MINE RESCUE & SAFETY
Elphinstone recently delivered a 210-t pulling capacity MED210 to AngloGold Ashanti’ s Sukari gold mine in Egypt
The Elphinstone MED( Mine Extraction Device) is now available in 210-t, and 360-t pulling capacities. In addition to the retrieval of buried equipment, the MEDs are capable of extracting drill rods embedded in the rock face.
Having performed hundreds of successful extractions at many underground mining operations( both coal and hard rock) across Australia and internationally, the most recent sales include an MED210( 210 t) delivered to AngloGold Ashanti’ s Sukari gold mine in Egypt and an MED360( 360 t) soon to be delivered to Newmont Australia’ s Tanami operations in the Northern Territory.
Sukari is a large-scale, modern gold operation comprising both a bulk tonnage open pit and an underground mine in Egypt’ s Eastern Desert, close to the Red Sea.
Newmont’ s Tanami mine is a fly-in-fly-out operation in one of Australia’ s most remote locations in the Tanami Desert, 270 km from its closest neighbours, the remote Aboriginal community of Yuendumu.
“ The MED eliminates the need for traditional recovery methods that involve the use of other mobile production equipment, reducing hazards associated with personnel working around mobile equipment in close quarters and allows other mining operations to continue relatively uninterrupted,” Elphinstone says.
The Mine Extraction Device does not rely on traction or timely installation of cable and pulley like other systems. After the MED is towed into position, the wheels are lowered on the floor and the boom is raised against the roof. A bridle is interlocked onto the teeth of the MED racks. The racks are then pulled via hydraulic cylinders connected to each side of the bridle. This contrasts with using production equipment that can result in damage to the machines and the mine infrastructure, all of which can add further delays to the restart of production.
The unique retrieval system has the support of numerous insurance companies with the recognition that if this system cannot retrieve a buried loader, then the loader is not retrievable, Elphinstone claims.
Features include an extendable boom, control pedestal, boom extensions, towbar, winch and optional powerpack. Cranes( MED360 only) assist with the rack positioning.
The Mine Extraction Device products, technical assistance, support and access to spare parts are available through Elphinstone’ s regional sales and support teams.
Heavy duty machine recovery
Underground mining equipment has grown heavier and bulkier over time, so the effort required to remove and rescue such equipment has increased in line with this.
Leading manufacturer, Elphinstone, based in Tasmania, Australia, is the sole manufacturer of high-capacity mine extraction devices. The Elphinstone MED210 and MED360 are designed and engineered to ensure underground mining operations get back on track safely and with minimum delay.
In the 1980s and 1990s, underground mining production machines had an average operating weight of around 30 tonnes. But the increase in commodity prices in the first decade of the 21st century led original equipment manufacturers( OEMs) to build larger, more productive mining equipment. Today, some continuous miners weigh more than 150 tonnes.
With the increase in size and weight of underground mining equipment, there was a need for extraction devices with a much higher pulling capacity to recover buried or bogged equipment.
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The Newmont Tanami operation in the Northern Territory of Australia is set to benefit from the 360-t pulling capacity of the MED360
International Mining | SEPTEMBER 2025