Tag Archives: Germany

LKAB to bring GHH LF-19EB tethered-battery electric loader to Malmberget

LKAB is set to add to its electric fleet at the Malmberget mine in northern Sweden after agreeing to acquire a LF-19EB tethered-battery electric loader from Germany-based GHH.

The manufacturer welcomed a team of LKAB team experts to its factory and testing ground in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, this month, with a successful Factory Acceptance Test of the LF-19EB taking place.

The LF-19EB is a 19-t-payload LHD initially designed for feeder breaker loading in the soft rock, salt and potash mining industries. It has a 34 kWh on-board battery for panel-to-panel electric tramming, with a tractive effort force of 380 kN and an average of 250 kVA under permanent load and 315 kVA peak. It has a maximum cable length of 310 m, which provides loading flexibility when plugged into the mine grid.

The loader heading to Malmberget has been upgraded for hard-rock applications with input from the customer, GHH says.

LKAB has tested and used several pieces of battery-electric equipment from different vendors at its Malmberget mine, while its Kiruna mine was among the industry’s earliest adopters of cable-electric loading, trialling its first Sandvik unit in 1985.

Epiroc to consolidate European manufacturing of hydraulic attachment tools

Epiroc says it is taking actions to promote efficiency within its Tools & Attachments segment, consolidating its European manufacturing of hydraulic attachment tools to improve competitiveness.

As a result of this move, the manufacturing facility in Essen, Germany, will be closed, Epiroc said.

Epiroc will consolidate the hydraulic attachment tools manufacturing in Europe to other existing production facilities in Kalmar and Fagersta, Sweden, and Dermbach, Germany. The consolidation will strengthen Epiroc’s competitiveness, it said.

Epiroc’s operation in Essen is planned to be closed by the end of 2025, with some 130 employees to be affected.

Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s President and CEO, said: “We regret that this consolidation will affect our colleagues in Essen. These actions, however, are necessary to safeguard that we remain competitive within hydraulic attachment tools. We will ensure that our customers get the best products and solutions possible also onwards.”

The restructuring cost is estimated at about SEK155 million ($14.3 million) and will be reported in the December quarter of 2023.

Epiroc also has manufacturing of hydraulic attachment tools in the US, India and South Korea.

In an additional activity to increase efficiency and promote sustainable profitability in its Tools & Attachment segment, Epiroc has decided to cease production at its relatively minor rotary pipes and accessories facility in Perth, Western Australia.

Epiroc’s aim is that all the facility’s employees will be offered new jobs in the company.

Zinnwald Lithium and Metso engaged in ‘one-stop shop’ studies for LiOH project

Zinnwald Lithium plc and Metso have continued to make progress developing the beneficiation plant concept for the integrated Zinnwald lithium project near Dresden, Germany.

This project, which is situated in the heart of the European chemical and automotive industries, is designed to supply battery-grade lithium hydroxide (LiOH) to the battery sector.

Anton du Plessis, CEO of Zinnwald Lithium, said: “Achieving resilience and sustainability for the electric vehicle battery supply chain is essential, including in Europe where over 30 new gigafactories are planned by 2030.

“Our vision is to build a world-leading integrated lithium hydroxide operation to support this supply chain, adhering to the highest environmental standards. We are therefore delighted with the progress being made with Metso as we look to design the best possible particle sorting, otherwise known as the beneficiation process, for the plant.”

Metso was engaged to assist Zinnwald Lithium with its definitive feasibility study in early 2022. The two companies have since been working on developing a successful beneficiation process flowsheet based on a complete mineralogical study, batch and locked cycle tests. The design basis of the tests considers the mixture of two distinctive lithium ore types, Alibite Granite and Quartz Mica Greisen, potentially expanding the resource base considerably.

du Plessis said: “After the completion of the beneficiation pilot, we will start refinement of the calcination and hydrometallurgical flowsheet. We have partnered with Metso to develop and deliver this project as a ‘one-stop shop’ to reduce the need for engagement with multiple suppliers and to maximise in-house expertise in the design of the plant from run-of-mine to the battery-grade final product.”

Mikko Rantaharju, Vice President, Hydrometallurgy at Metso, added: “Metso is delighted to support Zinnwald Lithium with the development of this ambitious project. Development and supply of state-of-the-art, sustainable processes and equipment for the critical minerals required for the electric vehicle supply chain is an essential part of our minerals processing expertise.”

Metso provides sustainable technology and equipment for all ore types, including the critical minerals required for the energy transition, supported by its unique Planet Positive offering.

Metso says its solutions for battery minerals cover the entire lithium, nickel and cobalt production chain – from the mine to battery materials and black mass recycling – with project scopes ranging from equipment packages to plant deliveries. For high-end lithium-ion battery chemicals production, Metso’s expertise covers the extraction of lithium from various lithium sources up to battery-grade lithium salts.

IMARC 2023 organisers preparing for ‘grand slam’ event

The world’s mining and resource leaders are heading to Sydney, New South Wales, for the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) from October 31 – November 2 in what has become a “grand slam” event of the industry, globally, event organisers says.

IMARC Chief Operating Officer, Anita Richards, said this year’s event was looking to be the largest ever, with over 520 speakers from global giants such as BHP, Fortescue, MMG, Gold Fields, Wesfarmers, Worley, Perenti, IGO, the US Departments of Energy and Defense and the ICMM, coming together to collaborate on themes including digital transformation and innovation; sustainability, social value, environmental resilience, people and culture; trade, investment and project opportunities; and energy transition.

She said: “The mining and resources industry is evolving rapidly to meet the growing energy demands of today while developing the minerals needed for a decarbonised economy – under unprecedented scrutiny from communities, regulators and investors.

IMARC 2023 comes at a time when explorers and miners are diversifying portfolios to align with future demand, triggering the highest level of M&A activity across both mining and METS we have ever seen.”

This year’s conference will see the return of the IMARC NextGen Program, which will provide an opportunity for 200 NSW school children to learn about the diverse and exciting mining and resources industry.

IMARC 2023 also features:

  • A special ESG focus on creating social value;
  • An extensive look at First Nations engagement, human rights and transparency;
  • A look at best-practice mine rehabilitation;
  • A global perspectives on heritage and environmental custodianship and economic development;
  • A return of the successful Balance for Better Program which promotes equality, diversity and inclusion across all areas of the mining and resources sector.

Richards added: “Mining and resources have never been more important for sustainable economic, social and innovative development across the globe. We need more exploration and development to match surging demand for the critical minerals that are central to the global energy transition. IMARC 2023 is where the most important conversations are being held about how mining and resources can help achieve global development sustainably and equitably.

“IMARC is a key forum to address these challenges, and the global profile of the event is reflected in delegations already confirmed from India, Saudi Arabia, Ecuador, Chile, Mongolia, United States, South Korea, Japan, Germany and many more.”

At IMARC 2023 a range of new features have been added to the program. These include the Low Emission Technology Australia session to help accelerate innovation in the clean technology sector, the 4,000 sq.m IMARC Mining Pavilion with over 150 exhibitors present and the final of the Unearthed Global Innovation Games where the winners will be announced and their technology displayed.

IMARC 2023 will take place at the ICC Sydney from October 31 to November 2 and will be a celebration of what has grown into one of Australia’s biggest business events, with a record 8,500 delegates from over 120 countries, including upwards of 50 government delegations expected to attend, organisers say.

International Mining is a media sponsor of IMARC 2023 and will be in Sydney reporting on the event.

Germany and Finland out for sustainable solutions at IMARC 2023

Germany, often hailed for its technological prowess and commitment to environmental sustainability, finds itself at a crossroads when it comes to its mining and resources future.

Historically, mining has played a vital role in Germany’s economy, but the industry now faces a multitude of challenges that demand a balanced approach to ensure economic growth and environmental conservation while reducing the country’s reliance on imported resources.

The International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC), to be held in Sydney later this year, will for the first time host a dedicated Germany Pavilion, where the country’s mining and METS companies will be looking to connect and collaborate with Australian and global industry partners to address the challenges of the global quest for the resources of the future.

Germany’s mining heritage dates back centuries, with coal and lignite mining significantly contributing to its industrialisation and economic growth. However, as the world moves towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, the prominence of coal has waned, leading to a gradual phase-out of coal mining in the country. This shift aligns with Germany’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to renewable energy.

Juergen Wallstabe from the German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce says that although mining activities have declined across Europe over several decades, Germany has expanded its global presence in the resources sector. High-tech METS companies in Germany are increasing their export of innovative and technologically advanced solutions worldwide.

He is confident IMARC will open more doors for established and emerging German firms to enhance their reputation for technological excellence and innovation.

“Germany’s leading position in engineering and manufacturing has resulted in a world-leading METS sector,” Mr Wallstabe says.

“We are convinced that on the one hand, German METS companies can support the Australian and other mining industry operators to reach their targets related to safety, productivity, efficiency, and decarbonisation.

“On the other hand, Australia is a valuable partner for Germany’s resources needs.”

One of the key themes at IMARC in recent years has been the industry’s impact on the environment and its role in building a sustainable decarbonised economy. A particular focus has been the often-unwelcome legacy of operations, where mining activities have left lasting scars on landscapes, disrupted ecosystems, and polluted water sources.

Wallstabe says that IMARC provides an opportunity to showcase how Germany’s emphasis on environmental protection has led to stringent regulations for mitigating these legacy impacts.

“Germany’s commitment to remediating and restoring abandoned mining sites demonstrates our dedication to healing environmental wounds,” he says. “IMARC offers a chance to share our experiences and learn from others facing similar challenges.”

Meanwhile, energy security is once again a buzzword in Europe, partly driven by the ongoing war in Ukraine and the impact of reliable energy supply, but also as a result of shifting political environments in countries like Germany.

Germany’s ambitious Energiewende (energy transition) plan aims to eliminate nuclear power and significantly reduce carbon emissions by promoting renewable energy sources. Consequently, the focus has shifted towards sustainable mining practices that support the production of materials crucial for renewable energy technologies, such as lithium for batteries and rare earth elements for wind turbines and solar panels. This presents an opportunity for the mining sector to contribute positively to Germany’s energy transformation.

Wallstabe notes that, “To manage the energy transition, Germany’s and Europe’s need for critical minerals will increase dramatically for the foreseeable future. Australia is already and will continue to be a key player in securing a steady supply of critical minerals. Wind turbines need steel, copper and strong magnets with rare earths minerals. Batteries consist of a wide range of critical minerals like lithium, manganese, copper, nickel, cobalt and the hydrogen industry needs platinum, iridium or scandium. All resources that Europe struggles to produce in sufficient quantities.”

IMARC spokesperson Paul Phelan says it is significant to have Germany so strongly represented at this year’s event. He says delegates can look forward to a showcase of Germany’s renowned innovation, and how it extends to the mining sector.

Like most other advanced nations, Germany’s mining industry is intertwined with global supply chains, both as a consumer of raw materials and as a supplier of technology and machinery. Ensuring ethical sourcing and responsible procurement of minerals from abroad becomes crucial in upholding the nation’s commitment to sustainability.

Finland, on the other hand, is taking a different approach towards securing critical minerals by prioritising e-waste recycling. Birgit Tegethoff, Senior Advisor at Business Finland Australia, points out Finland’s position as a global leader in the e-waste recycling noting companies like Metso are leading the world with its hydrometallurgical battery black mass recycling process.

“The Finnish mineral industry has the circular economy heavily ingrained in its DNA which has given it a competitive advantage in the global market,” she says. “By increasing the number of recycled components in battery production we are able to reduce the carbon footprint throughout our battery supply chain but also reduce our dependencies on international supply chains.”

High on Finland’s agenda is developing strategic international partnerships in the green minerals sector. The head of the Finnish delegation, Ilkka Homanen, has extended an invitation to Australian research institutes and the broader resource industry to reach out at IMARC 2023 and become part of a consortia solving the challenges of the green minerals value chain.

Rolf Kuby, Director-General of Euromines, says the issues facing Germany and Finland are not unique to those countries, but are felt across Europe.

“Australia embraced its natural endowment as a major strategic asset, while Europe has been over the last decades focused more on acquiring raw materials from elsewhere to process them further,” Kuby says.

“In part, this is due to the lack of deposits but also due to lack of exploration and willingness to foster mining. This is now changing, with the increase in demand for critical raw materials, and the need to future-proof value chains and not to be naive towards the importance of building a degree of open strategic autonomy.”

Phelan says along with the Germany pavilion, there will be a 90-minute German Program at IMARC 2023, curated by the German delegation and Chamber within the Global Opportunities Theatre.

Other programs featured this year include Canada, Australia, Mongolia, Ecuador, Chile, Saudi Arabia, Quebec, Ontario and South Korea.

International Mining is a media sponsor of IMARC 2023

Redpath Deilmann, Thyssen Schachtbau to backfill Gorleben mine as part of closure plans

BGE, Germany’s federal agency for waste disposal, has taken what it says is the first important step towards the closure of the Gorleben mine in Lower Saxony with the award of contracts to backfill the mine using the salt originally excavated as part of plans for a nuclear storage project.

A consortium consisting of Redpath Deilmann GmbH and Thyssen Schachtbau GmbH Germany have been awarded with the work, with the pair expected to commence operations once mining permits have been obtained – currently estimated for mid-2024. The backfilling work is expected to take three years.

Redpath Deilmann sunk two exploration shafts at Gorleben to investigate its potential as a final disposal for nuclear waste using the ground freezing technique. These two shafts, sunk from 1986-1999, were 7.5 m in diameter and went down to depths of 933 m (Shaft 1) and 843 m (Shaft 2).

In September 2020, the Gorleben salt dome was withdrawn from the list of potential sites for a nuclear repository due to geological reasons based on an interim report by BGE. Following this, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection commissioned BGE to close the mine.

The original shaft sinking saw salt transported to the surface, which has since been stored in the immediate vicinity of the mine. Around 400,000 t of rock salt is currently stored there on a salt heap, which is now to be used to backfill the mine.

Dr Thomas Lautsch, Technical Managing Director of BGE, said: “By signing the contract, we are taking the first big step towards closing the mine in Gorleben. The striking salt heap will now gradually disappear and the exploration mine will be filled step by step.”

The Gorleben mine will be closed in phases. After the mine has been backfilled, the two shafts will be backfilled via another construction contract (phase 2) yet to be tendered. In a final order, the site will be made usable again (phase 3).

Hatch, ERCOSPLAN, K-UTEC on board for South Harz’s Ohmgebirge potash PFS

South Harz Potash Limited has appointed its specialist team to deliver the prefeasibility study for its 100%-owned Ohmgebirge potash development project in Thuringia, Germany.

Hatch is, South Harz Potash says, a recognised leader in the development and implementation of potash projects globally and has worked on projects in Europe, North America and beyond.

ERCOSPLAN and K-UTEC, both part of this team, have a long tradition in the development of potash projects in many parts of the world, and both are particularly experienced in the Thuringian “hartsalz” typical of the region, according to the company. Micon, meanwhile, will continue to provide geological support and will be responsible for the mineral resource estimate.

The PFS is set to further refine the engineering, design and cost estimates (to +/-20%) for the Ohmgebirge development, following the scoping study completed in August 2022. Key workstreams have already commenced with overall PFS completion scheduled for January 2024.

South Harz Chief Operating Officer, Lawrence Berthelet, said: “We are very pleased to be working with global industry leaders, Hatch, and premier German mine and process engineering teams, ERCOSPLAN and K-UTEC, to advance our flagship Ohmgebirge Development. Coupled with our geology partner, Micon, the external team will deploy its experience alongside our owner’s team to advance the project through the PFS workstreams and will provide essential support to the Environmental Impact Assessment and permitting processes announced earlier this month.”

The team will be under the in-house leadership of South Harz, Chief Operating Officer, Lawrence Berthelet, with key PFS specialist discipline engineering responsibilities.

Hatch will act as the lead consultant and study manager (external), with Owner’s Engineer responsibility. It will also carry out the infrastructure engineering and design, including all energy trade-off studies, plus capital and operating cost estimates.

ERCOSPLAN is the specialist engineering consultant responsible for mine planning, geological risk assessment, geotechnical modelling, shaft hoisting and underground backfill technology engineering.

K-UTEC AG Salt Technologies has responsibility for process flowsheet design, backfill technical and constituent engineering.

Mining consultant, Micon International, will provide continuity in geological modelling, Competent Person and mineral resource update provision.

The South Harz project hosts a globally large-scale potash JORC (2012) mineral resource estimate of 5,000 Mt at 10.6% K2O of inferred resources and 258 Mt at 13.5% K2O of indicated resources across four wholly-owned project areas within central Europe. This comprises three perpetual potash mining licences, Ohmgebirge, Ebeleben and Mühlhausen-Nohra, and two potash exploration licences, Küllstedt and Gräfentonna, covering a total area of approximately 659 sq.km.

The August 2022 scoping study outlined a 4.5 Mt/y run-of-mine project with a K2O head grade of 13.5% over a 21-year life.

Metso Outotec to develop hydrogen-based DRI pilot plant in Germany

Metso Outotec says it will convert its existing 700 mm circulating fluidised bed (CFB) pilot plant in Frankfurt, Germany, for hydrogen-based direct reduction of fine ore as it looks to further drive down carbon emissions associated with the iron-making part of steel production.

The company will apply its Planet Positive Circored™ technology as part of this process, with the pilot plant able able to be used for the reduction of high-grade iron fines concentrate and to confirm the design basis for an industrial-scale Circored plant.

Commissioning of the plant is expected to take place by December 2023.

Parizat Pandey, Director, Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) at Metso Outotec, said: “The investment enables us to pilot the reduction of low-grade iron concentrate fines in larger quantities than what we do today, and, subsequently, perform downstream fines DRI electric smelting tests for hot metal production.

“The Circored processing route used in the process offers the lowest possible carbon footprint in the iron-making segment of an integrated steel plant.”

Once operational, the 700 mm pilot plant will be able to continuously produce 150-200 kg/h of direct reduced iron, using 100% hydrogen as the sole reducing agent, Metso Outotec claims. The pilot plant will have an integrated pre-heating and reduction section, followed by a gas cleaning and recirculation facility.

The investment includes installation of electric heaters in the process, making it an almost zero-carbon-emission plant, according to the company. Further, the data obtained from the use of electric heaters will be used to scale up the design of industrial heaters capable to running on renewable energy.

The Circored process is based on the fluidised bed knowledge and experience developed and applied by Metso Outotec over decades in hundreds of plants for different applications. The process applies a two-stage reactor configuration with a CFB followed by a bubbling fluidised bed downstream. The typical plant capacity is 1.25 Mt/y per line. Two or more lines can be combined using joint facilities and utility areas. In standalone plants, the produced DRI is briquetted to hot briquetted iron to enable further handling and safe transport.

If a Circored plant is integrated into an existing steelmaking facility, energy efficiency can be further increased by direct hot feeding of the DRI to an electric arc furnace, according to Metso Outotec.

Herrenknecht making headway on hard-rock mechanised shaft sinking operations

Herrenknecht used the Bauma 2022 stage last month to reveal details about its latest mechanised shaft sinking solution for mining, the Shaft Boring Cutterhead (SBC).

The company, which has successfully delivered its Shaft Boring Roadheader (SBR) to soft-to-medium rock sinking applications in mining, has equipped its latest concept for hard rock up to 250 MPa uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), with the machine able to carry out cutting, lining and mucking operations concurrently.

The SBC’s specification is based on the experiences from six past mechanised shaft sinking projects and was developed in tandem with a global shaft sinking company Redpath Deilmann.

Two of the projects that influenced the design used the SBR – the blind sinks at BHP’s Jansen mine in Canada and Slavkaliy’s Nezhinsky mine in Belarus. The company has also supplied two SBRs to Anglo American’s Woodsmith mine, with one already carrying out sinking operations.

Redpath Deilmann operates SBR shaft sinking operations at Woodsmith, with DMC Mining previously in charge of sinking operations at the Jansen project.

“This new generation of blind shaft machinery aims to update and adapt existing technology to current conditions and requirements,” Martin-Devid Herrenknecht, Member of the Board of Management, says.

Speaking in Munich in a presentation titled ‘Mechanised sinking of deep shafts in hard rock’, Patrick Rennkamp, Product Manager Mining, Herrenknecht, said the SBC had been designed for shaft diameters up to 9 m and shaft depths of circa-1,500 m. The machine weight starts from 450 t and it is 45 m in length.

One of the unique elements Rennkamp highlighted was the pneumatic mucking system on board the SBC.

Building on a similar system used for the SBR, the mucking process on the SBC is tied to the circular motion of the cutter discs situated on the full-face cutterhead. The movement of the discs and suction, combined, ensures the machine only cuts the material once, Rennkamp explained to IM on the side lines of the event, reducing wear on the cutters and keeping the machine cutting for longer.

The design ensures that the cut material filters into the centre of the machine where the suction element is most effective. The cuttings then go up the suction pipe into a suction box before being filtered into coarse and fine material and blown further upwards where they can be transported to another overhead station for removal – via buckets – to surface.

Like the SBR, the machine has a gripper system to keep it in place within the shaft. There is also a lining area directly above the grippers and further work decks for concurrent work.

The company is targeting sinking rates of 6-8 m/d with the new SBC. While this is short of the progress traditional TBMs make in horizontal developments, it is quicker than traditional drill and blast methods used for blind sinking.

Herrenknecht had a team of some 40 working on the development of the SBC at its Schwanau facility in Germany. This is complemented by a team at Redpath Deilmann’s facilities in Germany, who are also providing input to the project.

To this point, the company has carried out 600 tests with different sizes of material, completing some 9 m of shaft sinking in 30-40 MPa UCS concrete with a demonstration rig that is 1:3 the size of the full-size machine.

The next steps are to invite potential customers to supply their own material for testing on the rig and validate the hard-rock cutting potential.

GHH happy to leverage a key mining market niche

GHH is not in the business of forcing its customers to move in one direction or another; it is focused on delivering solutions that work for operators and mine sites today while offering options for what may come tomorrow.

The Schmidt Kranz Group-owned company has made a habit of supplying market niches across the globe, creating machines for the low-profile mines of southern Africa or narrow-vein operations in Latin America.

It has done this while retaining a key focus on the soft-rock sector in its German homeland – one dominated by a major salt and potash player.

Now, having assembled an impressive line-up of new machines over the last three-or-so-years and re-birthing a 10-t loader that the company expects to garner appeal across some major mining markets, GHH is out to claim more significant hard-rock mining share than it has in the past.

“Solid as a rock” is not just a catchy tagline the company attaches to its logo; it is also representative of the GHH machine point of difference.

“Robust, durable and reliable” are the three standout qualities the company highlighted at its most recent product launch in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. One can add to these traits an in-cab operator focus that isn’t always top priority for its fellow OEMs.

The latter element is reflective of the types of customers GHH has traditionally served in the mining space, as well as the need to treat operators with the respect they deserve – especially when there is less of them available to service mining operations in line with the global skills shortage.

The robustness and durability are easy elements to unpick given the company’s standard operating procedure for underground loaders is to allow them to run for 20,000 hours, carry out a machine re-build and let them work for another 15,000 hours thereafter, Ingo Rath, Product Manager for Loaders at GHH, explained.

“In fact, we sometimes have machines that are re-built a third or a fourth time and continue to operate in the field,” he told IM, emphasising this durability.

The reliability benefit is tied to the company’s careful engineering and design, aiming to remove unnecessary electronics that can lead to machine downtime and focusing on hydraulics wherever possible.

Some of the only electronics on-board your average GHH machine are specifically designed to improve uptime.

Take GHH inSiTE, for instance, a condition monitoring solution operating around the globe. This platform – in simplified terms – highlights potential issues that could lead to time in the workshop, while also reporting on individual machine performance.

On top of this, the company can provide real-time brake wear via sensor-based solutions. This is a critical element for both safety and maintenance.

It is not only the sparing use of electronics that bolsters GHH machine uptime.

Take the company’s tethered loaders as an example. Here, the company has designed the cable reel to be carefully distributed and retracted via a vertical coiling mechanism, as opposed to the horizontal equivalent some other manufacturers have elected to use.

This allows the company to offer cables up to 250-300 m in length that have drastically improved cable life, according to Jan Petzold, CEO of GHH Group.

“We’ve analysed the two options – vertical and horizontal reel configurations – and see that we can improve the lifetime of the cable more than twice with the vertical reel due to the reduced tension from controlled spooling,” he told IM.

Design for an outcome

The clever design goes beyond the robust, durable and reliable pillars GHH has built its reputation on.

The introduction of z-link kinematics on the body frame of the new LF10-NEO – as well as relocating the steering cylinders – has allowed the company to boast a 10-t-payload loader with the highest tipping height in its class. It is also a full 0.5 m above the tipping height offered by its predecessor, the LF10.

This is a significant point of difference in this popular class of underground loader and one that the company is confident will be appreciated in key markets like Latin America where the machine will be able to three-pass load not only the company’s MK-30 truck (to be launched next year), but also any other 30-t-payload underground truck on the market.

Modular design philosophy: the LF10-NEO has the same cab as the larger LF14, as well as left- and right-hand saddles bolted onto the back of the loader that can be removed and replaced if required for underground shaft transport

While the company has earned a reputation for delivering machines tailored to the application, it has also been attempting to incorporate more modular design into its newest models to improve maintenance times and reduce assembly durations.

The LF10-NEO, for instance, has the same cab as the larger LF14. It also has left- and right-hand saddles that are bolted onto the back of the loader and can be removed and replaced if required for underground shaft transport.

Within this modular blueprint, GHH is also able to offer a choice of engines on the same block from Volvo Penta or Mercedes for the LF10-NEO, ranging from EU Stage 3, to US Tier 4 Final and EU Stage 5.

This modularity is enabling the company to turn around machines quicker, which proves highly valuable when bidding on contracts from new hard-rock mining clients.

All the while, the company can design a tailored machine for a specific application should the right client come knocking. This was displayed when touring the factory in Gelsenkirchen, where a low-profile SLP-14E tethered electric machine was in the shop awaiting final build and factory acceptance testing.

This machine, like others in the company’s range, came about from collaboration with one of its key strategic customers in the underground mining space.

Pull, not push

GHH is focused on reducing engineering and maintenance complexity on its machines for its clients, but also wants to offer advanced options to those further down the road on their digitalisation and automation initiatives.

Thanks to the help of Schmidt Kranz Group company, Nerospec SK, the company provides an interface to be able to bolt on Level-9 compliant collision avoidance systems to any machine. This, according to Harald Bornebroek, Business Development Manager at Nerospec, represents the first level of automation, with the neroHUB on board these machines able to automatically take over the braking function should an impending accident arise.

The company is also able to offer OEM-agnostic teleremote applications where machines are operating in particularly dangerous areas of a mine – where high seismicity has been observed as an example – but it can also help fully automate loading or haulage operations.

Eric Pohlmann, CEO of Nerospec, highlighted two such applications in Germany – one at an underground salt mine in Germany where a GHH loader is dumping into a crusher and one at a quarry involving a fully-autonomous load and haul pairing from the Germany-based OEM.

And, on the topic of automation, GHH can also claim a world first, having, with the help of the University of Chile’s Advanced Mining Technology Center, run a loading operation at a room and pillar mine without any human interaction in the South American country.

The difference between GHH and most of the other OEMs it is competing with is that GHH is not actively ‘pushing’ these solutions on clients. It is reacting to their evolving needs.

Petzold brought up an excellent example of this when questioned about if the company will create a battery-electric loading and haulage line-up in the future.

To this point, the company only has one machine, the LF19-EB, that has a battery on-board. The battery, however, is used solely for relocating the machine between one loading area and another. Most tasks are carried out with the machine tethered to the existing mine power network via a cable.

The LF19-EB has a battery on-board used for relocating the machine between one loading area and another. Other tasks are carried out with the machine tethered to the existing mine power network via a cable

This machine has been performing well for one of GHH’s key soft-rock customers and, recently, has come to the attention of one of Europe’s biggest underground hard-rock mining companies – interest that could soon result in a machine order.y

For Petzold, this is a much more realistic way of introducing electrification to the underground sector, allowing mine operations to utilise existing power infrastructure as opposed to forcing them into a major redesign.

“While battery-electric loaders may have their application, the need to recharge a whole fleet of them and put extra pressure on the grid means most operations will not be able to support them with their existing power infrastructure,” he said. “With more flexible cable-electric solutions, like that offered with the LF19-EB, this is not an issue.”

Petzold added that higher diesel prices, on top of the need to decarbonise operations, will lead more mining companies to look at these ‘entry-level’ cable-electric solutions sooner rather than later.

For the time being, GHH Group is happy to stick with this philosophy knowing the niche it is mining in the sector continues to make it stand out for all the right reasons.