Mining Magazine > Panorama > New Sandvik underground loader

Panorama

Sandvik Mining and Construction has released the LS151, a 6t payload capacity underground coal mining loader. It is the first in a new generation of low-emission Sandvik LS series underground coal loaders, designed and manufactured in Australia at the company’s Hexham facility near Newcastle.

The LS151 is powered by a Tier 2 emission-rated MWM 4.10 TCA turbocharged engine rated at 107 kW, incorporating an automated electronic shutdown system for increased safety. Power is 25% greater than on its predecessor along with 30% more torque to give greater tractive effort and increased towing power.

Richard Osborn, Sandvik’s global product line manager for underground flameproof load and haul equipment explains: “Sandvik’s former offering in this class of machine, the Eimco 913 LHD was an iconic underground loader for the coal industry with over 90% market share, but its design goes back many years.

“We’ve received many requests from customers for a modern successor to this machine and the LS151 achieves just that. It has been designed following a lot of customer and operator feedback, to ensure it truly meets the needs of today’s underground coal market.

“In developing our new generation of underground loaders we have paid a lot of attention to increasing the safety and ergonomics features of the machines. With the LS151, we’ve also gone for a modular design that allows us to easily customise loaders to meet different site requirements, as well as greatly simplifying maintenance and servicing.”

The newly designed operator’s cabin has a certified ROPS/FOPS canopy and is mounted forward of the articulation joint for improved visibility and ease of operation. It features a new seat design which also accommodates the miner’s battery and rescuer, low-effort joystick type controls for both bucket and steering operations and a self-levelling seat suspension unit and a swivel seat base to provide better operator comfort.

Other features include cleaner engine emissions, methane protection, a flameproof electronic shutdown system, exhaust particulate filtration, a water bath exhaust conditioner, a spring applied braking system with automatic brake accumulator pressure bleed down, and optional fire suppression.

The LS151’s modular design allows for a canopy height range from 1790mm to 2150mm to suit different site requirements, as well as for alternate engine arrangements to be easily integrated. Increasing the machine’s reliability, ease of service and minimising downtime were key design elements requested by customers.