COMMENT

Miners continue to expand use of battery-powered vehicles underground

As of March 2022, GlobalData was tracking 157 electric loaders and 45 electric trucks operating in underground mines worldwide.

As miners strive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, many, particularly those with underground mines, are beginning to invest in battery-powered and electric-powered mining fleets.

As of March 2022, GlobalData was tracking 157 electric loaders (LHDs) and 45 electric trucks operating in underground mines across the globe, with the largest combined population of electric LHDs and trucks in Canada (76), followed by Russia (52), Sweden (35) and Australia (14). This total of 202 compares with a total of 182 in June 2021.

By company, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited – the new company formed from the merger of Kirkland Lake Gold and Agnico Eagle – has the largest combined number of LHDs and trucks in operation with 49, including 27 battery or electric-powered LHDs and 17 battery-powered underground mining trucks at its Macassa mine in Canada.

It is followed by Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara AB with 34 and ARMZ Uranium Holding Co and Vale with 20 each. The main suppliers are Sandvik, including Artisan, and Epiroc, with a combined share of over 70% of the machines in use.

Not only does the use of battery power and electric power reduce greenhouse gases, but it also significantly reduces ventilation costs, with 40%-50% less ventilation required with battery or electric-powered machines compared to those running on diesel. There are also lower cooling requirements, less noise pollution and lower maintenance costs, with battery vehicles having 25% or so fewer parts compared with diesel propulsion systems.

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02/17/2024 20:47:36

COMPANY INSIGHT

Surface protection materials and plastics engineering services

Steuler KCH Australia (Steuler KCH) supplies surface protection solutions and engineering services across a wide range of industries across the Australia-Pacific region. The company offers industrial corrosion protection, refractory linings and plastic solutions as well as design, specification, material supply and comprehensive installation services.

Surface protection materials for mining applications

Steuler KCH develops, manufactures and installs lining systems for the mining industry.

The company incorporates a wide range of services, including:

Access to in-house and third-party R&D departments
Product specification, testing and consulting with clients
Purchasing, delivery and logistics
In-house engineering, construction and design services
Quality assurance and management
Training

Our proven lining technology increases plant availability and operational reliability and includes:

Acid-resistant brick lining of process equipment and vessels
Rubber lining systems (on-site or workshop rubber linings)
Coatings and acid-proof tile linings (combined linings) for industrial floorings in all areas
Coating systems with national technical approval from the German Institute for Building Technology (DIBt) in accordance with the German Water Resources Act (§§ 62/63) that are suitable for use in storage, filling and handling areas as well as collection basins.
Synthetic resin and water glass-based mortars
Mechanically anchored thermoplastic systems (BEKAPLAST® ) for trenches, pits and vessels
Mechanically anchored stainless steel lining systems for surface areas, plants and rooms subject to extremely high mechanical stress (BEKASTEEL®)

Steuler KCH’s refractory production line comprises shaped non-basic products on raw material bases, including fireclay, corundum, chromium corundum, zirconium and silicon carbide (SiC) materials, as well as unshaped products.

We develop, supply and install:

Refractory linings for sulphur reaction plants used in the copper, nickel, zinc and phosphate mining industries
Refractory linings for rotary kilns used in the rare earths and iron ore pelletizing industries
Refractory linings for travelling grate furnaces, annular coolers and fluidised bed roasters

Specialist plastics engineering services

Steuler KCH constructs plant and components from technical plastics, using its industry-related skillset and experience to help its clients meet their facility and processing technologies requirements.

The company advises clients on selecting the right material and on its suitability for specific applications, ensuring the best plant design, using state-of-the-art manufacturing processes to turn individual plans into reality, from the first idea to the final product.

Steuler KCH manufactures a wide range of products, including:

Duroplastic materials made from unsaturated polyester or vinylester resins, which are reinforced with E-glass (alkali-free textile glass), and carbon or synthetic fibres
Fibreglass-reinforced piping and tank with chemically protective coatings or thermoplastic inner liners
Mechanically anchored thermoplastic linings for basins, tubs, sewage piping systems, shafts and processing tanks
Polypropylene nozzle level and linings
Thermoplastic and duroplastic composites and customised structures
Thermoplastic materials: polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and special grades
Wet electrostatic filter components and casing

Plant modernisation and optimisation

Steuler KCH specialises in the renovation and general improvement of existing plants.

The company offers a range of services, covering full and partial replacement of acid-proof lining and refractory lining systems, the dismantling and re-assembly of scrubbers and pipework, as well as retrofitting spray nozzle arrays and piping in flue gas scrubber installations.

Steuler KCH also offers a full concrete repair and rehabilitation service for areas that are to be subsequently protected with industrial corrosion lining systems.

The company offers on-site installation and assembly, personnel who can monitor work at the site and, if necessary, training to plant workers. Comprehensive customer support is always available throughout the project.

Steuler KCH’s quality assurance meets the demands of worldwide standards throughout the manufacturing process, starting from raw materials to finished components. Appropriate testing is carried out at all stages of every project to ensure both safety and quality.