Tag Archives: Sandvik

Orders, revenue and profit increase for Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology

Automation, Base metals, Equipment maintenance, Industrial minerals, IoT, Mineral project development, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining finance, Mining services, Precious metals, Steel and iron ore, , ,

Sandvik’s Mining and Rock Technology business reported a solid set of financial results for the September quarter, supported by high demand from both the aftermarket and equipment businesses.

Order intake improved 8% year-on-year to SEK10.47 billion ($1.17 billion) as a result of strong development in most product areas, the company noted.

Revenues increased 14% to SEK10.84 billion, supported by strong order intake in recent quarters and favourable demand in the aftermarket business, while operating profit increased 34% to SEK1.97 billion.

On key items impacting order intake and revenues compared with the year-earlier period, Sandvik said there was a “high level of demand in both the aftermarket and equipment businesses”.

Demand for equipment was mainly driven by replacement or upgrades of existing machines and fleets, with additional support from expansion activities in existing mines, the company said.

Meanwhile, Sandvik said underlying customer activity remained favourable for mining equipment throughout the period although the impact from the timing of sizeable orders hampered the company’s growth rates.

There was strong demand in the aftermarket business for both parts and service, and consumables, according to the company. This aligned with the aftermarket business accounting for 62% of revenues during the quarter, compared with 38% for the equipment business.

Resolute powers up for electrification of Syama Underground gold mine in Mali

Automation, Environmental, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Precious metals, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , ,

Australia-based Resolute Mining has more than just autonomy on its mind at the in-development Syama Underground gold mine in Mali. The company is also weighing up full electrification of its mining and development fleet.

Resolute has partnered with Sandvik to deliver the automation solution at Syama, with the OEM also supplying the underground fleet, which includes automated Sandvik TH663 trucks and LH621, LH517 and LH514E LHDs

Sub-level caving is expected to commence at the planned 2.4 Mt/y operation in December 2018, Resolute Chief Operating Officer Peter Beilby told IM. “We will then ramp up to full automation and run-rate production by June 2019,” he added.

Resolute has previously said one of the reasons for its choice of equipment at Syama Underground was “anticipating the logical next step in the evolution of underground machinery to battery-powered operation”.

When IM asked Beilby about this, he responded: “We strongly believe that, as well as going automated, mining is going electric.”

While the initial fleet will have some diesel loaders for development headings and diesel-powered trucks, plus drilling equipment with small diesel motors, Resolute is already scheduled to have a tethered version of the Sandvik LH414E, and, Beilby revealed, a DD422iE, Sandvik’s battery-powered electric mining jumbo.

This battery-powered jumbo, designed to drive down production costs while reducing the environmental impacts of drilling and tunnelling, is also in use at Goldcorp’s Borden development project in Ontario, Canada.

And, it appears this is just the start of Resolute’s electrification plans at the project.

“We certainly want to pursue further electrification,” Beilby said, adding: “I have no doubt that in, say, five years’ time, we will be a lot further down the track with electric mining.”

IM was speaking to Peter Beilby as part of a longer interview for the Big Data and digitalisation feature to be published in the upcoming IM November issue.

Sandvik’s Sleeve Saver to provide more uptime and improved productivity

Coal technology, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, , ,

The Sleeve Saver™ features an all-new design engineered to last longer than standard longwall picks, according to Sandvik Mining & Rock Technology.

It works to protect and extend the life of the sleeve and block through an advanced cutting tip and a full-sleeve retainer. A new washer system acts as a bearing, improving rotation and increasing wear life. This results in more uptime and better productivity, Sandvik said.

The Sleeve Saver also enhances safety, as improved wear life reduces the time miners are exposed to the longwall face to replace worn picks, sleeves and blocks. Its universal design fits grooved and ungrooved sleeves.

The product’s cap cemented carbide cutting tip is larger than standard tips, and its efficient low-energy profile design requires less energy to cut material, generating less dust and contributing to overall longer wear life.

A large, non-rotating, full-sleeve retainer protects the entire block bore, with a new washer system that acts as a sacrificial wear bearing, absorbing the wear associated with the pick’s collar that otherwise would be absorbed by the face of the sleeve. The washer also helps to keep abrasive fines from entering the sleeve.

The retainer design reduces likelihood of the drum ‘throwing’ the picks. Superior tool rotation contributes to even wear of the tip for a longer lifecycle.

Average downtime cost for block and sleeve repair is $400/min, according to Sandvik.

“The new Sleeve Saver longwall pick will not only save up to $24,000/h in downtime costs for maintenance, but because it lasts longer than a standard pick, it will reduce the amount of time miners are exposed to the unstable longwall face. Because it protects the entire block bore, it reduces the required frequency of welding on new blocks, which must be avoided in potentially gaseous underground coal environments,” the company said.

The Sleeve Saver is unlike any other longwall tool on the market, according to Sandvik, ultimately providing miners and mine owners with these benefits:

  • Increased productivity: less machine downtime for tool, sleeve and block change-outs means more uptime producing coal;
  • Increased safety: reduced dust generation and less exposure to the longwall for changeouts results in better safety;
  • Lower maintenance costs: Sleeve Saver minimises wear on the tool and the entire block bore, and;
  • Longer service life: the Sleeve Saver lasts twice as long as conventional tools in longwall applications, and provides up to 250% longer holder life, based on field and lab tests.

Sandvik’s patented carbide alloy tips mean its tools for multiple industries are the toughest there is.

“In all applications, it is the carbide tip that is the key to tool performance and wear life,” Sandvik said.

Sandvik unveils new scalper, cone crusher and telematics system

Bulk handling, Comminution of minerals, General, Mining equipment, Mining services, Mining software, Precious metals, Steel and iron ore, , ,

It was a busy Hillhead for Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology last month, with the company debuting a new scalper, cone crusher and automation and control telematics system at the show.

The company used the Hillhead quarry as a backdrop to launch its QE342 screener/scalper, a “heavy duty [machine] … with class leading open scalping area enabling it to deliver enormous rates of production”, Sandvik said.

Built for the hardest wearing materials, the QE342 has a wear resistant steel apron feeder, large stockpiling capability, two-speed tracking and over-wide conveyors that maximise delivery.

It has a crusher-style chassis designed specifically to accommodate the engine power packs and comes equipped with a CAT C4.4 96 kW engine (EU Stage IV, Stage V and Tier 4 Final emission compliant options). The engine can operate at a speed of 1,800 rpm, providing lower fuel consumption and reduced noise compared with its predecessor, the QE341. The QE342 also comes with hybrid drive and electric plug in options.

“The QE342’s wear resistant rigid hopper is compatible for two-way or three-way split configurations, as well as having the ability to interchange side conveyors thereby demonstrating the ultimate flexibility of the unit,” Sandvik said.

The screen-box jack up facility allows easier access to the bottom deck for maintenance and screen media changes, while the hydraulic fluid change interval has been extended from 2,000 hours to 4,000 hours, providing a plus-50% saving as well as delivering environmental benefits.

An electrical control system has features to improve both the operational effectiveness and machine safety. This includes a key switch, mode selector switch (set-up, operation and tracking) and one global plant button to commence sequential automatic start-up and automatic shut-down of the plant while in operating mode.

“With a wide choice of screen media available, the QE342 can be configured to match specific requirements and is able to cope with a huge range of different, and difficult, materials and applications,” Sandvik said. “These include construction waste, landfill mining, quarry overburden, mine dumps, and scalping before a crusher or screening aggregates after a crusher.”

Two in one

The Sandvik stand also hosted a new mobile cone crusher at the show – the QH332 DDHS (pictured) – combining crushing and screening in one system.

“The brand new … QH332 DDHS (double deck hanging screen) is a tracked, self-contained cone crusher with an on board diesel engine. It is based on the world leading QH331, with this new cone crushing solution also providing the functionality of a double or single deck (utilising the top deck as a breaker deck) hanging screen in a fully detachable and standalone form,” Sandvik said.

“Able to be detached/attached without the use of additional lifting equipment, the QH332 DDHS thus delivers multi-functionality as a one-, two- or three-way split screener as well as a highly productive and efficient cone crusher.”

The machine is able to produce two screened products and recirculate the oversize back into the feed conveyor, which, itself, can be hydraulically rotated through 90o for stockpiling up to three products on the floor, according to Sandvik.

The CH430 cone crusher is at the heart of the QH332 DDHS and is equipped with a hydroset system that provides closed-side setting adjustment and a heavy duty I Beam chassis.

“The automatic setting regulation system not only optimises production, it also keeps track of liner wear, making it easy to plan liner changes and minimise interruptions in production,” Sandvik said.

The CH430 cone has a choice of six concaves and three eccentric bushes providing a range of throws from 16 mm to 36 mm.

As the standalone double deck hanging screen is completely detachable, operators can use the QH322 in open or closed circuit, with the machine able to be set up in less than 30 minutes, Sandvik said.

Going digital

Both of these new machines can benefit from the use of the My Fleet telematics system, which was also launched at the Hillhead show last month.

Developed initially for the premium (Q) range of crushers – expected in the September quarter – this digital solution has been designed to “help operators get the very best out of their investment”, Sandvik said. A launch for the company’s mobile screen and scalper range could occur soon after.

The monitoring, control and data collection tool, provided via the cloud, is designed to eliminate guesswork and provide the data needed for informed business decisions, according to Sandvik.

“My Fleet has been purpose developed to help our customers know exactly how equipment is being utilised. Through the collection and accurate monitoring of a wide array of parameters, this facilitates accurate production forecasting, ensuring that the most efficient use is obtained from equipment, thereby maximising return on investment,” the company said.

In addition to the ability to forecast production, this can also help customers plan their service and maintenance schedules.

There will be two packages available for My Fleet customers, with the option to take one of the packages or alternatively, opt out of the system. These consist of:

  • Freemium – a basic package aimed at providing machine location and utilisation
  • Premium – provides a wide array of parameters for a more in-depth analysis and monitoring of the equipment.