Tag Archives: PAUS

Orion Minerals to test out ITC120 continuous loader at Prieska copper zinc mine

Base metals, Energy minerals, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Orion Minerals says it has awarded a six-month trial mining contract to P2 Mining, a subsidiary of South Africa-based mining contractor Newrak Mining Group, to undertake the early works trial underground mining program at the Prieska copper zinc mine (PCZM) in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.

The trial mining will target the +105 Level Crown Pillar, using conventional and alternative underground mining methods, including the use of an ITC120 continuous loader and two 20-t bi-directional trucks in the underground development cycle.

The trial mining will comprise 120 m of footwall ramp development, before accessing the high-grade supergene ore of the +105 block with ore development along strike for 150 m on either side of the primary access as the primary in a cut-and fill mining cycle.

In addition, the Newrak contract also covers the opening of the 143 Level historical stope draw-points for selective loading and hauling to surface of broken ore remaining in the stopes, in order to perform bulk sampling and metallurgical trials on the material. If successful, this exercise will continue to build a stockpile on surface for future processing once the concentrator plant is commissioned.

Orion’s Managing Director and CEO, Errol Smart, said: “This is a tremendously exciting period for Orion as we move to active trial mining at Prieska and start our transition from developer to operating mining company. We have spent the past two months completing essential preparations, such as installing underground refuge chambers, upgrading hoisting capacity of the emergency escapeway to surface and sourcing and installing key ventilation equipment.

“With these essential safety and environmental preparations now complete, we can finally mobilise the mining contractor to commence drilling, blasting and hauling ore to surface.

“The trial mining phase will also see Orion apply our core philosophy of bringing proven, innovative methods matched with appropriate skills and experience to our operations, while at the same time training and upskilling our host community members so that we can ultimately source our staff locally. We also aim to develop local enterprises to service Orion’s mines and the South African mining industry, encouraging our service providers and contractors to support these endeavours and contribute to the skills transfer and enterprise development.”

Orion will be testing an ITC120 continuous loader supported by two specifically paired bi-directional drive trucks at the PCZM operation. The ITC120 loader shows great promise in delivering improved cycle times and development rates compared with conventional mechanised rock loading and hauling methods, according to Orion. It is envisaged that these improvements can deliver significant a positive impact on both the +105 and the Prieska Deeps mining once dewatering has been completed.

The ITC120 continuous loader and the PAUS 20 t dump trucks are supplied via Hurst Mine Tec (HMTEC), the newly established local representative for Swiss group ITC. HMTEC is introducing the European tunnelling technology into South Africa for the first time and will support the imported equipment locally.

Orion said: “During development, the combination of the continuous loader with the two bi-directional drive dump trucks is expected to show significant improvements in safety, cycle time reduction and lowering development costs, with one machine doing all scaling, mucking and loading in a face. Direct conveyor loading into dump trucks driven into the face removes the need for shuttling LHDs and removes the requirement for loading and passing bays in the development tunnels. The bi-directional drive trucks also improve safety, removing the need for reversing long distances by LHDs. Importantly, the number of engines running is reduced, with a resulting decrease in exhaust gases and heat.”

The continuous loader and paired bi-directional trucks are anticipated to have particular application in the drift-and-fill stopes that will be prevalent in both the +105 mining block and in the shallow-dipping Prieska Deeps ore blocks, Orion added.

The anticipated improvements in development cycle time and associated cost reductions will be demonstrated during trial mining and carried forward to the revised bankable feasibility study (BFS) for the early mining start and planned future deeps mining at PCZM.

The 2020 updated BFS outlined an initial 12-year, 2.4 Mt/y operation targeting 22,000 t/y of copper and 70,000 t/y of zinc, with life of mine production slated at 226,000 t of copper and 680,000 t of zinc.

PAUS and Dräger advance mine rescue operations with new MR Fire Truck

Environmental, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, , , , , ,

Dräger and PAUS have released their latest mobile mine rescue equipment solution, leveraging the expertise of Rosenbauer as one of the world’s leading manufacturer of systems for firefighting and disaster protection.

The MR Fire Truck builds on the MRV 9000 Mine Rescue Vehicle, which was previously developed by PAUS and Dräger. This was designed to deliver rescue units safely, reliably and as close as possible to the emergency site. The base is the two-axle PAUS MinCa 18A vehicle, which has been tested at mine operations over several years, alongside Dräger’s life support systems.

The superstructure of the new MR Fire Truck can be customised and equipped with all kind of firefighting, technical rescue and first aid equipment, according to PAUS.

“The MR Fire Truck is again providing a breathing-protected driver’s cabin and allows to carry the team and heavy equipment through contaminated tunnel sections,” PAUS said. “Compared to the common practice of mine rescue teams to walk through contaminated areas by wearing respirators and carrying smaller equipment with the mobile solution type, the MR Fire Truck allows you to now expand the limitation of use for more efficient prevention of hazards for the protection of persons and material assets underground (preventive and operational).”

Anglo Asian bolsters Azerbaijan mining fleet with Epiroc, Cat, Paus and Tunelmak equipment

Base metals, Mine operation news, Mining equipment, Mining services, Precious metals, , , , , , , , , , ,

Anglo Asian Mining says it has placed orders for the major items of equipment required for production from its new Zafar and Gilar mines in Azerbaijan, with a fleet made up of Epiroc drills, Caterpillar loaders and auxiliary machines from the likes of Paus and Tunelmak.

The company has also made progress with the upgrades to its Gedabek flotation plant, it noted.

The equipment for Zafar and Gilar includes an underground fleet from Caterpillar and drilling machinery from Epiroc. The total equipment cost is approximately $10 million, approximately 40% of which will be met from the company’s existing cash reserves with the remaining being funded through vendor financing. The equipment is a significant investment for the company, underpinning its confidence to achieve its stated ambition to transition to mid-tier copper production status, it said.

A day before this announcement, Anglo Asian said it had completed a scoping study for the Zafar underground mine, based on ore production of 700,000 t/y and a 0.5% copper equivalent cutoff grade. Development work and the construction of two portals has also started.

Included in the drilling fleet is an Epiroc Boomer S1 D, three Epiroc T1D jumbos, one Epiroc Simba S7 D and one Epiroc H1354. The Caterpillar machinery includes three 15-t payload R1700 LHDs and two UMA 980 wheel loaders.

Auxiliary units that will complement this fleet include a Paus TSL853 Central articulated steering telescopic swivel loader, two Tunelmak ADROIT 520-2 AH 4×4 hydrostatic basket platforms and one Tunelmak ADROIT 420AH 4×4 articulated hydrostatic shotcrete pump.

Anglo Asian produced 57,618 oz of gold equivalent for the year ended December 31, 2022, but, with the addition of Zafar and Gilar, it has an ambition to become a mid-tier miner producing over 100,000 oz/y of gold equivalent.

An expansion of the flotation plant at Gedabek, the company’s flagship opeation, is underway together with adding a further line to produce zinc concentrate, it said. The total cost of the expansion, which will see it add three new rougher/scavenger cells and four cleaner cells from Maelgwyn Mineral Services, is currently estimated at $3 million which will be paid from the company’s existing cash resources. Contractors have been appointed to supply materials for the new flotation line. Additional contractors will be commissioned to modify the existing building and provide electrical services and control equipment, it added.

The modifications to the flotation plant to increase its capacity have now been broadly completed. The installation of the new flotation line using hydraulic flotation cells will be completed by the end of the year.

Stephen Westhead, Vice President of Anglo Asian, said: “The new equipment will be used to expand the company’s mining and processing operations with the development of two new underground mines this year. The expansion of our flotation plant has been broadly completed, doubling capacity and creating additional processing flexibility. This represents an important step in our medium-term growth ambition to become a mid-tier production miner, and significantly increases our capabilities within copper.”

PAUS to showcase new scaler, concrete mixer and dump truck at Bauma

Automation, Mining equipment, Mining events, , , , , , , , , , , ,

After already showcasing its battery-electric vehicle and corresponding electric driveline concept at Bauma 2019, PAUS is intending to bring even more new developments to the 2022 edition later this year.

The machines to be showcased at Bauma 2022, from October 24-30 in Munich, Germany, include the PAUS Scaler PScale 8-T (pictured), the PAUS concrete mixer UNI 50-5 BM-TM and the PAUS dump truck PMKM 8030.

In addition to the brand new designs and individual characteristics of the displayed machines, all of them will be featured with the latest technologies as part of PAUS’ general and forward-looking product developments.

Safety, performance, sensitivity and high durability are the design principles and values PAUS used for the development of its new PAUS Scaler PScale 8-T generation in order to provide what it says is a “unique scaling experience”.

“In underground operations rock falls could potentially lead to fatalities, injuries and damage to underground personnel and infrastructure,” the company said. “To prevent from and to ensure a higher safety working environment, any loose rock needs to be removed before the follow-up processes can be started.”

The highest performance possible is ensured thanks to the use of a high power output engine, 20° tiltable cabin, individual parameter adjustment of the hydraulic hammer, operation and diagnostic display, which provide higher reliability and quality of the scaling process.

The PScale series allows operators to adjust and check hammer parameters directly at the face instead of adjustments on the surface, while the operator’s cabin outperforms international ROPS/FOPS requirements. Other risks can be further alleviated by using additional configurations, such as plug-and-play for the remote control, 3P safety belts, a brake test button, hill start assistance and a pressurised cabin.

For working heights up to 10 m, Paus additionally offers the PScale 10-T.

The PAUS concrete mixer UNI 50 BM-TM offers a transport solution with a higher payload as well as safe and comfortable driving characteristics, even on rough terrain, PAUS says.

The larger UNI 50-5 carrier, which highlights the new chassis of the UNI series, comes with a payload of up to 17 t, increased ground clearance, a more powerful driveline and a spring-mounted fully suspended front axle, according to the company.

With an available volume of up to 7.5 cu.m, the PAUS transport mixer is a reliable partner for successful concrete works in underground mining, it says.

The UNI 50-5 carrier can also be provided with further superstructure such as the fuel tanks, lubricant service, water tanker, fire tanker, loading platform with crane and many more. Further to that, PAUS is offering a variety of customised configurations and options to meet the individual requirements of the different underground operations and conditions. The carrier can also be equipped with different types of changeable systems for carrying cassette mounted superstructures.

PAUS delivers the UNI 50-5 BM-TM with an engine power of up to 173 kW with Deutz or Mercedes Benz engines. The machine can also be fitted with optional Stage V compliant engines.

The PAUS dump truck PMKM 8030, meanwhile, is designed for narrow-vein operations, with a compact yet powerful configuration.

The combination of the improved design and characteristics with the latest electronics and a preliminary setup for smart equipment will provide a future-oriented solution in terms of operator comfort and safety, but also efficiency, productivity and operating cost for haulage in narrow-vein mines.

The well-established sister machine, PMKM 8010, is designed with less width at increased length and height, but the new PMKM 8030 comes with a broader, shorter and narrow design at a reduced loading height and with improved driving characteristics thanks to the lowered centre of gravity, larger tyres and new axles with integrated oscillation, PAUS says.

With a payload of 16,000 kg, the machine is fitted as standard with a 8 cu.m dump box and can be further customised for transport of bulk materials with higher or lower densities.

The machine is also available with smart systems like a bird’s eye view camera, tyre pressure control and load weighing, all of which can be wireless monitored and displayed via PAUS CONNECT.

The PMKM 8030 comes with a rotating driver’s seat for long distances of driving backward at high speeds (bidirectional) and a spacious and comfortable cab.

It also comes with a choice of different Cummins and Caterpillar diesel engines complying with varying regulations and power of up to 190 kW.

The machine also includes the PAUS standard safety package for underground mining machines eg SAHR brakes, a ROPS/FOPS cabin, enhanced LED lighting, etc.

PAUS concluded: “The multifaceted portfolio, the variety of options and the customised features available along with our machines will provide the basis for almost every task – it doesn’t matter how individual the solution needs to be.”

PAUS says it is already working on new solutions like a special mine rescue vehicle – currently being developed in cooperation with Dräger and a major European supplier for firefighting equipment. In addition to that the “Scale Sense” project of the Germany-based RWTH Aachen University – for the detection of loose rock to use with PAUS scalers – is close to reaching the next development stage for extended field testing.

In memoriam: Hermann Paus

Mining people, , ,

On December 27, 2021, Hermann Paus, entrepreneur and founder of H. Paus Maschinenfabrik GmbH, passed away. He would have turned 90 on January 28.

Hermann Paus was a trained agricultural machinery engineer, but then founded his company in 1968, together with his wife Agnes, to manufacture construction machinery. The product range expanded rapidly: he started with dump trucks, and soon articulated wheel loaders were also manufactured, as well as swivel and telescopic swing loaders later on. From 1974, the portfolio was widened to include underground mining vehicles and, from 1976, inclined elevators.

With his characteristic foresight, Hermann Paus was always opening up new markets and opportunities. The world was his home, foreign cultures were part of his life, he won many friends through his always open, empathetic and obliging manner. Despite numerous setbacks, especially in the early years, he never lost heart and always found answers to new challenges, often envisioning new products and innovations. With his confidence-creating personality, he was always able to inspire people to follow new mechanical engineering paths – that was his lifeblood.

For his services to the Russian mining industry, he was awarded the “Miner’s Honor 2nd Level” medal by the Ministry of Mining of the Russian Federation in 2001. In 2002, for his 70th birthday, he was appointed an honourary member of the faculty of the Belarus Mining Academy in Minsk.

In February 2017, he was inducted into the “International Mining Hall of Fame“ in Denver, USA.

Hermann Paus was involved in numerous associations and honourary posts within his industries but also in local politics. For example, he was for many years a member of the municipal council of his home town of Emsbüren and chairman of the local sports club SV Concordia. For his services in such honourary positions, he was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit on Ribbon. In 2011, the Emsland Business Association honoured him for his life’s achievements.

Throughout his life, people, and, in particular, his employees, were close to his heart, and he was always a role model for them, especially when it came to taking responsibility: “My name is on the product, so I stand by it” was one of his mottos. An attitude that lives on in the motto of “his” company: “PAUS- the people who care…”

With him, we lose an entrepreneurial personality of special distinction.

This obituary was provided by Hermann Paus Maschinenfabrik GmbH 

Paus releases new PMKM 8030 mining dump truck for narrow vein market

Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, , , ,

Germany-based Paus has released a new 16 t payload underground dump truck suitable for the narrow vein mining market.

The brand-new PMKM 8030 dump truck is one of most compact and powerful machines in its class, according to Paus, coming with EU Stage V/US Tier 4 Final engine options from Cummins and Caterpillar with up to 190 kW of power.

Paus explained: “Whereas the well established sister machine, type PMKM 8010, is a machine with less width at increased length and height, the new PMKM 8030 comes up with a broader, shorter and narrow design at a reduced loading height and with improved driving characteristics due to the lowered centre of gravity, bigger tyres and new axles with an integrated oscillation.”

A more powerful driveline and increased performance at reduced lifting and tipping times means the overall cycle time has been reduced significantly, according to the company.

The PMKM 8030 has an 8 cu.m dump box, a mining safety package including ROPS/FOPS protection and SAHR brakes, plus a new spacious, comfortable cab with 90° rotating driver’s seat.

Options for the dump truck include an ‘HD’ dump body, ‘LD’ dump body, and tailgate for dump body. The machine also has a data communication interface through PausConnect, the OEM’s lifecycle cost monitoring solution. It also operates as standard in temperatures ranging from -20°C up to 50°C.

Further state-of-the-art safety equipment like a button for brake test, three-point seat belt, seat belt and/or seat contact monitoring, different HRD on-board fire extinguishing systems, bird view camera, tyre pressure monitoring, gas monitoring system and others are available as an option.

“The selection of new components, the arrangement and a variety of options available along with the machine unveil the new PMKM 8030 as a more durable, more efficient and more easy to maintain machine for first and foremost economic use in underground mining,” Paus concluded.

Dräger and PAUS breathe new life into mine rescue market

Environmental, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, , , , , , , , , ,

Dräger, Goldcorp (now Newmont), and PAUS Maschinenfabrik GmbH have come up with a new mine safety solution that, they say, is bringing rescue units safely, reliably, and as close as possible to emergency sites underground.

As underground mines go deeper in search of reserves, the distance mine rescue teams must travel in case of an emergency continues to increase.

In many emergency situations underground, only ventilation and drainage systems remain operational as mines look to avoid further incidents. All other infrastructure (the power supply, operation of technical and general vehicle traffic, etc) are shut down.

In this situation, mine rescue teams are forced to walk to the scene with all their equipment. Injured personnel are brought to collection points where first aid is provided, while evacuation to the surface must be organised.

“Depending on the specific situation and the extent of the emergency, the rescue services must immediately switch on their own breathing equipment after descending into the shaft and walking to the emergency site,” PAUS says. “In doing so, they consume part of the volume of the breathing mixture (compressed oxygen) contained in the breathing equipment. As a result, the longer they travel to the emergency scene with their breathing equipment switched on, the less breathing mixture – and, thus, working time reserves – remains for solving the main tasks, for clarifying the location and possible causes of the emergency, for searching for injured persons and for bringing the victims from the danger zone to the exits of the mine for evacuation.”

PAUS says a significant improvement of the operational conditions and increase in the work productivity of the rescue teams has come about with the cooperation of specialists from Dräger and Goldcorp, together with PAUS. The MRV 9000 Mine Rescue Vehicle is the result, a unit developed to deliver the rescue units safely, reliably and as close as possible to the emergency site.

The high operational reliability of the MRV 9000 in underground mines is ensured by the robust construction of the basic vehicle (from PAUS’ MinCa 18A series) and the life support system of Dräger, which is engineered down to the smallest detail, the companies say.

Design and technical features of the MRV 9000

The base of the MRV 9000 is the two-axle PAUS MinCa 18A vehicle which has been tested at mine operations over several years.

In its standard version, the MRV 9000 mine rescue vehicle is fitted with a Deutz TCD 2012 Stage 3a (Stage 5 available) diesel engine with a power of 95 kW, water cooling and exhaust gas turbocharging. Able to consume various fuel qualities, the MRV 9000’s exhaust gases are cleaned with a powerful filter.

The engine’s control system reduces machine downtime, according to PAUS. For example, in a situation where low lube oil pressure or overheating of the coolant is detected, the engine’s power will, first, reduce and then, second, completely stop to protect the unit. The real-time engine status is displayed to the driver on the large dashboard display.

The MRV 9000 is equipped with a customisable fire extinguishing system and, in each of its designs, if the engine compartment catches fire, the engine automatically stops operating and the extinguishing medium, such as foam, water spray or powder, is automatically or manually injected into the engine compartment. Hand-held fire extinguishers with around 10 kg of extinguishing medium are within easy reach, according to PAUS.

The hydrostatic four-wheel drive of the MRV 9000 provides high tractive power via planetary gears and the suspension provides excellent road grip when driving on rough and bumpy roads, according to PAUS. Optimum handling and fuel consumption are maintained at speeds of up to 35 km/h; even on ascending or descending gradients with up to 40%.

The design of the independent suspension of the front axle (steering axle) Clark 212 and the rear axle Clark 112 is identical, PAUS says. It consists of two springs and two shock absorbers each, two steering rods and two triangular bars each with a tie rod lever attached to the vehicle frame. The maximum load capacity of an axle is 8 t, which ensures excellent stability of the vehicle frame with a permissible total weight of the MRV 9000 of 11 t, PAUS explains. For the wheels of the vehicle off-road tyres of 9.00-R20 size with a load capacity of 4 t each are used.

The two-door driver’s cab with an additional seat is separated from the rescue cassette. The rescue cassette has six seats, a left-hand access door and an additional rear door. All eight seats, equipped with safety belts, are dimensioned so mine rescuers equipped with a tool kit and breathing equipment on their back – eg Dräger PSS BG4 Plus – can sit. The driver’s cab and the cassette of the MRV 9000 are pressurised and are equipped with built-in safety systems in compliance with ROPS and FOPS standards, which protect the driver and the other passengers of the vehicle against injuries, vehicle roll-over or heavy falling objects. In addition, a hatch is installed in the middle of the body roof as an additional emergency exit for the mine rescuers. All doors of the vehicle are airtight and sufficiently wide for easy and safe entry and departure of the mine rescuers with full equipment. In addition, the driver’s cab is equipped with a hydraulic tipping device. This makes it easy to carry out technical maintenance or repairs with the help of the raised cabin, according to PAUS.

The steering system of the vehicle is equipped with a Danfoss steering booster. In the case of a malfunction, the vehicle can still be steered using an emergency steering mechanism.

The brake system of the MRV 9000 is a hydraulic dual-circuit system. By pressing the brake pedal, all multi-disc oil brakes on the wheels are activated. The hydrostatic drive is at the same time an additional working brake for the vehicle – when the driver takes their foot off the accelerator, the vehicle automatically brakes. This is especially effective when driving downhill. The parking brake of the Posistop system – an SAHR brake – acts on the rear wheels of the vehicle.

The vehicle’s electrical system works with direct current and a voltage of 24 V, supplied by two 12 V batteries with a capacity of 110 Ah each and an A/C generator (80 A) with a voltage of 28 V. The main switch (cutoff switch) for the electrical circuits, emergency parking and reverse gear of the vehicle is in the driver’s cab. In the engine compartment, above the driving level, there are switch boxes with relays and the fuses for the electric circuits, all of which are protected from moisture and dirt in insulated enclosures, but easily accessible for maintenance. All indicators of the status of the vehicle’s power units have LED lighting, while the vehicle is equipped with powerful front headlights and bright rear lights with flashing direction indicators.

The unit comes with a width of 2.2 m, height of 2.64 m, length of 6.15 m, a wheelbase of 3.26 m and ground clearance of 260 mm. It also has a turning radius of 3.7 m (inner) and 7 m (outer).

Design and technical features of the life support system

The MRV 9000 is equipped with an integrated life support system to allow mine rescuers to safely reach the emergency site and evacuate injured personnel. Filtered air is injected into the driver’s cab and rescue cassette for breathing during the entire journey.

“The technical basis for the reliable functioning of the integrated system was provided by the specialists of the PAUS company, who developed the airtight construction elements of the driver’s cabin, cassette, all welds of the wall elements, the roof, the anti-slip floors and the special sealing of all doors and hatches,” it said. “The technological basis and structure of the filling system, developed and installed by the specialists of the Dräger company, includes the following elements: compartments for storage of the cylinders with the oxygen-air mixture for breathing; panels for controlling the supply of the air mixture; safety valves that drain the air from the driver’s cab and the cassette and prevent the ingress of contaminated mine air; gas detectors that control the condition of the air and signal the exceedance of the permissible limits of the concentration of hazardous gases in the driver’s cab and the cassette.”

The life support system can operate in two modes: Cleaning the air and feeding the air mixture into the cassette and into the driver’s cab; and flushing the cassette and the driver’s cab to displace infiltrated contaminated mine air.

In the cleaning mode, used during much of the rescue operation, the air mixture from the cylinders is continuously fed through pipes into the operator’s cab and the cassette via flow regulators. These regulate the amount of air supply, which depends on the number of pit rescuers in the cab and cassette. According to the standard, approximately 40 litres/min per person must be supplied to remove carbon dioxide or dangerous gas mixtures exhaled via the safety valves, with used oxygen returned to the atmosphere.

The combination of the system components enables the constant maintenance of an overpressure of at least 100 Pa in the driver’s cab and in the cassette, as well as the reliable prevention of the penetration of dangerous methane. The quality control of the air (the concentration of О2, СО2, СО) and the humidity in the driver’s cab and the cassette of the MRV 9000 is carried out with Dräger’s multi-channel gas detectors from the X-am series (4). After the mine rescue team leaves the vehicle, the composition and air supply are adjusted to the minimum permissible value with the help of the control elements, PAUS explains.

Yet, because contaminated mine air still enters the driver’s cab and the cassette through the door openings after the mine rescuers have left the vehicle, the flushing mode with air supply up to 1,000 litres/min is switched on to displace it via valves. When the gas measuring devices register the normal defined quality of the air, the mine rescuers and the victims to be evacuated can switch off their respirators.

The reserve of the breathing mixture, compressed to 300 bar and stored in six cylinders with a capacity of 50 litres each, is stored in two chambers with three cylinders each. This block with three cylinders is connected to the control units in the driver’s cabin and in the rescue cassette by a reducing valve, which cuts the pressure of the mixture, and stainless steel pipes. The results of the continuous measurement of the actual pressure and air volume in the cylinder block are registered on a special monitor in the driver’s cab.

With this information, it is possible to determine exactly the timeframe of operation of the unit of mine rescuers arriving in the mine for the elimination of the emergency. The block of three cylinders is installed in such a way there is no possibility to separate it from the reducing valve in the storage chamber, while refilling is possible with the use of an optionally available refuelling unit.

The set of six air cylinders with a capacity of 50 litres each is adequate for:

  • Moving a unit of six mine rescuers (two in the driver’s cab, four in the cassette) to the emergency location within 60 minutes;
  • Performing work in the emergency zone by five mine rescuers (one member of the unit remains in the driver’s cab) for 120 minutes; and
  • The return of the unit of mine rescuers with six people (together with three injured personnel) within 60 minutes.

With such a capacity in six cylinders, it is permissible to switch on the purging mode as follows:

  • In the driver’s cab, three times for a period of three minutes each time; and
  • In the cassette, three times for a period of eight minutes each time.

In this way, the mine rescue vehicle can allow the rescue team four hours of transportation in an atmosphere unsuitable for breathing.

The MRV 9000 mine rescue vehicle can optionally be equipped with a wide range of additional equipment, which includes around 20 different setups, Paus said.

“The use of the innovative MRV 9000 vehicle radically improves the working and operating conditions for the rescue units: both the minimisation of the travel time to the site of operation, the effectiveness of the medical emergency response, and the search and evacuation of victims and their transport to the stationary medical facility significantly increase the chances of rescue for accident victims,” PAUS said.