH says .
Mine Master also offers a “ customer-dedicated solution ” of two auxiliary machines designed to place temporary hydraulic props for additional roof support when mining in confined spaces – the SWOI 1.4 and SWOI 1.7 . These machines are designed for temporary roof support works where the operator inserts the temporary support prop between the roof and the floor , and the operator adjusts its height by means of hydraulic hoses through which an emulsion ( a mixture of water and hydraulic oil ) is pumped .
10 International Mining | JULY 2022