Tag Archives: buckets

Metso looks to grow mining truck body, bucket exposure with Häggblom buy

Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , , ,

Metso says it has signed an agreement to acquire Ab A. Häggblom Oy, a privately-owned Finnish engineering and manufacturing company with a key offering that includes mining truck bodies and buckets.

Häggblom’s service portfolio includes wear parts, truck body and bucket refurbishments, as well as related field services. It has partnered with Metso for several years in the manufacturing of truck bodies.

The acquisition will broaden Metso’s offering in bodies and buckets by providing complete end-to-end loading and hauling solutions, while  strengthening the company’s position in the aftermarket, according to Metso. The aim is to leverage Häggblom’s strong engineering and manufacturing expertise in collaboration with existing partners on a regional and global basis.

Heikki Metsälä, President, Consumables business area, Metso, said: “Loading and hauling is a growing business, and our goal is to further develop our capability to serve our customers. Häggblom’s product range, manufacturing know-how and engineering capabilities, as well as service expertise, are a good addition to Metso’s wear parts portfolio. Häggblom’s employees will bring valuable skills to Metso, and we look forward to building on the great partnership we have developed over the years,”

Jukka Karhula, CEO, Häggblom, said: “This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our company. We have successfully cooperated with Metso for many years, and we are now excited to become part of an international company. We are confident that our expertise and products will align well with Metso’s loading and hauling offering. This acquisition will benefit our customers and employees who are our most important assets.”

The acquisition is estimated to be finalised in August 2023. The parties have agreed not to disclose the transaction value, which has no material impact on Metso’s financials, it says.

Weir ESCO delivers ‘largest operating’ dragline bucket to North America mine site

Equipment maintenance, Metallurgy, Mine operation news, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, , , , ,

Weir ESCO has completed another major milestone in its bucket-producing legacy, delivering a brand new, customised 164 yd (150 m) ESCO® ProFill® bucket to a customer in North America – a unit that, it claims, is now the largest dragline bucket currently operating anywhere in the world.

Miners use dragline buckets to scoop up and remove overburden sitting above a deposit of ore. The more overburden the bucket can handle in a single pass, the faster miners can get to the valuable ore below. This new bucket can move about 270 tons (245 t) of rock and soil in one pass, and do it more efficiently than other buckets, according to Weir ESCO.

When installed in March, the equipment qualified as the largest dragline bucket currently operating anywhere in the world, it says.

“I’ve never seen a bucket dig like this,” said Account Manager, Jim Carter, who has been selling dragline buckets for 26 years. “Weir ESCO is one of the few companies that can produce a bucket this large. And in-house innovations in metallurgy are helping the company create stronger, more wear-resistant buckets that fill faster, use less drag energy and deliver exceptional productivity.

Design and manufacturing of the new dragline bucket took about a year, according to Chris Grewell, Primary Engineer on the project.

“We were able to refer to previously created patterns and castings as a starting point to create this custom bucket,” Grewell said. “Years of past expertise go into a project like this. Previous ESCO engineers have done a great job. We were standing on the shoulders of giants to create this bucket.”

Weir ESCO has been creating huge dragline buckets for more than 90 years. Today, the company says it continues to expand its market share by capitalising on its engineering legacy and in-house metallurgy innovations to produce stronger, more productive and more wear-resistant products with expanded life expectancies, reduced energy usage and less waste.

Caterpillar lowers UG mining costs, downtime with release of bolt-together LHD buckets

Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , , ,

Caterpillar has launched “bolt-together” buckets for underground loaders that, it says, offer the same strength and durability as standard buckets, but reduce time and costs associated with transportation, assembly and rework procedures for underground mining.

The new bolt-together bucket does not require skilled maintenance operators for underground welding, resulting in a reduced safety risk, according to the company. On top of that, the design allows for efficient underground assembly, where the loader is working, to cut replacement time and lead to lower machine downtime and higher productivity.

“Optimised for moving abrasive underground materials, the new bucket design includes improved material thickness for increased strength and a rigid bucket assembly to aid in easier edge installation and removal,” Caterpillar says. “High-grade, 400 BHN materials used for bucket assembly components and high-grade wear protection ground engagement tools (GET) on the removeable shroud assembly deliver a long bucket service life for better cost saving and productivity. With proper GET selection and management, the Cat bolt-together bucket is designed to last through the first machine overhaul period to reduce replacement downtime.”

The buckets are modular in design for quick installation and removal, with the Cat GET available for the new bolt-together buckets including three edge options – bolt-on half arrow, modular weld-on and Durilock – shroud segments, and rock guard to deliver reduced downtime and accelerated repair.

The new bolt-together bucket is available in a range of capacities from 5.3-7.5 cu.m, specially designed for the Cat R1600H, R1700G, R1700 and R1700 XE LHD models. They are built in the same factory and go through the same stringent quality control process as Cat equipment and are supported by the global Cat dealer network, the company says.

MTG to launch GET detection and new bucket lip system at bauma 2022

Equipment maintenance, IoT, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining events, Mining services, Mining software, , , , , , ,

MTG, a Barcelona-based specialist in the design and manufacture of high-quality wear solutions for earth moving machinery, is planning to present some major new innovations at the upcoming bauma 2022 event in Munich, on October 24-30, it says.

Among the mining-related launches due to be presented at the world’s biggest trade fair are the launch of VEEMET, a versatile system for excavators and loaders of between 20 and 250 t equipped with plate lip buckets; and its own ground engaging tool (GET) detection system called GET DETECTION.

As the successor to the well-known STARMET system, VEEMET has been optimised for an increased performance and user-friendliness, according to MTG. It offers improved stability due to its V-shaped fitting, which provides more resistance against torsional loads.

VEEMET also features an optimised locking option for quick and easy assembly and disassembly; reinforced pins; and a slim tooth design for enhanced penetration and increased machine efficiency, MTG says.

The wide range of self-sharpening teeth and plate lip adapter designs are suitable for any construction, quarrying and mining application, providing a better digging performance, it says.

in terms of GET detection systems, MTG says it is the first major player in the industry that has developed its own in-house platform.

The launch of GET DETECTION follows successful field tests in Europe and Australia, where the system – made up of magnetic field sensors and actuators integrated in the corresponding GET components, antennas, ECUs and an operator tablet – was able to show its ability to improve operational safety and avoid unplanned downtime, MTG said.

“MTG’s GET DETECTION system, the first series of in-house developed DIGITAL SOLUTIONS, detects GET detachment in less than three seconds with zero false alarms,” the company says.

At MTG’s booth at bauma 2022 (437 in Hall A6), there will be a display of the GET DETECTION system for visitors to learn live how it works.

Weir consolidates ESCO Eastern Canada footprint with Carriere Industrial Supply buy

Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, , , , , ,

The Weir Group says it has completed the acquisition of Carriere Industrial Supply Limited (CIS), a manufacturer and distributor of highly engineered wear parts and aftermarket service provider to Canada’s mining industry.

Its products, which include mining buckets and lip systems, help customers increase productivity through reduced downtime and improved safety, Weir says. The enterprise value for the transaction, which will see CIS join the ESCO Division, is £20 million ($26 million), subject to customary working capital and net debt adjustments.

The transaction builds on long relationship with CIS, acting as ESCO distributor in Eastern Canada for many years, Weir said, while delivering on ESCO’s strategy to have direct sales channels in major mining markets. It also increases ESCO’s capability in underground hard-rock mining applications, with CIS having a strong presence in gold and being located close to deposits of nickel and lithium.

According to Weir, the acquisition will be earnings- and margin-accretive in year one with returns expected to exceed the group’s cost of capital in the first full year of ownership.

Andrew Neilson, President of Weir’s ESCO Division, said: “The acquisition of CIS aligns with our strategy of providing direct sales and service to our mining customers and builds on our long-standing partnership, while also enhancing our capabilities in underground hard-rock mining applications.”

Widespread demand for truck trays and buckets boost Austin’s order book

Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining finance, , , , , , ,

Austin Engineering Limited says it has received A$82 million ($61 million) of new orders across its business in the three months until end-February 2022, as orders for its specialist truck trays and buckets continue to come in.

This boost represents a 100% increase in its order book level compared with the same period of its last financial year.

Austin says it is now confident it has received sufficient orders to cover its 2022 financial year revenue guidance. In addition, Austin has also received a very encouraging level of orders for its 2023 financial year pipeline. Overall, enquiry levels and contract win rates remain strong in all home markets, it noted.

The new contract wins have resulted in a significant order book lift from December 2021, when Austin reported an increase in orders of 35% year-on-year.

The order book improvement is across all of Austin’s home markets but dominated by the US, Chile and Indonesia.

Austin explained: “The truck tray business has remained strong but is now widespread across more jurisdictions and has been supported by a much stronger level sales of buckets and other equipment. Austin’s new JEC High performance bucket range has attracted considerable attention and, with four months to go in the current financial year, the company has already achieved a record level of sales of mine buckets compared to recent years.”

Austin has previously announced a series of measures aimed at improving its competitiveness by sharpening its focus on the needs of its customers, both in Australia and overseas. As an example, this approach has led to an update to its core Ultima truck trays to meet increased demands around safety and weight carrying capacity.

The design updates have been coupled with cost efficiencies from the advanced manufacturing approach and the hub-and-spoke build strategy, increasing Austin’s product quality and cost competitiveness in the market, it said. This action has already delivered a material level of new order wins, strengthening the current financial year order book, and driving momentum into the next financial year.

Austin is now rolling out the initial phase of its advanced manufacturing plan, following an intensive design phase, which aims to increase production efficiency, safety and quality, thereby reducing costs and increasing productivity. The company is now initially rolling out the new production system in Batam, Indonesia, because that facility is running at an elevated level of throughput in a trend that is expected to continue.

The company flagged in its first half 2022 financial year results that it was entering a challenging period in Western Australia, which is currently under Level 2 Government restrictions due to rising COVID-19 cases in the state. Potential risks, which to a limited extent are now being experienced, include loss of productivity due to staff shortages and shipping delays, which could impact scheduling and deliveries for Austin and its suppliers. The current level of restrictions is not anticipated to remain in place for long, with Western Australia’s COVID-19 caseload peak expected in the next few weeks. Contingency planning continues to reduce risks where possible.

Austin Engineering seals A$300 million contract with Rio Tinto

Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , , , ,

Austin Engineering Limited has signed a five-year mining products and service supply contract with Rio Tinto Services Ltd, less than a week after the two companies celebrated the manufacture of the 1,000th truck body for Rio’s iron ore division.

The contract is for the supply of dump bodies, lightweight trays for ore trucks, heavy machinery buckets, water bodies and other fabricated products. The contract also covers the provision of “Off Site Repairs” and other associated services for both Austin-supplied equipment and for other OEM supplied heavy machinery.

The contract, effective from December 16, covers supply from all of Austin’s major global facilities including those in Australia, Indonesia, North America and South America. It is an umbrella or call-off type agreement, allowing for the supply of equipment and services to multiple Rio Tinto operations around the world through individual purchase orders.

Austin estimates that the value of services under the contract over its life could be around A$300 million ($213 million), although it is dependent on individual purchase orders. The contract includes pre-agreed pricing for mining buckets and haul truck trays matching Rio’s global fleet, enabling rapid purchasing and order fulfilment. The contract also provides for annual price reviews to manage exchange rate, steel and labour rate variances and any other factors that the parties agree are relevant to pricing.

Under the contract, Austin will use its recently established “Innovation and Technology Hub” to continue to develop its products to help meet Rio Tinto’s objectives to optimise the safety, lifecycle and productivity of its global heavy machinery fleet.

Austin has supplied Rio Tinto Iron Ore (RTIO) operations with its heavy machinery consumable equipment, offsite repairs and other equipment for 33 years, initially servicing Robe River in the Pilbara. Austin delivered its first bucket to Rio Tinto 21 years ago and its first truck body 14 years ago. As mentioned, last week, the two companies held a ceremony in Perth to mark the manufacture of Austin’s 1,000th truck body for RTIO.

Austin CEO and Managing Director, David Singleton, said: “This contract extends our very successful and productive involvement with Rio Tinto for another five years. Rio Tinto is a key customer for Austin’s products and services, and I would like to thank the company for its support in helping to build a strong local manufacturing industry in Australia, and a leading business in this industry globally.

“As a result of this commitment by Rio Tinto, we have the confidence to invest in developing our Austin 2.0, strategy. As part of this, we recently announced a A$6.5 million investment in advanced manufacturing at our facilities initially in Western Australia and Indonesia that will bring new levels of quality, production capacity and flexibility. In addition, our Innovation and Technology Hub in Western Australia is focused on meeting the safety, mine site efficiency and decarbonisation goals of Rio Tinto and other customers in Australia and around the world.”

Schlam’s Barracuda buckets receive SSAB Hardox seal of approval

Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining industry recognition, Mining services, , , , , , , ,

Schlam says it has been certified as a Hardox® In My Body member for its Barracuda range of excavator, shovel and wheel loader buckets.

The Barracuda range of buckets is custom made for the customer’s ground conditions, commodities, material properties and OEM earthmoving fleet, Schlam says.

From high production lightweight buckets through to armoured buckets, each attachment is tailor-made to get the best out of the client’s fleet of load and haul equipment, according to the company.

General Manager of Schlam Payload Solutions, Glenn Brearey, says a poorly designed bucket will slow productivity and performance of the load and haul ecosystem.

“The biggest bucket is not necessarily the best; that’s why a fit-for-purpose solution engineered to suit the conditions is critical to maximising the investment in your dig machine.

“It’s also why we choose Hardox wear plate. Its properties – exceptional strength, hardness and toughness mixed with bendability and weldability – means that we can purpose-build a Barracuda HX for low wearing conditions where weight can be saved using linerless attachments or high wearing conditions with short bucket change-out intervals. Hardox wear plate allows us to be agile to our clients’ needs.”

Manufactured by global steel company SSAB, Hardox wear plate is a leading abrasion-resistant steel.

While the Barracuda has been in Schlam’s growing product catalogue for some time, the acceptance into the Hardox In My Body program means each Barracuda HX with a Hardox In My Body logo will have passed SSAB’s strict quality control with regard to welding quality, manufacturing process and design, and is approved as a premium product by SSAB’s board, Schlam said.

Each logo comes with a unique ID that is traceable and identifies the origin and material used in the bucket. This way, customers know that the product is made from genuine Hardox wear plate and not an inferior imitation.

The addition of the Barracuda line of products into Hardox In My Body program follows its Hercules dump truck bodies also being welcomed into the program earlier in the year.

Austin truck bodies, buckets on their way to Egypt, Ukraine, Argentina and Dominican Republic

Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining services, , , , , , , ,

Austin Engineering’s growth initiative to expand the company’s presence into new markets appears to be working, with the company having recently won contracts to deliver products to Africa (Egypt), Eastern Europe (Ukraine), and South and Central America (Argentina and the Dominican Republic).

This is the first time in the company’s history that product has been supplied to these countries, it said.

The total value of orders, consisting of truck bodies and buckets, received is in excess of A$6 million ($4.3 million) and is anticipated to provide a springboard for further sales into these markets, the company said. The majority of the orders received by value have been provided from subsidiary companies of large global miners, it noted.

The order received in Egypt was made possible by the Austin ETT joint venture partnership entered into earlier this year. Prior to this partnership, Austin would not have been in the running for this opportunity, further cementing the value in collaborating with the right strategic partners in territories that Austin does not currently have a physical presence, the company said.

In line with this strategy, Austin Engineering has also recently signed a contract with a representative in South America to work with potential clients in Brazil and is in the process of finalising a representative to support Austin in Eastern Europe.

“Both of these markets have a large field population of mining trucks and shovels and could be important markets for Austin in the medium term,” the company said.

Austin Engineering Managing Director, Peter Forsyth, said: “These new territories are important to Austin’s growth aspirations, as there are a number of mining regions around the world that are still largely operating with standard OEM products for truck bodies and excavator buckets. Adoption of Austin’s innovative replacement products in these regions would enhance production metrics significantly.

“Partnerships are proving key to our success in entering these new regions and allow us to leverage our experience with our partners’ commercial contacts to achieve great outcomes for Austin, our clients and our partners.”

CR’s DecaEdge cast lip for large mining wheel loaders goes live

Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining safety, Mining services, , , , , , , ,

CR has announced the public launch of its latest DecaEdge cast lip (DE2553) for large mining wheel loader buckets.

First talked about in an IM exclusive in June, the 9-station lip suits wheel loader buckets with capacities between 14-20 cu.m, the company says.

CR’s DecaEdge range has demonstrated its performance and provided maintenance savings over a number of years, with individual lips achieving more than 25,000 operating hours with no major rebuilds, resulting in an over 33% reduction in total cost of ownership of the lip and ground engaging tool system, CR says.

The DE2553 was developed in response to the popularity of CR’s DecaEdge 10 and 11 station cast lips, aiming to broaden the company’s cast lip range for large mining wheel loaders, it says.

CR Chief Executive Officer, John Barbagallo, says the range extension demonstrates the strong market appetite for this unique offering.

“CR is the only manufacturer to offer a range of cast lips for mining class wheel loaders in the world,” he said. “The company prides itself on developing innovative, market leading products to help develop and shape the future of mining.

“By building deep and trusted relationships with customers, CR is able to understand and help solve challenges in field to ensure productivity continually improves. The success and growth of the DecaEdge range is the result of world-class engineering and comprehensive collaboration with our partners.”