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It’s not everyday that a new piece of equipment is launched. But when a company does, it’s unusual, even in these times of a downturn, not to do so without some fanfare. So when a company launches not one, but multiple pieces of equipment it has to make a serious statement.
This is exactly what Sandvik did following the release of not only two new drill rigs, but the world’s largest drifter, new underground drilling equipment, multiple new drilling threads and bits, and the latest developments in its automated and tele-remote mining systems.
It brought together more than 300 people from ten countries to demonstrate its new equipment in the flesh during its massive customer day. The group gathered at its Tampere facility in Finland to see the latest developments.
The facility itself was also on show, asthe visitors tramped across the site which Sandvik claims is the largest mining machinery manufacturing facility in Europe. As we crossed through the gates a little piece of Australiana welcomed the groups, a ‘beware of kangaroos’ sign, greeting visitors. Quickly the group was ushered in, where we were given a first hand demonstration of its AutoMine system.
Combined with the appropriate level of Finnish metal music.
Much in the vein of its competitors’semi-autonomous and remote or tele-operated machinery, Sandvik’s system allows for the real time operation and monitoring of equipment, allowing operators to gain a better understanding and overview of their machinery as it runs.
“This provides maximum fleet utilisation through making maintenance and monitoring an easier task and showing the best way to optimise your fleet’s operation.
“It allows for greater knowledge of your production rates, how to utilise payloads and further up the chain it provides the data for analysis as well as predictive maintenance.”
Soon after this the group was transferred outside, crossing the facility and taking in its drills being prepared for shipping along the way.
The first stop was a demonstration of its new rockbolting system.
The system provides a reference for operators during rockbolting and roof support.
Using lasers attached to a bending boom, it provides an accurate measurement and distance for the next hole to be drilled automatically.
“A laser reference fan is used to provide greater accuracy in rockbolting, and as the laser is attached to the bending boom it can stay at the same angle each time, and operators can also easily modify the angle as well,” Sandvik stated.
“This means you can get the co-ordinates on a USB, plug it in and just start, instead of having a man go into the tunnels onto a work platform and paint the points for the boom to drill.”
For the rest of this article, click here: http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/features/sandvik-s-customer-day-from-start-to-finnish