Komatsu says it has partnered with Poland-based Becker-Warkop Sp. z o.o. to produce a set of Joy custom-designed longwall powered roof supports (PRS), manufactured by Becker-Warkop, for Warrior Met Coal’s operations in the US.

These supports will also include Joy’s Faceboss RS20s roof support controls, which can help provide full face automation, Komatsu said.

Last year, Komatsu announced plans to provide Joy-engineered PRS solutions through partnerships with PRS manufacturers to, it said, best meet customer needs to reduce costs and maximise performance.

Warrior Met Coal, meanwhile, recently announced plans to relaunch the development of its Blue Creek reserves into a new, world-class longwall mine located in Alabama, USA, near its existing mines.

Mark Brocklehurst, Global Product Director – PRS Engineering at Komatsu, said he was delighted that Warrior Met Coal had selected Komatsu and Becker-Warkop for its next set of longwall PRS.

“Our Joy-engineered PRS solutions are designed to help our customers to mine efficiently and safely with the added flexibility of enabling access to lower cost manufacturing sources to reduce up-front investment, and we are pleased that we can offer a solution which meets their needs.”