Preparing for the Technologically Advanced Mines of the Future

BRIAN CARROLL, OPERATIONS MANAGER – PORTLAOISE BRANCH, IRELAND MANAGER OF UNDERGROUND SALES – SALES TERRITORY, NORTH WEST EUROPE

In a recent article about BEV technology developments by Joseph Szczesny, he described that, according to experts participating in the annual Powertrain Conference organised by Automotive Futures, Europe and China are the now becoming the world leaders in the push for battery-electric vehicles and have moved ahead of the North American effort to develop BEVs. In the mining industry, Sandvik have been one of the leaders in this field in Europe for the further development of our BEV offering.

Part of Sandvik’s developments in the past year has been the introduction of the largestcapacity battery-electric truck for underground mining. With an unrivalled 65-tonne payload capacity, the Sandvik TH665B prototype has completed its factory testing. The trial agreement has been finalised with Barminco and AngloGold Ashanti Australia and the trial is now underway at the Sunrise Dam gold mine to prove its viability in a long ramp haulage application before commercial production of Sandvik TH665B is expected to commence in late 2023. The truck is equipped with Sandvik’s patented self-swapping system, including the AutoSwap and AutoConnect functions, which enables quick and easy battery swap in a matter of minutes, and without any major infrastructure like overhead cranes or other heavy handling equipment. This unit and the existing Sandvik TH550B 50-tonne payload truck and Sandvik LH518B 18-tonne payload loader will commence field

Sandvik TH665B Truck Surface.

trials on the Sandvik AutoMine (automation) offering in the product in the coming period also. This will be the key next step for Sandvik in our technology developments, to have automated BEV equipment with easily changing battery functions without impacting the benefits of the automation features of AutoMine.

As well as the launch of equipment, there has been the developments of battery technology as BEV vehicles becomes more and more “normal” in everyday life (automobiles, road truck, farming equipment, etc). For example, in late 2021, Sandvik received a customer order for a LH518B loader with the desired specifications from the customer. Sandvik were happy and customer was happy also. However, with the continued ambition to develop our technology, by the time this loader will be delivered (Q3 2022), there will be a 30% increase in performance

Sandvik LH518B Loader loading Sandvik TH665B Truck.

Sandvik DD422iE Face Drill with Sandvik Service Engineer.

in the battery compared to when the unit order was placed. Sandvik expect the customer to be quite pleased with this development. Never could a diesel machine have offered a 30% increase in performance. Personally, while dealing with our customers in our own Sales Territory of North West Europe, one of our customers in Norway has heavily invested in BEV equipment for the coming period with the Sandvik DL422iE Longhole rig and the Sandvik DD422iE Development rig on order with more orders coming for the Sandvik LH518B loader and Sandvik TH550B truck. This particular customer has an ambitious target/strategy to change their entire mobile fleet to BEV by 2025. We in Sandvik NW Europe are working hand in hand with them to help them achieve this target. However, equipment is only as good as the support it gets once delivered and in operation, no matter whether its diesel or electric. With this change in technology and BEV equipment becoming the new norm, Sandvik have already begun the technical training, competency development and recruitment to meet these needs in the future. Good service and technical support are key to success in any product or piece of equipment. Sandvik have foreseen this and are preparing to be ready for the future. The days of oily filters and dusty air filters will soon be replaced by highly skilled specialists and diagnostic equipment.

Sandvik Ireland

Supporting our Irish customer base in both the surface and underground extractive industries since 1994 with technical support and operating from our midlands workshops over the past 25 years, since 1997. With a high emphasis on Environment Health and Safety and a product range of quality products, parts and services, our customer support continues today from our Portlaoise facility, where we strive to deliver tomorrow’s needs, today. www.rocktechnology.sandvik/ https://www.rocktechnology. sandvik/en/sales-offices/salesoffices/europe/sandvik-miningrock-technology-ireland/salesand-service-office-sandvik-miningand-rock-technology-portlaoise/