HEAVY ENGINEERING & WEAR PARTS
Upping uptime
As the industry focuses on the sustainability of the raw materials that go into heavily engineered components and wear parts used in mining , suppliers continue to focus on the fundamental outcome mine operators have demanded from the market for decades : more uptime
When it comes to manufacturing heavy engineered parts in mobile machines , there aren ’ t too many products that can compete with undercarriages of tracked equipment in terms of durability .
Berco , a leading global manufacturer and supplier of undercarriage parts for the world ’ s leading manufacturers of tracked construction equipment , as well as a part of thyssenkrupp Business Unit Forged Technologies , recently introduced a new data-driven approach , launching a patented ‘ Smart Undercarriage ’ system to reinforce this move and keep its products working for longer .
The company says data is playing a strategic role in supporting customers and developing system solutions with a view to continuous improvement . The system in question was developed by the company together with a spinoff from the University of Rome .
“ This first-to-market Original Equipment solution allows the temperature of compact track loader ( CTL ) machine rollers to be constantly monitored using a built-in sensor , a radio frequency identification device and an antenna that transmits data to a control unit ,” the company explained .
The roller temperature can then be viewed on the machine ’ s display or on any other device such as a smartphone or tablet , enabling constant monitoring of the component .
The Smart Undercarriage can be easily implemented on every roller and installed on every type of CTL on the market , according to the company . It allows the OEM to check whether the component is operating in the optimal temperature range and to intervene in time if necessary . This results in the avoidance of field failures and the improvement of vehicle uptime , Berco says .
Berco has already allocated funding to develop an added kit for ‘ Smart Undercarriage ’ for its Aftermarket customers , which will allow for the direct and consistent receiving of collected temperature data . This retrofit option will enable the company to learn more about the operating environments of individual machines and to implement its dedicated technology proposition accordingly , the company said .
Francesco Grenzi , Berco R & D Executive Director , said there was also potential for extending this sensor-based system into parts of mining dozers in the future .
Zero-emission contributions
Buckets and truck trays are always a focus area for mining companies looking to boost uptime and production , with these items subjected to significant impacts from abrasive and hard ores , or handling material that is sticky . This is on top of the climatic impacts they are exposed to in some of the most extreme places on earth .
Bradken , a part of Hitachi Construction Machinery ( HCM ), has recently been tasked with supplying its innovative designs and digital connectivity to support a zero-emission partnership between its parent company and First Quantum Minerals .
It is to supply dump bodies and buckets fitted with ground engaging tool ( GET ) loss detection to First Quantum ’ s flagship mining operations in Zambia , as part of an arrangement agreed between HCM and FQM .
This agreement will see a proof of concept implemented as part of the letter of intent , with HCM supplying the first of its full battery , rigid frame dump trucks fitted with an ABB battery , onboard charger and associated infrastructure by the end of its 2023 financial year for technological feasibility trials at Kansanshi .
A further 40 EH4000AC-3 dump trucks equipped with the latest HCM / Bradken tray designs are on order for first delivery to First Quantum ’ s Kansanshi mine in 2023
First Quantum currently operates 41 Hitachi Construction Machinery ( diesel ) trolley trucks at Kansanshi , meaning much of the required infrastructure for the battery dump truck is already in place .
First Quantum ’ s fleet of HCM equipment includes 39 EH3500ACII and two EH3500AC-3 rigid dump trucks across its mining operations in Zambia , as well as several construction-sized machines across global operations . A further 40 EH4000AC-3 dump trucks equipped with the latest HCM / Bradken tray designs are on order for first delivery to Kansanshi in 2023 , to support its S3 Expansion project as it is scaled up . Six new EX5600-7E ( electric ) excavators equipped with Bradken Eclipse buckets and incorporating loss tooth detection technology are also to be supplied , demonstrating the company ’ s longterm commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions across its operations , Bradken says .
A new generation tooth system
In another leap forward for plate lip excavator and loader reinforcement , MTG , a specialist in the design and manufacture of high-quality wear solutions for earth-moving machinery , has developed its MTG SYSTEMS / VEEMET system for excavators and loaders of 20-250 tons ( 18-227 t ).
As the successor of the STARMET system , VEEMET has been optimised for increased performance and user-friendliness , according to MTG . It also incorporates innovative digital features that contribute to it becoming a totally new generation tooth system . This is down to , MTG says : n Larger sizes ( ≥190 ) of MTG SYSTEMS / VEEMET are compatible with MTG ’ s GET DETECTION system , which allows GET monitoring and detachment alarms in less than three seconds , providing more safety and machine availability ; and n A QR code on each VEEMET tooth provides up-to-date product information at the
As the successor of the STARMET system , VEEMET has been optimised for increased performance and user-friendliness , according to MTG
46 International Mining | JUNE 2023