Mining Magazine > Panorama > Tiefenbach automation installation for Newlands longwall

Inbye Mining Services is trialling a prototype installation of the Tiefenbach Control Systems electro-hydraulic roof support control system on one of the powered roof supports at Xstrata’s Newlands Northern mine. Once the trial layout is approved by the mine, the new controls will be installed on the 181 chocks at Newlands Northern in a five-stage, year-long process.

The customised Tiefenbach control kits will be installed progressively on the Newlands roof supports in batches of 35 to 45 roof supports. This process will be staged in a way to minimise interruptions to the Newlands coal production.

Inbye is customising the German automation technology to not only meet the mine’s requirements, but also to increase equipment longevity and operating efficiency.

"The automation of the Newlands longwall system cements Inbye's prominent position in the repair and overhaul of longwall equipment and as a supplier of automation control hardware and software systems,” Inbye managing director Richard Eveleigh said.

Newlands Northern was the second-most productive Australian longwall mine in the 2009-10 financial year, with output of 8.87 million tonnes run-of-mine.

Inbye is allied with Polish roof support manufacturer Tagor SA and the Nepean engineering group, which both supplied longwall equipment for Vale’s Carborough Downs mine.