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Atlas Copco, said "[An] optimized bucket means better muck pile penetration, faster acceleration and faster dumping. The result is a better load factor on the truck and, in the end, a higher tonnage per month." A new bucket and a unique boom design, combined with variable displace- ment pumps, plus the Atlas Copco Rig Control System, which monitors and con- trols all aspects of the operation, results in superior muck pile penetration, less wear and tear on the machine, and an overall faster and more productive loading cycle, according to the company. The operator is secure inside a FOPS/ ROPS-approved, air conditioned cab and has extra leg room thanks to a unique foot- box. Atlas Copco said the layout of the con- trols is ergonomically efficient and operator visibility—even toward the rear—has been improved by the LHD's sloping design and shorter power frame structure. Safety features incorporated into the Scooptram ST18 include automatic brake test, protection guards, three-point access system, redundant steering system, safety latches, boom lock up, fire suppression systems, machine protection system and others. It can be configured to run semi- autonomously or by radio remote control. Features such as automatic ride control and automatic declutch are claimed to increase the service life of the loader and to reduce spillage from the bucket. Automatic traction control can reduce tire wear and fuel consumption and the addition of soft stops on the boom, bucket and steering reduce unnecessary stress on the machine. The ST18 comes with a number of Atlas Copco Service products that are intended to contribute to trouble-free oper- ations. One example: the RigScan, an advanced audit service product that offers a real-time, non-intrusive look at the equip- ment's operational condition and perform- ance. Another is the Remote Monitoring system, providing production and mainte- nance data through a Web interface. Atlas Copco said it also offers a training program consisting of classroom, simula- tor, and on-site training. By using the Scooptram ST18 training simulator, new operators are given the opportunity to prac- tice harmlessly on machines and systems before entering the mine environment. Paus' LHD Offers Big Performance in Small Spaces German-based Hermann Paus Maschinen- fabrik GmbH launched its PFL 8 Z LHD in 2013. The machine, according to the com- pany, has since then established a niche for itself among customers pleased with the performance of what Paus calls its "lit- tle powerhouse." As an example, Paus cited its recent experience with Ukrainian iron and steel producer ZZhRK, one of Paus' customers for the PFL 8 Z, which had for many years used obsolete, pneumatic-drive mining machines from the Soviet era in much of its underground mining program, particu- larly for work in remote tunnels or tunnels with a small cross-section. Those machines, built over half a centu- ry ago, were inadequate to meet modern requirements in terms of safety, technical development and cost-effectiveness. As part of an expansion of its mining opera- tions in the late 1990s, the company began to acquire new, more productive machines, and more recently commissioned a PFL 8 Z LHD at its NN iron-ore mine. According to Paus, the Ukrainian com- pany is pleased with the machine's perform- ance. Compared with the older machines, the PFL 8 Z provides improved safety during transport and loading, while its compact dimensions enable it to be placed in under- ground spaces without major disassembly— only the LHD's bucket and swing arms had to be removed when it was brought into the Ukrainian ore mine, making travel to the work area a much simpler process. Citing such features as advanced ergo- nomics in the operator cabin, good visibili- ty and easy access for maintenance and service encountered in the trial unit, the Ukrainian producer has since ordered addi- tional machines, according to Paus. Profiled in E&MJ; earlier this year (See Mining Machines for Small Spaces , p. 28, E&MJ; , March 2014), the PFL 8 Z incorpo- rates design elements drawn from Paus' experience building loaders and other mobile equipment for use in hard-rock min- ing at altitude and in extreme conditions. With an unladen weight of 5,300 kg, a pay- load of 1.8 mt and bucket volume of 0.8 m 3 , the PFL 8 Z is intended for ultra-small- scale mining environments. The loader is powered by a 69-kW air-cooled Deutz diesel engine, available with different emis- sion-control levels for specific markets and offering high torque, excellent exhaust emission levels and low fuel consumption, according to the company, which also noted that the loader's Power Drive System automatically adjusts traction power and speed to current mining conditions, reduc- ing tire and brake wear and thus overall operation and maintenance costs In addition to its standard configuration, the PFL Z 8 is available with a variety of bucket versions for specific job applications. An optional quick-change system allows the machine to be fitted with specialized items such as fork arms, crane hooks or even a work cage, according to the company. GHH Busy with Equipment Updates GHH Fahrzeuge GmbH, in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, has been manufacturing LHDs, trucks, special purpose vehicles such as scaling rigs, and drills and bolters (in coop- eration with its subsidiary MineMaster in Poland) for underground mining and tun- neling applications since 1964. GHH Fahrzeuge is part of the Schmidt, Kranz & Co. (SK) Group, and currently maintains subsidiaries in Australia, Chile, China, Russia, Poland and RSA while cov- 50 E&MJ; • JUNE 2014 www.e-mj.com L H D S & T R U C K S The Paus PFL 8 Z LHD at work in a Ukrainian iron-ore mine. EMJ_pg46-55_EMJ_pg46-55 6/3/14 2:04 PM Page 50