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minexpo highlights continued The company is currently assembling a pilot machine in Milwaukee, Wis., and then expects to ship the unit to its Tinaja Hills test facility in Arizona before the end of the year. Offering performance similar to Cat's 7495 rope shovel, Helfrich said the 6120B would, in fact, make a "great backup machine" to traditional rope shovels, while giving Cat capability to address the "full space" of ultra-class truck loading requirements demanded by its customers. Cat's 7495 rope shovel now uses some of the technology developed in the 6120B project, said Helfrich, and is capable of run- ning on one-third the power required by traditional shovels. This capability, he said, has the potential to change the way mines are planned and started in areas where off- grid power is the early—or only—choice. Cat currently has a test version of the upgraded 7495 running at Tinaja Hills, powered by two 3512 diesel gensets. Bridgestone Reports Tire Performance in Real Time As part of the Bridgestone Mining Solutions program, Bridgestone launched B-TAG, a system that monitors tire pressure and tem- perature and reports the data in real time, so mine operators can make informed decisions that impact safety, tire performance, mainte- nance and production. B-TAG hardware is installed on the vehicle; data is sent from sen- sors in the tire to the onboard system in the vehicle, and then may be forwarded to the mine dispatch system, a B-TAG handheld reader or downloaded directly for analysis. Mine operators can not only see data in real time to make immediate decisions, but data can also be compiled to identify pressure trends or assess and adjust operating condi- tions for more long-term solutions. The company also announced it will make an additional investment of $27.3 mil- lion for a second expansion project at its Bloomington, Ill., off-the-road (OTR) plant. Most of the investment will go toward new machinery for the production of giant loader tires. This announcement follows news in April of a $19.5 million investment in the plant to increase production of tires used in heavy industry. Emerson Offers Vibration Monitoring for Shovels Emerson Process Management announced it had entered into an agreement with P&H; Mining Equipment to extend vibration monitoring to its electric shovels. Emerson's onboard monitors will recog- 32 www.coalage.com nize excess vibration in key shovel compo- nents and notify operators in real time— enabling users to take corrective action in time to prevent unexpected shutdowns and possible damage to the huge excavating machines. The agreement covers continu- ous vibration monitoring of the hoist, crowd and swing systems on P&H; Centurion controlled shovels. Vibration monitoring will be offered on all new P&H; shovels, and all existing Centurion con- trolled shovels can be retrofitted to include vibration monitors. Pressure Filtration for Hydraulic Fluid Manufactured using Synteq XP media, Donaldson's new FLK assemblies provide higher pressure fatigue ratings than tradi- tional filters. With its re-usable filter housing and replacement cartridge design, it offers several advantages for disposal of used fil- ters. The FLK's industrial, raised hand-grips make it easy to remove the housing from the head without the need for special service tools. The versatile filter head accommo- dates multiple filter lengths, while the hous- ing locks the filter cartridge in place, providing a clean filter service process and simplifying positioning during assembly. Conveyor Maintenance Flexco's Cordless Belt Cutter has been designed to provide quick and easy cuts on rubber, PVC and fabric-plied belts. The portable tool is currently available in two sizes. The CEBC1 is capable of cutting rub- ber belts up to 1-in. (25-mm) thick and PVC belts up to 360 P.I.W. (63 kN/m) while the CEBC2 is capable of cutting rubber belts up to 2-in.-thick (50-mm) and PVC belts up to 1,140 P.I.W. (200 kN/m). The company also showcased two new products to improve performance in belt conveyor load zones. These include the Flexco EZ Impact Beds, which provide sim- ple and effective protection in the load zone, and Flexco EZ Slider Beds, which pro- vide containment to reduce spillage. Flexco recently added the CoreTech line of rollers to its wide range of products designed to maximize belt conveyor productivity. These next generation troughing and return rollers are made of lightweight, high strength, cor- rosion- and abrasion-resistant composite materials. Hitachi Offers New AC Drives System Hitachi Mining introduced the EH5000AC-3 haul truck, powered by the new Advanced Hitachi AC Drive System. The system is designed and built by the same company that manufactures the truck. The rigid- frame truck has a Cummins QSKTTA60-CE diesel engine that generates 2,850 hp (2,125 kW) at 1,900 rpm and meets EPA Tier 2 emissions requirements. The all-hydraulic actuated braking system provides precise braking control and quick system respons- es, and a new monitor displays information and diagnostics of all onboard systems and controls. The most significant update, however, is the hauler's new AC drive system. At the core of the new system is the advanced propulsion technology, which delivers a whole new level of efficiency, vastly enhancing machine operations. The new technology, which also powers The Hitachi EH5000AC-3 has a new drive system designed specifically for mining. November 2012