JULY/AUGUST 2021 VOL. 126 NO.

NEWS/4 SCOOPS & UTILITY EQUIPMENT/14

feature articles
14 New Batch Haulage Solutions Offer Capacity,
Efficiency Gains
The newest scoops and haulers have
innovative designs and advanced battery
technology that answers the immediate and
perennial needs of underground coal customers

20 Right Place, Right Time

Choosing the correct lubricant is just the first
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step — it then must be applied when and
where needed, in the right amount and
without environmental harm. New lube
products and systems can eliminate
guesswork from the process.

28 MINExpo is Back
Mining suppliers and service providers plan

this issue
to showcase the latest in mining and mineral
processing equipment and technology

leading developments
4 Bravus Mines First Coal at Carmichael Project
4 China Risun JV Will Construct Coking Project
in Indonesia
4 Anglo Sells Stake in Colombian Coal Operation This month, Coal Age reviews the latest developments with
5 Coronado Ships US Met Coal to China scoops, which can be used to haul coal and supplies underground.
On the cover, the HMC 320DM offers a maximum payload of
5 China Will Add More Coal Capacity in H2 2021
61,000 lb and a maximum breakout load of 30,000 lb.
5 Indonesia’s Surge in COVID-19 Cases Hits Coal
(Photo: Highland Machinery Corp.)
Mining Areas

u.s. news
6 Rainbow Energy Center Purchases Coal Creek
Station Power Plant
departments
2 Editorial
6 Allegiance Will Acquire Black Warrior Minerals 4 Leading Developments
7 Strong Second Quarter for Alliance Resource 6 U.S. News
Partners 8 Worldwide News
10 Ramaco Resources Wins Lawsuit Against Chubb 12 Dateline Washington
10 CEQ Releases Report to Congress on Steps to 13 People
Advance CCUS 13 Calendar
38 Operating Ideas
worldwide news 42 Suppliers News
44 Product News
8 Coal Production Increases From South32’s
47 Classifieds
Illawarra Complex
48 Legally Speaking
8 Riots Grip South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal Province
13 Canada Issues Statement on Thermal Coal
Projects

July/August 2021 www.coalage.com 1

editor’s note

Coal Markets Build Momentum

T his month’s edition of Coal Age is packed with good
news. Readers should note in Leading Develop-
ments that Bravus Mining and Resources has started
www.coalage.com

Mining Media International, Inc.

mining coal at the Carmichael mine in Queensland, Aus- 11655 Central Parkway, Suite 306
tralia. This is the culmination of a 10-year effort by the Jacksonville, Florida 32224 U.S.A.
Phone: +1.904.721.2925
Adani Group to open a major coal mining operation that
Fax: +1.904.721.2930
will employ more Australian miners and meet a portion
of India’s energy needs for years to come. Good on you, Editorial
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief—Steve Fiscor, [email protected]
Bravus. Congratulations!
BY STEVE FISCOR In that same section, Coal Age highlights Coronado Associate Editor—Jennifer Jensen, [email protected]
Technical Writer—Jesse Morton, [email protected]
PUBLISHER & Global Resources shipping U.S. met coal to China. That’s Contributing Editor—Russ Carter, [email protected]
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
a statement unto itself. A year ago, production was sus- European Editor—Carly Leonida, [email protected]
Latin American Editor—Oscar Martinez, [email protected]
pended at the Buchanan mine, one of the deepest longwall mines in Ameri-
Graphic Designer—Tad Seabrook, [email protected]
ca. Today, the mine is ramping up production after the company completed a
longwall move and an upgrade at the prep plant. Sales
For the longest time, the met market seemed to be the only hope remain- Midwest/Eastern U.S. & Canada, Sales—Craig Scharf, [email protected]
Western U.S., Canada & Australia—Frank Strazzulla, [email protected]
ing for many U.S. coal operators. Several major U.S. coal producers reorient-
Scandinavia, UK and European Sales—Colm Barry, [email protected]
ed themselves to become mostly met coal producers, shedding thermal pro- Germany, Austria & Switzerland Sales—Gerd Strasmann, [email protected]
duction assets or minimizing their exposure to power markets. More recently, Japan Sales—Masao Ishiguro, [email protected]
however, the fundamentals for coal-fired power generation have improved. General Manager-Operations—Dan Fitts, [email protected]
Marketing Manager—Misty Valverde, [email protected]
Alliance Resource Partners President and CEO Joe Craft recently men-
tioned some of these market changes while discussing the company’s sec-
ond-quarter results (See U.S. News, p. 10.). “In the primary U.S. markets, coal-
fired generation surged in response to a 7.5% year-over-year increase in power
demand through the first half of 2021 and soaring natural gas prices,” he said.
He also mentioned that API-2 spot prices recently hit a 13-year high of $131/
metric ton. That’s the benchmark for coal imported into northwestern Europe.
The national statistics from the Energy Information Administration
(EIA) indicated the same. At the end of July, year-to-date U.S. production Coal Age, Volume 126, Issue 6, (ISSN 1040-7820) is published monthly ex-
cept January and July, by Mining Media International, Inc., 11655 Central
currently stood at nearly 332 million tons, an 11.2% increase over the same Parkway, Suite 306, Jacksonville, Florida 32224 (mining-media.com). Pe-
period last year. Domestic spot prices for U.S. thermal coals currently riodicals postage paid at Jacksonville, FL, and additional mailing offices.
Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 41450540. Canada return
stand at a respectable level as well. address: PO Box 2600, Mississauga ON L4T 0A8, Email: subscriptions@
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subscription request forms and an editorial calendar, are available online
prices jump-started coal markets and the momentum is building. For now, it at www.coalage.com.
appears spot prices for natural gas will remain north of $3.50 per million Btu SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Free and controlled circulation to qualified subscribers.
and as high as $4 per million Btu, which is nearly double the cost of coal-fired Visit www.coalage.com to subscribe. Non-qualified persons may subscribe at
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Aside from power, many nations, including the U.S., are talking about
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2 www.coalage.com May 2016
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leading developments

Bravus Mines First Coal at Carmichael Project

the construction of the coking proj-
ect in the Morowali Industrial Park
in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Risun In-
vestments will subscribe for $59.52
million, representing 24% of the reg-
istered capital of the JV. In addition,
Risun Investments may also provide
a shareholder loan up to $285 million
to De Tian Coking if De Tian Coking
is not able to obtain external financ-
ing for the project.
Under China’s Belt and Road Ini-
tiative, dozens of large-scale metal
smelting enterprises have or will have
business establishments in the Mo-
rowali Industrial Park and the com-
pany expects the demand for coke to
be enormous in the future. With this
CEO David Boshoff and the Bravus team present first coal. transaction, China Risun said it can
further reinforce its leadership posi-
Bravus Mining and Resources, for- “The coal will be sold at index tion as an independent producer and
merly Adani Mining, struck coal at its pricing and we will not be engaging supplier of coke.
Carmichael Project in Queensland, in transfer pricing practices, which
Australia, after two years of construc- means that all of our taxes and royal- Anglo Sells Stake in Colombian
tion, numerous hurdles and push- ties will be paid here in Australia,” he Coal Operation
back from non-supporters. said. “India gets the energy they need Anglo American sold its 33.3% inter-
CEO David Boshoff said it was an and Australia gets the jobs and eco- est in the El Cerrejón joint venture to
exciting day for the more than 2,600 nomic benefits in the process.” Glencore for $294 million, representing
people involved in the Carmichael Carmichael coal will contribute to the final stage of Anglo American’s pre-
Project — a day that has been in the parent company, Adani Group’s ener- viously announced exit from thermal
making for more than a decade. gy portfolio that is designed to create coal mining operations. Glencore and
“Throughout the last two years a sustainable energy mix, incorporat- BHP currently each also hold a 33.3%
of construction and during the many ing thermal power, solar power, wind interest in El Cerrejón, a large open-
years when we fought to secure our power and gas, the company said. pit coal mine in northern Colombia..
approvals, our people have put their Glencore said it intends to acquire both
hearts and souls into this project,” China Risun JV Will Construct Anglo American’s and BHP’s interests
he said. “It is wonderful that we have Coking Project in Indonesia and will thereby assume full ownership
now struck coal.” China Risun Group Ltd. recently es- of El Cerrejón upon completion.
Almost two years ago, the company tablished a joint venture (JV) to invest “Today’s agreement marks the
received final approvals to develop the $830 million and construct a coking last stage of our transition from ther-
Carmichael mine and rail project and project with an annual capacity of mal coal operations, Anglo American
now it has reached the first coal seams. 4.7 million metric tons (mt) in Indo- CEO Mark Cutifani said. “During that
Boshoff said Bravus was on track nesia. The group said it is expanding transition, we have sought to balance
to export first coal in 2021. India its business overseas for the first time. the expectations of our wide range of
will be a primary customer for the Risun Investments, a subsidiary different stakeholders as we have di-
Carmichael mine. of China Risun, entered into the JV vested our portfolio of thermal coal
Bravus has already secured the agreement with Tianjin Xintiangang operations, in each case choosing the
market for the 10 million metric tons and Stephanie Development, where exit option most appropriate for the
per year (mtpy) of coal produced at the three parties will jointly establish asset and its distinct local and broad-
the Carmichael mine. De Tian Coking, which will invest in er circumstances.”

4 www.coalage.com July/August 2021

 leading developments continued

The transaction, which is subject East Kalimantan on Borneo island “Bumi has tried to maintain close
to regulatory approvals, is expected to reported 979 coronavirus infections to normalcy in production over the
close in the first half of 2022. in the beginning of July, the highest last year,” Director Dileep Srivastava
number outside the densely populat- said. “In 2021, our volume guidance is
China Will Add More Coal Capacity ed island of Java. unchanged at 85 million metric tons
in H2 2021 “The spread of COVID-19 in East (mt) to 89 million mt.”
China plans to add nearly 110 mil- Kalimatan has reached all areas and Srivastava said Bumi continued
lion metric tons per year (mtpy) of not just the urban areas,” Andi Mu- to implement strict health protocols
advanced coal production capacity hammad Ishak, a spokesperson at the for its employees, including regular
in the second half of 2021 to meet in- East Kalimantan COVID-19 task force screening and immediate contact
creasing demand for the fossil fuel, told Reuters, adding infections had tracing to contain any risk of the virus
the state planner, the National De- been reported in the mining sector. spreading to other employees in the
velopment of Reform Commission “There are quite a lot (of miners event of an outbreak.
(NDRC), said. infected), but it has not reached a He also said most Bumi employ-
“Currently, more than 40 million point where they have to stop oper- ees were vaccinated.
mt of coal mining capacity are un- ations,” he said, without specifying Bayan Director Jenny Quantero
der government reviews for approval, where the infections occurred. said the company was operating in
while some 70 million mt are under Mine operations at companies “full force” and had started vaccina-
construction and will gradually be such as PT Bumi Resources, the coun- tions for all employees working at the
launched,” the NDRC said. try’s biggest coal miner, and PT Bayan mine sites.
The world’s biggest coal consum- Resources, which both have opera- Bayan is keeping its 2021 produc-
er had added more than 140 million tions in East Kalimantan, were run- tion guidance of 32 million mt to 34
mtpy of coal mining capacity in the ning normally, company officials said. million mt.
first half of this year, it said.
Recently, Beijing said it would re-
lease more than 10 million mt of coal Coronado Ships US Met Coal to China
from its reserves to cool the market.
Total power consumption in the Metallurgical coal supplier Coronado con- (mt) on June 30. The benefits of these price
tinues to benefit from the Chinese import re- increases will be realized by Coronado in
first six months rose 16% from a year
strictions placed on Australian coal, thanks the third and fourth quarters due to an ap-
earlier.
to their geographic diversification, accord- proximate three-month pricing lag between
However, coal output in June fell
ing to CEO Gerry Spindler. U.S. operations contracting and delivery. The company said
5% on the year under tightened mine
continue to successfully move met coal into it expects to see strong cash generation for
safety inspections across China after
China at record levels as evidenced by the the business at current pricing levels in the
frequent mining accidents.
company’s record U.S. East Coast shipment second half.
The NDRC said it had been elim- of 136,400 metric tons in a single cargo of At Buchanan, Coronado completed a
inating small and outdated coal ca- Logan HVA coal on June 28. longwall move and maintenance upgrade
pacity. Currently, China has around In its second-quarter earnings report, activities at the preparation plant to in-
4,700 coal mines, down from more Spindler explained that metallurgical coal crease coal throughput rates. At Logan, the
than 10,000 in 2015. pricing has substantially increased in the preparation plant set a new daily process-
The average production capaci- back half of the quarter with the PLV HCC ing record of 30,185 raw tons, according to
ty at coal mines is above 1.1 million FOB AUS index reaching $194/metric ton the company.
mtpy, it said.

Indonesia’s Surge in COVID-19

Cases Hits Coal Mining Areas
Indonesia’s biggest coal-producing
province of East Kalimantan record-
ed a spike in coronavirus cases, with
miners among those infected, but so
far there has been no disruption to
coal operations, a local official said.
The Southeast Asian country is the Coronado loaded 136,400 metric tons of high-vol A met coal on the Frontier Unity (above),
world’s biggest thermal coal exporter. which departs from Newport News Pier IX, bound for China. (Photo: Coronado)

July/August 2021 www.coalage.com 5

u.s. news

Rainbow Energy Center Purchases Coal Creek

Station Power Plant
North Dakota’s largest power plant by 2030,” Rainbow Energy Marketing If Rainbow Energy terminates the
will continue operations under local President Stacy L. Tschider said. CSA and closes Coal Creek Station be-
ownership. Rainbow Energy Cen- “Purchasing energy and capacity fore 2027, Falkirk will be entitled to an
ter LLC has reached an agreement from Rainbow was not in our origi- additional payment from GRE, which
to purchase Coal Creek Station from nal plan, but it will serve as a reliable ranges from $8 million if the closure
Great River Energy (GRE) and oper- steppingstone in our power supply occurs before 2024 to $2 million if the
ate the 1,151-megawatt (MW) power transition,” Great River Energy Presi- closure occurs in 2026.
plant using current plant employees. dent and CEO David Saggau said. Falkirk delivered a total of 7.2 mil-
During 2020, GRE announced its NACCO Industries Inc.’s wholly lion tons of lignite coal during 2020.
intent to retire the Coal Creek Sta- owned subsidiary, The Falkirk Min- Coal deliveries in the remainder of
tion power plant in the second half ing Co., entered into a new coal sales 2021 and in 2022 are anticipated to be
of 2022, but was willing to consider agreement with Rainbow Energy around 7 million tons.
opportunities to sell the plant. On Center, effective with Rainbow Ener-
June 30, GRE entered into an agree- gy’s acquisition. Falkirk operates the Allegiance Will Acquire Black
ment to sell Coal Creek Station and Falkirk mine, which is adjacent to and Warrior Minerals
the adjacent high-voltage direct cur- the sole supplier of lignite coal to the Allegiance, through its subsidiary Al-
rent transmission (HVDC) line to Bis- Coal Creek Station power plant. legiance Coal USA Ltd., has uncon-
marck, North Dakota-based Rainbow Upon completion of the sale, the ditionally agreed to acquire Black
Energy Center and Nexus Line LLC. existing Coal Sales Agreement (CSA), Warrior Minerals Inc., a privately held
The purchase of Coal Creek Sta- the existing Mortgage and Security company that owns and operates the
tion and the HVDC system is expect- Agreement and the existing Option Black Warrior No. 1 mine, located 40
ed to close later this year, after re- Agreement between GRE and Falkirk miles northeast of Birmingham, Ala-
quired approvals are obtained. will be terminated. Falkirk and GRE bama. Allegiance will pay $4 million
Rainbow Energy Center said it will enter into a termination and re- in cash and provide $5.3 million to re-
plans to focus on baseload energy from lease of claims agreement, under place a reclamation bond. The trans-
Coal Creek Station with carbon capture which GRE will pay Falkirk $14 mil- action is expected to be completed
and incremental generation from re- lion in cash, as well as transfer own- during August.
newables to fully utilize the capacity of ership of an office building located in The Black Warrior mine produc-
the HVDC transmission system. Bismarck, and convey membership es more than 200,000 tons per year
“Carbon capture and storage is units in Midwest AgEnergy to another of high CSR coking coal from the
vital to continued operation of Coal wholly owned and consolidated sub- Blue Creek and Mary Lee seams. The
Creek Station and will be an important sidiary of NACCO. NACCO currently mine’s reserves are estimated at 9.6
step toward Gov. Doug Burgum’s goal owns a modest investment in Mid- million tons. Operating five 10-hour
for the state to reach carbon neutrality west AgEnergy, which operates two shifts per week, the open-pit mine
ethanol facilities in North Dakota. currently sells its run-of-mine coal to
Falkirk will be paid a manage- the Alabama power market.
ment fee and Rainbow Energy will be Allegiance said it will continue to
responsible for funding all mine op- supply the power market in the near
erating costs and directly or indirectly term during which time it will convert
providing all of the capital required to the Black Warrior mine into a met coal
operate the mine. Falkirk will perform producer. The company plans to up-
final mine reclamation, which will grade the equipment spread and use
be funded in its entirety by Rainbow highwall mining to recover more coal
Energy. The initial production period at a lower cost. The company said it
is expected to run 10 years from the also plans to double output and build
effective date of the CSA, but the CSA a new prep plant and coal handling fa-
North Dakota’s largest power plant, Coal
Creek Station (above), will continue may be extended or terminated early cility. The objective is to provide an on-
operations under local ownership. under certain circumstances. spec high vol A coking coal for export.

6 www.coalage.com July/August 2021

 u.s. news continued

To fund the acquisition and as- ARLP’s coal sales volumes in- was adversely impacted by the pan-
sist in transforming the Black Warrior creased in all regions compared to both demic, according to the company.
mine into a met coal producer for the the 2020 and sequential quarters. Im- Compared to the sequential quar-
seaborne market, Allegiance has raised proved coal demand and increased ex- ter, Illinois Basin coal sales volumes
A$30 million ($22 million) through a port shipments during the 2021 quar- increased 14% in the 2021 quarter
placement with investors. The compa- ter drove coal sales volumes higher by primarily as a result of increased sales
ny said demand for the placement was 61.9% and 31.9% in the Illinois Basin volumes from the Warrior and River
2.5 times what was sought. and Appalachian regions, respectively,
compared to the 2020 quarter, which U.S. News Continued on Page 10
Strong Second Quarter for
Alliance Resource Partners monthly stats from coal country — usa
Alliance Resource Partners (ARLP)
reported increased financial and op- top 10 coal-producing states and regions
erating results for the quarter that (Thousands of Short Tons) Week Ending (7/24/21)
ended June 30 compared to the quar-
ter that ended March 31. For coal YTD ‘21 YTD ‘20 % Change
operations, increased sales tons led Wyoming 131,198 119,873 9.4
coal sales revenues and segment ad-
justed EBITDA higher by 13.4% and West Virginia 44,154 37,369 18.2
25.7%, respectively, compared to the Pennsylvania 23,505 19,794 18.7
sequential quarter.
Illinois 22,757 18,067 26.0
Financial and operating results for
the 2021 quarter and the six months North Dakota 18,167 14,988 21.2
ended June 30, were significantly im-
Montana 15,167 14,879 1.9
proved compared to the same periods
last year, which were impacted by the Kentucky 14,389 13,115 9.7
COVID-19 pandemic.
Indiana 11,248 11,626 -3.3
Coal sales volumes for the 2021
period increased 18% compared to Texas 10,845 10,966 -1.1
the 2020 period, driving total revenues
higher by 12.4%. Ongoing cost control Utah 8,711 7,462 16.7
and efficiency initiatives at mining op-
erations, offset in part by expense in- Appalachian Total 89,133 77,575 14.9
creases resulting from higher coal sales
Interior Total 56,796 51,309 10.7
volumes, contributed to lower operat-
ing expenses of $409.6 million for the Western Total 185,916 169,315 9.8
2021 period, compared to $421.5 mil-
lion for the 2020 period. U.S. Total 331,845 298,198 11.3
“ARLP’s performance during the
2021 quarter was exceptional as we
posted increases to key financial and weekly spot prices
operating metrics,” Chairman, Presi- Week Ending
dent and CEO Joseph W. Craft III said. ($/ton) (7/23/21) (7/2/21)
“Coal sales volumes increased 1 mil-
Central Appalachia (12,500 Btu, 1.2 SO2) $61.95 $60.10
lion tons as weather-impacted ship-
ment delays in the sequential quarter Northern Appalachia (13,000 Btu, < 3.0 SO2) $55.05 $53.40
were shipped during the 2021 quarter
Illinois Basin (11,800 Btu, 5.0 SO2) $35.10 $35.10
and we significantly strengthened our
contract book by securing new com- Powder River Basin (8,800 Btu, 0.8 SO2) $11.95 $11.70
mitments to deliver approximately 5
Uinta Basin (11,700 Btu, 0.8 SO2) $29.60 $29.70
million tons over the balance of this
year and an additional 3.7 million tons Source: Energy Information Administration
for delivery in 2022 through 2024.”

July/August 2021 www.coalage.com 7

worldwide news

Coal Production Increases From South32’s

Illawarra Complex
the most populous province, and the
largest city Johannesburg. However
so far, few incidents outside these two
provinces have been reported.
The brunt of the rioting fell on
Durban, a major export hub, which
serves not only South Africa but
countries to the north of its borders.
Thus far, the transhipment route
from the north appears unaffected
according to commodity intelligence
service Argus Media.
“There is little impact on trans-
portation for the time being,” Ar-
gus quoted an unnamed producer
as saying. However, this could still
change, especially as rioters have also
IMC’s saleable production increases nearly 10% to 7.6 million mt during FY2021. attacked trucks and blocked major
roads such as the N3, the highway
South32 reported a 9% year-on-year mine. Three more longwall moves are linking Johannesburg and Durban.
coal production increase at its Illawar- scheduled for fiscal year 2022. More than 20 trucks were set alight by
ra Metallurgical Coal (IMC) complex In related news, the company re- mobs along the N3 and many logistics
in New South Wales with the return to ported a pre-tax impairment charge companies have suspended services.
a three-longwall configuration, which of $728 million, reflecting the in- “It will depend on how long the
will deliver greater production effi- creased approval uncertainty created turbulence will persist and whether
ciencies. IMC’s saleable production by the New South Wales Independent they will spread to the transportation
increased 639,000 metric tons (mt) to Planning Commission’s decision to corridor,” the producer said. “Things
7.6 million mt during fiscal year 2021. refuse the application for the Dend- will become clearer in the coming
The company reported the three long- robium Next Domain life extension one or two weeks.”
walls were more efficient than the dual project (DND Project) and the result- Some mines have already fol-
longwalls at the Appin mine and they ing impact on the economics of the lowed suit, fearing their trucks and
sold more low-margin washed coal. broader IMC complex. drivers will come under attack. MC
While this product attracts con- Mining that operates the Uitkomst
siderable grade and product-type dis- Riots Grip South Africa’s colliery in the north of the province,
counts to the API5 (5,500 Kcal) index KwaZulu-Natal Province had suspended operations.
for energy coal sales, the incremental by gavin du venage “Unfortunately, protests, road
volume benefits operating costs by CAPE TOWN, South Africa––A wave blockages and attacks targeting trans-
eliminating coal waste emplacement. of riots has so far had limited impact port vehicles have been reported
The company also said its FY2021 op- on South Africa’s mining industry, but across KwaZulu-Natal, including the
erating unit costs are expected to be this could change should stability not towns and communities where the
moderately higher than the its guid- be returned soon. majority of the Uitkomst mine em-
ance $83/mt as a result of lower than The unrest began with protests ployees and contractors reside,” the
planned total coal volumes. against former president Jacob Zu- company said in a statement.
Metallurgical coal production ma’s jailing in the country’s KwaZu- On July 14, the Richards Bay Coal
decreased 15% during the June 2021 lu-Natal province. The protests quick- Terminal that exports some 90 million
quarter as the company encountered ly became riots with mass looting of metric tons per year, had suspended
challenging geology and completed a stores, warehouses and distribution
planned longwall move at the Appin centers. These spread to Gauteng, Worldwide News Continued on Page 13

8 www.coalage.com July/August 2021

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u.s. news continued

U.S. News Continued from Page 7

View mines reflecting in part weath- generation, stockpiles in our markets In related news, Ramaco closed
er-related shipment delays during have been significantly drawn down on its previously announced public
the sequential quarter and increased and, with an elevated forward price offering of senior unsecured notes
export volumes in the 2021 quarter. curve for natural gas, coal demand is due 2026. Due to strong demand, the
In Appalachia, coal sales volumes expected to be stable through 2022,” size of the offering has been increased
increased 17.1% compared to the he added. from the previously announced $25
sequential quarter due to increased International coal markets are million aggregate principal amount
sales volumes at the Tunnel Ridge also positive. Driven by increased to $30 million aggregate principal
mine primarily as a result of increased power demand as economies reopen amount of notes. On July 12, the un-
demand in the 2021 quarter and an around the world, elevated natural derwriters exercised their option to
unplanned customer plant outage in gas prices and a lack of global supply purchase an additional $4.5 million
the sequential quarter. response, coal demand and prices aggregate principal amount of notes.
Coal sales price per ton sold in have spiked, the company said. The notes will mature on July 30,
the 2021 quarter decreased in both API-2 spot prices recently hit a 2026, unless redeemed prior to ma-
regions compared to the 2020 quar- 13-year high of $131 per metric ton, turity. The notes will bear interest at a
ter reflecting the expiration of high- creating attractive market options for rate of 9% per year, payable in arrears
er-priced sales contracts. In Appala- U.S. producers, Craft said. on the 30th of January, April, July and
chia, lower coal sales prices during “As a result, we are increasing the October of each year, commencing on
the 2021 quarter also reflect reduced midpoint of our targeted total coal sales July 30, and at maturity. The company
export shipments of metallurgical coal volumes for 2021 by approximately 6% may redeem the notes in whole or in
from the Mettiki mine compared to to 32.9 million tons,” he added. part, at the company’s option, at any
both the 2020 and sequential quarters. time on or after July 30, 2023, at a re-
Total coal inventory fell to 1.4 mil- Ramaco Resources Wins Lawsuit demption price equal to 100% of the
lion tons at the end of the 2021 quar- Against Chubb principal amount, plus accrued and
ter, a decrease of 300,000 tons com- During mid-July, Ramaco Resources unpaid interest to, but not including,
pared to the end of the 2020 quarter. Inc. was awarded a $32.7 million jury the date of redemption.
This reduction resulted from higher verdict in its lawsuit against insur- Ramaco said it intends to use the
coal sales volumes, offset in part by a ance companies indirectly owned by net proceeds from the offering to
73.1% increase in production volumes Chubb INA Holdings Inc. (Chubb). fund future acquisitions and invest-
in the 2021 quarter, reflecting the tem- The claim was litigated in the U.S. Dis- ments, making capital expenditures
porary idling of production at certain trict Court for the Southern District and funding working capital.
mines during the 2020 quarter in re- of West Virginia and stemmed from
sponse to weak market conditions re- Chubb’s denial of insurance coverage CEQ Releases Report to Congress
sulting from the pandemic. Compared of damages incurred by the compa- on Steps to Advance CCUS
to the end of the sequential quarter, ny from the collapse of a coal storage The White House Council on Envi-
inventory decreased by 400,000 tons silo. The collapse happened at Rama- ronmental Quality (CEQ) delivered
due to increased sales and reduced co Resources’ Elk Creek coal complex a Carbon Capture, Utilization and
production in the 2021 quarter. in West Virginia on November 5, 2018. Sequestration (CCUS) report to Con-
“Commodity prices for each of After coverage was denied, the com- gress, mandated by the Utilizing Sig-
our business segments have sky- pany filed suit against Chubb in August nificant Emissions with Innovative
rocketed to levels not experienced in 2019, which was ultimately heard be- Technologies (USE IT) Act passed in
several years,” Craft said. “Looking fore the Federal court in the Southern December 2020. Consistent with the
ahead, coal market fundamentals are District of West Virginia. On July 15, the direction of the USE IT Act, the re-
extremely strong both domestically jury returned a verdict in favor of the port provided an inventory of existing
and internationally. company for $7,653,057 in compensa- permitting requirements for CCUS
In the primary U.S. markets, tory damages and on July 16 made an deployment and identified best prac-
coal-fired generation surged in re- additional award of $25 million for in- tices for advancing the efficient, or-
sponse to a 7.5% year-over-year in- convenience and aggravation. derly, and responsible development
crease in power demand through the The company said it will also seek of CCUS projects at increased scale.
first half of 2021 and soaring natural to recover its attorney’s fees and costs. “To avoid the worst impacts of
gas prices, according to Craft. “As This verdict is also not final and may be climate change and reach President
utilities have leaned heavily on coal subject to post-trial motions or appeal. Biden’s goal of net-zero emissions by

10 www.coalage.com July/August 2021

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u.s. news continued

2050, we need to safely develop and

deploy technologies that keep car-

dat e l i n e wa s h i n g to n bon pollution from entering the air

and remove pollution from the air,”
CEQ Chair Brenda Mallory said. “The

Global Coal Boom report we are releasing today out-

lines a framework for how the U.S.
by conor bernstein can accelerate carbon capture tech-
nologies and projects in a way that
The global energy tran- With inflation pushing up the cost of benefits all communities.”
sition is feeling far more necessities of all kinds, the affordability As part of the American Jobs Plan,
like global energy addi- provided by coal is helping check power President Joe Biden has committed
tion. Fossil fuels are hav- prices on those grids that are lucky enough to increasing support for CCUS re-
ing quite the moment. to still have significant coal capacity. search, development, demonstra-
The President Joe Biden Coal-enabled fuel diversity is a critical tion, and deployment; enhancing
administration has lob- hedge to U.S. natural gas prices that are in-
the Section 45Q tax incentive for
bied OPEC to pump more oil and provide creasingly shaped by strong demand from
CCUS to make it direct pay and easi-
relief at the gas pump. Global natural gas the global market. LNG prices in Asia are
er to use for hard-to-decarbonize in-
prices are soaring, and coal prices and coal now nearly four times the cost of benchmark
dustrial applications, direct air cap-
demand have jumped to record levels. natural gas prices in the U.S. It’s no surprise
ture, and retrofits of existing power
Energy and climate rhetoric seem to then that U.S. LNG exports keep notching re-
be increasingly detached from the ground cords as new export capacity comes online. plants; advancing a technology-in-
truth of consumer demand. As reporting Coal’s fuel security, reliability and clusive energy efficiency and clean
from Bloomberg recently surmised, “the global ubiquity, coupled with U.S. natural electricity standard; ensuring a ro-
[global] coal industry is booming. Prices gas’ increasing interconnection with glob- bust and effective regulatory regime;
are at a 13-year high as recovery from the al markets, raises some important ques- and supporting efforts to ensure that
pandemic revives power use around the tions — questions about whether the U.S. CCUS technologies are informed by
world. China, which burns half the world’s is doing enough to advance low-emission community perspectives and deliver
coal, has been forced to try and cool the coal technologies but also about the wis- desired climate, public health, and
market. In the U.S., where coal has been on dom of building new natural gas generat- economic goals.
the retreat over the last decade, consump- ing capacity as a bridge to the future. In the report, CEQ also identified
tion is expected to rebound 16% this year. The Tennessee Valley Authority, for a number of areas where it may work
Even in Europe, coal use is inching up as example, is proposing to close well oper- with federal agencies to continue to
demand stretches electricity grids.” ating coal capacity and build six new gas facilitate responsible deployment
This boom has legs. The Interna- turbines to replace it. Considering U.S. of CCUS, including coordination of
tional Energy Agency has gone so far as emissions reduction goals, including the permitting processes among agen-
to predict global coal demand could reach Biden administration’s call for an emis- cies; increasing data collection on
an all-time high in 2022. And while Asia sions-free power sector as soon 2035, as the non-CO2 air pollution impacts of
is certainly the heart of consumption and well as rising natural gas prices, building CCUS projects and providing more
new plant and mine development, there’s new natural gas plants or expanding natu- clarity regarding the impacts of CCUS
no question coal is having a resurgent ral gas infrastructure doesn’t make sense.
projects in areas of non-attainment;
summer in the U.S. as well. Struggling The importance of dispatchable fuel
convening agencies to clarify juris-
grids across the country are once again diversity points to maintaining the existing
diction for establishing rates and ac-
calling on coal to come to the rescue. In coal fleet — not greater reliance on natu-
cess for common carrier pipelines;
June, coal generation on the PJM grid hit ral gas — as the bridge we need to get to
identifying opportunities for federal
a three-year high. Coal demand on the the low-emission future we all want.
Midcontinent Independent System Oper- Despite rhetoric suggesting other- procurement of products that utilize
ator grid rose 37% in June and 42% in wise, the world is affirmatively not running or remove CO2; and examination of
Southwest Power Pool territory. away from coal, nor should we. The exist- offshore issues, the process for using
This summer’s rising coal generation ing U.S. coal fleet provides the fuel securi- underground pore space, and permit-
in the U.S. underscores the global reality: ty and balance the grid needs. ting on federal lands.
the security, reliability and affordability The full CCUS report can be found
of coal won’t be easily replaced, even in Conor Bernstein is a spokesperson for the at: www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/
nations and on electricity grids that have National Mining Association, the industry’s uploads/2021/06/CEQ-CCUS-Permit-
actively worked to push coal aside. trade group based in Washington, D.C. ting-Report.pdf.

12 www.coalage.com July/August 2021

 worldwide news continued

Worldwide News Continued from Page 8

operations. Port operator Transnet mental effects. In addition, the federal The government said the Policy
said roads into the facility had been government considers such projects as Statement will inform federal deci-
blocked, preventing staff from safely being inconsistent with Canada’s emis- sion making on thermal coal min-
arriving and leaving. sion reduction commitments under ing projects. In order for a project
In response to the unrest, the the Paris agreement. Canada recently to move forward under the Impact
government has ordered the military announced a more ambitious national Assessment Act (IAA), the mini-
to assist the police in quelling the vi- emissions reduction target under the ster of environment and climate
olence, but has stopped short of de- Paris agreement of 40%-45% reduction change (or governor in council) must
claring martial law. below 2005 levels by 2030. determine that the effects within
The policy statement builds on federal jurisdiction likely to be
Canada Issues Statement on earlier efforts to address emissions caused by a project are in the public
Thermal Coal Projects from thermal coal, which the govern- interest. This decision is informed
Canada’s federal government issued ment said contributes approximately by, among other things, whether the
a policy statement on new thermal 30% of global carbon emissions. project contributes to sustainabil-
coal mines and expansion projects. Together with the United King- ity, and whether it hinders or con-
In short, the federal government’s po- dom, Canada is a co-founder of the tributes to Canada’s ability to meet
sition is that new thermal coal min- Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA). its commitments in respect of cli-
ing projects, or expansions of existing In 2018, the federal government in- mate change.
thermal coal mines in Canada, are troduced regulations to phase out In parallel to the release of the
likely to cause unacceptable environ- conventional coal-fired electricity policy statement, Environment Min-
across Canada by 2030. The feder- ister Jonathan Wilkinson informed
calendar of events al government estimates that the Coalspur Mines Ltd. that the policy
September 13-15, 2021: MINExpo phase-out of coal-fired electricity will apply to the consideration of its
INTERNATIONAL, Las Vegas, Nevada. will eliminate 12.8 million metric proposed thermal coal mine expan-
Contact: Web: www.minexpo.com. tons of carbon emissions from the sion at the Vista Coal mine near Hin-
October 18-21, 2021: Electric Power, atmosphere in 2030. ton, Alberta.
San Antonio, Texas. Contact: Web:
www.www.experience-power-com.
people in the news
October 26-29, 2021: China Coal &
Mining Expo, Beijing, China. Contact: Corsa Coal Corp. announced that Peter V. Merritts, as part of succession planning pro-
Web: www.chinaminingcoal.com. cess, has elected to step down as CEO and as a member of the board of directors and be
appointed COO. The company appointed Robert “Bob” J. Schneid as president and CEO
November 16-17, 2021: MetCoke World
Summit 2021, Pittsburgh, Pennsylva- and a director. Schneid has more than 34 years of experience working in the coal and
nia. Contact: Web: www.smithers.com. electric utility industries in various roles for companies such as Prospect Mining & Devel-
opment Co., Walter Energy, Patriot Coal, Oxbow Carbon, CONSOL Energy and Costain Coal.
November 30-December 2, 2021: Coal
Association of Canada Conference,
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The West Virginia Coal Hall of Fame, a joint initiative between the West Virginia Coal Min-
Contact: Web: www.coal2021.org. ing Institute and the West Virginia Coal Association (WVCA) and housed at the WVU Statler
College of Engineering and Mineral Resources in Morgantown, inducted its newest class of
January 30-February 2, 2022: Interna-
tional Society of Explosives Engineers honorees at a ceremony June 22 at the Marriott at Waterfront Place in Morgantown.
(ISEE), Las Vegas, Nevada. Contact: This year’s honorees include West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice; Steve Leer, former CEO
Web: www.isee.org. and chairman of Arch Coal; Michael Quillen, former CEO and chairman of Alpha Natural
Resources; Chris Cline, founder of Foresight Energy (posthumously); Ralph Ballard, found-
February 27-March 2, 2022: Society for
Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration er of the Investment Management Group LLC; and, Chris Hamilton, president of the WVCA.
(SME), Salt Lake City, Utah. Contact: “These [six] individuals have tirelessly served the state of West Virginia and their
Web: www.smenet.org. contributions to the modern coal mining industry have been recognized, not only on a
national, but also an international level,” said Vlad Kecojevic, president of the West
April 25-27, 2022: CoalProTec, Lex-
ington, Kentucky. Contact: Web: Virginia Coal Mining Institute. “Their hard work and dedication for the continuous im-
www.coalprepsociety.org. provement of the coal mining industry has been exemplary and their induction to the
West Virginia Coal Hall of Fame is more than deserving.”
September 14-16, 2022: Bluefield Coal
Show, Bluefield, West Virginia. Con- This is the 24th class of inductees for the West Virginia Coal Hall of Fame, which
tact: Web: www.coctwovirginias.com/ began in 1998. Gov. Justice was the third father-son combination to be honored. His
2019-bluefield-coal-show. father, James C. Justice Sr., was inducted in the inaugural class of 1998.

July/August 2021 www.coalage.com 13

scoops & utility equipment

New Batch Haulage Solutions Offer Capacity,

Efficiency Gains
The newest scoops and haulers have innovative designs and advanced battery technology
that answers the immediate and perennial needs of underground coal customers
by jesse morton, technical writer

The battery-powered scoop was

designed to deliver raw power. It
is “for customers and mines with
big needs in an electric scoop,”
McClanahan said.
“The HMC 320DM is a beast of a
machine,” he said. “This machine is
built and designed to handle extreme-
ly demanding tasks underground and
has the size and power to back it up.”
It was engineered to perform at
the top of its size class. “The 320DM
was designed to support large oper-
ations and to tackle jobs that other
scoops just do not have the size and
power to handle,” McClanahan said.
The beastly HMC 320DM offers a maximum payload of 61,000 lb, and a maximum breakout “It was engineered by Highland Ma-
load of 30,000 lb. (Photo: Highland Machinery Corp.) chinery to be of the highest quality
and to ensure that it could stand the
The latest innovations in batch haul- of the day, perpetually need solutions test of time in conquering these gru-
age solutions for underground coal that help improve production, safety eling tasks.”
reveal something about the press- and sustainability. The 70,000-lb scoop, with batter-
ing needs of today’s mines. Those ies and on 38-in. tires, is 34 ft long,
mines need to move more coal per Beast of a Machine 9.5 ft wide, and about 49 in. high at
trip, quicker, across greater distances, Highland Machinery Corp. (HMC) the battery, with a maximum canopy
along increasingly circuitous routes. reported tracking stats show the first height of 59 in. It offers 1-ft clearance.
The latest innovations also say HMC 320DM scoop deployed sur- “When equipped with 44-in. tires,
much about the state of battery tech- passed customer expectations for the machine offers 14 in. of ground
nology. Many of the challenges that availability and productivity. “The clearance and can accommodate
lingered from the prior decades of topmost benefit is reliability of the these tires without the need for axle
use of battery-powered solutions un- machine,” said company owner Bill spacers,” McClanahan said.
derground seem to have been bested. McClanahan. It offers a maximum payload of
As a result, battery-powered scoops “Since being placed into service in 61,000 lb, and a maximum break-
and haulers are increasingly viable late 2018, the first machine has seen out load of 30,000 lb. An 87-ft3-
options for more mines, in the U.S. incredible reliability with an extreme- (level-load)-capacity bucket comes
and abroad. ly minimal amount of downtime and standard.
And, finally, the latest innovations with no major component failures to Standard features also include a
say much about the level of compe- date,” he said. “Operators have told us heavy-duty frame and ball-bearing
tition among suppliers in the space. numerous times that the amount of center selection, heavy-duty ground-
Indeed, there is no rest for the R&D power and capabilities of the machine based battery system, John Deer
teams at these suppliers. are unmatched and they are continu- planetary four-wheel-drive axles, and
All of which benefits the custom- ally impressed by what this machine an easy-access control panel for the
ers, who, on top of the pressing needs is capable of when put to the test.” variable frequency drive.

14 www.coalage.com July/August 2021

 scoops & utility equipment continued

“The machine offers a 25-in. tasks in underground mining,” Mc- The scoop does exactly that and
mainframe thickness, and, as with Clanahan said. furthers HMC’s mission “of providing
all OEM Highland Machinery frames, “We identified areas of other the highest quality of OEM under-
comes standard with a two-year war- large machines that left something ground mining equipment available
ranty on the mainframe,” McClanah- to be desired by owners and opera- on the market,” McClanahan said.
an said. “The standard electrical sys- tors,” he said. “We began to decide “Highland prides itself on being
tem for the 320DM is a 240-volt (AC) what we could do differently in or- an industry leader and continually
system, with two 75-hp tram motors der to make the 320DM a true in- developing new solutions that meet
and a 47-hp pump motor.” dustry-leading design.” the ever-changing needs of today’s
Optional is a hydraulic winch, a The engineering team “delivered mining operations,” he said. “We
camera system and a proximity system. beyond the expectations we had have no interest in slowing down.”
The topmost benefits offered come originally set forth in the project,” HMC will be at MINExpo in the
from the sheer power of the machine. he said. It borrowed and integrated South Hall in booth No. 25553 where it
“The 240-volt dual-motor system winning design concepts from small- will educate on its lines of shuttle cars,
delivers unbelievable amounts of er HMC machines. “In the second scoops and feeder breakers. “We have
torque,” McClanahan said. quarter of 2018, production of the a tremendous amount of develop-
“During initial testing of the ma- first unit began.” ments and industry-leading solutions
chine at Highland’s facility, we put the It launched the company down a that could make drastic improve-
bucket of the 320DM to the bucket of path of building bigger machines in ments to customers’ operations,”
a Cat 988B loader,” McClanahan said. general. McClanahan said. “We will have lit-
“We then locked the breaks “This is phase one in Highland’s erature about all of our OEM product
down on the 988B loader and pushed current project of developing 36- and lines and expert staff to discuss the
the 988B, with brakes locked, across 50-ton shield haulers,” McClanahan countless benefits we can offer.”
our testing yard without ever slip- said. The shield haulers will have an
ping a wheel on the 320DM,” he said. option of having dual 80-kW, 108-hp Next-level ESVs
“This means that that the 320DM (AC) traction motors. Komatsu reported selling three elec-
pushed in excess of 95,000 lb without “There is a great need for these tric scoops amid increased demand
ever so much as slipping a tire, with machines in the future of longwall in H1 2021 as the company seeks
the torque output of the VFD drives mining within the U.S. and around new customers in the developing
being set well below their maximum the world,” he said. “We wanted to world. “The electric scoop vehicles
setting.” introduce a heavy-duty, dual-motor (ESVs) have been embraced globally
The scoop is also designed for ver- scoop with AC-VFD traction drives and there are many opportunities in
satility. “It comes standard with a typ- to prove our ideas and our determi- emerging overseas markets, includ-
ical bucket with ejector blade; howev- nation to be a dominating manu- ing India, Russia and South Africa,”
er, the machine has other attachment facturer of battery-powered mining said Dennis Conner, global product
options,” McClanahan said. equipment.” manager, Komatsu.
“A 16,000-lb forklift attachment,
optional winch, four- and six-way
dozer blades, and bell-crank front
ends are also available for this ma-
chine,” he said. “The 320DM also
comes in a rubber-tire tractor config-
uration, which allows for mines to use
this machine as a supply tractor.”
If used as a supply tractor at an
operation also using 320DMs as
scoops, the “interchangeable parts
reduce the amount of inventory
needed,” he said.
The scoop was first envisioned in
2017 after HMC “determined the need
for a robust electric tram scoop that’s Designed for customers and mines with big needs, the HMC 320DM comes standard with an
capable of extreme and demanding 87-ft3-(level-load) capacity bucket. (Photo: Highland Machinery Corp.)

July/August 2021 www.coalage.com 15

scoops & utility equipment continued

“The majority of these operations

plan to use scoops to replace die-
sel-powered maintenance vehicles or
load haul dumps,” he said. “In most
cases, our scoops offer capabilities
not found in the alternative mainte-
nance vehicles. As a result, a number
of our customers are eager to make
the transition to Joy scoops.”
Several have come to the table
to negotiate trials. “Trials give us the
opportunity to present an alternative
method or equipment type to a new
customer,” he said. “Several trials are
being discussed that will allow new
customers to use the equipment in A ‘next level’ offering, the 01ESV56 has been modified based on customer feedback to deliver
their working environment and dis- improved reliability and serviceability, and lower total cost of ownership. (Image: Komatsu)
cover the impact a scoop can have on
their operation.” also include hydraulic and electrical needs of customers in emerging
The uptick follows a lull in busi- modifications intended to enhance markets.
ness that hit everyone in the industry. operator comfort and promote lower Komatsu’s ESV line has four
“In 2020, Komatsu saw delays in both operating costs.” models.
domestic and international oppor- Those modifications will make The smallest in the line, the
tunities due to market uncertainty,” the ESV line a “next-level offering,” 01ESV36, has a 75-hp motor, weighs
Conner said. he said. “Our primary objectives are 23 tons, and is for 36-in. seams. It
“The scoops product group used increased reliability and serviceabili- has a 660-ampere-hour (amp-hr)
this time to explore design improve- ty, and lower total cost of ownership, battery, a bucket capacity of 120 ft3, a
ments and model changes to increase which directly impacts the customer’s breakout load rating of 10.4 tons, and
value though added features,” he bottom line.” a maximum payload rating of more
said. “While we have sold ESV scoops Lower total cost of ownership is than 20 tons. With a ground clear-
in 2021, we have also focused on the perhaps the topmost reported cus- ance of roughly 13 in., it can tram at
addition of new features and integra- tomer need. “The Joy ESV accom- up to 5 mph.
tion with other Joy products.” plishes that by utilizing components The biggest model, the 01ESV60,
The focus is part of a larger effort common to other Joy products,” weighs 35 tons, and is for 56-in.
under way to standardize Joy equip- he said. “By leveraging purchasing seams. It has a breakout load rating of
ment. “We continue to support the volumes and existing inventory, 15 tons and a maximum payload rat-
existing fleet; however, new models Komatsu can provide a competitive- ing of 30.4 tons.
are being proposed that will offer ly priced machine that helps reduce It has a bucket capacity of
mechanical updates to the buck- operating costs.” 165 ft3.
et, center section and battery lift,” And the increased reliability and With ground clearance of just less
Conner said. “The new models will serviceability speak directly to the than roughly 17 in., it trams at up to 6
mph. It uses a 1,240-amp-hr battery,
and has two 75-hp motors.
It offers greatly improved battery
life over standard 128-volt units, in-
creased stability and capacity control
on steep grades, a proven braking
system, and reduced battery mainte-
nance. It offers more torque than die-
sel competitors, Komatsu reported.
The 01ESV56 offers up to twice the battery life of standard 128-V units, which makes it The ESVs are the pinnacle of
increasingly appealing to mines in the developing world that are trying to transition away from a long evolutionary process. “Bat-
diesel solutions. (Image: Komatsu) tery-powered scoops have been in

16 www.coalage.com July/August 2021

scoops & utility equipment continued

the SE30XL. The hauler hit the market

offering best-in-class maneuverabili-
ty and 12-ton capacity.
At 35.5 ft long, 12 ft wide, and with
an 18-ft wheelbase, the SE30XL is
powered by a 240-V AC variable-fre-
quency drive system common to
the scoop line. At release, it was de-
scribed as delivering increases in
safety and productivity while cutting
cost of ownership.
The design for the unit was con-
ceived by the company’s founder,
and was years in development. It
The low-seam SE30XL Hauler is designed with parts commonality with its sister scoops for
substantial cost savings. Long in the making, it hit the market last year offering best-in-class required overcoming significant hur-
maneuverability and 12-ton capacity. (Photo: Simmons Equipment Co.) dles. “Over years, the cost of acquisi-
tion and the cost to maintain battery
use in North America for more than many of the key components of its haulers became prohibitive due to
20 years,” Conner said. scoop line. “Historically, the battery their overall size, weight and com-
“The Joy ESV would introduce this scoop and battery hauler had virtual- plexity,” Simmons said.
more sustainable option into the In- ly zero parts compatibility or overall “This allowed the cable-powered
dian and Russian Markets,” he said. synergies,” Simmons said. shuttle car to become the dominant
“Improvements planned for the Joy “That didn’t make sense to us, batch haulage vehicle in soft rock ap-
ESV will promote longer battery life, especially in today’s competitive plications,” he said. “The advantages
increased reliability, and lower cost per market,” he said. “Our battery hauler of battery haulers are still there, includ-
ton in comparison to previous models.” line now features tremendous inter- ing complete freedom of movement,
Komatsu will have experts at changeability and technology com- elimination of cable management,
MINExpo to answer questions on monality with our scoop line, which and enhanced mine development
the ESVs. will drastically reduce costs and im- flexibility. The challenge becomes how
prove operational efficiency.” to eliminate the excessive cost, weight
Battery Hauler Cuts Costs Common parts include elements of and complexity to make it financially
Simmons Equipment Co. announced the drive system, drive train, hydraulics viable.”
the SE40 Battery Hauler, which is larg- and battery system. “We feel battery The SE30XL did exactly that, and
er than its predecessor, the low-seam compatibility is a real game changer,” blazed the trail for the development
SE30XL Battery Hauler, and features a Simmons said. “Our SE30XL Hauler and release of the larger SE40.
vertical articulation design to reduce can be set up to interchange batteries The latter is set for release after
weight and complexity. with the S280 Scoop, and the larger months of testing and field trials.
“The SE40 is a rugged, 18-ton-capa- SE40 Hauler interchanges seamlessly “The feedback has been really pos-
city unit,” CEO Matt Simmons said. with our popular S360 Scoop line.” itive on the overall machine perfor-
Both haulers “boast ground pres- The common battery assemblies mance,” Simmons said.
sures of 20% to 30% less than com- could contribute significantly to “With valuable feedback from
petitor models,” he said. “We’ve cost savings. “If an issue arises with operators, we’ve already made some
really simplified the design while a battery, downtime can be lessened slight adjustments to the drive sys-
maintaining competitive capacities or eliminated by being able to draw tem that has improved battery life
and performance.” from a broader, common fleet of bat- and maneuverability,” he said. “We
The haulers feature enhanced teries,” Simmons said. are excited to take it to market.”
drive and battery technologies. “We “This synergy also applies to the Thus far, the supplier has sold
feel battery haulage represents a ma- chargers and battery connectors,” he three, which were purchased by a
jor opportunity to improve mine pro- said. “It really simplifies a broad range customer looking for a competitive
ductivity and operation efficiency in of operational, maintenance and in- advantage. “Incremental tonnage can
the coming years,” Simmons said. ventory-related challenges.” make all the difference in this mar-
The supplier took an industry-first The announcement comes a little ket,” Simmons said. “We want to be
approach to the design, and used more than a year after the release of part of the solution.”

18 www.coalage.com July/August 2021

 SAFETY, SERVICE, AND INNOVATION

Join us September 13-15, at the

2021 MINExpo INTERNATIONAL
at JENNMAR Booth #4257

DEMANDING CONDITIONS DEMAND JENNMAR

For more information on our portfolio of diverse and complementary brands visit us at www.jennmar.com.

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oils & lubricants

Right Place, Right Time

Choosing the correct lubricant is just the first step — it then must be applied when and where
needed, in the right amount and without environmental harm. New lube products and systems
can eliminate guesswork from the process.
by russell a. carter, contributing editor

new grease pump, in-line grease

filter with breather, and grease
level indicator in the cab.
• FLSmidth’s innovative MAAG Gear
LGDX side drive unit for ball mills
— a three-stage spur gear with
torque split — features a compact
footprint for installation flexibility
and a unique lubrication system
the company claims extends the
service life of the unit by approx-
imately 40% when taken in com-
bination with the ability to flip the
gear box and operate it in reverse.
• Today, their roles remain large-
ly the same, but changes in the
mechanical environment, eco-
nomic factors and even social
trends have generated an expand-
Surveys show that more than half of unplanned equipment shutdowns in mining can be traced ing universe of formulations, de-
to incorrect selection or management of lubricants. (Photo: Shell Lubricants) livery systems, and preservation
techniques aimed at ensuring that
In the long history of mining, there was with the value of lost production, have grease and oil products function
a time when grease was simply grease elevated supplier and customer focus as expected with minimal unwel-
and its less-viscous sibling was just oil. on lubrication performance to a level come outcomes and less direct or
Both were injected, poured, brushed commensurate with other key oper- indirect environmental impact.
or spread as needed into machines or ational measurements, which means • Petroleum-product suppliers
on to surfaces for protection against grease and oil systems are getting the such as Phillips 66 continue to de-
friction, heat and rust, and were left to same sort of smart sensor capabilities, velop new grease and oil formula-
do their jobs until the next scheduled real-time monitoring and data analysis tions for better performance, such
service — or something broke. currently available for everything from as its Multiplex 600 grease, which
Today, their roles remain large- drill components to diesel engines. contains heavy base oils, a special
ly the same, but changes in the me- Consequently, lubrication tech- polymer and a lithium complex
chanical environment, economic nology is an active area for product soap thickener, fortified with ex-
factors and even social trends have development and improvement. Here treme-pressure and anti-wear
generated an expanding universe of are just a few recent examples: additives plus rust and oxidation
formulations, delivery systems, and • Hitachi incorporated features in inhibitors. According to the com-
preservation techniques aimed at its latest EX-7 series hydraulic ex- pany, it has excellent thermal sta-
ensuring that grease and oil products cavators ranging from a greaseless bility at high temperatures, high
function as expected with minimal center joint that self-lubricates load-carrying capacity and pro-
unwelcome outcomes and less direct with the machine’s hydraulic oil tects metal parts against rust and
or indirect environmental impact. for reduced daily maintenance, corrosion. Its tackiness properties
The acquisition and repair costs to a new auto-lubrication system and heavy base oil provide high
of crucial mine equipment, coupled with a large-capacity grease tank, adhesion to bearing surfaces,

20 www.coalage.com July/August 2021

 oils & lubricants continued

maintaining an effective seal to to get optimum performance from loading of engine oil, hydraulic and
help minimize bearing contami- their lube choices. gear oils and other lubricant fluids. An
nation, improve retention, reduce interesting feature of the sensor is its
leakage and provide excellent re- Sensors Get Simpler, Smarter ability to detect — through viscosity,
sistance to water washout. A new generation of sensors could help density, dielectric and resistivity mea-
As is the case with most major lu- make this task easier. TE Connectivity’s surements — so-called wrong filling,
brication product suppliers, Phillips FPS2800 oil property sensor, for ex- where an engine has been filled with
66 also has a wide range of diesel en- ample, can measure multiple physical an incorrect grade of oil, leading to
gine oil products. The lineup includes properties allowing simultaneous sens- possible internal damage.
eight brands starting with T5X Plus, ing of the quality, condition and con- Another way to prevent wrong fill-
a heavy-duty monograde oil, and ex- tamination of oil. The stainless-steel ing is through basic lubrication product
tending upward to Guardol XT Full sensor offers multi-parametric sensing management. Whitmore Manufactur-
Synthetic oil, developed for diesels that measures viscosity, density, di- ing’s lubrication management line, Oil-
operating under extreme temperature electric constant and temperature for Safe, offers fluid storage products de-
conditions. With this many choices enhanced fluid analysis from a single signed to filter and protect operational
available from just one supplier, it’s sensor, along with simple integration. fluids from contamination before and
critical to select the right product for Relying on tuning fork technology, during application and through color
the application, in which an industri- the sensor monitors the direct and dy- coding to identify each type of fluid and
al lubricants engineer underlined the namic relationship between multiple its associated containers.
need for end users to employ one or physical properties to determine the In addition to the OilSafe line,
more oil condition-monitoring tools quality, condition and contaminant Whitmore, a subsidiary of CSW In-

Shell US, Whitmore JV Focus on Mining and Rail

Coal Age asked Shell and Whitmore executives about the strategy will be in a stronger position to support customers within these
behind the venture. sectors. The JV will also be uniquely positioned to develop inno-
vations that meet our customers’ specific needs, where we will
Coal Age: Will any new lubrication-related services, products or leverage our close connections with equipment manufacturers.
technologies be made available to mining customers as a result
of the JV? Coal Age: For mining operations seeking a more integrated
Jim McCormick, vice president, direct sales, Shell Lubricants approach for lube procurement and management, can the JV’s
US: Shell and Whitmore customers are at the heart of the ratio- resources and services offer new opportunities for customers to
nale for creating this JV, which will combine the strengths of Shell achieve that goal?
and Whitmore to offer multi-sector expertise; advanced equip- Heather Rogers, general manager, Shell & Whitmore Reliability
ment technologies and services; and an integrated product port- Solutions: Both Shell and Whitmore have created hubs in areas
folio that meet the unique needs of companies engaged in Class I, where mining is concentrated to make supplying and servicing
II, and III rail (excluding transit), and mining (excluding quarries). these customers convenient. Shell & Whitmore Reliability Solu-
Customers of Shell & Whitmore Reliability Solutions will tions will combine these complementary hubs into a first-of-
have access to the combined product offerings, services and its-kind network. The JV’s integrated portfolio will also include
distribution capabilities of Shell and Whitmore, providing an an array of products for mining applications: high-performance
enhanced holistic offering to support their rail and/or mining greases, open gear lubricants, and oils as well as services such
operations. We will further enhance the line with new products, as equipment audits and application support. Together, this of-
services and solutions as the portfolio comes together. fering will enable mining customers to streamline their supply
chain and simplify their operations, in addition to reducing their
Coal Age: Are there specific mining lube-market trends or issues total cost of equipment ownership.
that the JV is designed to address or benefit from? Shell & Whitmore Reliability Solutions will also offer a range
Douglas Reid, vice president, marketing and product manage- of reliability products such as desiccant breathers and lubrication
ment, Whitmore: The mining and rail sectors present unique management systems and accessories that support best practices
challenges compared to other B2B sectors: large, complex, in asset reliability. Whitmore’s OilSafe, Air Sentry, and other prod-
technologically advanced and high-value equipment is placed ucts will be sold and distributed by the JV. With the combination of
in uniquely demanding physical environments and requires spe- Shell’s and Whitmore’s expertise and product portfolio, Shell & Whit-
cialized support. Shell and Whitmore offer complementary prod- more Reliability Solutions is uniquely positioned to help lower mining
ucts, services, and experience to these sectors, and by combining customers’ total cost of ownership, improve the efficiency of their
their respective strengths, Shell & Whitmore Reliability Solutions operations, and help them find ways to decarbonize their businesses.

July/August 2021 www.coalage.com 21

oils & lubricants continued

dustrials, markets a broad selection of uct portfolio for North American min- Rockwall facility will also become a key
performance lubricants and reliabil- ing and rail customers (see page 21). producer of Shell greases sold to non-
ity products. It recently announced The JV began operations imme- JV sectors in North America.
it and Shell Oil’s U.S. subsidiary es- diately following its early April an-
tablished a joint venture called Shell nouncement, and is headquartered in Conveyors: Top of the List
& Whitmore Reliability Solutions to Texas, with production assets co-locat- Lubrication-related mechanical pro-
offer expertise, advanced equipment ed at Whitmore’s Rockwall facility. As blems can be frustrating for mine
and services, and an integrated prod- part of the JV relationship, Whitmore’s maintenance departments and costly

Making Consumables Work for Your Bottom Line

Maximizing equipment utilization in the mining environment is dif- While there is a growing awareness across the mining sector
ficult at the best of times, but with rising cost pressures and tighter of the benefits that either a premium fuel or a premium lubricant
margins in the current environment, there is even greater focus by can have on equipment performance, the DLG test demonstrated
mine managers to unlock efficiencies wherever possible. Increas- the additional efficiencies that can be unlocked by combining the
ing output by using fewer resources may seem like a conflicting two. “Our test results have shown that Shell premium fuels and
equation, but valuable bottom line gains can be achieved by going lubricants perform better than the standard products,” said Ste-
back to basics and focusing on controllable factors such as con- fano Mastrogiovanni, managing director, DLG Test Service.
sumables. The fuel and lubricants selected can have a big impact The testing showed that when used together, Shell’s pre-
on equipment and in turn business performance, making it crucial mium diesel and premium Shell lubricants can deliver up to 472
to maximize the value that consumables provide to a company. more operating hours as a combined efficiency benefit1, a figure
To gauge this value, two companies put consumables to the that could have significant cost-saving potential when viewed in
test under real-world conditions. Shell collaborated with Deut- light of the 24/7 schedules, which are not uncommon for min-
sche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft (DLG) to measure the Total ing projects. The results also highlight the increased productiv-
Cost of Ownership (TCO) savings and efficiency gains that can ity that Shell FuelSave Diesel and Shell Diesel Extra can offer,
be achieved when using premium fuel and lubricants together. with DLG measuring up to 2.7% fuel economy2 and 5.6% more
Situated in Gross-Umstadt, Germany, DLG has a comprehensive load-pulling power when compared with regular diesel3.
machinery testing program. The ability to maintain engine efficiency while operating
Over the course of four months and more than 600 hours, with heavy loads or on uneven terrain is crucial at most mining
a DLG team tested Shell FuelSave Diesel and Shell Diesel Extra operations, particularly those that are consistently running at a
in combined use with Shell Rimula R6 LME Plus 5W-30, against high capacity. A key success factor here is the health of injection
regular diesel and standard lubricants. The premium consum- systems, particularly injector cleanliness. Shell and DLG found
ables were first put through DLG’s PowerMix test procedure using that Shell FuelSave Diesel and Shell Diesel Extra were able to
test frames and parameters designed by an independent expert achieve up to 100% injector deposit clean-up in less than three
commission, a format regularly used by leading global manufac- working days, which can significantly reduce downtime and
turers to assess the quality of their machines. Additionally, Shell maintenance costs.
and DLG designed a new Power Take Off (PTO) testing program, The DLG testing indicates that the right consumable selec-
which combines a series of assessments to verify the quality of tion can unlock tangible efficiencies for equipment and opera-
premium fuels versus standard ones. The result, according to tions, enabling higher output with fewer resources when this is
Shell, was a real-world measurement of how the tested fuels can arguably needed most. It also shows that even greater improve-
impact the overall performance of the engine. ments may be available when premium fuel and lubricants are
used in tandem.
1
For the same amount of fuel compared to regular diesel without fuel
economy formula and to standard lubricant. Baseline of 1 million liters
(L) and 50 L/hr fuel consumption per equipment. Based on demonstra-
tion tests with off-highway heavy-duty Tier 4 engines in collaboration
with DLG Germany.
2
Shell FuelSave Diesel is designed to help provide up to 3% fuel econ-
omy, compared to regular diesel without fuel economy formula. Actual
savings may vary according to vehicle, driving conditions and driving
style. Internal Shell tests and with customers have shown a range of fuel
savings depending on age of vehicle and type of operations.
The right combination of premium fuel and lubricant products
3
Compared to regular diesel without fuel economy formula. Based on
can produce tangible benefits, according to Shell, including quick demonstration tests with off-highway heavy-duty Tier 4 engines in col-
cleanup of fouled fuel injectors as shown in the comparative laboration with DLG Germany. Achieved within 50 hours of engine oper-
photos above. (Photo: Shell Lubricants) ations and four tankfuls.

22 www.coalage.com July/August 2021

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oils & lubricants continued

• Contaminated lubrication grease gressive or dual-line automatic lubri-

point; cation systems. Target applications
• Highly contaminated surround- include excavators, loaders, haul
ings; trucks and other heavy machinery. It
• Lubrication point in wrong loca- can be configured to specific needs,
tion mounted on housing; according to the company, which
• Lubrication point hard to access; added that it is built from heavy-duty
• Little or no evidence of lubricant materials and has a compact design
at grease exit point of sealing ar- that allows it to be mounted in tight
rangement; spaces. Built-in sensors monitor oil
• Too many lubrication points pressure, temperature and piston
mounted on bearing housing; movement. Flow rate and reverse
• Grease leakage from end cover pressure can be adjusted according to
of housing; the needs of the application.
• Inappropriate sealing arrange- “This pump is designed to work
ment; and reliably under demanding condi-
• Lubrication lines too long. tions,” said Daniel Seitz, product
Conveyor breakdowns aren’t only a manager at SKF. “The pump head is
mechanical challenge, they’re a safety fully encased, which reduces the risk
issue as well. SKF cited data from the of damage during operations.”
SKF’s TLGU 10 allows maintenance technicians U.S. Mine Safety and Health Admin- The BPH30 has an operating tem-
to listen to the sound of grease filling a fitting
and alerts them to stop filling when the correct istration (MSHA) showing that 43% of perature range from -40°C to +80°C
amount has been injected. injuries and 24% of fatal accidents in and accepts greases up to NLGI 2.
mining occur during conveyor mainte- The pump has a single outlet, which
for mine management. Across a large- nance or inspection. The conveyor-re- can be positioned on the left, right or
scale mining operation, lube require- lated fatal accidents typically include front of the device. A special three-
ments can vary widely in frequency replacing idlers, clearing blockages seal design helps to prevent leakage
of application, product composition, and cleaning up with a shovel or hose. of both hydraulic oil and lubrication
injection pressure and other factors To reduce the risk of conveyor me- grease. A leakage indicator provides
from machine to machine, not to men- chanical failures and worker injuries, visual confirmation that the sealing
tion distance to job site, relative risk to SKF recommends a three-point ap- system is working.
crews and potential for financial loss. proach that starts with upgrading the For equipment that must be lubri-
It’s hard to pick one type of equip- conveyor pulley bearings to match or cated manually, achieving the correct
ment that’s more susceptible to lu- exceed the service life of the conveyor grease “fill” often relies on a techni-
brication failures than another, but lagging. This will increase pulley reli- cian’s experience, machine manufac-
some recent studies point to con- ability, reduce grease consumption by turer’s recommendations or theoret-
veyor systems as a leading contend- as much as 90% and improve worker ical calculations. SKF introduced a
er. A customer poll taken at Swedish safety, according to the company. unique ultrasonic device earlier this
bearing manufacturer SKF’s 2018 Life SKF also recommends either period- year, which monitors the sound of
Cycle Management Conference, for ic or continuous vibration and tem- grease filling a bearing and can, ac-
example, revealed that participants perature monitoring of the conveyor cording to the company, make re-lu-
thought conveyors were by far (44%) pulley bearings and drives as part of brication more accurate and effective.
the most problematic asset type in a comprehensive predictive mainte- The TLGU 10 device is an all-in-
terms of reliability, followed distantly nance program. And their final sug- one kit containing an ultrasound sen-
by mobile equipment (17%). gestion is to install single point or sor that can withstand harsh condi-
In addition, an audit including visu- multipoint automated lubricators or tions. Once connected to a grease gun,
al inspection of 11 conveyors at a major systems to better control grease con- the TLGU 10 allows a technician to
iron ore mine in Australia, including 39 sumption and reduce the exposure listen to the sound of lubricant filling
pulleys with 78 bearing housings in to- of workers to the rotating machinery the bearing, via headphones. When
tal, indicated that contamination and and hazardous areas. the correct amount of grease has been
improper lubrication are the main is- The company recently introduced dispensed, the sound changes abrupt-
sues in pulley bearing failures. Here’s the BPH30, a new hydraulic barrel ly and a color display confirms that
the breakdown of problems: pump aimed at large single-line, pro- filling is complete.

24 www.coalage.com July/August 2021

 TM

21 - 22 September 2021
Digital Event

Join the largest coal conference in the world, wherever you are.

1,300+ 700+ 50+

Attendees Companies Countries

Key sessions:

• Noble Group coal supply and demand fundamentals

• Demand for thermal coal in Malaysia
• Panel: Indonesian mining outlook

Register free
https://conferences.coaltrans.com/asia #CoaltransAsia
The Coal Preparation Society of America (CPSA) will host the Coal Processing
Technology Conference and Exhibition (CoalProTec) in Lexington, Kentucky during
April 2022. It will be one of the first events held in the new Central Bank Center.

“The majority of our exhibitors will be back

• Three days of workshops,
on the floor which is already more than 50%
keynote and technical
booked,” said Mel Laurila, executive director
sessions
for the CPSA. “Our presenters will be there
• Two days of exhibits in
to talk about advances in coal preparation, 33,000 sq. ft. of space
slurry impoundments and dry coal upgrading • One of the best venues
technologies among other topics that are be around, centrally located
being considered. We are adding lunches in
the exhibit hall on Tuesday and Wednesday which will be a forum for discussion about
how we need to adjust to the changes happening in our industry. Our keynote session
will focus on the future of U.S. coal both domestically and abroad and the role coal
preparation will play in providing a high quality feedstock for power generation, steel
and cement production along with new industrial applications.”

Frequent updates will be available under the events tab on the CPSA website:
www.coalpprepsociety.org. Delegates can also register for the conference and
exhibition ($50 which includes lunches and refreshment) and companies can
book an exhibit or buy a sponsorship. For more information, contact Mel Laurila
([email protected]) or Kathryn Dew ([email protected]).

Paid Advertisement
 2022 Coal ProTec Technical Program (Preliminary)
April 25-27, 2022, Central Bank Center, Lexington Kentucky, USA

Workshops (Monday, April 25, 2022)

Pumps 101 – Topics include the fundamentals, selection, what affects performance, wear modes, and the best
maintenance practices of slurry pumps.
Coal Prep 101 – Topics include a review of coal properties important to utilization, coal sizing, cleaning and
dewatering operations.

Advanced Coal Preparation Practices and Technologies (Tuesday, April 26, 2-4 p.m.)
Impact of Coal Mining on Coal Prep Performance.
Maximize Coal Preparation Plant Performance Mine Profitability Through the Development, Application and
Auditing of Plant Best Practices.
Arq Energy Unbound.
SCI Fine Coal Recovery System Provides Insurance Against Lost Tons Trough Direct Recovery.
HHS Process for Ultrafine Coal Recovery.

Design & Operating Practices for Slurry Impoundments (Wednesday, April 27, 9-11a.m.)
Merits of the Continued Use of Upstream Construction for Slurry Impoundments.
Automation Delivers Safety Benefits for Tailings Facility.
Vertical Wick Drains to Accelerate Consolidation of Problem Soils Coal Refuse Disposal Impoundment in Western
Kentucky.
Reclaiming Impoundments using Reinforcing Geosynthetics.

Advances in Dry Coal Upgrading Technologies (Wednesday, April 27, 2-4 p.m.)
Reducing Ash Content in Power Plant Feed at Prairie State energy using Sensor-Based Sorting.
Clean Coal: Differentiating Coal Qualities Using a Sensor Sorting.
The Economic Impact of X-ray Sorting Applications in Coal Product.
Dry Cleaning of Coal Using the FGX Machines- A Status Report.

The new Central Bank Center (above), which replaced the Heritage Center that attachd to Rupp Arena, will host CoalProTec 2022.

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minexpo 2021 preview

MINExpo is Back
Mining suppliers and service providers plan to showcase the latest in mining and
mineral processing equipment and technology
by steve fiscor, editor-in-chief; carly leonida, european editor; jennifer jensen, associate editor; and
jesse morton, technical writer

A little more than a year ago, the Na- months, Elko Mining Expo, took place Caterpillar (C-6229)
tional Mining Association (NMA) an- during June and it was also well-at- Those who have attended past MIN-
nounced it was postponing MINExpo tended. All signs from that event indi- Expo’s know that Caterpillar occupies
INTERNATIONAL, the world’s largest cate that people are looking forward the largest space in the Central Hall.
mining trade show, for a year due to to meeting again face-to-face. The theme of Caterpillar’s MINEx-
concerns surrounding COVID-19. MINExpo 2021, which takes place po 2021 experience, “Together, we’re
A lot has taken place since then. At September 13-15 at the Las Vegas mining better,” celebrates the com-
the time, many essential businesses, Convention Center, may be the min- pany’s partnership with mines and
which included mining and the com- ing industry’s opportunity to shake the ways it assists customers to mine
panies that supply the mines, were off the COVID-19 blues and get back more efficiently, effectively, safely and
learning to adapt operational practic- to business. In addition to rekindling sustainably. This year, the company’s
es to continue with business while at acquaintances, it will be a prime op- 5,124-m2 (55,000-ft2) exhibit will fea-
the same time supporting local com- portunity for mining professionals to ture a broad range of product dis-
munities. Borders were closed and learn about new equipment and dif- plays, new equipment introductions,
some regions were locked down to ferent methods of improving safety previews of what the future holds,
slow the spread. and efficiency. and remote operating stations.
Social distancing and mass vac- More than 1,100 exhibitors are The exhibit will be grouped under
cination efforts eventually slowed planning to participate in MINEx- three specific core areas: environmen-
the spread as the pandemic started po 2021. The question is: Will three tal, social, and corporate governance
to recede. Business travel in the U.S. days be enough to cover more than (ESG) and sustainability; technology
has restarted with conditions and 660,000 ft2 of exhibit space? In an and automation; and equipment life-
the NMA’s decision and timing now effort to optimize the experience, cycle management solutions.
appear prudent. Las Vegas reopened Coal Age reached out to exhibitors to “After waiting an extra year, the
with its first major trade show, World get a sneak peek of what they have mining industry is ready to reconnect
of Concrete, in June. Likewise, the planned. What follows is a compendi- at MINExpo. We are excited to show
largest in-person mining event in 16 um of those efforts. our customers and the industry the ad-
vancements Caterpillar has made not
only in equipment, technology and
services, but also in how we are help-
ing customers mine more sustainably,”
said Cat Resource Industries (CRI)
Group President Denise Johnson.
Cat said it will unveil the world’s
largest, most powerful and efficient
electric drive dozer with high drive.
The new Cat D11 XE dozer will be
the most advanced, lowest emission-
per-ton dozer in the industry, built
to deliver the lowest cost of bank
cubic meters (BCM) ever. Exhibit-
ed alongside the D11 XE, the new
Cat D10 dozer offers up to 4% less
fuel consumption than the previous
In addition to the electric drive 794 haul truck AC (above), Caterpillar’s MINExpo display will model, up to 3% more productivity
also include an electrically powered LHD and dozer. with high-horsepower reverse and

28 www.coalage.com July/August 2021

 minexpo 2021 preview continued

up to 6% more efficiency with com- tonomous trucks using Command for ment analysis by collecting equipment
bined load-sensing hydraulics and hauling surpassed 3 billion mt of ma- data, monitoring critical machine pa-
stator-clutch torque divider. terial hauled. rameters, obtaining real-time alerts,
Cat will also introduce a new 992 Accurate to the centimeter, the ex- analyzing operational trends and pat-
wheel loader that delivers up to a 32% hibited Cat MD6310 rotary blasthole terns, predicting failures and receiving
increase in productivity. It reduces drill offers technology, efficiency, safe- repair recommendations.
maintenance costs by up to 10% and ty and productivity improvements.
has demonstrated in field testing Fully integrating Caterpillar’s proven Komatsu (C-7027)
up to 48% greater payload-per-fu- components and systems, including Komatsu will focus on “creating value
el efficiency in applications where a technology and automation, the drill together” in its 48,000-ft2 booth at MIN-
four-pass match to 90.7-mt (100-ton) is capable of up to 42,149 kg (92,922 lb) Expo 2021, where the company plans
trucks was achieved versus five pass- of bit load and targets 203- to 311-mm to unveil its latest solutions for surface
es with the 992K. (8- to 12.5-in.) hole diameters. and underground mining operations.
MINExpo will be the first oppor- Exhibiting how technology can “MINExpo provides the perfect
tunity for many attendees to learn improve safety at the mine site, the opportunity for industry leaders to
more about Cat’s recently introduced Cat MineStar Detect Driver Safe- collaborate on new ways to extract
MineStar Edge. It brings visibility to ty System (DSS) display details how essential minerals at this critical time
the entire mining operation to show the system monitors eye-closure and for our society,” said Jeff Dawes, pres-
how activities early in the process head pose to alert the driver via seat ident and CEO of Komatsu Mining
impact those further down the value vibration and/or audio alarm the mo- Corp. and chairperson of MINExpo
chain. MineStar Edge makes it possi- ment fatigue or distraction is identi- 2021. “Supporting our customers’
ble to measure, manage, analyze and fied. DSS has been shown to reduce path forward with new solutions that
improve the entire mining operation. 97% of the most significant fatigue leverage digitalization, electrification
Equipped with MineStar Com- events, 80% of average fatigue events and automation is crucial to our role
mand for hauling, the new Cat 777G and 91% of distraction events. as an essential provider to the indus-
Water Truck provides a glimpse into Highlighting Caterpillar’s rebuild try, and we look forward to sharing
the future for autonomously lowering services capability, the rebuilt Cat these innovations developed in part-
dust levels at the mine site while main- C175-16 engine, which produces up nership with today’s mines.”
taining haul road safety. Featuring the to 2 550 kW (3,420 hp), will be on dis- The company’s latest haulage
market’s first autonomous water de- play reduces overall owning and op- concepts, designed to prioritize cus-
livery system, the machine integrates erating costs. tomers’ desire to reduce emissions
truck, tank and sprayer and knows Team members will also be avail- and for autonomous haulage solu-
where and when to water haul roads. able to explain to attendees how Min- tions, will be on display; revealing
Representing the Caterpillar fleet eStar Health maximizes equipment Komatsu’s future vision for power ag-
of autonomous trucks, the displayed availability and reliability by con- nostic haul trucks and autonomous
Cat 794 AC electric drive will be fac- necting the machine to the office. The haulage retrofits for existing equip-
tory-installed with Cat MineStar service assists with proactive mainte- ment. Komatsu will also preview fu-
Command for hauling. Recently, au- nance services and predictive equip- ture capabilities for remote operation

Safety First
According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), ees and our entire community. With great confidence in the efforts made
Nevada requires meetings, trade show and entertainment venues to by our resorts, convention centers and meeting hosts, I say... welcome
certify through the state’s Department of Business and Industry that back! The greatest place to do business in the world is even better.”
they will follow the state’s health and safety requirements and protocols The LVCC has a similarly safety-focused approach, having been
and adhere to the prevention principles that have remained consistent: awarded the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR facility ac-
maintain safe social distancing, wear face coverings, and practice good creditation by ISSA, the world’s leading trade association for the clean-
hygiene and cleaning measures. ing industry and considered the gold standard for safe facilities. In
“Las Vegas has been the top convention and meetings destina- addition to their accreditation and the convention industry’s All Secure
tion for many years. We pride ourselves on providing the best facilities, measures, Las Vegas resort partners also continue to meet and exceed
the best service and now, the safest,” Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak said. guidelines mandated by state and county leaders and health officials
“We’ve been cautious, but very focused on reopening Las Vegas in the with a comprehensive approach to implementing stringent “Vegas
safest way possible for you, our treasured customers, our valued employ- Smart” health and wellness protocols throughout the destination.

July/August 2021 www.coalage.com 29

minexpo 2021 preview continued

ponents, and the LRT 1090-2.1 90-mt

(100-ton) rough terrain crane. The
company said they would also make
some, exciting announcements from
their new technology portfolio, in-
cluding pathway forward for low-
and zero-emission mining.
Attendees will be able to interact
with new technologies through a vir-
tual reality (VR) booth, and discover
Liebherr’s technology at the daily
masterclasses held with Liebherr ex-
perts. Fans and customers who can-
not attend in person will not miss
Komatsu will display the WE1850 Gen 3 wheel loader, which uses switched reluctance hybrid out; all exhibits, announcements, and
drive technology. showcases from the expo will also be
delivered on Liebherr’s website and
of equipment featuring hydraulic ex- mersive Technologies (Booth C-7583) social media channels.
cavators and autonomous haulage. and Hensley Industries (Booth C-5401), Liebherr will introduce three new
Other new Komatsu solutions de- all Komatsu subsidiaries. excavators at the show: the R 9150 Gen-
signed to advance more sustainable eration 7 (machine showcased on the
mining methods that will be on dis- Liebherr (C-7627) booth), the R 9200 Generation 7, and
play include: Using more than 28,000 ft2 (2,600 the brand-new R 9600 Generation 8
• WE1850 Gen 3 surface wheel load- m2), Liebherr will showcase its latest (cabin showcased on the booth). These
er with proven SR (Switched Re- innovative equipment, technology three machines establish the new nam-
luctance) hybrid drive technology; and services for the mining indus- ing strategy based on technology levels
• ZR122 surface blasthole drill with try. The R 9150 Generation 7 (G7) for Liebherr machines. All three exca-
automated features; and 130-metric-ton (mt, 143 ton) exca- vators are now equipped with the latest
• Battery hauler for underground vator, the next generation of excava- innovations including Liebherr Power
mining powered by lithium-ion tor cab from the recently announced Efficiency, Assistance Systems, and
battery technology. R 9600 G8, the PR 776 70 mt (77 ton) Bucket Filling Assistant (BFA).
Created with input from custom- mining dozer with Liebherr Remote LPE (Liebherr Power Efficiency) is
ers around the world, the compa- Control (LiReCon) teleoperation a specific engine and hydraulic man-
ny’s latest equipment, service and system, the newly introduced T 274 agement system, which reduces fuel
technology solutions are designed to 305-mt (336-ton) haul truck along consumption by up to 20%. Assis-
simplify tasks, streamline processes with a display from Liebherr Com- tance Systems are advanced on-board
and — ultimately — help optimize
customers’ entire enterprise. Recog-
nizing that the path forward will not
look the same for every operation,
Komatsu is here to support customers
at each stage of their journey toward
a more sustainable future. Company
representatives will be available in
the booth to consult with attendees
and collaborate on new solutions.
Located in Central Hall C3, the
Komatsu stand will debut the com-
pany’s unified and expanded mining
offerings, with additional solutions
highlighted at neighboring booths for
Modular Mining (Booth C-7671), a In addition to other heavy equipment, Liebherr will display the 70-mt PR 776 70 dozer with the
Komatsu technology brand, and Im- LiReCon teleoperation system enabed.

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 minexpo 2021 preview continued

applications designed to support the

operator to become more efficient
through analytics and actionable in-
sights. Assistance Systems will be pre-
sented physically in the R 9600’s cabin
and on tablets displayed on the booth.
Visitors can also discover the Assis-
tance Systems through an immersive
experience in the VR area. BFA is the
first automation product for Lieb-
herr’s hydraulic excavator portfolio,
and allows the operator to realize the
bucket filling process automatically.
The T 274 haul truck bridges the
gap between the T 284 and T 264 Precision Pulley & Idler will demonstrate start-of-the-art technology for conveyor systems.
haul trucks. Designed and adapted
from years of experience in mining safety needs. Modular Mining will as well as PPI Idlers with Vayeron
truck development, Liebherr said the feature services and solutions lever- Smart-Idler Technology. Downtime is
T 274 is a true 305-mt machine that aging data, innovation and people not an option and both of these prod-
provides fast cycle times, higher pro- designed to deliver sustained value ucts help miners get the most life out
duction rates, low fuel consumption, from our technologies and expanded of their conveyor components.
and a low cost per ton. This new truck value across the value chain. Extending pulley life in abrasive
follows the same base design as the T The company’s booth will highlight applications has been a challenge in
284, benefitting from its decades of advancements in open technology and the conveying industry. The new Con-
field experience. mine optimization, along with an ex- tinuWing technology incorporates
Liebherr components for mining panded portfolio of offerings, including unmatched wear resistance by using
applications will also be featured at DISPATCH FMS, which is designed to chromium carbide instead of tradi-
MINExpo. Among the components is help mines optimize haulage cycles; tional mild steel or AR alloys generally
the D98 diesel engine series, which is ProVision Machine Guidance System, used on the face of a wing. This prod-
available for both Liebherr and other which uses satellite navigation to pro- uct will dramatically extend the life
mining equipment manufacturers, vide continuous guidance to operators; expectancy of pulleys reducing costly
for new and repowered machines. ProVision Guided Spotting System, maintenance and downtime.
The V-16 engine of the D98 family, the which uses operator-assist function- A generational shift is taking place
D9816, is not only on display at the ality to help optimize the excavation in the conveying component indus-
booth, but is also at the heart of the load cycle; MineCare Maintenance try. PPI Idler rolls can be equipped
exhibited T 274 haul truck. This marks Management System, which helps with Vayeron Smart-Idler technology,
the beginning of the integration of the mines increase fleet uptime and avail- offering the ability to predict and re-
D98 series into Liebherr machines. ability; Modular Mining APIs, which port idler failure, increasing produc-
Liebherr will also debut its brand are designed for increased openness tivity and reducing downtime. PPI is
new Mining Technology Prod- and interoperability among third-party a Global Premium Partner of Vayeron,
uct portfolio at MINExpo. This will technologies; Argus PLM, an advanced selected due to the quality of products
demonstrate the company’s interop- payload management system; and the as well as expertise in the industry.
erable and scalable approach to their Pegasys dragline monitoring system. Along with these new offerings,
equipment, technology, and service PPI will also showcase existing indus-
product offerings. Precision Pulley & Idler (C-5433) try-leading solutions such as the Stat-
Conveyor experts from Precision Pul- ic Shaft Pulley (SSP), conveyor covers,
Modular Mining (C-7671) ley & Idler (PPI) will demonstrate how Pro Duty pulley, and more.
Modular Mining, a Komatsu technol- they can help miners save time and
ogy brand, will showcase its compre- money by selecting the right product Tema Isenmann (C-5601)
hensive real-time mine optimization tailored to a mine’s specific needs. Tema Isenmann will be giving away
solutions designed to address key New products from PPI include its new magnetically backed stroke
mine operations, planning, machine ContinuWing Technology for stan- gauge at MINExpo in September.
guidance, equipment health and dard and Herringbone Wing pulleys “The first thing our secretary said

July/August 2021 www.coalage.com 31

minexpo 2021 preview continued

when she saw it was neat refrigera- the screen greater than 0.05 in. to 0.08 bilities to push the bounds of what is
tor magnet,” said Anthony Yell, min- in. is quite acceptable. Anything larger possible from a dynamic terrain mod-
ing division manager for Tema Isen- than that could indicate a mechanical el. The company will also be offering
mann. “Yes, it is that as well but this problem worthy of investigation.” Us- 15-minute tech talks at its stand.
simple analog device, which does not ing this simple check daily will ensure “The ability and agility in re-
require a battery, chip or a reboot, is many years of trouble-free operation. sponding quickly to adversity are a
actually very useful.” testament to Hexagon’s global reach
It’s used to measure the stroke on a Hexagon Mining (C-4057) and the depth of its multi-faceted ex-
vibrating screen. This is the displace- Hexagon Mining will reveal its newest pertise,” Hexagon Mining Chief Tech-
ment of the vibrating screen upwards technology for mining’s autonomous nology Officer Rob Daw said. “As the
and downward when in motion, Yell future. “Continued convergence and last 12 months have shown, when in-
explained. “The size of stroke tells integration will mean more autono- genuity is applied to resourcefulness,
you whether your vibrating screen my and eventually fully autonomous adversity can be managed and over-
is operating correctly for the screen- solutions from Hexagon,” said Hexa- come. It’s why we’re excited for MIN-
ing application,” he said. “Generally, gon Mining President Nick Hare. Expo and the rest of 2021.”
the size of the stroke is related to the “That means one smart device eco-
screen’s aperture — the larger the ap- system for the next generation of op- ESCO (C-4229)
erture, the larger the stroke required. erator experience, enhancing opera- ESCO, a Weir Group division, de-
However, this is only part of the tor awareness, improving reliability velops, manufactures and provides
story. By knowing the stroke and the and addressing personal safety issues high-quality components for min-
drive speed, the gravitational force that cannot be solved by traditional ing applications, which includes its
(G-Force) can also be calculated. This independent approaches. Nemisys lip and ground engaging tool
is the centrifugal force generated by Miners can expect reduced com- (GET) systems that are now available
the excitor or vibrator motor drive ap- plexity in ownership costs and smart for all mining buckets. ESCO will have
plied directly to the vibrating screen. data analytics to visualize data pat- a dedicated area in its stand to pro-
If plant engineers know the G-Force, terns above and below ground, Hare vide insights into the full range of the
they can check to see if the vibrating explained. “For drill and blast, it Nemisys offering. The Nemisys tooth
screen is operating to specification. means a complete solution tailored system is a field-proven performer
“This is especially relevant when you to minimize ore loss and dilution by with installations on more than 750
pick up screening problems,” Yell delivering accuracy and precision to machines worldwide. The system
said. “Often when we come across every step of the process,” Hare said. features an integrated single-side
screening problems such as poor Hexagon will discuss its cloud- lock for easier and faster removal to
drainage, pegging or blinding etc., based visualization and collaboration minimize machine downtime during
it is related to the G-Force being too platform, HxDR, which will deliver on maintenance cycles. The hammer-
low for the application. You can then the promise of a digital twin for the less lock provides improved engage-
contact your vibrating screen manu- mine, leveraging reality capture capa- ment with the nose to significantly
facturer and they will be able to offer
advice on how to resolve the problem.
The stroke gauge can also deter-
mine if the vibrating screen is me-
chanically sound. “If you measure the
stroke on the feed end of the vibrating
screen on both sides, in a similar po-
sition, it should be the same or within
around 0.02 in.,” Yell said.
“If the difference is greater than
that, there is a good chance there is
something mechanically wrong with
the vibrating screen, such as a cracked
or broken cross member, runner or
maybe an isolation spring, or a failed
rubber buffer. A stroke difference be- ESCO, a leader in GET for mining applications, will showcase its Nemisys tooth system, which has
tween the feed and discharge ends of single-side lock for quick removal. They will have a cast lip system on display for electric shovels.

32 www.coalage.com July/August 2021

 minexpo 2021 preview continued

reduce the chance of point loss and

unplanned downtime.
An ESCO cable shovel cast lip
with the Nemisys N3 lip system will
be featured at MINExpo 2021. ESCO’s
dipper lips are engineered and man-
ufactured for maximum durability,
service life and lower maintenance.
They are seamless, single-piece cast-
ings, poured in a proprietary ESCO
alloy formulated to provide excellent
toughness and weldability. The wide
range of lip profiles can match cus-
tomer requirements and optimize
dipper performance. ESCO lips are
produced to fit either Whisler Plus or
Nemisys lip systems.
An ESCO bucket for a Caterpillar
993 wheel loader with Nemisys N65 Martin Engineering’s experts will be available to discuss conveyor accessories.
tooth system will also be on display.
ESCO produces reliable, perfor- products that will be on center stage size emergency refuge chamber, fully
mance-driven wheel loader buckets are Aura IQ Conveyor Health Moni- equipped with DigitalBRIDGE Pow-
built for the world’s most demanding toring, Private LTE cellular networks er-over-Ethernet for communication,
mine sites. ESCO buckets are com- and StrataHub-Machine Digitization. monitoring, remote control and video.
patible with most 5-m³ (6.5-yd³) class Aura IQ uses fiber optic cable to
and larger loaders. monitor the health of conveyor belt Martin Engineering (C-4615)
Also on display will be one of ES- idlers to ensure that they are in stable Martin Engineering will be featuring
CO’s newest innovations — the ToolTek condition. If wear and tear and poten- a number of innovative technologies
system — a collaborative effort with tial failure are detected, the technolo- in its booth, including the company’s
key mining customers to provide en- gy preemptively alerts operators and new N2 Belt Cleaner Position Indica-
hanced safety for maintenance person- directs them to the problematic area. tor and Automated Belt Cleaner Ten-
nel during replacement of worn Nemi- This predictive maintenance helps sioner. The firm will also be show-
sys points and adapters. The ToolTek prevent part failure and belt damage casing conveyor belt cleaners, belt
system is a hydraulic crane mounted which in turn reduces downtime. cradles, conveyor sealing products,
tool that is remotely operated, well Strata has secured agreements belt trackers and settling components
out of harm’s way during replacement to be the preferred provider for pri- to control bulk material loads.
of worn components. New parts are vate LTE coverage in both above and In addition, visitors will find solu-
pre-staged on racks conveniently po- below ground operations. This dedi- tions such as industrial vibration
sitioned on the flatbed truck outfitted cated network provides open band- and replacement motors for screen-
with the hydraulic crane. The ToolTek width, fast data speeds and uninter- ing equipment, as well as the Mar-
system is capable of locking and un- rupted service. tin Roll Gen system for generating
locking Nemisys GET, making installa- StrataHub — Machine Digitiza- power from a moving conveyor belt.
tion and removal truly touchless. tion with Nerospec SK uses smart sen- The wide array of products are all de-
ESCO will have a team of prod- sors to collect machine data during veloped for cleaner, safer and more
uct experts on hand at MINExpo to operations to provide fresh machine productive bulk material handling,
answer questions regarding ESCO’s health information and enable opti- according to the company.
products and services. mized maintenance based on the ma-
chine’s current condition. Check the Xylem (C-8591)
Strata Worldwide (C-4413) machine’s performance and utiliza- Xylem, a global water technology
Strata Worlwide will showcase a se- tion by streaming data directly at the company, will showcase its exten-
lection of new technologies that com- machine or remotely from the cloud. sive Mining Solutions portfolio at
plement its existing high-tech port- Along with these new product MINExpo. Working in partnership
folio. Some of the company’s newest introductions, Strata will have a full- with mine operators to develop effi-

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minexpo 2021 preview continued

cient water management solutions, berDet I, which the company said to help them meet their goals with
Xylem’s mining expertise boosts the takes mining digitalization to the unmatched expertise, on-site service
productivity, safety, reliability and next level with remote autonomous and innovation.
sustainability of mine sites across charging and blasting. The detona- Dyno Nobel provides a full range
North America and internationally. tor allows operators to work in a safer of reliable explosives products from
Ken Albaugh, director of Xy- environment during the blast loading manufacturing plants worldwide
lem sales, eental and equipment, process, according to Lauren Gorrell, and blasting services from a distri-
said,“Optimal water management marketing and branding manag- bution network.
in mine operations has never been er. The technology also facilitates a
more critical. We know from exten- shorter blast cycle, providing the po- Longwall Associates (N-2171)
sive experience to achieve this it is tential to increase the number of tons Un-intimidated by the worst mining
essential to take a holistic view of how mined, she added. conditions and meeting challenges
mining operations use water — from It will also be featuring Differen- head on, Longwall Associates, Inc.
sourcing to dewatering to treatment tial GPS, which it described as the has emerged as a formidable leader
and reuse. By reviewing the efficien- first-ever Tagging and Hole Identifica- in the exclusive supply of wholly cus-
cy of each aspect of an operation’s tion method using Differential Global tomized OEM and rebuilt longwall
water process the system as a whole Position System (DGPS). This ground- conveyor systems for coal and trona
will be optimized; a system is only as breaking technology is bringing the extraction. Longwall Associates con-
efficient as each individual element. mining industry a step closer to au- veyors comprise AFC’s, stageloaders,
Every step from intake to reuse is part tonomous blasthole identification crushers, tail pieces and all ancillary
of a process that can increase produc- and loading, according to Gorrell. components including sprocket as-
tivity, lower costs and ultimately, turn The company will also be featur- semblies and flight bars. Longwall As-
mining water management from an ing BlastWeb4G. Designed to reduce sociates conveyor systems seamlessly
expense to a strategic advantage.” costs by decreasing time spent on integrate with every shearer and roof
Albaugh, continued, “We have production and development blasting support to optimize production and
experienced mine water challenges in underground mining operations, achieve unrivaled success in a myriad
firsthand — our team members are BlastWeb4G is the most sophisticated of mining conditions and face lengths.
Mine Safety & Health Administration centralized underground networking During MINExpo 2021, Longwall As-
(MSHA) trained and certified miners — system on the market, Gorrell said. sociates experts will be available to
so we have the know-how and portfo- Unrivaled Bulk Emulsion allows discuss rebuilds or OEM projects and
lio to help customers solve their tough- customization of the explosive energy will showcase field proven equipment
est tasks. Every mine has a distinct set profile to the geology in the blasthole installed in four countries.
of operating conditions and challenges to provide customers with safe, effi-
— a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t cient, and effective blasting results. Schurco Slurry (N-1513)
work. Customized water manage- DynoConsult will also be fea- Schurco Slurry designs and manu-
ment solutions deliver better results tured, which brings world-class drill factures heavy duty slurry pumps
by minimizing production downtime, and blast consultants to customers for the global mining industry. From
lowering operating costs, enhancing
performance and safety, and minimiz-
ing environmental impact — all while
supporting long-term prosperity.”
“As the manufacturer, Xylem is well
positioned to tailor our products to fit
the customer’s specific needs. One
way we identify those needs is to carry
out an audit of the mine’s total water
management system as a first step in
boosting efficiency and safety, while
reducing costs,” explained Albaugh.

Dyno Nobel (C-6027)

Dyno Nobel will be debuting its new Armored face conveyors (AFCs) from Longwall Associates seamlessly integrate with every
underground wireless detonator, Cy- shearer and roof support to optimize production.

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 minexpo 2021 preview continued

humble beginnings over 40 years

ago, the company’s founder Freder-
ick Schur had a vision to offer higher
quality pump products and support
to an industry he saw underserved by
large multinational firms. Today, his
son, Nicholas Schur, is the president
and owner of the company, and has
continued to deliver on his father’s vi-
sion. Schurco Slurry has operations in
the United States, Mexico, Africa and
Australia with headquarters in Jack-
sonville, Florida, USA, and has grown
to be a leading supplier of heavy-duty
slurry pumps the world over.
Schurco Slurry said its pumps and
replacement parts are the industry’s
best source for heavy duty centrifugal
Schurco Slurry says its goal is to have the lowest total cost of ownership for any slurry pump on
slurry pumps. The company’s goal is the market.
to have the lowest total cost of own-
ership of any slurry pump manufac- graphic testing of metallurgies, hard- chambers, air purifying respirators
turer on the market today by offering ness testing, dimensional analysis, and (APRs), gas detection and emergency
the greatest value on capital equip- fully-qualified hydraulic and fit testing. response/mine rescue.
ment, the highest quality spare and Core to Schurco Slurry’s guiding Dräger’s highly customizable ref-
replacement slurry pump parts and principles are a belief that the cus- uge chambers protect workers by cre-
providing unmatched engineering ex- tomer should be served above all else, ating a safe, breathable atmosphere
cellence from a company that only fo- and any endeavor at Schurco begins within a sealed room. They are de-
cuses on one product: slurry pumps! and ends with a customer focus. To signed for prolonged stay, keeping
Miners can have confidence when that end we strive to maintain readily occupants safe until help arrives. The
buying from an American manufac- available spare parts on all our fielded company’s APRs range from full and
turer such as Schurco with the quality equipment, and by maintaining pri- half face masks to powered APRs and
and service expectations that go hand vate family ownership have been able the X-plore 1750 respirator — manu-
in hand with doing business with a to keep costs down in a turbulent mar- factured at Dräger’s new APR facility
family-owned, customer service ori- ketplace. Schurco Slurry pumps offer in Pennsylvania.
ented company. Schurco proudly the lowest life cycle cost amongst all Fixed gas detectors are the first line
manufactures parts which are fully peers through competitively priced of defense in continuously detecting
compatible with the most popular capital pump equipment, reasonable poisonous gases and Dräger’s portable
Warman slurry pump models. With spare parts pricing, and material op- gas detectors protect miners wherever
its wide range of wear materials of- tions which provide lasting wear life they go. The MSHA-approved X-am
fered for both horizontal and vertical in all operating environments. 2500 combines reliable sensor tech-
slurry pumps, we have the right solu- nology with long battery life and intu-
tion for your application. Dräger (N-1837) itive operation to accurately detect O2,
While other manufacturers send Miners know that Dräger pioneered CO, NO2, SO2, CH4, and H2S.
jobs and quality control overseas, safety in mining. Since 1907, Dräger The compact, MSHA-approved
Schurco maintains strict product has earned the trust of miners world- X-am 5000 detector is insensitive to
and quality control in the USA. Their wide with breathing apparatuses electromagnetic interference. It mea-
all-American workforce includes mas- that paved the way for a lifesaving sures O2, organic vapors, combus-
ter mechanics and machinists, engi- profession: mine rescue. Around the tible gases, CO, H2S, CO2, Cl2, HCN,
neers from diverse backgrounds, and world, mine rescuers are called Drä- NH3, NO2, PH3, and SO2, as well as
a solid commitment to excellence at germen — even today. methane up to 100% volume.
every level of the company. Schurco At MINExpo 2021, visitors can The Polytron 8100, Dräger’s top-
confirms their products through a va- experience Dräger’s latest technol- of-the-line XP transmitter, detects
riety of assessments including spectro- ogies first-hand, including refuge toxic gases or oxygen levels using a

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minexpo 2021 preview continued

It will be introducing the OmniPro

Vision AI-based collision avoidance
system, enhanced feature sets and
new components for its IntelliZone
proximity detection system as well as
a new mining-centric software suite.
Matrix has also expanded its prod-
uct offering to address the leading caus-
es of downtime and wasted mainte-
nance throughout the mining industry.
The company will also be launch-
ing the U.S. branch of its Matrix An-
alytics service, which provides mine
sites with decision-making informa-
tion from operational data. The ana-
lytics services will be integrated into
each of these new product lines.
This mine rescue team is sporting Dräger’s PSS BG4 plus closed-circuit breathing apparatus, Matrix Design Group LLC is a safe-
which provides up to 4 hours of breathing air. ty and productivity technology leader
for mining and industrial applica-
plug-and-play electrochemical Drag- full suite of new product offerings tions. Its innovative product lines
erSensor to detect a specific gas. A as well as displaying new function- include systems for proximity detec-
range of protocols, as well as analog alities, applications and accessories tion, collision avoidance, commu-
output with relays, make it compati- that have been added to its existing nications and tracking, atmospheric
ble with most control systems. product lines. These solutions repre- monitoring, lighting and cameras.
Dräger has committed to protect sent trends the company said it sees
the lives of miners by offering com- evolving in the mining industry and AMR Pemco (N-3081)
prehensive, integrated escape and reflect its ability to meet both the im- “We’re going bigger than we ever
rescue solutions. The PSS BG4 plus mediate and future demands related have,” AMR Pemco President David
closed-circuit breathing apparatus to emerging technologies. Graf said of the company’s presence
combines uncompromised safety Increased interest in the appli- at MINExpo. “We thought we would
with outstanding respiratory protec- cation of data and analytics into the go big because we felt people were
tion. Designed for long-term comfort, mining industry has driven Matrix to going to be chomping at the bit to go
this popular system provides up to 4 expand its networking, sensor and to a show in person.”
hours of breathing air. software package offerings, all of In their bigger-than-ever booth,
The FPS 7000 full face mask sets which will be on display at MINExpo. the company will feature its new
new standards in personal safety, pro- Matrix has developed — and contin-
tection and comfort. The mask pro- ues to expand — a holistic networking
vides a large, unobstructed field of infrastructure offering to the mining
vision and a very secure fit, with little market focusing on providing both
or no fogging. Designed to connect functionalities to increase produc-
seamlessly to the FPS 7000, the FPS- tion efficiencies and decision-making
COM 5000 ensures clear communica- data analytics for mine operations.
tion through a tactical voice amplifier Matrix is also making strides in the
or radio — even in extreme conditions. areas of proximity detection and colli-
sion avoidance in both underground
Matrix Design (N-2803) and surface mining operations. It will
Over the past year as the world econ- be building on its 10-plus years of ex-
omy slowed, Matrix Design Group perience to introduce a new vision
continued to seek out opportunities AI-based collision avoidance system
AMR PEMCO’s stand will showcase the latest
to expand its product lines and ser- to the mining market along with new
technology for load centers including breakers
vices for the mining market. At MIN- advancements in the IntelliZone prox- and ground-monitoring systems. The company
Expo, Matrix will be introducing its imity detection system product suite. will also have a new gas sensor.

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 minexpo 2021 preview continued

“most advanced, efficient, safest rates in retreat oper-

mobile load center in the mining in- ations, and improve
dustry.” Within the load center is the gate road protection
CB-RRS-SST, which stands for circuit in longwall entries.
breaker, Remote Racking System with Radio-controlled
Safety Stab Technology. The company units normally work
just recently received the second pat- in two pairs. When
ent for the SST. A gold mine in Neva- utilizing a set of
da has been testing the units and its Fletcher MRS, cus-
official public debut will take place at tomers can expect
MINExpo. “We’re pretty excited about reduction in expo-
that,” Graf said. sure to: injuries as-
The power center is designed to sociated with lifting
prevent arc flash, a type of electrical and setting timbers,
explosion or discharge, on the safe- roof and rib falls, and
ty side of things, Graf said. The SST hazards associated
keeps the power center up and run- with unexpected cav-
ning while troubleshooting or remov- ing. Optional tilting
ing a down circuit, which significantly lemniscate and roof
reduces downtime, he added. support assembly ac-
On the electronic side, the com- commodate uneven
pany will feature the CB-2000, which seam conditions.
Graf called the “latest and great cir- An additional
cuit breaker.” The SST technology is display will feature
included in the CB-2000 RRS-SST Cir- Fletcher’s wet dust
cuit Breaker. tank assembly. This
It will also feature its latest addition dust collection sys- Fletcher’s MRS provides additional roof support for pillar recovery
to its ground check monitoring, the tem is available on and longwall operations.
GM-105-XLD, “Extra Long Distance,” new equipment, as
impedance monitor. With an ad- well as a retrofit kit for existing equip- (IWT) will showcase the Wireless Gas
vanced 125 mA loop current, the XLD ment. Also featured will be both a wet Monitor and SENTINEL Uniti Node.
allows monitoring of cable lengths of and dry drillhead, as well as Fletcher’s “These two devices further enhance
up to 6.5 kilometers (km). The higher Octalock twist-lock socket adapter. our comprehensive SENTINEL com-
current loop provides more tolerance This adapter is an optional attach- munications and data networks as
to connections or inline couplers, ment to the drillhead to aid in a more we push forward to provide the global
which can cause an increase in the stabilized roof bolting application. mining industry with truly wireless
resistance of the pilot circuit. In addi- The design allows for a more secure solutions,” said Gary Sergent, senior
tion to ground check monitoring, the fit for the drill steel through the hexa- director, sales and marketing, IWT.
GM-105-XLD includes ground-fault gon shaped opening to help prevent “Visitors should ask us about the
monitoring for resistance-grounded bent steel during the drilling process. benefits of using a fully wireless un-
systems. It continuously monitors the The Octalock provides a faster transi-
integrity of the ground wire to protect tion between the drill steel and bolt
portable equipment from hazardous resulting in a more efficient bolting
voltages caused by ground faults. application When extracting the drill
They will also feature their new steel from the strata, the Octalock will
gas sensor. This new sensor is special create a more stabilized retreat of the
because it is wireless and can monitor drill steel providing a safer work envi-
up to four gases, Graf said. ronment for the operator.

J.H. Fletcher (N-2603) Innovative Wireless Technologies

Fletcher will showcase an 800-ton (S-25220)
capacity Mobile Roof Support (MRS) In booth 25220 in the South Hall, IWT will showcase the Wireless Gas Monitor
designed to increase pillar recovery Innovative Wireless Technologies (above) and the SENTINEL Uniti Node.

July/August 2021 www.coalage.com 37

minexpo 2021 preview continued

derground network to reduce risk to visitors can get a better understand- said. “The alarming increase in U.S.
personnel, lower maintenance costs, ing of our various product lines for mining fatalities this year has moti-
and increase production output,” he both coal and hard rock mining,” vated us to show even more mining
said. “IWT also excels in providing Sergent said. groups the ways that we can help
unique engineered solutions to chal- “We will have more staff than ever their operations improve.”
lenging problems. If any mine has before available for group or one-on-
experienced problems they could not one conversations,” he said. “We in- Voith Turbo (N-2069)
find a way to resolve, we invite them vite all attendees to visit us.” The theme for drive specialist Voith
to speak with us about what it is they The supplier reported it plans Turbo for MINExpo 2021 is ‘Em-
wish to accomplish.” multiple new releases in 2022. “We powering mining intelligence.’ The
The supplier hopes the show remain committed to helping existing company will be showcasing its Belt-
provides the opportunity to recon- and new customers achieve their op- Genius family of digital products for
nect with friends and customers. erational goals as they face increasing the monitoring, benchmarking and
“We have a new, larger booth and an pressure to meet environmental, po- optimization of belt conveyors and
interactive mine user experience so litical, and global demands,” Sergent conveying systems; Dtect, a real-time

Coal Age’s MINExpo Preview Exhibitor Alpha List

Exhibitor...................................... Booth #......... Preview Page #
AMR Pemco.......................................... N-3081.......................36 Martin Engineering.............................. C-4615.......................33
Caterpillar........................................... C-6229.......................28 Matrix Design....................................... N-2803.......................36
Dräger................................................. N-1837.......................35 Modular Mining.................................... C-7671.......................31
Dyno Nobel........................................... C-6027.......................34 Precision Pulley & Idler........................ C-5433.......................31
ESCO................................................... C-4229.......................32 Richwood............................................ S-24233......................39
Hexagon Mining................................... C-4057.......................32 Schurco Slurry...................................... N-1513.......................34
Innovative Wireless Technologies......... S-25220......................37 Strata Worldwide.................................. C-4413.......................33
J.H. Fletcher......................................... N-2603.......................37 Tema Isenmann.................................... C-5601.......................31
Komatsu.............................................. C-7027.......................29 Voith Turbo........................................... N-2069.......................38
Liebherr............................................... C-7627.......................30 Xylem................................................... C-8591.......................33
Longwall Associates............................. N-2171.......................34

38 www.coalage.com July/August 2021

 minexpo 2021 preview continued

torque limiting coupling monitoring “Our key start-up components are use in transfer areas at its booth at
system that can assist in increasing engineered to the highest standards, MINExpo. The Air-Stop Box Check
overall driveline performance, while characterized by minimal mainte- System uses a “passive” system that
reducing maintenance costs; the Tur- nance and low wear with a mean time contains material throughout the
boBelt TPXL coupling line; the Smart- between failure (MTBF) that sets the length of the conveyor transfer us-
Set process improving coupling with benchmark in the mining industry. ing a chambered design to reduce
controlled slip; and the SafeSet EZi Also, we provide complete drive and air velocity and airborne dust from
torque limiting coupling with instant control solutions, our broad portfolio material free fall. This allows dust
release which protects chain drive of fluid couplings for demanding belt particles to settle back into the ma-
lines from catastrophic failure in the conveyor drives can be customized to terial stream before leaving the con-
event of a chain break. your requirements.” tainment area.
“Increasing production output, Voith Service representatives will Traditional methods include wa-
reducing consumables, and improv- also be present to discuss their offer- ter or chemical spray suppressors
ing energy and resource efficien- ing. The team provides customized or vacuum dust collection. Each of
cy within mining operations is our service packages and a high degree these has their own drawbacks, in-
over-arching goal,” Maike Bechtel, of know-how for a range of equip- cluding increased moisture content
Business Development Expert at ment including belt conveyors, ar- in the material and maintaining a
Voith Turbo, told Coal Age. “From belt mored-face conveyors, mills, press- vacuum system.
conveyors through to armored-face es, shredders, crushers, rolling mills, A well-designed, application
conveyors, we work closely with mine blowers, fans, and generators. specific Material Containment Sys-
owners and equipment operators, en- tem can provide measurable effi-
suring they are empowered to make Richwood (S-24233) ciency through a passive dust con-
data-driven decisions for optimal op- Richwood will be featuring a com- tainment system that requires little
erational performance. plete dust containment system for to no maintenance.

July/August 2021 www.coalage.com 39

operating ideas

Hydraulic Fasteners for Vibrating Systems

A faster and safer way to secure vibrat- washer to augment the performance Monitoring Runoff With Water
ing screen and crusher motor bolts of the EziTite fasteners in service.” Quality Data Logger
has been shown to save two-thirds of “One application in Western Aus- CAS DataLoggers recently provided a
the time previously taken for the in- tralia dramatically cut the installa- water quality data logger system for
stallation and maintenance of drives. tion time for the motor bolts from a an open-cut coal mine to monitor the
Technofast’s EziTite hydraulic six-hour operation needing two or salinity of runoff water in local reten-
nuts have been used to secure vibrat- three personnel, to a two-hour oper- tion ponds. The water from these re-
ing mechanisms and drive motors ation involving two people,” Bucknell tention ponds could only be released
to sieves, screens and comminution said. “The machine operator involved when it was of sufficient quality so
equipment. They are actuated simul- reported that using the poly washer as to have no effect on the irrigation
taneously to give accurate, even and as a shock-resistant component and supplies for the surrounding farming
simultaneous torquing across sets of tensioning them simultaneously with district. Therefore, it was necessary to
bolts used in screen applications. precise accuracy is a game changer.” closely monitor water quality in the
The special EziTite fasteners in- “Not only did the application lagoons for several key parameters
corporate a poly washer for extended benefit from easy installation and including pH, salinity and turbidity.
service, eliminating problems with safer handling, but also the simulta- Mine management searched for
hex nuts, which vibrate loose, cannot neous and precise tensioning of the a data logging system with the abili-
control bolt load, and sometimes re- EziTite nuts produced highly accu- ty to connect to a wide range of sen-
quire the physically demanding use rate bolt loadings without the ‘cross sors that was also capable of remote
of flogging spanners. talk’ coming from individual torque communications to allow convenient
“One of the issues facing operators tightening. This resulted in a saf- access to both recorded and real-time
of this type of equipment is the pro- er, more secure and longer-lasting data. The data logger also had to offer
pensity for bolts to loosen under the joint,” Bucknell said. low power operation so it could oper-
constant vibration and cyclic loading,” EziTite Hydraulic Nuts and Bolts ate off a solar panel since grid power
Technofast Founder and CEO John are rapidly applied by being installed was unavailable.
Bucknell said. “We have alleviated this on bolt studs then hydraulically actu- Ultimately, the mine operator
issue by incorporating a flexible poly ated, stretching the bolt to the precise chose a dataTaker DT82EM Environ-
tension required and then locking it mental Data Logger to record the data
in place mechanically with a locking from several sensors used to monitor
device. The reverse procedure per- the quality of the coal mine water dis-
mits equally rapid disassembly when charge. The data logger was mounted
it is eventually required for mainte- in a weatherproof enclosure suitable
nance, for example. for outdoor exposure at the monitor-
They are particularly useful where: ing site. The DT82EM was connected
• Accurate and reliable loading is to a variety of sensors to allow mea-
required on bolting; surement of conductivity (salinity),
• Vibrational or torsional stresses turbidity, pH and water levels as well
are a problem; as thermocouples for measurement of
• Regular maintenance requires the water and air temperature. A key
repeated adjustment or removal feature of the logger was the ability to
of nuts; and accept the output from many different
• There are confined or difficult types of sensors, including analog sig-
nut locations. nals such as voltage, 4-20 mA current,
Such safety benefits are true of and digital signals such as Modbus
many applications. EziTite hydraulic RTU and SDI-12, the last being very
nuts are ideal for tensioning all of the common in water quality instruments.
studs on a flange, joint or cover simul- For example, the turbidity me-
taneously, loading 100% of the fasten- ter used to monitor the cleanliness of
EziTite fasteners enhance safety and cut ers at once. the water was a Global Water WQ-730,
downtime in widespread applications. www.technofast.com which output a 4-20 mA current sig-

40 www.coalage.com July/August 2021

 operating ideas continued

nal proportional to the turbidity. This upload. The downloaded data was then
current was passed through a simple saved to a local database, allowing for
shunt resistor to generate a voltage that data backup and long-term environ-
was then measured and automatical- mental monitoring. To observe chang-
ly scaled by the DT82EM. To minimize es in water quality in real-time during
power consumption, the switchable water management operations (such as
excitation feature of the logger was used mixing water from different sources or
to only supply power to the sensor while for mine water discharge monitoring),
the measurement was being made. The the logger was switched to a mode that
pH and conductivity were measured continuously powered the modem.
using an Ott Hydrolab DS5 multipa- Then, a connection was made us- A DT82EM (above) collects data from a
rameter data sonde outfitted with the ing the remote connection capability variety of sensors to determine water quality.
appropriate sensors and connected of the dataTaker’s dEX software to the
to the data logger via the SDI-12 serial public IP address of the logger, which all the different types of water quality
interface. To power the data logger and allowed near real-time update of the parameters. In addition, all of the data
sensors, a small 20-watt solar panel, water quality parameters. This con- was made available through a sin-
charge controller, and 20 amp-hr bat- nection also enabled users to remotely gle device. Personnel were also able
tery providing 12 VDC was connected adjust calibration parameters in the to keep a constant watch on the data
to the logger to provide uninterrupted data logger in the event of a sensor re- using the data logger’s remote access
operation without external AC power. placement or to make program modi- capabilities and rely on the logger to
For ongoing operations, data was fication required by authorities. send the data to their company da-
uploaded via FTP twice a day using The mine’s water discharge mon- tabase for storage. The dataTaker’s
the internal cellular modem to a server itoring operation benefitted signifi- included dEX software made configu-
in the mine’s office. This was done to cantly following installation of the ration simple and was easy to navigate
minimize power consumption by only dataTaker DT82EM data logger, pri- for both novice and experienced users.
powering the modem during the data marily by enabling measurement of www.DataLoggerInc.com

Registration
Opens in
August

CONFERENCE
Canadian Coal: Post COVID-19 Recovery

November 30 to Join industry experts,

analysts and fellow delegates
December 2, 2021 for Canada’s premiere coal conference
Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre as we explore the opportunities and
Vancouver, British Columbia challenges facing Canada’s coal industry.

Register at www.coal2021.ca

July/August 2021 www.coalage.com 41

suppliers news

New Tools Assist With Highwall Management

Noon said the RGR-Velox is the highest precision,
fastest scanning and longest range doppler radar on
the market. “Military-grade hardware is combined with
GroundProbe’s safety-critical software, alarming and
systems to provide unrivaled confidence,” he said.
“The RGR-Velox sweep-scans an entire area instant-
ly, much like taking a radar photograph, to capture ac-
tionable information as it happens and provide new
details of the scene every 0.25 seconds,” GroundProbe
Vice President of Technology Fernanda Carrea said.
“Perhaps most impressive is the device’s ability to dif-
ferentiate and locate small moving objects with precise
accuracy, even when moving at just 0.05 meters per sec-
ond. She said its alarming capabilities are completely
customizable, ensuring users are empowered to design
alarms tailored entirely to their specific site challenges
and conditions.
The RGR-Velox (above) scans an entire area instantly, much like
taking a radar photograph. www.groundprobe.com

GroundProbe has launched an advanced doppler radar Rolls-Royce Makes Room for Reman, Overhauls
for reactive geohazard monitoring, the RGR-Velox. It is at mtu Aiken Plant
a military-precision reactive monitoring and alarming Rolls-Royce announced a $17.4 million investment at its
system for tailings dam breaches, large slope failures, mtu Aiken manufacturing facility in Graniteville, South
landslides and avalanches. It detects, tracks and alarms Carolina, for the addition of a new Remanufacturing
on moving geohazards in real-time, keeping people, and Overhaul Regional Center. The planned 109,000-
assets and communities safe by giving warning of a ft2 expansion project will provide remanufacturing and
breach or collapse. overhaul operations.
The RGR-Velox is the latest technology to be born To be built next to the mtu Aiken plant’s existing
from GroundProbe’s R&D and product development engine manufacturing operations, the new center will
programs, and it’s the first product release in reactive bring currently outsourced workshop and warehouse
monitoring, with the company now offering both pre- operations in-house and expand them to provide re-
dictive and reactive monitoring technologies. Its pio- manufacturing of mtu Series 2000 and 4000 engines and
neering predictive monitoring solutions (Slope Stability components, the overhaul of mtu brand and custom-
Radars and lasers) detect and warn people and commu- er-owned engines, plus internal and external rework
nities of impending mine collapses, dam failures, rock- services to help customers and distributors fine-tune
falls and landslides. The RGR-Velox, a reactive mon- maintenance and performance metrics.
itoring solution, tracks and alarms on already moving Remanufacturing offers a wise lifecycle investment
geohazards post-collapse, giving early warning to take for customers, returning equipment to like-new con-
action or evacuate through alarm outputs such as lights, dition and resulting in lower acquisition, maintenance
sirens, pagers or phones. and operation costs. Already performed at select global
GroundProbe CEO David Noon said the compa- plant locations, the Rolls-Royce remanufacturing and
ny has a customer-oriented approach to innovation overhaul process is designed to ensure optimal perfor-
and technology, which has led to the development of mance and durability, where used engines and assem-
this unique reactive monitoring solution. “This tech- blies are fully disassembled, cleaned and inspected, and
nology was a true collaboration between many facets then reworked and reassembled using all new parts to
of our organization, a valued customer and a key replace any outdated, worn or damaged components.
partner,” he said. “By having our customers actively “Investing in a remanufacturing and overhaul
participate in our product development process, we center in the United States is the next milestone in
are able to co-create value and produce the most implementing our global strategy to optimize the val-
beneficial solution.” ue of our installed base, with regional centers and sup-

42 www.coalage.com July/August 2021

 suppliers news continued

porting workshops offering the best

support for our customers,” Rolls-
Royce Power Systems COO Dr. Otto
Preiss said.
“The new center will fulfill re-
gional and local customer needs us-
ing the global network and process-
es, following the remanufacturing
and overhaul lead plant located in
Magdeburg, Germany,” added Marc
Goldschmidt, global vice president
of remanufacturing and overhaul.
The facility at Aiken will feature
distinct work areas to carry out the
remanufacturing and overhaul pro-
cess: core management; cleaning
and disassembly; measuring and in- Rolls-Royce announces the addition of a new Remanufacturing and Overhaul Regional Center
spection; rework; reassembly; test; at its mtu Aiken manufacturing facility in Graniteville, South Carolina, U.S. The project will
painting and packaging. Upon start- provide dedicated and streamlined remanufacturing and overhaul operations as those
provided, for example, at the Magdeburg plant (pictured here) in Germany.
up, the center will remanufacture
all applications of mtu Series 2000,
Series 4000 and Detroit Diesel 2-Cycle engines. The fu- Construction of the new center is scheduled to be-
ture aim is to add capabilities to support the company’s gin later this year, with operations expected to begin in
sustainable solutions such as battery containers, along early 2023.
with natural gas engines and systems. www.mtu-solutions.com
“It’s exciting to see and be a part of starting up and
establishing the Remanufacturing and Overhaul Re-
gional Center here in Aiken, which is a great addition
to our existing capabilities of machining and producing
new products,” said Steve Blaszczak, senior manager,
remanufacturing and overhaul for the U.S. “Our goal is
to provide customers and distributors with solutions to
reduce their costs while providing high-quality prod-
ucts and services, using many of our existing processes,
machinery capabilities and standards.”
“Our investment in remanufacturing and overhaul
solutions is also in line with our initiatives toward more
environmentally friendly solutions,” Blaszczak said. “By
remanufacturing and overhauling engines, we are able
to extend their useful life while also bringing them to
the latest emissions standards. This benefits our cus-
tomers as well as the environment.”
Since its opening in fall 2010, the mtu Aiken Plant
has been the site of continuous innovation, invest-
ment and expansion. What began with the production
of Series 2000 and Series 4000 engines has grown to in-
clude the assembly of military engines, the machining
of parts, and even the production of energy through its
solar field and microgrid. With an on-site research and
development center and now a new Remanufacturing
and Overhaul Center, the mtu Aiken Plant covers the full
circle of life for an mtu engine — from concept to sec-
ond life (i.e., overhaul).

July/August 2021 www.coalage.com 43

product news

Synthetic Rope Supports Dragline Boom

of 1.5 million lb (6,672 kN). Manufac-
tured to a ± 0.5% (± 4 in.) length tol-
erance for a spliced rope, four ropes
were used with a spliced eye contain-
ing a steel grommet thimble at each
end. One pair, measuring 55 ft, was
connected to a crane and another pair,
measuring 63 ft, supported the boom.
The length tolerance between each
rope pair was ± 0.13% (± 1 in.). These
ropes are stranded synthetic working
ropes made of Twaron aramid fiber
with braided polyester fiber jackets.
“We first lowered the dragline
boom to the ground and attached the
ropes,” Thompson said. “After raising
the boom, the ropes were tensioned
to remove any stretch, and the drag-
line moved under the powerlines.
It went very well. We completed the
dragline move within 4 hours.”
A Marion 7820 dragline passes under 500-kva power lines during the move to a new site at
Sabine Mining Co.’s South Hallsville surface mine. In addition to temporary min-
ing ropes like these, Phillystran also
Mining rope maker, Phillystran, sup- tions,” said Spence Thompson, man- supplies ARA-BOOM mid-boom and
plied Aramid PSWR 1500 fiber lines to ager, dragline technical services at main-boom pendants for draglines.
North American Coal’s Sabine Mining North American Coal’s Sabine Mine. “Because spliced terminations were
Co. for moving a Marion 7820 dragline “Working with heavy industrial con- required here, we opted for a balanced
under a pair of 500-kva power lines to tractor, Warfab, and Phillystran, we stranded rope made from Aramid fiber
a new site at Sabine’s South Hallsville decided to lower the boom and pass with a protective braided jacket,” said
surface mine. The fiber lines sup- under the two 500-kva power lines. Greg Savage, market manager of utili-
ported the dragline boom during the This had the advantage of speed as ty, mining and structures, Phillystran.
move under the power lines, allowing well as reducing the exposure of con- “A ± 0.5% (± 4 in.) length tolerance is
the dragline relocation to be complet- ductive steel wires to the power lines. unprecedented for a spliced rope of
ed in a fraction of time needed had The 5.3-in. diameter Phillystran this kind, achieving it reduced the risk
the boom been disassembled. PSWR 1500 rope has a break strength to the boom during the move.”
The Sabine mine, also operated
by the Sabine Mining Co., delivers
approximately 4 million tons of coal
per year to Southwestern Electric
Power Co. The operation uses two
draglines for overburden removal and
reclaims about 400 acres of land an-
nually. Normally, the dragline move
would involve either disassembling
the boom or lowering the power lines
to the ground allowing the dragline
to pass over them.
“We considered both approaches,
but neither was attractive due to the
cost and disruption to mining opera- Phillystran Aramid PSWR 1500 fiber rope lines are used to support the dragline boom.

44 www.coalage.com July/August 2021

DISCOVER MINING
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Register today at www.MINExpo.com.

product news continued

Mine-duty Submersible Pump

Weir Minerals recently launched the
new Multiflo Mudflo hydraulic sub-
mersible slurry pump. Engineered
for abrasive applications and large
particle handling, the pump fea-
tures a hydraulically driven wet-end
specifically designed to efficiently
and safely reprocess and relocate
tailings ponds, maintain water re-
tention dams, and manage slimes
and sludge ponds.
The innovative solution combines
the Warman MGS pump-end, Multif-
lo CB32 hydraulic cutters, and ESCO
excavation teeth to provide efficient
pumping of highly charged and abra-
sive slurries.
Weir Minerals’ Ultrachrome A05 pable of pumping between 150 and uous operation of the pump. The new
chrome alloy impeller ensures high 1,200 m3/h, up to 82-m head. hydraulic hose management system
wear resistance and the specially en- The CB32 hydraulic cutters fea- reduces the risk of hose entangle-
gineered suction strainer minimiz- ture ESCO Ultralok tooth system to ment and trip hazards, all the while
es the risk of clogging by preventing prevent premature breakage, avoid providing a reliable hose bend radius
large solids and debris from entering tooth loss and protect the integral to ensure smooth oil flow.
the pump. The Mudflo pump is ca- locking system to ensure the contin- https://info.global.weir/mudflo

46 www.coalage.com July/August 2021

CONSULTANTS, SERVICES ADVERTISING INDEX
....................................................................................................................................... PAGE
Cincinnati Mine Machinery Co.............................................................................. 3
Coal Association of Canada Conference 2021..................................................... 41
SILO, BIN & BUNKER
CoalProTec 2022 - Coal Preparation Society of America (CPSA)...................... 26-27
CLEANING SERVICES Coaltrans Asia 2021 - Coaltrans Conferences Ltd............................................... 25
& EQUIPMENT Columbia Steel Casting Co Inc...........................................................................BC
Conspec............................................................................................................. 11
} Exclusive Big•Mole™ service
FAMUR S.A......................................................................................................... 17
cleans out silos and bins
quickly and efficiently Highland Machinery Corp.................................................................................. IFC
} Silo inspections conducted by Innovative Wireless Technologies (IWT)............................................................... 39
certified structural engineers Jennmar Corp..................................................................................................... 19
The Joburg Indaba 2021 - Resources4Africa....................................................... 23
+1 740.374.6726 Komatsu Mining Corp USA.................................................................................... 9
800.322.6653 (USA) Matrix................................................................................................................ 43
MINExpo 2021 - National Mining Association (NMA)............................................ 45
Mining Media Int’l - Subscription Renewal.......................................................... 46
Precision Pulley & Idler (PPI).............................................................................IBC
www.molemaster.com/coal This index is provided as an additional service. The publisher does not assume liability for errors or omissions.

CONSULTANTS, SERVICES

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION:
Midwest/Eastern U.S. & Canada Scandinavia, U.K. & European Germany, Austria & Switzerland
Craig Scharf Colm Barry Gerd D. Strasmann
Tel: +1 904-721-2925 ext. 106 Tel: +46 (0) 736 334670 Tel: +49 202 28 14 64 83
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Western U.S., Canada & Australia Japan

Frank Strazzulla Masao Ishiguro
Tel: +1 949-459-1767 Tel: +81 (3) 3719-0775
[email protected] [email protected]

July/August 2021 www.coalage.com 47

legally speaking

Planning for and Assessing Risks

of Powered Haulage
by brian hendrix

Right now, the Mine also used some of this data and infor- For the most part, practices iden-
Safety and Health mation to draft a new, proposed rule tified by MSHA are common and
Administration that MSHA will likely publish soon. widely accepted.
(MSHA) is focusing Thus, mine operators should be MSHA will soon publish a new
on powered haul- paying close attention to powered rule on powered haulage, and that’s
age safety. It is fair haulage safety. MSHA’s lists of “Pow- where the rubber will really hit the
to say that powered ered Haulage Practices” are a good road. MSHA has indicated the pro-
haulage safety is one of — if not the — place to start. Also, it is important to posed rule will require mine opera-
highest priority for MSHA. On July 20, keep in mind that MSHA classifies tors to develop mine specific plans
MSHA held a national “Stand Down “mobile equipment, conveyor sys- for powered haulage safety. No one
for Safety Day.” MSHA enforcement tems, and anything else under pow- will know what’s in the proposed
staff visited mines “to emphasize the er that hauls people or materials” as rule until it is published by MSHA. If
need for adhering to best safety prac- “powered haulage.” In other words, the rule forces the adoption of cer-
tices for powered haulage, vehicle roll- “powered haulage” includes many tain technology, it will not be well
overs, and miner training to reduce different types of equipment. With received. Ideally, the agency should
fatalities and injuries.” It’s not difficult that, here are the Powered Haulage propose a rule that encourages and
to see why: nine of the 17 fatalities this Best Practices identified by MSHA. incentivizes the adoption of such
year and 185 injuries have been asso- Powered Haulage Best Practices – new devices and technology.
ciated with powered haulage. Surface If MSHA proposes a rule that re-
This isn’t a new development. • Always dump material in a safe quires mine operators to develop mine
MSHA identified powered haulage location. specific plans for powered haulage
safety as a priority back in 2017. In • Always construct substantial safety and to implement those plans
2018, MSHA launched its Powered berms as a visual indicator to through training and enforcement, it
Haulage Safety Initiative, noting that prevent over travel. should receive broad support. Hope-
“[a]bout half of all U.S. mining fatali- • Establish safe traffic patterns fully, the agency will propose a rule
ties in recent years — including 13 of with proper signage. that embraces modern risk assess-
the 27 fatalities in 2018 — were due • Chock the wheels or turn them ment and risk management systems.
to accidents involving powered haul- into a bank when parking mobile Risk assessment and risk manage-
age.” MSHA has since devoted con- equipment on a grade ment systems work. They are critical,
siderable resources to enforcement, Powered Haulage Best Practices – integral elements of any truly effec-
education, training and outreach on Underground tive safety and health program. Stat-
powered haulage safety. • Stop and sound an audible warn- ic, reactive approaches to safety and
MSHA also invited mine operators, ing device before tramming health have limits.
miners, equipment manufacturers and equipment through ventilation For its part, MSHA’s focus has al-
other stakeholders to submit “data and curtains. ways been on enforcing compliance
information on technologies such as • Look in the direction of travel and it has not taken a risk manage-
collision warning, proximity detec- and stay in the operator’s com- ment approach.
tion systems, seat belt starter interlock partment while operating mobile This summer, MSHA will publish
systems, and other technologies that equipment. its proposed powered haulage safe-
can reduce accidents involving pow- • Install reflective signs or warning ty rule. Coal operators may not want
er haulage equipment.” Stakeholders lights in low clearance areas. to wait to develop and implement a
responded to this request with an im- Powered Haulage Best Practices – mine-specific plan for powered haul-
pressive and very diverse array of ideas, Conveyors age safety.
suggestions, best practices and other • Design, install and maintain
information. MSHA culled what it con- guards. Brian Hendrix is a partner with
sidered the best of the information it • Lock out–Tag out: Lock and tag Husch Blackwell. He can be reached at
received and shared it broadly. MSHA conveyors before performing work. [email protected].

48 www.coalage.com July/August 2021