The major Polish manufacturer of mining equipment, Famur, has recently signed the largest contract in its history with Kompania Weglowa, for 147 million zloty (zł), or almost €33 million. Kompania Weglowa remains state-owned but is Poland’s and the EU’s largest coal producer employing over 60,000 people across 15 mines. Famur has also just signed an important contract with NWR worth 52 million zloty. The deal with Kompania Weglowa involves the sale of 82 Remag roadheaders; with Remag only having been taken over by Famur last year. The machines will work across all 15 Weglowa mines in roadway and longwall development with delivery to take place during 2012-2013.

The latest agreement with NWR covers the supply of Fazos mechanised longwall roof supports from Famur group to the NWR-owned OKD mining group in the Czech Republic, the subject of a major article in the January issue of IM by Editor Paul Moore, who recently visited the operations. Famur is providing 135 Fazos units, which will be used in the OKD CSM mine, located on the eastern part of the Karvina basin in the Moravian-Silesian region. IM is also soon to visit the new NWR Debiensko mine in Poland, where the major first phase of underground access is due to be completed by March this year.