For miners, by miners

Peter Campain doesn’t mince words about the importance of designing mining equipment for the operators who run it. “Having equipment engineered to support the operator is essential,” says Campain, general manager plant for mining services provider Barminco. “The OEM who makes the equipment doesn’t operate it. It’s all about how the operators find the equipment to use and how well the machine suits the environment they’re trying to run it in for up to 11 hours a day.” Barminco knows its mobile equipment. The mining services provider operates more than 300 pieces in total, one of the largest single-company underground fleets in the world. “It’s obviously a very key part of our business, and we’ve got a long-standing relationship with Sandvik,” says Graham Crew, general manager mining at Barminco. “The Sandvik equipment overall is very well-regarded within the Barminco operating ranks. We’re both in the business of delivering value for mine owners, and we’ve got a lot to learn from one another about how we can make that safer, more productive and more efficient.”

“We’ll be running a complete fleet of TH663s in Australia by the end of the 2018 calendar year,” Campain says. Barminco management and site personnel were invited to another local customer forum in 2015 to discuss their experiences with Sandvik LH517, which currently comprises more than half of its Sandvik loader fleet. Operators praised the loader’s breakout force and bogging capacity but were less satisfied with its cabin ergonomics and comfort, expressing issues ranging from seating position to the absence of a designated place for storing the large water bottles necessary to stay hydrated in hot underground environments. “The braking on the earlier machines was considered to be quite harsh and just a few simple things around the way the machine loads,” Campain says. The forum produced more than 200 customer suggestions for improving the next 17-tonne Sandvik loader. Three years later, Sandvik LH517i was born. To improve operator comfort and productivity, Sandvik redesigned the cabin. The result is a roomier, more ergonomic operating environment with better visibility. Sandvik also improved pedal locations and ride control for smoother tramming.

On top of the design improvements, Sandvik LH517i also features in-built intelligence that enables AutoMine and OptiMine readiness. Darren Kwok, Barminco’s group manager innovation and technology, appreciates the flexibility to mobilize an automated solution for a client within days rather than weeks. “Technology and innovation gives us the greatest opportunity for sustainable safety, productivity, and efficiency gains beyond the continuous improvement work that we’re already doing,” Kwok says. “The 517i is the latest in our fleet to be ready with all the appropriate sensors and all the appropriate equipment to drive onto site and turn on automation as required.” Barminco was eager to trial the first Sandvik LH517i, putting it into operation at Gold Fields’ Agnew mine in Western Australia.

“Operations managers are specifically asking for the ‘i’ machine rather than the old model, which is a measure of success.” Crew believes that knowledge sharing will continue to drive innovation in equipment development. “We’ve got a lot of operating expertise, and a lot of operating experience,” he says. “I think it just makes good sense that we’re talking all the time about what’s working, what’s not working, what we can do better, and Sandvik’s responsiveness with the 517i, I think is a critical thing that enables both organizations to deliver a better product, to do it safer, to do it more efficiently, and be more productive. As long as we maintain that communication between both organizations, we continue to build a stronger relationship.”