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Challenge: Expanded the operation of removing the overburden

Challenge

As the operation at Middlemount expands, NRW are growing with it. Shaun Lucas states: "The initial volume of dirt to be removed was about 32 million cubic metres of overburden a year which converts to about 2.8 million tonnes of coal a year and we have been recently been asked to expand". In response, NRW are intending a significant increase to their fleet of Hitachi machinery.

In this video: Find out about NRW's challenge to grow and maintain a large fleet of mining machinery. (2mins, 52s).

NRW have implemented an extensive maintenance program for the equipment at Middlemount and make full use of the technology available, including the on-board tracking system available on Hitachi's range of excavators and trucks.

Shaun Lucas states: "The workshop guys have access to the data 24/7, and they can log in to the satellite and they can see and provide feedback to the operations whether there's some of the loading irregularities and where they should be or often where they shouldn't be. Just having the level of technology available at our fingertips 24 hours a day is brilliant".

According to Shaun Lucas, Hitachi has also played its part in equipment maintenance. He says that Hitachi has not only considered the mechanical needs of the equipment but, without sacrificing structural integrity, also environment the tradesmen work in, especially their health and safety.

On the next page, we will explain how Hitachi machinery with significant high horsepower delivered higher productivity.