Spotlight Feature Articles Joy Global Undergroud Load and Haul June 16 | Page 9

UG LOAD AND HAUL
believe in the highest possible level of training of
both GHH and client personnel. The availability
and economic efficiency of the operation is
dependent on the qualification of operation and
maintenance personnel. For this reason we offer
proven training concepts with our GHH training
academy at our headquarters or on-site.”
Additionally, GHH offers long term service
contracts. These, for instance, include inspection
or maintenance as well as overhaul. Additional
service options can be agreed with clients on an
individual basis. “We support customers with
special service facilities, so that a 24/7 service
and an immediate spare parts supply can be
guaranteed.”
On automation, GHH says it carefully analysed
the mining market “and found that automation
systems need to be both lean and robust in order
to work efficiently in a complex, rough and often
dynamic mine environment. Many of the systems
were not designed for that and users find that
already remote operation in combination with
functional automation results in similar safety
levels and productivity with much less cost and
greater flexibility.”

Therefore the company has opted for a twotier approach with two different research projects
based on long-term experience in this field. In a
project titled Accessible automation for a more
efficient and safer underground mining in Chile
funded by Germany’s GIZ, GHH has developed a
simplified automation system with partner AMTC
at Universidad de Chile. “On the other hand we
are part of a larger project network called
UPNS4D+, which will utilise robust radar
scanners from indurad and new navigation
algorithms. The first tests will commence this
year and the goal is full automation of the LHD
cycle. While the first project focuses on simplicity
and ease of use the second focuses on
robustness and highest degree of automation
without time-consuming teach-ins. Furthermore,
we understand that systems need to be as open
and non-proprietary as possible with common
interfaces in order to be widely applicable.”
On electric operation, Riedel states; “GHH
Fahrzeuge is not stuck to the proven electric
technologies with supply from a cable. However,
we have long experience in this field and could
make a real difference by combining the electric

motor with our hydrostatic drive. In terms of
electric drives there is a lot of movement and we
are looking at this closely but it will take some
time for the battery tech