HEAVY ENGINEERING & WEAR PARTS
Motion Metrics particle size analysis algorithm at work on a payload
triangulate performance , payload , fragmentation , volumetric and other parameters to provide feedback loops to our customers to assist with mine safety and Scope 3 and Scope 4 emissions reductions .
“ We ’ re also able to define benchmarks from which we are already building our next generation of core products .”
Ultrahauls destined for Carmichael
Back in the land of truck bodies , Bravus Mining & Resources recently awarded contracts worth more than A $ 3 million to Queensland-based SMW Group for a series of new Ultrahaul mine truck trays and a bore field maintenance program at its Carmichael coal mine in the state .
Bravus Mining & Resources CEO , David Boshoff , said the Ultrahaul tray is a class-leading product for mine haul trucks that SMW Group has developed specifically for the central Queensland coal industry .
“ The trays are tailored for our fleet of Cat 796 AC haul trucks and will help to maximise production and improve operational efficiency ,” he said .
The Ultrahaul tray is a patented design that eliminates the standard tray faults that most often require repairs and contribute to truck down time , according to SMW . They have achieved 40 % efficiency gains over standard
trays and are designed specifically for coal haulage and overburden applications and meet the strictest of mining industry specifications , the company says .
Africa ’ s decade of SDBs
Duratray International , despite the obstacles associated with a global pandemic , has continued to expand in Africa , with the Australiabased company having recently branched out to Angola .
At the end of 2021 , the company received the first order for Suspended Dump Bodies ( SDBs ) from a new client in the country , with the units shipped in March and soon to be commissioned .
The SDB , in its various forms , combines impact-resistant , shock absorption features and the abrasion-resistant properties of a rubber wear mat and a combination of specialised steels
to improve upon the wear life of standard OEM truck bodies .
At the same time as Duratray has been expanding to new geographies , its SDBs continue to be in demand from existing clients .
In this case , a South Africa-based mine that has been operating Duratray SDBs for more than seven years is overhauling its fleet for the first time to extend their life for another seven years . “ When the refurbishments were completed , the SDBs continued operating and will do so until the end of the truck life ,” the company said .
Further north in Africa , one of Duratray ’ s customers in Zambia , the largest copper producer in that country , also operates SDBs on three of its four truck types – a mix of Caterpillar , Hitachi , Komatsu and Liebherr trucks . Duratray says it is currently working on an improved design for the fourth truck type , while new units for this fleet were recently manufactured with delivery due in the next few months .
As part of Conymet International Group , Duratray has been operating in Africa since 2011 . After years of negotiation , South Africa was the first country to be reached in the continent with Duratray SDBs part of an innovation program at an Anglo American-owned mine .
“ The success of the trial resulted in them adopting the SDB for a new fleet , with an investment of A $ 2.4 million ,” Duratray said .
This initial order generated interest from other mines within Anglo American , leading to Duratray ’ s formal African investment . The company ’ s local South Africa-based branch opened in 2016 .
“ Operating locally in South Africa has allowed Duratray International to be fully autonomous with local manufacturing , warehouse and field services , which has facilitated the export to other countries in the continent , including Zambia and Angola ,” it said . “ From the initial unit sent from Australia for trial , the local fleet has grown to over 40 units in the last years , with most of the oldest units still being used by customers due to their reliability and durability .”
Payload pay off
Africa is a market VR ( formerly VR Steel ) knows well , with many of its tailored truck bodies in use at mines all over the continent .
One of the latest operations to install the company ’ s lightweight truck trays is the Centamin-owned Sukari gold mine in Egypt , which is in the process of upgrading its fleet of Caterpillar 785C haul trucks with trays designed by VR and fabricated by Egypt-based Aresco .
In 2020 , the miner trialled the use of these high production trays , which demonstrated a 10 % gain in truck productivity through a larger payload and faster cycle time . This led to a decision for a broader roll-out in 2021 across the haul fleet , Centamin said in its 2020 sustainability report .
The introduction of these trays , designed so the floor can be replaced for extended overall service life , are part of the company ’ s plans to improve cycle loading times and truck / loader matching at the gold operation . They also bring sustainability benefits to the operation given they reduce the truck body weight , increase the payload and improve fuel and tyre efficiency .
Centamin confirmed it had placed an order for the local fabrication of 44 high production trays to fit the haul fleet in accordance with OEM specifications .
One of the company ’ s truck trays can also be spotted aboard Anglo American ’ s nuGen™ hydrogen-battery hybrid 291-t-class mining truck , which was recently launched at the Mogalakwena platinum group metal mine in Limpopo Province , South Africa .
A converted Komatsu 930E , this truck is equipped with a 1.2 MWh battery pack and multiple fuel cells that deliver up to 800 kW of power , combining to deliver a total of 2 MW of power .
VR said on this latter installation : “ The VR Group , whose expanding tray fleet on site continues to bolster production , proudly adapted one of their designs to integrate into this worldfirst truck system .”
IM
At the end of 2021 , Duratray received the first order for Suspended Dump Bodies from a new client in Angola , with the units shipped in March and soon to be commissioned
JUNE 2022 | International Mining 63