LOAD & HAUL UNDERGROUND
Tramming and tasking
Load and haul equipment underground continues to evolve in technology and performance , and not all of the focus is on battery electric , reports Paul Moore
The market transition towards lower emissions models is not a straight jump to full battery-electric across the market . Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions says it is expanding its technology portfolio by developing a diesel-electric range of underground loaders and trucks to complement its battery-electric vehicle offering .
For more than 40 years , Sandvik says it has been driving electrification of underground mining equipment , starting with cable-electric loaders in the early 1980s and evolving to BEV equipment today , it said . Now the company is also expanding its load and haul offering to include diesel-electric equipment .
Sandvik first showcased its new Toro™ dieselelectric truck demonstrator to customers at a technology workshop in Turku , Finland , in 2022
“ We see the future of underground mining as a combination of multiple coexisting technologies , with different solutions for varying customer needs ,” Jari Söderlund , Product Management Director , Division Load and Haul , Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions , said . “ An immediate switch from diesel to battery-electric is not a feasible solution for every mine and application . Dieselelectric is another technology that can help our customers achieve their productivity and sustainability goals .”
Sandvik first showcased its new Toro™ dieselelectric truck demonstrator to customers at a technology workshop in Turku , Finland , in 2022 , during which participants shared their expectations for diesel-electric technology , Sandvik said . The demonstrator has since undergone extensive performance testing and the Sandvik product development team is using feedback from the workshop to ensure its future offering meets customer and industry needs .
It says customers can expect the dieselelectric equipment offering to boost productivity , reduce total cost of ownership , improve availability and extend component lifetimes , it said . The equipment will benefit from the experience Sandvik has gained with its BEV installed base , and will utilise many common platforms used for the Toro load and haul product
series , which has thousands of units delivered around the globe .
and safety while reducing total cost of ownership .
Epiroc upgrades largest truck the MT65 S
The Minetruck MT65 S , Epiroc ’ s highest-capacity , 65 t , mine truck for large underground operations , recently received a new upgrade . Epiroc says customers can now enjoy enhanced productivity by up
The diesel-electric Toro loaders and trucks will be automation compatible and
available with advanced Sandvik digital service solutions as well as remote monitoring services , to further improve productivity
to 18 % compared to the previous model . The mine truck has improved reliability thanks to the new updates and provides the highest safety standards – “ making it a true powerhouse in
A GHH LF10-NEO emerges from a mine portal
underground operations .”
“ The close collaboration with our customers has been key during this project development and outcome . The implemented changes and updates on the Minetruck MT65 S have been verified in the field at our customers ’ sites , safeguarding the improvements work as intended in real mining applications and environments . We are excited to see the new Minetruck MT65 S continuing to support our customers even more in their underground operations ,” says Daniel Sandström , Global Product Manager – Minetruck at Epiroc ’ s Underground division .
One important highlight of the new Minetruck MT65 S is the upgraded speed . This has been increased by up to 10 % going up the ramp and 18 % going downhill , thanks to the optimised drivetrain and new software feature allowing the machine to recommend and hold a certain speed depending on conditions . As a result , customers can enjoy an 18 % boost in their productivity levels .
Reliability has also been addressed in the new update . Several of the machine ’ s main components have extended life as well as a more protected component location . This provides customers with a reduced lifecycle cost and increased availability of the Minetruck MT65 S .
“ We aim to push the mining boundaries even further with the new updated Minetruck MT65 S offering customers smart and effective material haulage solutions ,” says Martin Wallman , Global Portfolio Manager – Minetruck at Epiroc ’ s Underground division .
The Minetruck MT65 S is part of the Smart series , which makes it prepared for 6th Sense functionality such as automation and remote control . The mine truck features Epiroc ’ s Rig Control System ( RCS ), offering data monitoring possibilities for the best underground operations optimisation .
The Minetruck MT65 S , Epiroc ’ s highestcapacity , 65 t mine truck for large underground operations , recently received a new upgrade that includes enhanced productivity by up to 18 % compared to the previous model
22 International Mining | JUNE 2023