Pewag provides tyre protection underground

摘要

MINING chains are usually considered in a surface mining environment, particularly for wheel-loader applications, but Austria's pewag told Mining Magazine that the company has been seeing unprecedented demand for chains on underground mining vehicles across a wide range of coal and non-coal applications, including machines from Caterpillar Elphinstone, SandvikToro, Joy, DBT and a host of smaller producers. Chains are being used in operations from near surface down to deep levels of up to 4,000 metres, principally to provide protection and traction. Productivity and profitability require underground vehicles to perform in limited spaces and extreme conditions, which are very harsh on tyres. Rock edges, gradients, water and other factors contribute to tyre failure and expensive down time.