A new Doosan DA30 ADT is now in use hauling rock salt underground in the Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine near Lubin in Western Poland, which is owned and operated by KGHM.  The Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine began operations in 1996.  Prior to that, it had begun life as the Polkowice mine which first opened in 1967, whilst the Sieroszowice mine started up later in 1980. The prinicpal mined products are copper with by-product silver but salt is also extracted in its own right and occurs above the metallic deposits. The total mining area covers some 176 km².

The DA30 truck is one of a fleet of six Doosan (and predecessor Moxy) ADTs in the mine. The salt is mined by a Sandvik AM85P roadheader, only the second of its kind in operation in Europe with the first based in the Ruhr Valley in Western Germany. Powered by over 6,000 v, it extracts approximately 200 t of salt during every 3.5 h shift, and must be inspected and serviced every other day. The Doosan DA30 weighs over 23 t (when fully loaded, its weight exceeds 50 t), and like the rest of the mining equipment, was dismantled and taken down the mine via a special mine shaft, and then reassembled. The DA30 machine at Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine was sold by Wigropol, a local company in Polkowice, operating as a Doosan sub-dealer in mining equipment, a highly specialist market requiring expert knowledge to be successful. “We understand the challenges our machines face, and know which ones will overcome them best, which is why we can offer products which perfectly match our customers’ needs,” explained Ryszard Martyniak, Wigropol’s Director.

Marek Gruchala, Mechanical Engineering Assistant Manager at the Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine, says of the conditions faced: “Here, every situation is extreme. The fact that the machine operates underground in an environment subject to extremely high temperatures and dust levels, puts it to the test every day. A special guard and barrier housing was designed to protect the lights and windshields when passing through rubber dams. A special platform for the roadheader operator’s assistant was installed to supervise and control salt loading.  The machine is also equipped with an ANSUL extinguisher system and DOTRA Communications system. In the case of really steep dips, the interaxle differential lock can be activated on all the wheels. The machine works fifteen hours a day, sometimes travelling three miles each way. We therefore appreciate the low exhaust emissions of the Scania diesel engine which fully complies with Stage IIIB standards. The level of emissions produced in tunnels can be significant. Recent test results have shown that particulate levels are well below 100 ppm in the vicinity of the exhaust, compared to standard requirement levels of 300 ppm, an impressive result.”