Mining Magazine > Panorama > Bucyrus longwall for Bogdanka coal

Bucyrus has won a contract to deliver a complete, automated plow longwall to Polish mine operator Lubelski Wegiel Bogdanka SA for its Bogdanka coal mine in Puchaczów. Bogdanka is one of Poland’s largest mine operators, producing 7.86Mt of raw coal in 2008. It is the first complete plow longwall system sold into Poland.

A Gleithobel GH1600 plow system, suitable for mining seams up to 2.3m in thick has been ordered. Bucyrus designed the plow specifically for high productivity in very hard coal. The system will initially begin work on a 250m working panel at the mine, and will progress to a 305m working panel, 1.4-1.8m in thickness.

The longwall will be equipped with a PF4/1032 face conveyor, a PF4/1132 entry conveyor, a SK 1111 crusher and an S147600 belt tail-piece. Power supply and pump station will also be supplied.

In addition, Bucyrus will deliver a total of 173 roof supports, with a support range of 950–2000mm, each equipped with its own PMC-R roof support control. PMC-D drive control and PMC-V visualisation systems will be utilised for the 2 P45-UEL overload-protected plow drives, and Bucyrus’ 2 P45-CST controlled start transmission will be used with the face conveyor drives.

Bucyrus has confirmed that the longwall system will be delivered to the customer at the end of the 2009. The complete system was ordered, as Bucyrus was able to ensure a daily production rate of 10,000t.