On-site expertise keeps dragline on-schedule

摘要

WITH THE lowest material removal cost and an average operating life of 40 years, draglines are claimed to be the most productive and versatile machine in the mining industry, with walking draglines used in many surface mining operations worldwide. BMA, Australia's largest coal producer, operates one of the world's largest dragline fleets, with 33 draglines and eight shovels in operation in the Bowen Basin. Blackwater Mine for instance, where this project was carried out, mines coal by open-cut methods using seven draglines and two truck/shovel fleets. The project was undertaken at the BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA)-operated Blackwater mine by field maintenance alliance partner Transfield Services, and involved upgrade work to the drive and hoist motors and gearboxes on a huge Bucyrus 2570 walking dragline - which is able to reach depths of 65 metres, the 2570 model featuring a bucket capability of up to 138 cubic metres, with a boom length of up to 128 metres, and a maximum working weight of 7,271 tonnes.