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VDMA Underground Mining Technology: Safer Working Conditions and Higher Productivity German companies have been at the forefront of underground mining technology for well over a century, and even during the gradual run- down of the country's hard coal mining industry, they are still show- ing just how innovative they can be in supplying state-of-the-art equipment to export markets around the world. German underground mining technology is not, of course, focused exclusively on the coal industry, with its suppliers continuing to win an increasing share on world markets with machines for hard-rock and evaporite mining. For instance, Hauhinco has been supplying equipment to the min- ing industry for over 100 years, having become one of the world's lead- ing suppliers of water hydraulic systems, with an extensive range of valves, pumps and electronics. Hauhinco supplies individual and tai- lor-made high-pressure and spray systems for longwall installations. As well as single-face systems, the company says, it can design and install centralised networks that can supply up to four faces within a single mine, with its infrastructure covering distances of up to 5 km. From its headquarters in Dortmund, the Deilmann-Haniel International group encompasses specialist shaft-sinking contract services and underground mining equipment from its German sub- sidiaries, with shaft-sinking and mine construction services being supplied through its Redpath and Frontier-Kemper companies in North America. Deilmann-Haniel Shaft Sinking GmbH claims to be one of the world's most experienced shaft-sinking contractors, having undertak- en more than 500 shafts. As well as sinking new shafts, the compa- ny provides rehabilitation services for old mine accesses, together with raiseboring, ground-freezing and mine-closure services. An example of its raiseboring skill comes from a ventilation shaft at Deutche Steinkohle's West mine, where it achieved an accuracy of 300 mm over a 600 m pilot hole length, the company reports. Underground transport systems are SMT Scharf's speciality, with the Hamm-based company offering suspended monorail systems, floor-mounted rail systems, chair-lift transport for man-riding, road- headers and conveyors. Orders reported by the company during 2011 included a 7 km-long chair-lift system for a coal mine in Mexico. A challenge here was to keep the system separate from an existing monorail network, for personnel safety reasons, the company said. Scharf also reports having been successful in transferring its monorail technology from the coal industry to hard-rock mining, with several systems delivered to mines in South Africa. The company claims that independent reports have shown that mining companies can cut both their costs and cycle times for handling materials under- ground by using monorails, with savings coming from lower ventila- tion requirements and the use of smaller-diameter headings for their transport infrastructure. Caterpillar: Bringing Germany's Coal Mining Heritage Up-to-date As predicted in the 2011 edition of , there is a new name within the German mining-equipment sector: Caterpillar. Today, Bucyrus Europe GmbH is part of the Caterpillar Global Mining Division, which offers what the company claims to be an unparalleled range of mining and support equipment and technologies for all types of underground mining. As most people within the mining industry will recall, the former DBT company brought together a huge pool of German expertise in mining equipment design and manufacture, with the subsequent acquisition of DBT by Bucyrus merely adding to the company's already strong international reputation. Now, as part of Caterpillar, Bucyrus Europe remains a committed member company of the VDMA, with its production facilities founded in their traditional heartland. For underground coal and soft-rock mining, Caterpillar offers the full range of longwall equipment—roof supports, armoured face con- veyors, shearers and plows—together with room-and-pillar mining equipment, including continuous miners and haulers. For under- ground hard-rock mining, Cat equipment now encompasses loaders, trucks and drills. Caterpillar participated in the China Coal & Mining Expo for the first time in 2011, where the company displayed its EL3000 shearer. VDMA 6 Since completing its Bucyrus acquisition, Caterpillar has been focusing strongly on its underground coal equipment range, and in October 2011 was a first-time exhibitor at the China Coal & Mining Expo in Beijing—the largest underground mining exhibition in the world. Designed under the 'Wherever there's mining' theme, Caterpillar's stand featured as its centerpiece its recently rebranded EL3000 shearer, which was developed for medium-to-high coal seams in the 2.5-5.5 m (98-217 in.) range. With 2,295 kW (3,078 hp) of installed power, the EL3000 is designed for production rates of up to 5,000 metric tons per hour (mt/h). Industry-leading automation can be configured to meet individual control needs, Caterpillar says, from basic monitoring and protection to advanced automation and data transmission. In addition, an automation package allows improved utilization of manpower in a safe environment, with increased yields from any given seam section, faster haulage speeds, improved face management, and increased equipment life. Cat's coal sector equipment that is produced at its Lünen facto- ry includes the company's longwall face-support, armored face con- veyor and plow ranges, as well as its haulage conveyors and CST (Controlled Start Transmission) drive units. Built to meet individual VDMA MINING SUPPLEMENT • 2012 Best of Germany