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Update Carborough Downs Longwall Systems
Media Release
18 January 2011
Inbye Mining Systems (Inbye) has played a crucial role in managing the longwall installation and ongoing operation of Vale's Carborough Downs underground coal mine with an output capacity of 4.9 million tonnes per annum.
Inbye has delivered a safe and practical longwall installation customised to the needs of the Carborough Downs. A major reason for the success of this installation was that Inbye identified and remedied system weaknesses during the design and testing phase offsite.
The majority of production shears have been fully automated with LASC enhancement making Carborough Downs as a leader in the application of latest automation technology. Inbye re-engineered this technology and branded it as the "Navix System".
Customised inertial navigation technology was incorporated with hardware and software components that were specifically developed for the longwall automation application. Although this longwall automation system has come up trumps in the extensive bench tests, it has yet to be field proven.
Although the Carborough Downs installation faced some major challenges, this mine has succeeded to ramp up the longwall operations to forecast production rates compared to some other higher profile new projects that have struggled to meet their production targets.
Since it was completed February 2010, the Carborough Downs Longwall System has maintained better than 97% availability according to the Vale time usage standard.
The availability rate of subsystem was high as shown below.
| Roof Supports |
Inbye |
99.88% |
| Coal Cutting |
Eickhoff |
99.09% |
| Coal Clearance |
Inbye |
98.88% |
| Monorail |
Macquarie Manufacturing |
100.00% |
| Electrical |
MI Power |
99.71% |
| Pumping |
INOXiHP |
100.00% |
As its first full year of production draws to a close, the Carborough Downs has successfully completed the first mining panel and by Christmas the mine would have relocated the longwall system and started mining in LW2.
Mr Richard Eveleigh, Managing Director, Inbye Mining Services, states;
"The strategic partnership between Tiefenbach, Kopex and Inbye, has given the companies an opportunity to successfully deliver the Navix System automation platform to Carborough Downs Mine. It is the first commercialised LASC installation placed underground making Carborough Downs a leader in the application of latest automation technology".
The Carborough Downs coal mine is an underground operation 20km from Moranbah which is operated by Carborough Downs Coal Management Pty Ltd and 80% owned by Vale. The longwall set-up includes 149 X 1238 - tonne capacity Tagor roof supports with a height of 3.5M - 5.3M and features Tiefenbach Electro - Hydraulic Control Systems.
During 2009 - 2010, Vale has upgraded the site substation and transmission lines, added new ventilation fans, purchased continuous miners, shuttle cars and other underground equipment. A new workshop along with administration buildings and other surface infrastructure have also been installed.
Inbye is located within close proximity the eastern seaboard underground coal mining regions. From its three Hunter locations and Mackay location, Inbye specialises in managing longwall system installations and support. Carborough Downs is the first complete longwall system that Inbye has installed with new partner and shareholder, Polish original equipment manufacturer Kopex.
Inbye has refocused company operation to supply complete longwall mining packages that include delivery, commissioning and ongoing support. Integral to the Inbye Longwall packages are high Australian product content, leading edge technology and excellent value for money.
Enquiries
Kirsty Stewart
Executive Assistant
Tel: +61 (0)2 4932 8944
www.inbye.com
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