Following profitable trials of Epiroc’s 14 t class ST14 Battery in 2022/2023 on the Diablo Regimiento mining sector of Codelco’s El Teniente mine (the ST14 Battery is right this moment automation-ready and is now known as the ST14 SG), Chile’s state-owned copper mining large has now turned its consideration to trialling Sandvik’s 18 t Toro™ LH518iB loader, additionally automation-ready. The loader delivers 540 kW of electrical drivetrain energy for improved acceleration, quick ramp speeds and environment friendly bucket filling with 6,000 Nm whole torque output.
Codelco says the loader is now enroute by sea having been manufactured at Sandvik’s manufacturing unit in Turku, Finland and is ready to affix the present autonomous mining fleet at El Teniente, which primarily consists of LH514 loaders and Toro™ TH663i vehicles – in all, Codelco has over 40 Sandvik autonomous loaders and vehicles operating on the mining advanced with a give attention to new sectors like Andes Norte and Recursos Norte. Many of those at the moment are utilizing the the AutoMine® Fleet system − which is able to being scaled to help giant numbers of machines.
The AutoMine® Fleet system is a extremely superior automation system for a fleet of underground loaders and vehicles sharing the identical automated manufacturing space. It supplies superior visitors management capabilities, in addition to a variety of interfaces for infrastructure integration to permit for advanced automation functions in difficult environments.
One main distinction between the Epiroc LHD and the Sandvik LHD is the battery change out system. Epiroc’s ST14 Battery or ST14 SG is able to each on and off-board charging, however primarily makes use of battery swapping through an accredited lifting gadget and overhead crane, supervised by the operator. Sandvik’s LH518iB additionally makes use of battery swapping however through the patented semi-autonomous AutoSwap and AutoConnect programs which permit the operator to remain within the cabin throughout the swapping course of, which takes lower than 5 minutes.
Codelco says the LH518iB trial interval is scheduled for the primary half of 2025 and that it’ll play a key function in its purpose of being carbon impartial by 2050. It describes the LHD as 100% electrical and semi-autonomous with zero direct greenhouse gasoline (GHG) emissions and having a tractive power 80% increased than the equal diesel model. It provides: “We proceed to encourage collaboration within the business to develop cleaner and extra environment friendly applied sciences.”
The trial will probably be a serious subject of dialogue throughout The Electrical Mine 2025 convention arising on Might 13-15 at Centro Parque in Santiago, the place Sandvik is a Platinum Sponsor and Epiroc a Gold Sponsor – see www.theelectricmine.com
