Tag Archives: Germany

Bridgestone to display world’s largest mining truck tyre at Bauma

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

Bridgestone says it will present a selection of its premium and innovative range of tyres, industrial products and targeted solutions developed specially for the mining and construction industries at the upcoming Bauma fair in Munich, Germany.

The company is renowned for producing premium quality tyres for everything from bicycles to aircraft, including the world’s largest mining trucks. One of these 4-m-tall tyres, the largest in the world, will be on display at the Bridgestone stand on April 8-14. It will be joined by a number of other tyres, including brand-new products:

  • VSDL Loader tyre 33/65R29 – the first wheeled-loader tyre to combine the benefits of the super-wide-base 65 series with the deep Bridgestone VSDL tread pattern. “It delivers a new level of dynamic stability and low ground pressure, while retaining the resistance to cuts and damage,” Bridgestone said, and;
  • VLTS ADT tyre – Only recently launched, this tyre was specifically developed for the 60 t ADT from Volvo Construction Equipment. “The tread is even deeper than the VLT E3 tyre, delivering truly incredible traction as well as the strength and reliability Bridgestone is famous for,” the company said.

Other tyres to be displayed will represent the highly varied range of tyres Bridgestone provides for construction machinery and construction vehicles, building-material machines, mining machines, and other construction equipment, Bridgestone said.

Bridgestone’s stand will present rubber tracks, pads, hydraulic hose, cabin and engine mounts, in addition to having technology on show that falls under the Firestone brand.

This included:

  • Firestone Airmount – This air spring is adjustable. This allows users to meet the demands of loads that range in weight by hundreds or thousands of kilos, and to maintain a level surface even as loads shift. They offer excellent vibration isolation;
  • Firestone Marsh Mellow – Marsh Mellow fabric-reinforced rubber cylinders are virtually indestructible, according to the company, do not need to be inflated with air and still protect systems from the effects of structurally transmitted vibrations. They are perfectly suited for use on equipment such as vibrating screens, acting as passive isolators at a standard beyond that of steel springs.

Bridgestone has also developed digital solutions that maximise the potential of these products, making the most of the digital technology that is being increasingly integrated into vehicles and machinery to increase productivity, decrease downtime, maximise operational potential and minimise the risks to personal safety. Part of the Total Tyre Care approach, two specific solutions will be presented at BAUMA:

  • Tirematics TPMS – The first tyre pressure monitoring system to focus primarily on fleet pressure measurements for individual machines. It stops vehicles from running on under-inflated tyres, a trend that almost all fleets are guilty of. Automated pressure checks identify what work is needed without the interruptions and downtime that result from physical checks or damage to under-inflated tyres;
  • FleetPulse – A mobile and web application designed to help fleet customers maximise the health and performance of vehicles, while improving uptime and reducing total cost of ownership and digitising operations. At the same time, FleetPulse helps in reaching the high compliance and safety standards required in the industrial world.

FleetPulse consists of vehicle checklists that the driver performs, tyre-pressure measurements performed by Tirematics technology and scheduling to resolve defects, as arranged by the Fleet or Maintenance Manager.

The data FleetPulse gathers is consolidated to offer insights into the operation of a fleet, ranging from validation of maintenance/repairs to data extraction to ensure compliance.

CrossControl to show new flat-front display computers at Bauma 2019

Automation, Communications in mining, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining events, Mining safety, Mining services, Mining software, , , , , ,

This year, CrossControl’s booth at the Bauma show, in Munich, (April 8-14) will showcase the latest additions to its product portfolio, including upcoming flat-front 5 in and 7 in display computers, featuring “PCAP touch interface, optically bonded screens and best-in-class sunlight readability,” the company says.

CrossControl will also highlight the next generation of small form factor displays, the CCpilot VI (pictured). This “defies expectations with its rugged 3.5 in display and robust dynamic multifunctional capabilities”, according to the company. “Use cases even include video monitoring, not something commonly achieved on such a small device,” CrossControl said.

CrossContol said: “And, the powerful get smaller as the CCpilot XM display computer series, with Intel® Atom dual core, expands with a new 9 in PCAP touch screen variant.”

Plus, CrossControl said it had reimagined the human machine interface of things into a fully-fledged platform for telematics. “Smart Connect enables connectivity between machines, displays and smart devices for additional control interfaces and to leverage supplementary communication options to enhance lean telematics,” the company said.

Enterprise Connect provides fleet-wide connectivity for geofencing, routing, data logging and diagnostics to provide end users and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) the data they need for the next level, according to the company. “As part of this, CrossControl will introduce the new CrossLink TG, an advanced telematics module that easily integrates with on-board systems. It comes with the same modular LinX software platform as all CrossControl displays, featuring ready-made components that shorten your application engineering effort,” the company said.

CrossControl provides OEMs in the industry with industrial I/O controllers, main controllers, cable harnesses and display computers. With these components, OEMs can design modular systems, easily configured for the automation needs of different equipment types, the company said.

Herrenknecht brings boxhole backreaming to shaft sinking market

Explosives and blasting, Mine shafts and equipment, Mining equipment, Mining events, Mining safety, Mining services, Mining techniques, , , , , , ,

Herrenknecht expects to install one of its new boxhole backreaming machines in a mine in Asia later this year, one of the company’s Mining Project Managers, Alexander Frey, told attendees at an SME technical presentation, in Denver, Colorado, last week.

Looking to produce a system able to develop ore passes with simultaneous drilling and lining, the company has adapted boxhole boring machines it has been working on for the past nine years – which use an adapted form of the pipe jacking method – and come up with the boxhole backreaming machine.

This new machine can stabilise the shaft with thrust pipes and a steel liner, which avoids collapses of the shaft or a rework, while reducing the amount of activities in the upper level during mine development.

Herrenknecht has already built one machine and tested it at a mine in the Black Forest of Germany, Frey said. This testing saw the company sink an ore pass with a 2.8 m diameter and 22 m length at an angle of 19°. During this test work in 150 MPa Gneiss rock, Herrenknecht achieved reaming rates of up to 1.3 m/h, Frey said. According to Frey, the machine, which is equipped with a cutterhead like those employed on raiseborers, can cut really hard rock.

He added that the machines would likely be used for safely and efficiently sinking ore passes with a maximum 70 m shaft length and 3 m diameter, but it could also find other industry applications.

TAKRAF helps CBG’s bauxite expansion project hit first ore goal

Base metals, Bulk handling, Mine operation news, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining project news, Mining services, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

TAKRAF has reported on the recent start-up of Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée (CBG)’s Bauxite Production Expansion project in Kamsar, Guinea.

The first ore milestone at the project, which sought to increase production from 13.5 to 18.5 Mt/y, was reached on schedule, on budget and, most importantly, safely, at the end of last year.

TAKRAF, in late 2016, was awarded an engineering, procurement and construction contract worth around €100 million ($113 million) for a greenfield railcar unloading and primary crushing station, as well as a secondary crushing station and a brownfield conveyor system. The railcar unloading system was designed in collaboration with Ashton Bulk.

The scope of supply included three TAKRAF sizers, with a primary sizer in the pit beneath the tippler and two secondary sizers. These sizers, as well as the apron feeders, were designed and fabricated at Tenova TAKRAF’s Lauchhammer fabrication facility in Germany.

An important safety milestone of 1.5 million lost-time-injury-free hours was achieved on site in December 2018, according to TAKRAF.

Frank Hubrich, TAKRAF CEO, said: “We are extremely proud to be a part of this important project and of our milestone achievements. These only serve to underline the competence and commitment to our clients of our global TAKRAF organisation.

“Whether it be a greenfield or an existing brownfield operation, we work with our clients to ensure that their requirements are met on time, within budget and most importantly, safely.”

Fluor Corp acted as the engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services contractor on the project, responsible for the expansion of the mine infrastructure, rail system, port facility and processing plant infrastructure and utilities.

VDMA sees revenue jump for German mining OEMs

Base metals, Bulk handling, Coal technology, Comminution of minerals, Energy minerals, Industrial minerals, Metallurgy, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, Precious metals, Steel and iron ore, , ,

For the first time since the crisis years, post-2013, there will be an increase in the turnover generated by the German mining equipment manufacturers this year, according to Germany’s Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA).

The VDMA expects turnover to jump around 12% to nearly €3.1 billion ($3.51 billion) in 2018, with further growth expected for the coming year, it said.

The bulk of this growth is expected to come from overseas markets, according to the VDMA.

“For German manufacturers of mining equipment, the domestic market now only plays a minor role in their business plans, with a total turnover expected to decline by 22% to €90 million in 2018,” the VDMA said.

According to Michael Schulte Strathaus, Chairman of VDMA Mining (pictured), the current policies in Germany demonstrate little affinity for the business of raw materials, and therefore mining, and are highly unlikely to provide any impetus for domestic business.

And, some 25% of exports are delivered to EU countries, a figure which has declined from the 31% achieved in 2017, with the biggest customers being Italy, Austria, Poland, France and Belgium.

Schulte Strathaus said the market is primarily marked by major infrastructure projects that will gradually be completed with no adequate replacements in sight. The VDMA, therefore, expects stagnant exports to EU countries in 2019, with a slight increase at best.

On the more positive side, the US’s share of the total export volume will increase from 15% in the past year to 17% this year, according to the VDMA.

Schulte Strathaus cited President Donald Trump’s changes to energy policies as one of the reasons for this development.

“Restrictions have been loosened, an effect which has led to an increased use of hard coal mined in the USA. This has led to considerable demand for machines that can increase productivity, and consequentially, profit; a development which benefits German manufacturers, in particular. The industry is expecting a further moderate increase in exports to the USA in the coming year,” the VDMA said.

And, German mining equipment manufacturers are also enjoying healthy business with China, with the export share to the country expected to increase to 10% this year from 7% last year. Schulte Strathaus said policymakers in China now grasped that establishing high-performance mines can only be realised to a limited extent with only domestic technology.

“German manufacturers provide technologies that are either unavailable in China or only available to a very limited degree, however, China is making considerable efforts to close existing technology gaps,” the VDMA said.

Schulte Strathaus said: “We still have an edge when it comes to extraction technology, especially in underground mining. However, we do not know how long we will be able to maintain our lead, or perhaps expand it.”

The industry expects that its exports to China will increase further over the coming year.