Technology and innovation
OEM unleashes new technologies
The Cat AD22 in action at a deep-level underground mine .
Caterpillar
Original equipment manufacturer Caterpillar recently announced several milestones as new underground mining machines are deployed , a mine development system using leading edge rock-cutting technology is tested , and development of a battery-electric underground loader progresses .
“ Over the past few months , we have delivered the first AD22 articulated underground trucks — three of them to Glencore ’ s Mopani Copper Mines in Kitwe , Zambia ,” says David Rea , global director of sales and product support for Caterpillar ’ s Underground Mining Division . At 22 tonnes capacity , the AD22 is the smallest underground truck in the Cat line .
Regional Cat dealers also recently delivered new R1700 underground loaders , the first of the next generation of Cat LHDs . Furthermore , Rea says that test work on the RH55 Rockheader continues . The RH55 is designed to deliver rapid , cost-effective mine development using Caterpillar ’ s proprietary rock-cutting technologies . “ We recently took our proof-ofconcept battery-electric load haul dump truck underground for testing . We are driving forward with new technologies ,” says Rea .
The latest model in Caterpillar ’ s surface mining line is the MD6250 drill , which is designed for both down-thehole drilling in hard rock and rotary drilling in softer rock . The blasthole drill does single-pass and multi-pass drilling , as well as angle drilling . The MD6250 is also autonomous-ready with MineStar options ranging from remote control to semi-autonomous drilling .
Heads and tails for Bakubung
The first South African mobile ropehandling system has been installed at Chinese owned Wesizwe Platinum ’ s Bakubung mine , close to Rustenburg in the North West Province in South Africa .
The Kempton Park , Gauteng-based Tech Edge ’ s Winches & Winders Division successfully designed , manufactured , and mounted the mobile rope-handling system . Tech Edge won the tender issued by Worley Parsons , which had been the contractor at Bakubung in April 2016 .
The equipment was specifically designed to install head and tail ropes onto a four-rope headgear-mounted Koepe friction winder at the mine . The project commenced in mid- 2016 and was commissioned for the rope-up in October 2017 .
The key deliverables consisted of four rope reelers , a large two-drum friction winch , a compression beam with deflection sheaves , and four messenger winches , complete with a sophisticated , integrated and electrical control system .
A mobile rope-handling system has been installed at the Bakubung platinum mine close to Rustenburg in the North West Province .
Tech Edge
MARCH 2018 MINING MIRROR [ 37 ]