Tag Archives: Roadheaders

Sandvik equips MT721, MT521 roadheaders with new digital and autonomous features

Automation, Explosives and blasting, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , , , ,

Sandvik has upgraded its Sandvik MT721 and Sandvik MT521 tunneling roadheaders with several new features, designed to, it says, further boost excavation performance and customer profitability.

Sandvik’s MT series roadheaders are used in a wide range of rock formations, with several applications in mining. They are equipped with geometrically optimised transverse cutter heads, making them robust, flexible and heavy-duty machines.

The Sandvik MT721 (pictured) and Sandvik MT521 have now been future-proofed with new digitalisation and automation features. One of the major upgrades is the new machine control system, which has more power and is designed for future applications, according to Sandvik. The software code has been simplified and harmonised for stable and reliable operation. The new SafePLC improves machine safety and is extendable for additional developments. The new machine control system will fully integrate all future digital services, including tele-remote operation as well as Racoon for machine telemetry data collection and digital customer services platform SmartMate.

The Sandvik MT721 remains the only roadheader on the market that uses the proven and unique ICUTROC® technology for seamless cutting in challenging hard-rock conditions. Another key feature in both roadheader models is the CUTRONIC® automated cutting technology for reliable and fast rock excavation with the highest profile accuracy, and now also made suitable for geometrically complex tunneling applications, Sandvik said.

The new Sandvik boom control includes new optimised machine control software and upgraded machine hydraulics for fast tunnel excavation and accurate tunnel profiling.

“We are extremely proud of these new tunneling roadheaders, which will set the standard for reliable, productive and sustainable mechanical rock excavation, and continue our journey towards being able to deliver our customers fully autonomous mechanical rock excavation machines,” Uwe Restner, Product Manager Roadheaders and Digitalisation, Mechanical Cutting Division, Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, said.

VDMA anticipates Germany mining tech sales drop in 2021

Comminution of minerals, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , ,

While demand for metals and minerals has boosted order intake for many original equipment manufacturers, the sales of Germany mining technology companies have lagged so far in 2021, according to the VDMA.

In 2020, the industry generated total sales of €3.38 billion ($3.83 billion), the organisation, which represents around 3,300 German and European mechanical and plant engineering companies, said. From January to September 2021, sales were down 18% year-on-year at €2.8 billion, while exports in the January-August 2021 period were down 10.4% year-on-year at just under €960 million. Notable drops in export sales were observed in the EU27+UK, China, Russia and Australia, with increases in the USA and NM East unable to make up for that shortfall.

The industry expects sales to pick up by the end of 2021 and anticipates only a moderate decline of 5-10% overall, the VDMA said.

The most common export goods to all markets are, in descending order: crushing and grinding technology, deep drilling technology, mining and roadheaders and tunnel boring machines, the organisation noted.

Michael Schulte Strathaus, Chairman of VDMA Mining (pictured in the centre), expects sales numbers to improve, going forward, as the ‘green mining’ revolution continued to take hold.

“Without mining technology, nothing works in industry now and in the future,” he said at a press conference. “If we want to maintain our current standard of living, we need the corresponding raw materials.

“Only smart mining will lead to green mining. We see our opportunities in offering the best technology worldwide that contributes to resource-saving, efficient, ‘green’ extraction and processing of raw materials.”

Robbins accelerates Fresnillo development with MDM rectangular tunnel boring machine

Explosives and blasting, Mine operation news, Mine shafts and equipment, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Precious metals, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

At Fresnillo, a silver mine in Mexico, Robbins and the mine operator are making good headway on accessing a deep underground orebody using a rectangular tunnel boring machine.

Known as the MDM5000 (standing for Mine Development Machine), the TBM has dimensions of 5 m x 4.5 m and is capable of excavating a flat tunnel invert for immediate use by rubber-tyred vehicles, Robbins says.

The successful operation is the result of extensive discussions between tunnel boring machine (TBM) and mining equipment manufacturer, Robbins, who designed and supplied the machine, with TOPO Machinery and Fresnillo plc.

Fidel Morin, Projects Superintendent for Fresnillo Mine, said: “We decided to work with Robbins for their experience. A lot of people have tried to provide these kinds of machines, but nobody has done it. Robbins used their experience and their skills to provide us with a rectangular profile machine.”

With more than 1,700 m of advance thus far at rates up to 52 m in one week and 191 m in one month, the MDM is significantly faster than drill and blast excavation, Robbins claims. The MDM is excavating in andesites and shales with quartz intrusions that have defeated earlier attempts to excavate these tunnels with heavy roadheaders, according to the company.

A crew member operates the MDM5000 in Fresnillo, Mexico from an  air-conditioned control cabin using touch screen technology

“We’re making history,” Morin said. “Fresnillo is always looking for new technology, and we believe that the usage of the MDM5000 is going to be something extremely successful, not only for our company but also for the mining industry.”

While the MDM5000 has proven itself in underground mining, Robbins sees it as just one component of a new approach. A multi-faceted solution for underground mine development would see the use of Robbins shaft boring machines for ventilation and mine access, as well as TBMs and conveyors to directly mine the orebody and transport material. The unique TBMs would be lighter, more mobile and able to bore inclines, according to the company.

“It’s all about reaching first ore quicker, and then economically mining the orebody while reducing tailings,” Robbins President, Lok Home, said of the strategy. “Mechanised tunnelling machines have the potential to revolutionise the underground mining industry.”

Robbins’ new solutions for underground mining are the latest in a legacy of innovations the company has developed over the years.

“Introduced equipment ranges from raise drills to non-circular mobile miners to continuous conveyors and customised TBMs at projects including the Grosvenor Mine in Australia, the Stillwater Mine in Montana, USA, and others,” the company said.

As for the MDM5000, the machine has undergone major component enhancements during the course of its successful bore at Fresnillo mine. It was first transported to the -695 m level of the mine and underwent final assembly and launch in a cavern, where sections of the MDM were moved by crawlers and pieces were lifted by hoist. The machine is now boring a 270° spiral to end above the original tunnel. It will then be backed up to the original tunnel and continue driving straight ahead.

MDM tunnelling has advance rates roughly twice those of a drill and blast heading, and results in smooth tunnel walls, less overbreak and minimised ground support, according to Robbins (credit: Fresnillo plc)

Fresnillo previously said it was using the Robbins TBM to develop the new San Alberto orebody at the underground mine, with plans to carry out 11 km of development in total for that project.

Developed for use in underground mining in rock up to 200 MPa UCS, the MDM5000 is particularly useful for long access tunnels and development drifts, Robbins says. Using disc cutter technology proven on traditional, circular TBMs, the MDM5000 excavates with a reciprocating cutterhead and swinging cutterhead motion to create a rectangular cross section tunnel.

“The MDM offers a number of advantages for mines over other methods including drill and blast,” Robbins says. “MDM tunnelling has advance rates roughly twice those of a drill and blast heading, and results in smooth tunnel walls, less overbreak and minimised ground support. The increased advance rates are partly due to the machine’s continuous progress, unlike drill and blast operations where crews must exit the tunnel during blasting for safety. In addition, simultaneous ground support installation further increases overall advance rates compared with drill and blast operations that must install ground support sequentially.”

Sandvik and SUEK sign major mechanical cutting machine contract

Coal technology, Mine operation news, Mining equipment, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , , , , , ,

Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology is to supply SUEK (Sibirskaja Ugolnaja Energetitscheskaja Kompanija) with 12 mechanical cutting machines for various coal mines in Siberia, Russia, the mining OEM has confirmed.

SUEK is one of the world’s leading coal producers, the largest coal producer, supplier and exporter in Russia, as well as a leading heat and electricity producer in Siberia.

The recently signed order includes the delivery of 10 Sandvik MB670-1 Bolter Miners (pictured) and two Sandvik MH621 Roadheaders – with an option for another two Sandvik MH621 Roadheaders. The new machines will provide improved reliability and operating performance for the mines as well as provide a wide range of productivity features, Sandvik said.

Delivery of all machines is scheduled for the second half of 2019.

The Sandvik MB670-1 Bolter Miner is purpose-built for longwall coal mining. These wide-head continuous miners combine special design features for cutting, loading, ground support and face ventilation in a balanced machine with superior productivity and strong environmental, health and safety performance, according to Sandvik.

Meanwhile, the Sandvik MH621 Roadheaders are equipped with powerful, geometrically optimised cutter heads, designed to continuously excavate roadways, tunnels and other underground caverns without using explosives. These electro-hydraulic machines cause no harmful vibrations and are ideal for mining coal and other soft rock minerals, according to Sandvik.

Roman Tonyshev, Business Line Manager, Mechanical Cutting Division, Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology, said: “Sandvik was awarded the contract having delivered a good technical proposal to the customer, showing the ability to provide excellent technical solutions based on Sandvik’s vast experience in designing bolter miners and roadheaders in the area of mechanical cutting equipment.”