The Vorkutaugol Group mine, near the city of Vorkuta in the far north Urals area of Russia, received a full package of development equipment, including Joy’s 12CM30B miner bolter, a 10SC32B shuttle car and a BF14 feeder-breaker, in December 2008.

Due to the small size of vertical shaft access into the mine, the equipment had to be completely stripped down to under 10-tonne subassemblies in order to be transported underground.

It was then re-assembled underground and commissioned in February this year.

The August record achieved by the mine is thought to be a record for the European coal industry, as typical European mines are deep, at 500 to 1000 metres, and development can only be completed using single or twin-entry roadways.

Development rates of more than 400 metres in a month are usually considered noteworthy.

Vorgashorskaya mine director Svyatoslav Smelkov congratulated the miners on their world-class achievement and presented them with a symbolic piece of coal with the inscription “1005 metres”.

Machine operator Victor Darmoros said the advantage of the 12CM30 miner bolter was that “the machine cuts very quickly with no need to reposition the machine or tram forward and backward”

The mine has commissioned a second Joy 12CM30 miner bolter.