LOAD & HAUL UNDERGROUND
GHH continues to raise the bar
GHH Group , soon to form part of the Komatsu family , has been raising the bar over the last years with a significant growth in their product offering to be able to strongly compete in the underground mining space in both hardrock and industrial minerals . With a large product portfolio covering the scope of low profile , narrow vein and mid seamed mass mining equipment , with loaders from 3 to 21 t and trucks from 20 to 45 t , GHH has a very comprehensive range of load and haul equipment .
One of the latest releases , baby brother to the LF-14 , the LF-10 NEO , is a powerful 10 t loader .
This loader is not only compact and versatile , with great ground clearance , but also has a high installed power of 240 kW . The LF-10 NEO cabin was designed against stringent ergonomic principles , with a large foot box and ergonomic layout of controls supporting high efficiencies in operation , as well as a full air suspension seat ensuring maximum operator comfort leading to excellent productivity , the company said . The modular machine design , including the plug-andplay operators ’ cabin , also supports a quicker and easier rebuild process as well as simple and cost effective shaft access .
The CE certified LHD is designed to operate in ambient temperatures of up to 52 ° C and is available in Tier 3 , Tier 4 final and Stage 5 . GHH states : “ With the maximum tipping height in its class , of 2.5 m , and excellent reach , the LF-10 NEO is perfect for truck loading all 30 t trucks in the market , including the new up and coming MK-30 , 30 t truck due to launch at the end of 2023 .”
The MK-30 will boast an extremely ergonomic operators ’ compartment with an additional emergency seat when needing to take an additional miner into or out of the operations and an adjustable steering wheel for enhanced operator comfort . The 30 t truck comes with Tier
Elphinstone WR810 front-mounted cab unveiled
The Elphinstone WR810 is a modular and highly configurable , 10 t nominal base platform for underground utility machines with a high level of interchangeability of parts and components between machines . The WR810 series comprises a delivery with crane , flat deck , elevated work platform ( EWP ) or scissor lift , 6m 3 agitator , 7m 3 agitator , fuel and lube truck , water tank , and water cannon with new models on the horizon .
All WR810 models can now be optioned with either a centre-mounted 3 m high cabin or a low-profile front-mounted 2.4 m high cabin , unveiled for the first time at the Underground Operators Conference .
Positioned at the entrance to the conference , the front cab was quick to draw the attention of onlookers as they made their way into the exhibition .
Both operator stations feature a three-seat configuration which is excellent for operator training or transporting work crews , eliminating the need for additional light vehicles . A central driving position with occupant seats displaced behind the operator providing 180-degree visibility and equal judgement of distance to both sides of the machine . The seats can be configured with air-ride or optional active-ride cushioning and features ergonomic and position adjustable controls . The 12 in LCD touch screen displays machine information , onboard fault register , machine health and diagnostic functions . Air temperature and quality are maintained with optional HEPA filter , climate-controlled air conditioning and cabin pressuriser .
The WR810 platform has a common engine front frame featuring the Cat C7.1 with Caterpillar ’ s breakthrough ACERT™ Technology to meet exhaust emission reduction standards . The engine can be optioned as a Tier 3 with optional Diesel Particulate Filter ( DPF ) or Tier 4 Final with standard Clean Emissions Module ( CEM ).
“ With such a high number of common configurable parts and components readily available , part stocking is reduced , simplifying machine maintenance and operation ,” says Global Sales & Marketing Manager , Tim Mitchell .
An oscillating hitch provides superior operator comfort , 4-wheel ground contact and reduced wear on the hitch and steering components . The hitch incorporates a heavy duty 600 mm ( 1 ft 11 in ) deep frame section with ± 42.5 ° steering articulation and ± 10 ° oscillation .
The Engine End Frame can also be configured with two front axle suspension options and numerous other configurable components .
Nitrogen charged hydraulic suspension cylinders provide superior front axle ride quality over rough terrain . The combination of the front axle suspension , oscillating hitch and suspended seats deliver a high level of machine comfort to the operator and passengers .
The front-mounted cab ’ s improved weight distribution and machine stability , increases manoeuvrability in smaller , more confined mine site applications .
For superior braking performance on grade , the WR810 features an electromagnetic retarder and electronic speed control ( ESC ). The innovative electronic design significantly reduces the retarder ’ s energy consumption , preserving electric circuits . The retarder is controlled via an integrated multi-function joystick controller located on the operator ’ s right-side armrest .
The WR810 is fitted with a large electromagnetic retarder which can be set to a percentage of retardation using the fingertip control on the operator ’ s right hand arm rest . The electronic speed control function permits the operator to set a speed and the machine will use the engine speed , transmission and retarder to maintain that speed .
" The operator can increase machine speed on level ground using the accelerator but as soon as they remove their foot from the accelerator pedal , the machine will return to the set speed ," Mitchell said .
All engine and machine isolation functions are conveniently located on one panel accessible from ground level on the left-hand side . Both cabins provide excellent service and maintenance accessibility , with all service points such as tanks , filters , lubrication points and compartment drains are conveniently located at ground level .
The monitoring system and alarm strategy provides a 3-tier warning and shutdown functionality alerting the operator of any abnormalities and automatically limits the machine ’ s functions . Onboard machine diagnostics provide the operator and maintenance staff valuable information which simplifies machine servicing .
In January 2022 , Elphinstone announced its intention to develop a suite of Battery Electric Vehicles ( BEV ) for underground hard-rock mining to address the increasing decarbonisation efforts and expectations of its global customer base .
Once further development is completed , the battery electric version of the powertrain will be available in a similar low-profile platform . Elphinstone says it continues to build an experienced and capable BEV development team with a vision to provide a battery electric vehicle solution at the forefront of technology .
24 International Mining | JUNE 2023