Quintin Nienaber Archives - International Mining

CR has launched the GRIPAssist Handling device, a safety, maintenance and productivity solution designed to efficiently and safely remove and reposition ground engaging tools (GET) with a minimal requirement for human interaction.

The GRIPAssist is the flagship product of CR’s new MINEAssist product category and has been developed to revolutionise GET change-out practices around the world, the company said.

Designed to significantly reduce human interaction when handling GET in the pit or the workshop, the GRIPAssist unit fits onto a tracked skid steer or similar small in-pit mobile loader and includes an hydraulic arm that grips GET products to enable safe, quick and easy maintenance change-outs.

CR Chief Executive Officer, John Barbagallo, says the range has been specifically developed to assist its mining customers to safely and more efficiently change GET on their excavating machines.

“The GRIPAssist is the latest of our industry-leading products developed through close collaboration with our customers and associated partners,” Barbagallo said. “Through listening to our customers, we have understood the need to develop a range of safety equipment for GET maintenance change-out and have worked collaboratively to bring this industry-changing product to market.”

He added: “At CR, we bring the core value of Zero Harm into everything we do. The GRIPAssist promotes safe GET change-out and is a great equipment solution to provide genuine safe fitment and removal of all GET items.”

Quintin Nienaber, General Manager of Product Management, says the GRIPAssist could optimise the way current maintenance practices are performed.

“We have seen GET change-out times halved in our initial field tests, which is an incredible outcome while at the same time improving safety,” he said. “While the aim of the GRIPAssist is to remove human interactions during GET change-outs, the fact that it can enhance productivity by reducing downtime is a significant associated benefit and is a game-changer in how GET maintenance will be managed and scheduled in the future.”

CR is preparing a new addition to its DecaEdge™ range of cast lip systems for large wheel loader buckets, with the new product due for public release by the end of the year.

The new DecaEdge DE2553 cast lip will complement the existing range and suit large mining wheel loader buckets with capacities between 14 cu.m and 20 cu.m, according to the company.

DecaEdge leverages the experience of CR’s RazerEdge™ cast lip range which revolutionised the market for 100 t to 400 t excavator lip and ground engaging tool (GET) systems, the company said. CR already has two lips in the market for the Komatsu L1850 and L2350, WA1200 and Cat 994 wheel loaders.

With over 160,000 combined operating hours and counting, a DecaEdge lip can last for up to 25,000 operating hours with no major rebuilds, according to the company. The system removes outdated plate lip features by employing integral cast noses and better material placement to achieve plane alignment and spade angle optimisation, delivering an over 33% reduction in total cost of ownership of the lip and GET system, according to CR’s General Manager of Product Management, Quintin Nienaber.

“It also eliminates the need for wear blocks and wear packages,” Nienaber says. “The specially designed teeth and shrouds are designed to also protect the lip, which means that every time a ground engaging tool is replaced, the underside wear package is refreshed, simplifying the maintenance process and reducing the demand on maintenance teams,” Nienaber says.

CR said the DecaEdge DE2553 is anticipated to uphold the durability and maintenance savings benefits experienced with the current DecaEdge range.

“CR is excited to broaden the range of this revolutionary technology,” it added.

CR gets a GRIP of GET change-outs with newest solution

CR readying new cast lip system for large wheel loader buckets