With the new 280 SM(i) surface miner, Wirtgen says it has developed another efficient and practice-oriented solution for the extraction of primary resources, with innovative technologies that enable high machine utilisation rates and maximum productivity.

The 280 SM(i) is a high-performance surface miner designed for the reliable and selective extraction of primary resources by direct loading, sidecasting or cut-to-ground, Wirtgen says. Raw materials are extracted and crushed in-situ in purest quality in a single operation – without drilling and blasting, and with minimal environmental impact.

The 280 SM(i) is driven by four steerable and height-adjustable crawler units. The machine is highly manoeuvrable and can be quickly turned at the end of a cut, according to the company. The LEVEL PRO ACTIVE automatic levelling system maintains the specified cutting depth with consistently high precision and without further aids.

The 280 SM(i) is an “all-rounder” for all rock hardnesses and applications, Wirtgen says. The 2,750 mm cutting drum unit, with a cutting depth of up to 650 mm, is precisely adaptable to each specific application and achieves outstanding cutting performance with minimal pick wear, it added.

Wear-resistant toolholder systems ensure optimal pick utilisation and minimal downtime.

While the soft-rock cutting drum unit is designed especially for high material flows in soft rocks, the hard-rock cutting drum unit ensures maximum durability and long life in hard-rock applications.

In the extraction of primary resources by open-pit mining, the key priority is always a combination of highest possible productivity, maximum purity of the material mined and the reduction of impact on people and the environment to a minimum, Wirtgen says.

“Aside from performance, the productivity of mining equipment depends primarily on constant operational readiness and optimum machine use,” the company says. “Only a reliable and maintenance-friendly machine assures high utilisation rates.”

The innovative operator’s cabin contributes to the operator’s ability to exploit the full potential of the machine and maximise productivity. The 280 SM(i) surface miner is, therefore, the tool of choice for cost-efficient mining processes in the 120-t class.

The high-performance, hydraulically height-adjustable, rear discharge conveyor with a movable counterweight can be slewed to the right and left by 90° and enables the loading of mining trucks with payloads of up to 100 t. What’s more, the operator can continuously vary the speed of the belt independent of the engine speed to reduce belt wear dependent on the material volume and the piece-size of the mined material.

Entirely new standards are set by the dust-sealed and air-conditioned positive-pressure cabin on the new surface miner with fresh air filtration, which effectively prevents the ingress of dust into the operator’s workplace, Wirtgen says. Mounted on the front left chassis column, the operator’s cabin with all-round glazing is decoupled from the machine body and can be rotated by 90° in both directions. Up to six cameras can also be installed to provide even better all-round vision. Various automatic functions also contribute to the operator’s comfort, reduce the risk of fatigue, assist the operator in the achievement of high productivity rates and make the overall process more efficient, the company says.

“These days, the reduction of carbon emissions, noise, dust and vibration while maintaining consistently high extraction rates and productivity is more important than ever before,” the company says. “With the new surface miner, Wirtgen offers innovative technologies that minimise impact on the environment and conserve valuable natural resources.”

Thanks to the reduction of carbon emissions by low specific fuel consumption, an efficient water management system and effective solutions for the minimisation of dust pollution, the 280 SM(i) shows that ecological and economic considerations are actually compatible and closely interconnected, Wirtgen concluded.