Josh Swank, Philippi-Hagenbuch Inc., USA, describes a new way to address mining cost reduction, through proper equipment selection.
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very mine plays its own game of give and take when it comes to reducing expenses. And with the beating that mining equipment – especially truck bodies – face day in and day out, finding ways to balance longevity and productivity can create a challenge. Navigating this decision can leave many mine managers turning to different rules of thumb to help them prioritise between operational productivity and equipment durability. For addressing cost, one popular approach promotes a heavy-duty, more durable truck body to provide years of low-maintenance operation. However, these heavy-duty units also tend to be heavy in weight, reducing the amount of material that can be hauled, as well as heavy in price. These durable bodies tend to outlast the original purchasing manager and leave new management questioning the ‘heavy duty’ approach. In contrast, another school of thought places emphasis on increased hauling capacity and higher productivity from a lighter weight ‘throwaway’ body. These units are lower in price but often wear out quickly, leading to downtime and the need for repairs or replacements. Even those seeking some middle ground end up without a viable option in an
global mining review // October 2021
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