GROUND SUPPORT & ROCK REINFORCEMENT
ease of addition of the products to the mix as the MasterLifeSF100 and MasterLife300D are watersoluble bags easily added when adding the fibres . And overall it is a more cost-effective solution compared to post-excavation grouting / rehabilitation work .
GHH ' s roof & ground support offer
GHH Group offers a wide range of equipment to provide secure roof and ground support . This includes through Mine Master roof bolters , roof scalers and customised , dedicated solutions to support customer ’ s specific ground conditions and application needs . GHH also has dedicated shotcrete machines in both the articulated and rigid chassis variations as well as front basket boom machines to support the operations .
Starting with the Roof Scaler 2.0 SB , this is a turnkey , custom designed machine for a mine in Zimbabwe , with a tramming height of less than 2 m . This machine was designed with the purpose of controlling the condition of the hanging wall - carrying out roof inspection and roof scaling . The RS 2.0 SB has one boom with an inspection basket ( with FOPS certified canopy ) allowing two people to be lifted to a height of 6.2 m to visually check the condition of the hanging wall . The second boom has a powerful hydraulic breaker to remove broken fractions , preventing uncontrolled rock fall . Operation of the booms can be either done using diesel engine or electric network depending on the conditions and service supply availability . The hydraulic breaker can be controlled safely from the FOPs certified operator ’ s compartment or from outside of the machine via wireless control panel – in this scenario the operator needs to be in a safe zone guarded by laser barrier . The machine also comes with a collision avoidance system interface and overspeed control system - a proven solution for increasing safety during tramming . On top of that RS 2.0SB has four wide angle cameras and a
The Mine Master Roof Scaler 2.0 SB
‘ black box ’ to record all footage . In co-operation with long time partner J . H . Fletcher and strategic mining customer KGHM in Poland , Mine Master developed , and successively implemented , the Roof Scaler 3230- AD , in a KGHM salt mine . The machine is able to mechanically remove loose material from the hanging walls / side walls / foot wall , with a reach of up to 9 m in height and 0.5 m below ground level . The machine can work with a drum cutter as well as with a pick , to conduct scaling in a safe way . There is already a remote control option installed , whereby the machine can be operated from outside the cab .
A powerful cutter head allows for performing these tasks in rock salt , where other scaling systems , like hydraulic breakers , cannot be applied . The specific formation of the rock salt deposit does not allow for any vibrations during scaling .
Another customised solution from Mine Master is the SWOI 1.4 or SWOI 1.7 , an auxiliary machine designed to place temporary hydraulic props , which work as additional roof support . It inserts the prop between the roof and the floor and the operator adjusts its height by means of hydraulic hoses through which an emulsion ( a mixture of water and hydraulic oil ) is pumped . When the support is no longer needed , the operator reduces the pressure of the fluid by using quick release valves and withdraws the prop from the site . Mine Master has also custom designed the bolting rig Roof Master 2.4S with a special feature of having temporary roof supports . It improves safety and significantly reduces the operating costs .
For bolting in a wide range of seam heights there is the Roof Master 2.0 AR D / E , used from 2 m up to 8.5 m , designed to perform installation of mechanical as well as resin bolts with a vacuum root pump helping to maintain a dustfree environment for the operator .
One of the latest developments at Mine Master , in line with going green initiatives , is the Roof Master 1.8KE which is undergoing testing at KGHM ' s Lubin copper mine . The electric battery machine will help to reduce gas emissions , improve safety and ease maintenance . The machine is designed to work in galleries from 3 m up to 5.8 m height and is equipped with a mechanised bolting mast for nine bolts , 1.8 m in height . The battery installed on board is 120 kWh . The Mine Master driveline technology has a unique solution of charging the batteries , enabling the battery to recharge using
the existing mine power network in the 500- 1,000V voltage range . For this purpose a battery charger is built on the machine chassis . In addition , the battery will even recharge as the rig is tramming downhill through regenerative braking .
Mine Master ’ s portfolio also includes its first ever bolting rig fully certified for operation in an explosive environment . All components of the machine , including electric and hydraulic systems , diesel engine and even tyres have gone through a complex certification process in accordance with the European Union Directive ( explosion-proof ATEX ). The machine , Roof Master 1.8 AWK ATEX is designed to perform roof bolting work in headings 4.3 m to 7.6 m . The bolting mast has been equipped with a bolt handler of carousel type for eight bolts . Two types of drilling are possible with this machine through change of set-up : drilling holes of 33 mm diameter in soft rock , up to 50 MPa - rotary type with air flushing and ; drilling holes of 42 mm diameter in hard rocks , up to 160 MPa - rotarypercussive type with air-water mist flushing . An option to operate the machine from either the electric network or the diesel engine is a unique feature . A 1,000L water tank has been installed directly on the machine allowing for drilling around 120 bolts with length 1.8 m while using the air-mist system , thus no additional external source of water is required .
For ultra-low seams Mine Master is offering the Roof Master 1.4 , designed for bolting hanging walls and side walls at minimum height of 1.6 m and maximum reach up to 3 m . Maximum bolt length is 1.6 m depending on the height of the seam . For bolting in low seams there also is the Roof Master 1.7 which is designed for bolting roofs and walls at minimum height of 1.9 m and maximum reach of up to 4.5 m . The unit is designed to install both mechanical and resin bolts at the lengths of 1.6 , 1.8 and 2.6 m by a single operator . The operating controls are located next to the drilling unit , enabling accurate bolt installation . The operator stand is found directly by the roof bolting turret and it is protected by an adjustable , hydraulically operated , high-strength canopy . The RM 1.7 has been successfully implemented in oil shale mines in Estonia as well as other parts of the world .
From a concrete spraying machine perspective GHH Group has the BIS20 , an articulated concrete spraying machine designed specifically for mining applications . There are also the rigid body IS21 and IS26 machines available as well as the IS5 trailer mounted concrete spaying machine . The BIS 20 has a 34 m 3 / h concrete spraying capacity , ROPs & FOPS level 2 certified closed cabin , 4 x 4 all-wheel drive , powershift transmission and articulated steering . It has a spraying head with 350 ° rotation , ± 135 ° tilt and
International Mining | AUGUST 2022