After several years of R&D, Atlas Copco is formally launching the new generation Mobile Miner product line. The Mobile Miner product line “offers a continuous hard rock mining system which enables faster advance rates, easier scheduling and safer work environment than traditional methods.” The new generation Mobile Miner product line currently comprises three different product models.

“We are very excited to launch our Mobile Miner product family, with this revolutionary technique we put safety and continuous mining and tunneling first. Mobile Miner is the next step in the evolution of mechanical rock excavation”, said Mikael Ramström, Director of Mechanical Rock Excavation at Atlas Copco.

Atlas Copco has been developing the new generation Mobile Miner product line in close cooperation with global mining corporations with the goal to move towards a continuous mining system based on mechanical rock cutting. “We use a well-known technique, packaged in a small and flexible machine. We are confident that this will be a success that could change the mining industry”, said Ramström.

The biggest problem with mining hard rock is that it is difficult to break mechanically. Using the traditional drill and blast method is a slow start and stop process. The mine has to be evacuated before a blast, and various gases are created by the explosion. When using mechanical rock excavation based on soft rock pics, the cutting parts wear down quickly, advance rates are low and energy consumption is high. Atlas Copco is now introducing steel disc cutter technology to the mining industry, a technology used and proven in civil construction industry for a long time.

“With the new generation Mobile Miner, the rock cutting process is continuous and predictable which makes planning and scheduling much easier – a critical factor for the mining industry to become more cost efficient and predictable in their operations,” said Johnny Lyly, Global Product Manager for Mobile Miner at Atlas Copco.

One important aspect of the Mobile Miner is safety for the operators. Mobile Miner does less damage to the surrounding rock and reduces the risk of fall of ground. Being automated and remotely controlled also means that operators can be removed from hazardous areas of the mine. In that way, this kind of innovation and modernisation improves both safety and the long-time performance of a mine.