Tiefenbach Control Systems GmbH says it has received a follow-up order from China to plan and supply a second complete electro-hydraulic control system for a second set of the world’s largest roof supports to date, the ZY26000/40/88D model. The order from the roof support manufacturer ZMJ (Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group Co Ltd) has a value of approximately €2.7 million and, in addition to the main hydraulic control system, once again includes all safety-relevant auxiliary valves.
The total of 152 sets of roof supports with a height of 8.8 m and an individual weight of 100 t each will be the second set of the highest roof supports ever built in the world and will be used by customer, coal mining giant China Shenhua Energy Company. Due to the extremely high demands made by the weight and size of the supports, mainly new and further developed hydraulic components will be used. The project lead time is only about three months.
The very short delivery time could only be realised in the planning stage, as more than 80% of the installed components are manufactured or processed within the Knapheide Group of companies. With the award of this contract, the ZMJ Group and Tiefenbach are continuing their extremely successful cooperation of the past years. With this order, Tiefenbach says it is further expanding its position as market leader for electro-hydraulics in Asia, the largest market for mining products. More than 130 longwalls worldwide are now equipped with the electronic and/or hydraulic technology “Made in Bochum.”
ZMJ is recognised as the largest powered roof support manufacturer in the world with over 50 years of experience. The company has an annual capacity of producing 30,000 units of powered roof supports used in thin seam, medium seam, thick seam and Longwall Top Coal Caving (LTCC).
Tiefenbach Control Systems GmbH designs, distributes and manufactures at its headquarter in Bochum, Germany and four worldwide subsidiaries with approximately 140 employees, It produces electro-hydraulic and hydraulic control units for application in the area of mining, offshore and heavy industry. Tiefenbach is part of the owner-managed Knapheide consortium from Beckum with more than 1,000 employees. Tiefenbach achieved an annual turnover in the past fiscal year of €35 million with an export ratio of more than 90%.
