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56 www.coalage.com February 2015 Famur's FS 300 shearer has achieved phe- nomenal results in the Marcel coal mine in Poland, according to the manufacturer. The FS 300, designed specifically for the mining and geological conditions of this mine, began operating on April 16, 2014. According to information provided by mine management, as result of numerous tests carried out and consultations with the Marcel mine staff, the shearer has been perfectly adapted to suit the seam conditions. The FS 300 shearer is the latest prod- uct of the FS series produced by Famur. It is equipped with two drive units, electri- cal equipment with the latest generation control systems, security and diagnostic systems, and with the possibility to apply various types of cutting arms, depending on the geo-mining conditions. In addi- tion, this machine is adapted for installing the platform used for longwall moves. The FS 300 was delivered to the Marcel coal mine on April 2, 2014, and was commis- sioned on the C3 face in the seam 503/504. "This is the first shearer of this type to be used in the Polish mining industry. As for operational experiences, I can say that it is a good machine and that it meets our expectations as well as the other longwall system equipment," said Tomasz Lubszczyk, energy and machinery chief foreman in the Marcel coal mine. "Through the use of this high-class long- wall equipment, we can achieve our objectives and projected longwall pro- duction without any problems. For orien- tation purposes, I can say that with these longwall parameters, i.e., 147 shields and a 0.8-m web, we get about 700 [metric tons] of coal from one pass. When you multiply this by the number of passes per shift, then you may understand how effi- cient the FS 300 is." The face length for 147 shields is 220 m (722 ft) and the face height varies between 2.5 – 3.5 m. "The parameters of our machines are adjusted in each case to the geo-mining conditions in each particular mine, with consideration given to the individual needs of future users," said Ireneusz Tomecki, deputy CEO of domestic sales, Famur. "We continually invest in research and develop- ment work, aimed at creating innovative solutions for efficient, cost-effective and safe resource extraction through longwall mining operations.'' Famur is a leader in the manufacture of underground mining machinery and equipment. It specializes in automated longwall systems. Fairmont Supply Sold to Tenex CONSOL Energy sold Fairmont Supply to Tenex Capital Management, a private equi- ty fund that invests in middle-market com- panies. CONSOL Energy mentioned the deal during its fourth quarter earnings statement, but did not disclose the value of the transaction. A spokesperson for Fairmont confirmed the deal and said an executive, Rudi Strobl, had been appointed to lead the new Fairmont organization. Fairmont has served the coal mining business for 94 years. In addition to its pres- ence in the mining business, Fairmont has increasingly become a significant supplier to other industrial markets over the past three decades. Being owned by one of the largest coal producers gave it a clear advan- tage as far as logistics for coal operators. CONSOL Energy is no longer the largest underground coal producer and the new Fairmont will now stand on its own. The company's management team currently shares office space with CONSOL Energy and they expect to relocate soon. Chinese Install Voith's 1,000 th TPKL Fluid Coupler in a Conveyor Drive Voith recently manufactured its 1,000 th TPKL fluid coupling and it was shipped to the DaTong Coal Mining Group in China. Convinced by the solid performance of hydrodynamic power transmission, the decision was made to use the TPKL fluid coupling for the drives on the main convey- or for a new coal mine. For this specific case, the mine will actually receive four TPKL fluid couplings. The fill-controlled fluid couplings will be used in a 6.4-MW belt conveyor drive with demanding requirements. The 3,160-m-long under- ground belt conveyor is driven by four 1,600-kW motors with a planned capacity of 4,000 tons per hour. The belt conveyor is designed for a demanding workload as it will transport coal uphill at a 14° angle. Voith started the production of the TPKL coupling series in 1997. This fluid coupling type was especially developed for demanding belt conveyor applications in mining. The coupling type provides excellent torque limitation for a smooth startup for the belt conveyor. It allows Famur Shearer Passes the Test in Polish Mine For the last year, the Marcel mine in Poland has been testing Famur's FS 300 shearer. Also based in Poland, Famur builds longwall equipment, such as the face shown above. s u p p l i e r s n e w s