NRW Civil & Mining has recently invested in two new Cat 6060 hydraulic mining shovels to meet some unique challenges at Karara Mining’s magnetite project in Western Australia’s Midwest region, engaging Cat dealer WesTrac in the process.

Karara is the largest mining operation and the first major magnetite mine in the Midwest region, producing a premium, high-grade concentrate product which is exported from Geraldton port.
Unlike the more commonly mined hematite, magnetite is a hard and highly abrasive ore, which meant NRW needed machines that could cope with the rigours of operating in such harsh conditions.

NRW opted for the Cat 6060 Hydraulic Mining Shovel, a 600-t unit able to load 218 t trucks and above.

According to NRW Mining Operations Manager, Adam Harper, the buying decisions for a mining contractor are very much driven by client expectations.

“We’re obviously chasing safe machines, but they have to be able to perform to our clients’ expectations and do so efficiently,” Harper said.

According to WesTrac Product Manager, Greg Wear, the Cat 6060 is a premium Caterpillar® offering when it comes to hydraulic mining shovels and has traditionally been the shovel of choice for top tier miners.

“This is the machine that we promote for highly productive loading of 240 ton (218 t) trucks and up,” Wear said. “Tier One miners have had good success with that and, now with NRW onboard, it shows that mining contractors are also seeing the value of the Cat 6060.”

Wear explains that the 600-t models have a long history, having first been released to market under previous owner Terex as the RH340 in 2004. Since being acquired by Caterpillar, the machine has been progressively “Catified” through a series of phased improvements.

“Over the past 10 years, Caterpillar has made phased improvements,” he said. “Phase one was a lot of quick wins that could be applied to make the machine more reliable. Phase two looked at structural changes designed to provide stronger, heavier frames and more reliability. Phase three continued that with modifications around sticks and booms, and a completely new superstructure and larger slew ring.

“Today with all the next generation technology, the transformation is complete with all Cat electronics and parts, and there’s been a new cab installed. Now the 6060 has the complete Caterpillar feel and functionality.”

Read more: NRW equips Karara magnetite mining fleet with two new Cat 6060 shovels

The MD5075C track drill is mounted on a Cat 315E excavator undercarriage and incorporates a mechanical design carousel rod changer and drill rod handling system with no sensitive electronic sensors to cause downtime.

• Capable of drilling holes of 3 to 4.5 in. in diameter to a depth of 102.5 ft.
• 300-hp C9 engine can be configured to meet emissions standards worldwide
• Compressor offers widely variable air control and produces 350 cfm at 150 psi
• HPR5123 standard rock drill uses 45- or 51mm drill rod, while the HPR4519 rock drill uses 45mm drill rod
• Pressurized cab includes numerous shutdown methods, responsive controls, isolator-mounting to minimize vibration, powerful HVAC system and six-way adjustable seat
• Control system features touchscreen navigation, rearview camera, tram, water, rock drill auto-lube, alerts, drilling and target depths, penetration rate, machine performance, total hours and service
• Depth indicator ensures all holes are drilled to the planned depth
• Drill Assist monitors main hydraulic systems and automatically adjusts to pre-programmed parameters
• Includes Cat Monitoring System (Cat MS) and Product Link
• Simple, well-organized electrical/hydraulic arrangements, logically located components and ground level service facilitate maintenance

Read more: Caterpillar MD5075C Track Drill

Doosan has launched the new DX1000LC-7 Stage V compliant 100 tonne crawler excavator, the largest excavator model ever manufactured by the company.

Driven by the most powerful engine in the 100 tonne class, the DX1000LC-7 also has the highest hydraulic flow for this size of machine, providing best-in-class performance, with higher productivity, lower fuel consumption and smoother controls.

The DX1000LC-7 is primarily intended to serve customers in mining and quarrying applications, removing overburden and loading large amounts of material into articulated dump trucks or rigid frame trucks. The DX1000LC-7 may also be operated on large construction and infrastructure projects, particularly where considerable amounts of material need to be excavated and stockpiled or loaded into trucks to be moved.

The DX1000LC-7 excavator is powered by the new stage V version of the well-proven Perkins 2806J diesel engine, providing a high power output of 469 kW (629 HP), more than any other machine in this class. The engine meets Stage V emission regulations by utilising exhaust gas recirculation, selective catalyst reduction, diesel oxidation catalyst and diesel particulate filter (DPF) after-treatment technologies.

The DPF automatically regenerates every 25 hours and the excavator continues to work unaffected during this regeneration phase. The operator can check the status of the DPF via the display on the gauge panel in the cab.

Hydraulic high

The high output of the engine is combined with a Virtual Bleed Off (VBO) hydraulic system (D-ECOPOWER+), and controlled by electric manipulator (FEH) providing a best-in-class hydraulic flow of (3x 523) – 1569 l/min and a high system pressure of 360 bar, together contributing to the best performance in the 100 tonne market.

Doosan’s D-ECOPOWER+ FEH technology utilises an electronic pressure-controlled pump within a closed centre hydraulic system to optimise productivity and fuel consumption, depending on the mode selected. A closed centred main control valve minimises pressure loss, while the electric pressure-controlled pump manages and optimises engine power more effectively.

Software is utilised to electronically reproduce the full benefits of an open centre hydraulic system with very little energy loss. The hydraulic system and engine output are fully optimised and synchronised, further reducing losses within the system.

Improved feedback to the operator through the joystick results in improved machine control and less operator fatigue. The acceleration and deceleration of the excavator workgroup functions are smoother, allowing operators to perform repetitive swinging and digging motions with less jerking movements.

Read more: Doosan launches largest excavator in company history

While there are several criteria that determine the correct attachment for a particular skid steer or CTL, perhaps one of the least understood is hydraulic compatibility. In a recent webinar, product experts at Case Construction Equipment simplified the selection process by educating attendees on the basic hydraulic system considerations.

The process really begins with the hydraulic flow and pressure ratings on both the machine and attachments. Understanding the relationships between flow and pressure is critical when matching attachments to a skid steer or CTL. Start by looking at the fundamentals. “Flow is going to be the speed of the attachment under no restriction,” explains Ted Polzer, director of product and customer support, Case Construction Equipment. If an attachment lists a 30-gpm maximum flow, that is at no pressure or resistance to that flow. “As soon as we start to resist flow, that’s when we start to build pressure. It’s really important to understand what your maximum constraints are for the attachment on the flow and that pressure.”

If you chart flow versus pressure, there is a point where flow and pressure cross to create the most productive setting for a specific attachment. Consider a cold planer. “If you are crowding it too hard and you are running at 3,000 psi, for the sake of discussion, you are going to start generating heat, and you are not helping the productivity of the machine,” says Polzer. “You could be more productive by actually backing off a little bit and reducing some of that resistance to the flow. Your attachment will probably run more consistent with its speed, in addition you’re not fighting that additional heat that is being built in the system. So it’s extremely important to understand exactly what your machine will do and what your attachments are capable of accepting.” This is where a pressure gauge on the attachment can prove beneficial.

Pressure Gauges Can Eliminate Guesswork
“Pressure gives you an idea of how much work you can do,” says Polzer. “One of the training aides that we have used is we simply put a pressure gauge in an area that’s visible to the operator. We mark that and say you’re more productive at this pressure.” This helps eliminate operator concerns. “It is a very inexpensive way to understand exactly where you can be (when operating) and it will drive a lot of consistency with your operators if they are watching that target.” It is worth noting that some of today’s attachments come with a pressure gauge mounted on the attachment clearly visible to the operator.”

Hydraulic horsepower can serve as a good indictor to match machines and attachments in terms of hydraulic system compatibility. This can be calculated by the simple equation hydraulic horsepower = [pressure (psi) *flow (gpm)]/1714. Hydraulic horsepower is good to know because it is essentially telling you what your machine is capable of doing, what your attachment can accept and what kind of productivity to expect. “What’s important about that is many hydraulic attachments are also rated by their hydraulic horsepower.” This is starting to be more common with the newer attachments.

Read more: How To Size Skid-steer and CTL Attachments for Hydraulic Compatibility

Spurred by new demands for efficiency, hydraulic equipment across the industrial and mobile markets is rapidly evolving. For hydraulic fluids and lubricants, this kind of evolution represents both a challenge and opportunity. Not only must these fluids be able to deliver robust protection under increasingly strenuous operating conditions, but they also can directly improve operational efficiency.

Among the current market trends and their implications for hydraulic fluids:

Increasing power density and internal pressures. Modern hydraulic system design increasingly prioritizes lightweighting and power density in order to best compete with electric systems that continue to gain marketplace traction. These design parameters result in much higher internal operating pressures, which can be as high as 450 bar in current mobile equipment. Pressure levels are likely to only grow higher.

However, higher pressure increases the potential for internal fluid leakage. This phenomenon can lead to a reduction in the clearances between moving parts, which can severely compromise machine durability. As such, lubrication here has needed to move from hydrodynamic protection into the mixed film region, requiring new additive technologies and formulation expertise.

Finer filtration. Higher pressures and lower clearances in hydraulic components also mean that fluids must remain very clean throughout components’ operating life. Wet filterability has become a critical fluid performance parameter for fluids because even tiny particles that may become trapped between moving parts can have serious consequences.

Smaller oil coolers and reservoirs. In order to save space and further reduce weight, the size of new oil coolers and reservoirs are smaller. The challenges here for hydraulic fluids are significant—in smaller applications, operating temperatures can increase by as much as 10°C, effectively halving the fluids’ life. Smaller cooler and reservoir sizes also mean that less fluid is doing the same amount of work, which may increase the severity of operating conditions. Such fluids must be formulated to demonstrate thermal stability, and increased additive levels will be required to maximize performance.

Read more: A “Greener” Hydraulic Lubricant Gets a Lift

A North East hydraulic specialist has secured a ‘major’ project for a new dock gate in Lincolnshire.

Middlesbrough firm Industrial and Marine Hydraulics (IMH) has been commissioned to provide the hydraulics for a pair of new dock gates at the Port of Boston dock entrance.

The news comes following IMH’s work on the Boston Barrier supporting BMMJV – a joint operating venture of BAM Nuttall and Mott MacDonald.

This phase of the project will see IMH deliver a single main hydraulic power unit (MHPU) which will power both the North and South wet dock entrance gates, as well as two emergency hydraulic power units (EHPU) which are diesel driven.

James Griffiths, managing director at IMH, commented: “We’re delighted to have the opportunity to once again work alongside BMMJV following our successful work together on the Boston tidal flood barrier.

“The team at IMH has successfully completed manufacture of the pipe spools and are currently finalising the manufacture of the hydraulic power units ready for the factory acceptance test within the next few weeks.”

Guy Russell, MEICA project manager at BAM Nuttall added: “We’re delighted with the input and support provided by IMH through the Boston Tidal Barrier project.

“The pro-active relationship between BMMJV and IMH has meant that challenges were identified quickly and solutions implemented effectively to ensure the project continued on time and to budget.”

Read more: Teesside hydraulic engineering specialist lands ‘major’ dock project

The Global Hydraulic Power Unit Market 2021 Report provides the most recent industry trends, developments, and forecast market information. This report provides in-depth insights into the Hydraulic Power Unit industry based on market size, Hydraulic Power Unit growth, development plans, and opportunities. The forecast market data, SWOT analysis, Hydraulic Power Unit restraints, and feasibility studies are important aspects analyzed in this report. A comprehensive view of the Hydraulic Power Unit industry is provided based on definitions, product type, applications, top players driving global market share, and Hydraulic Power Unit revenue. The information in the form of graphs, pie charts will lead to an easy analysis of an industry. The market share of the major players, their business plans and policies, growth factors will help other players to get useful business tactics.

The Extensive and up-to-date information about the product, industry growth curve and end clients will drive revenue and productivity. The Hydraulic Power Unit report aims to provide a 360-degree market overview, present status of the business to examine future development openings and risk factors. At first, the report gives Hydraulic Power Unit introduction, fundamental overview, objectives, market definition, Hydraulic Power Unit scope, and market size estimate.

Read more: Global Hydraulic Power Unit Market Dynamics (COVID-19 Impacts) Analysis and Forecast (2020-2027)

Tray fillers provide uniform media, allowing uniform watering and plants. Here’s what you need to know when picking out one of these machines.

Filling containers is one of the large labor users in the production of plants. The typical hand-filling rate of 60 to 100 flats/person-hour is considered good. On the other hand, machines are available that will fill more than 1,000 flats/person-hour.

The advantage to choosing a machine over hand-filling is the uniformity of media in the container. There are no compacted areas. This results in more uniform watering and therefore more uniform plants.

Although a tray filler can be used as a standalone machine, they are more efficient if they are part of a production line. Tray fillers can include a soil feeder, seeder, transplanting machine or conveyor, watering tunnel and tagger. It is usually best if all equipment is purchased from the same manufacturer so the components match.

Basic components

What should you look for in a container-filling machine? The following are the basic components of most machines.

Soil bin — The bin should be able to handle the type of mix you are using without bridging or sticking. Bin capacities ranging from 6 cubic feet to 4 cubic yards are available. One yard will fill about 75 flats or 480 6-inch pots.

Conveyor for flats — A belt or chain conveyor is used to move the containers under the soil bin or flight conveyor. A variable-speed drive, either electric or hydraulic, will allow you to adjust the feed rate depending on the size of the container. Feed rates of five to 30 trays per minute for small machines and 20 to 60 for large machines are common. Pot rate will depend on size and whether they are individually fed or are placed in a template tray.

Read more: Selecting a tray filler

Components that collectively make up an entire hydraulic system assembly are referred to as hydraulic components. These components come in various shapes and sizes and are extensively used in a variety of machinery and hydraulic equipment worldwide.

Global Hydraulic Components Market: Market Dynamics

Hydraulic components are majorly use for various end-use applications such as automation, automobiles, aviation, defense, fabrication industry, food and beverage, foundry, materials handling, mining, newspapers and periodicals, oil industry, paper and packaging, robots, ships, transportation, under sea, wood working, plastic industry, press tools, entertainment etc.

In addition, hydraulic machines are widely used in various equipment such as hydraulic lifts and vibration control systems for high-story buildings and trains, sluice gates, crushers, and compactors. Moreover, demand for heavy machinery and equipment is increasing from various end-use verticals such as industrial, material processing/forming machinery, aerospace, mining, automobiles, testing machinery/simulator, and ships/fishing machinery.

Moreover, hydraulic cylinders are widely used in production of agricultural equipment such as tractors, combine harvesters, harvesting machines, loaders, planters, tillage machines, log-splitters, fertilizer spreaders, front-wheel packers, front-power lifts, seed-conveyors, and mulching machines. In addition, growing global population have led to increasing demand for food products, which is further expected to result in need to enhance farm productivity, thereby increasing rate of adoption of more technologically-efficient methods of farming in developing as well as developed countries. Growing demand for food across the globe is a key factor that is expected to lead to increasing utilization of agricultural machinery over the forecast period.

Global Hydraulic ComponentsMarket: Market Forecast

The comprehensive research report comprises a complete forecast of the global hydraulic components market based on factors affecting the market and their impact in the foreseeable future. According to the forecast projections, revenue from the global hydraulic components market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period.

Read more: Global Hydraulic Components Market to Reach US$ 49.1 Billion by 2021 and is Projected to Register a CAGR of 5.4% by 2026