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SME 2013 Preview: Part 4

THOUSANDS of guests and exhibitors are expected in Denver, Colorado, for the Society for Mining, ...

Donna Schmidt

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Check out our final instalment of companies available for guests to meet with at Mining: It’s About the People at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center.

Dust Control Technology

Dust Control Technology announced its largest-ever design when the DustBoss DB-100 was introduced at last year’s Minexpo in Las Vegas.

Engineered specifically to deliver the power to reach the working face of an open cast mine or large quarry, the dust suppressor has a range of more than 100m, giving it ample reach to cover material stockpiles 200-300 feet high.

The giant atomized misting unit from Dust Control Technology in Peoria, Illinois, stands nearly eight feet tall and can cover 280,000 square feet from a single location. That is almost six football fields.

The DB-100 was designed with input from some of the leading mining companies in the world, with data collected from numerous site visits, where visibility around massive working areas can be profoundly impacted by dust.

“This new unit will reach all the way to the working face, knocking down dust from the shovel right as it picks up or drops material,” DCT vice-president Aaron Valencic said.

“With the improved visibility and air quality, mining companies can maintain a safer and more productive workplace.”

Like all of the company’s fan-driven atomizers, the DB-100 delivers both power and dependability by using a straightforward, direct drive fan motor. It has no drive belts, diesel engines or complex gear systems that could present breakdown problems in the difficult service environment of a mine or coal yard.

Despite its impressive size, the DB-100 requires minimal maintenance, with lubrication of fan motor bearings recommended every 10,000 hours, while the oscillation motor is lubricated for life.

All DustBoss models are covered by an industry-best three-year/3000-hour warranty and complete satisfaction guarantee.

Grindex

Electrical submersible pump technology provider for demanding applications such as construction, mining and heavy industry, Grindex’s pumps will be on show at SME.

The pumps are designed to be used in the most challenging environments.

Thanks to built-in motor protection and the air valve, the pumps can run unsupervised for longer periods, and even run dry for a length of time.

MSHA-approved pumps also are available for use in gassy mines or tunnels, and are offered in dewatering and sludge configurations.

Pump designs range from 0.6-140 horsepower, solids handling capability of up to 3.2 inches, and capacities of up to 750 feet and 5100gpm.

Stainless steel options are available.

Atlas Copco

Atlas Copco, will be featuring its underground ventilation system, SwedVent, which it introduced at last year’s Minexpo.

The introduction followed the acquisition of the SwedVent product line and other underground products from GIA Industri AB in the first quarter of that year.

The ventilation system features high-pressure fans delivering air along extensive lengths of tunneling, with a capacity of 3-200 cubic meters/106-7063 cubic feet per second. SwedVent also includes flexible ducting and control systems.

For highly effective noise reduction, the fans are equipped with silencers that are manufactured with mineral wool as absorbing material and have a center core that also reduces the high-frequency sound.

System design is an important part of the overall package, taking into account system pressure, total leakage, motor load, airflow and other safety considerations and energy consumption.

Becker Wholesale Mine Supply/NL Technologies

Partners Becker Wholesale Mine Supply and Northern Light Technologies will be joining forces at this year’s SME.

Mine communications and tracking supplier BWMS will have several products available from partner companies including Varis, Becker Electronics and Conspec as well as Shurjoint.

BWMS also will have its other communications and safety products on display, including the Tunnel Radio, Venture Design’s MineTracer, Vital Alert, Comtrol and its line of Kenwood radios.

The company also wants to talk about one of its latest product line additions, Indurad.

Known also by its formal name, the Industrial Radar Company, Indurad provides solutions for, but not limited to, proximity detection, belt volume scanning and speed sensor, inventory control for silos, bunkers and domes and many other solutions for use in the toughest environments.

Becker Wholesale Supply is the North American distributor for the company’s technology, including the Dual Range Radar, the only 2D/3D radar scanner on the market with 50-degree visibility up to a 150m.

Its other recently added partner company, Newtrax Technologies, is the maker of MineTrax, an open architecture platform for tracking, texting and telemetry in underground mining operations.

MineTrax infrastructure components include the central server, the Ethernet gateway, leaky feeder headend gateway, LF underground gateway, battery-powered wireless network infrastructure node and the post-accident network probe.

The line’s terminal devices include the MineTrax SCADA RTU, vehicle modem/tag/RTU and unattended ground sensor. It also has OEM solutions, including the MineTrax OEM mobile modem/tag module and the MineTrax OEM static modem/tag/router module.

Northern Light Technologies provides complete turnkey Wi-Fi communications and tracking solutions for both hard rock and coal.

Solutions on show will include the Genesis, WIOD and Onsight Mobile Video Conferencing.

Genesis is the evolution of NLT’s award-winning Polaris cordless cap lamp. It features the same durability, reliability and brightness as the Polaris cap lamp but also can house a Wi-Fi or RFID tracking tag.

NLT’s Wireless Input Output Device can connect virtually anything in a mine to that mine’s Wi-Fi network.

Onsight Mobile Video Conferencing, the Onsight ruggedized, wireless, battery operated, handheld video conferencing camera, takes video conferencing out of the boardroom and into the field.

Brookville

Brookville Equipment Corporation will be on hand at the meeting and exhibition with its diesel-powered carrier, which features cushioned bench seating and improved leg room. It manages this while remaining within the overall exterior size specifications of similar personnel carriers designed to seat fewer workers.

The company also will be putting on show a self-propelled microduster and a retractable

coupler. The microduster – which is installable on Brookville units – is hydraulically driven, features a 1500-pound limestone dust capacity, and runs at a remarkably low 15psi. The mountable dusting tank allows Brookville vehicles to become a mobile solution for covering small coal seams – improving efficiency – while saving plenty of work for larger tow-behind dusters.

Designed using finite element analysis, the retractable coupler features two locking collars and a four-pin system to hold the device in place when in use. The coupler retracts into the unit when not needed – allowing locomotives to fi t into tighter areas, such as elevators.

With the ability to withstand up to 230,000lb of force, it is a strong solution for customers whose locomotives will face spatial limitations at certain locations in the mine.

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