Spotlight Feature Articles Joy Global Surface Loading & Drilling April 16 | Page 6

SURFACE DRILLING AND LOADING
ore-preparation techniques, looked at offerings
from domestic manufacturers, and the
development of loading machines with a case
study of a Uralmash EKG-18 excavator. The
delegates also visited production shops where an
EKG-18 for ZAO Polyus was being prepared for
shipment, and saw the results of an investment
program from 2013 and new plans to upgrade the
production facilities in 2016-2017. The main plant
products for the coming years will be power
shovels with buckets of 12 to 35 m3.
The investments in the development of these
production facilities will provide for the
manufacture of 10-12 excavators per year and to
date, contracts for eight EKG-18 excavators have
been signed. But there is also a lot in the
pipeline. New orders include from the ZAO
Stroyservice company, which is buying five
excavators with a 18 m3 bucket for the Kuzbass
region. Copper giant Ural Mining and
Metallurgical Company (UMMC) is also
examining possibilities for the placement of
orders for 23 large walking and crawler-mounted
excavators for the period up to 2020; while coal
major Kuzbassrazrezugol OAO, has drafted a
contract for a new EKG-35.

China’s TYHI continues growth
In China, in September 2015, market leader
Taiyuan Heavy Industry (TYHI) signed a contract
for two WK-12 excavators to go to CCL India
(Central Coalfields Ltd), a subsidiary of Coal India
Ltd). These add to machines delivered in recent
years to South Africa, Chile and elsewhere.
In the domestic market, TYHI has a contract for
five large WK-35 shovels which are specially
designed for high altitude operation, for delivery
to Tibet Dragon Copper Industry Co Ltd. The order
dates to November 2014 and one unit has now
been delivered. TYHI has since also signed
further contracts for five WK-12 shovels and five
60-110E Semi-Mobile Crushing Stations with the
same customer. A further new 60-110E SemiMobile Crushing Station order was signed with
Yuanjiacun Iron Ore, part of TISCO, in June 2015,
which is the second installation of this model
TYHI will have provided for this customer. An
order for a 9,000 t/h spreader was also signed at
the same time. These TISCO orders will start
being delivered in May 2016. Finally, TYHI has
signed a contract for a 4,500 t/h spreader with
Baotou Steel Ltd in January 2016; while a 60-89
Semi-Mobile Crushing Station, specially designed
for Panzhihua Steel, is currently being
commissioned.

FLANDERS and shovel Freedom
Shovels are continually designed with larger
dippers and associated infrastructure to increase
production efficiency. Unfortunately, the shovel
mechanical structure and material handling
International Mining | APRIL 2016

Summary of the
Freedom™ platform
from FLANDERS

capacity can exceed the DC motor’s ability to
support the full potential of the shovel.
FLANDERS says it has addressed this mismatch
by developing the Freedom™ platform. 
“The shovel boom and mechanical structure
are at its weakest point while at fully extended
crowd, high in the bank with the hoist motors at

“The DCS800 drives provide you with the
security that you are utilising state-of-the-art
technology that will be supported for years to
come.  FLANDERS exclusive open-architecture
allows you to choose either FLANDERS or an
existing OEM hoist motor. Our Freedom upgrade
incorporates the substantially improved

or near stall condition. The shovel operator
instinctively manipulates the crowd to
compensate for the potential lack of crowd and
hoist power. Each time the crowd is actuated to
correct this impending stall condition, a full
fatigue cycle is exerted on the boom, ropes,
sticks and body. This can lead to excess rope
wear, boom and dipper stress-fractures and early
motor failure. These conditions also manifest into
reduced shovel cycle time. The Freedom Platform
monitors these stresses in real-time and
dynamically delivers increased hoist motor
torque when favourable dig conditions allow. This
is typically low in the bank where the shovel is
structurally at its strongest point.”
Freedom utilises an open architecture software
that monitors shovel stresses and electrical
system parameters to provide state-of-the-art
adaptive controls. Hoist torque is increased only
when dig conditions allow. By using a FLANDERS
crowd motor, that provides an increased available
stall current of up to 50% (when properly
equipped) over the OEM motor, the operator is
able to enter the bank with more cutting force,
and fill the dipper early in the dig cycle, low in
the bank.
“FLANDERS is the only company in the market
to provide real-time feedback to respond and
modulate the hoist rope tension in response to
actual field dig conditions felt by the boom,
unlike competitive offerings that are solely based
on a pre-engineered and perceived position of
the dipper in relation to the dig face.”
FLANDERS’ Freedom upgrade includes the
following critical components – FLANDERS
exclusive Optimised Bank Performance (OBP);
the Freedom Control System; ABB DCS800
drives; FLANDERS Enhanced Crowd Motor; and
FLANDERS Enhanced Hoist Motors (which are
optional).

reliability and performance of FLANDERS’
designed M21 and F22 crowd motors. These
motors fit in the same footprint as OEM crowd
motors, and boast increased available stall
current of up to 50% when properly equipped.
This translates to more allowable torqu