With around 50 branches and support facilities, employing some 2500 people around Australia, Sandvik has more support outlets than any other mining equipment supplier in this country – and is the largest supplier of Australia-made mining equipment.

It is the world’s biggest global supplier of mining equipment, consumables and services.

Its products and services cover surface and underground mining (both hard rock and soft rock), exploration, and bulk-handling equipment – in-mine, cross-country, and ports and terminals – as well as quarrying and civil construction.

Sandvik at QME

Sandvik Mining and Construction will use QME as the launch pad for a new range of Australian-designed and manufactured underground coal loaders, and to open its new state-of-the-art service and support branch.

The display, on Stand 9216, will also feature one of the largest items of equipment on display at QME – a DR460 open cut coalmining blasthole drill rig.

New underground coal loader range

Sandvik’s new underground coal loader range – represented at QME by the just-released LS151 and LS191 – incorporates significant advances in underground loader technology, including substantially lower emissions, increased safety and ergonomics, more power and torque, and easier servicing.

The new LS151 is a replacement for the iconic Sandvik Eimco 913 LHD, and a response to industry demand for a modern 5-tonne loader for underground coalmining.

The LS191, a 10t loader at the upper end of the new range, features the latest-generation electronic engine technology, based around Cat’s C7 engine, for improved performance, reduced emissions and lower fuel consumption.

It incorporates a pressure-compensated hydraulic system with a “flow on demand” concept to ensure maximum efficiency while conserving power and reducing heat generation, and can be used in conjunction with Sandvik’s 50t hydraulic assist roof support trailer to relocate large longwall equipment items.

“Both machines have been designed following customer and operator feedback from minesites around Australia, to ensure they meet the needs of today’s underground coal market,” said Richard Osborn, Sandvik Mining and Construction’s global product line manager for underground flameproof load-and-haul equipment.

“Sandvik has paid a great deal of attention to ensuring its new underground loader range is the safest and most ergonomically advanced on the market.”

The range incorporates a modular design that allows loaders to be easily customised to meet different site requirements, as well as greatly simplifying maintenance and servicing.

Both machines feature an ergonomically designed operator’s cabin with a certified ROPS/FOPS canopy, while reliability and machine uptime have been further improved through the ability to carry out all daily maintenance and service checks from ground level.

On the LS151, the cab is mounted forward of the articulation joint for improved visibility and ease of operation.

A digital display screen in the LS191’s cab allows for quick and easy reference and fault finding.

DR460 blasthole rig at QME

One of the largest pieces of equipment on display at QME will be the DR460 blasthole drill rig – and the most powerful and productive rig of its size on the market – it is designed for drilling holes of 251-311 mm in diameter, to depths of 75m.

Rotary horsepower is 38% higher than any comparable rig, while maximum pulldown is 356kN, the highest in its class.

At 11.5m long by 6.4m wide, and nearly 20m tall, it will tower over other displays at the show.

Other products on display at the Sandvik stand will include materials handling and steel products, models of crushing and sizing equipment, conveyor products, and tools and consumables.

New Mackay branch

In addition to the new underground loaders launch at QME, Sandvik will also be hosting a spit roast at its new Mackay branch on the Tuesday and Wednesday evenings of the show, branch manager Ryan Jones said.

“All visitors to our stand at QME will be given an invitation to visit our new service and support facilities at Interlink Court, Paget, just south of Mackay city.

“We will also be running a courtesy bus between the show and our new facilities.”

The new branch includes a strip-and-rebuild workshop designed for continuous miners and other large underground and surface mining equipment, a fabrication workshop, a machine shop, paintshop, a high-bay parts storage warehouse and office facilities.

“All visitors and attendees at QME 2010 will be most welcome to visit our new branch, so we would encourage everyone at the show to come along and get an invite,” he said.

Further information: Sandvik Mining and Construction, email smc_marketing.extras@sandvik.com, website www.miningandconstruction.sandvik.com