Komatsu says it has introduced replaceable trapping shoe wear inserts for Joy longwall shearers, which are engineered to help lower operating costs and can promote reduced worker exposure. The company said: “Joy shearer owners will appreciate the fast replacement times and effort, low operating costs and the advancement of the journey to zero harm.”

Key to the shoe inserts is their slip-in design. They efficiently slide in and out from the end of the shoe, so they can be replaced anywhere on the longwall. Plus, they’re only 32 kg, compared to up to 454 kg for a full shoe — helping to reduce effort equipment worker exposure during replacement.

“This is a major breakthrough for our longwall customers,” said Shawn Franklin, Product Manager, Longwall Shearers. “Using these inserts can help them reduce downtime, maintenance and replacement costs.” Komatsu adds that operations can also be confident in the quality and performance of the shoes, as they are covered under a Komatsu warranty. Shoes rebuilt or rewelded by third parties can shorten rack bar life or affect the fatigue life of the parent shoe.