Coal Age

MAR 2013

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VDMA Underground Mining Technology: Systems for Safety and Productivity Underground mining is not, of course, solely about the hardware involved. Ancillary equipment such as specialized pumps, valves and control systems is playing an increasingly important role in ensuring that operators can win the best productivity possible from their investments in machinery. As well as supplying underground mining, loading and hauling machines, Germany's equipment producers offer the complete range of supporting systems, from individual components to complete communications infrastructure. Rock cutting is of particular significance for mining in general, not just underground, especially as companies continue to work in expanding the range of rock that can be excavated by cutting rather than by drill-and-blast. Kennametal's German subsidiary, for instance, is a VDMA mining-branch member with long-standing expertise in the design and manufacture of tungsten carbide picks for shearers, continuous miners and surface-mining machines. High-pressure Pumps for Longwall Mining Having been established as the European subsidiary of a U.S. company 10 years before, since 1984 Kamat-Pumpen GmbH & Co. KG has been focusing on the development of high-pressure pumps for use in mining, metallurgical plants and a number of other industries. The company points out that its R&D; activities have enabled it to become one of the leaders in the field of high-pressure technology. Kamat began working in mining water hydraulics in 1990, since then it has consistently gained new markets. It now has systems working in longwall mines in the U.K., the U.S., Turkey, Australia, China, Ukraine and Russia—where it commissioned its first underground pump station during 2012. "We are very strong in the U.S. market," Managing Director Andreas Wahl told Best of Germany, "and we have a significant market share in Australia and China. We are also seeing a trend toward companies using fewer, bigger pumps, as well as using pumps with variable-speed drives that help to reduce valve wear by adjusting the fluid flow in response to actual needs on the face." Kamat's product range includes high-pressure pumps, pump systems and accessories for pumping various kinds of fluids at working pressures up to 3,500 bar. "Customers are often looking for turnkey units, so we provide tailor-made systems, including a choice of motors, variable-speed drives (VSDs) and an electronic control system," Wahl explained. Introduced in early 2012, the company's 3G series of pumps is now well-established, according to Wahl. With Kamat investing heavily in new machining facilities for its operation in Witten, it is also aiming to have all of its ranges optimized by the beginning of this year. "With less vibration and less noise, the difference is really impressive," he said. Used for applications with power inputs currently in the range 100-530 kW, and with an 800 kW unit being introduced this year, the G pump family opens the possibility of using Kamat supplied this pump car to the Westcliff mine in Australia. VDMA 16 VDMA MINING SUPPLEMENT • 2013

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