XLERPLATE® Steel Goes Underground

07 March 2006

Caterpillar Underground Mining uses XLERPLATE® steel in the production of its underground mine equipment.

Business is booming for well-known mining brand, Caterpillar Underground Mining. Based in Burnie, Tasmania, the company designs, constructs and distributes a premier range of underground mine machinery.

The CAT Underground Mining range is synonymous within the global underground mining industry for strength, reliability and productivity. The previously badged "Elphinstone" machines are still designed and manufactured by Caterpillar Underground Mining, which has been meeting the needs of the underground hard rock mining industry worldwide, since 1975.

Most of the underground mines in Tasmania use CAT Underground Mining equipment somewhere on site, and most large mines on mainland Australia boast a CAT or two.

With Australian dealers such as William Adams, Westrac, Cavill Power and Hastings Deering to onsell and provide equipment support on Caterpillar Underground Mining equipment to most of the major mines around the country, it's no wonder.

Caterpillar Underground Mining employees are based in Burnie, working from its fabrication workshop, administration, assembly and store operation facilities. Supported by a global CAT Dealer Network, the CAT Underground Mining range of Load-Haul-Dump Loaders and Articulated Trucks fit almost every application found in a modern underground mine.

CAT Underground Mining loaders work loading and transporting materials. Designed to work underground, these vehicles are very restricted in size, and require optimum maneuverability when it comes to negotiating the tight corners and limited space of their working environment.

"The trucks are used to carry mined material to underground and surface crushers," says Chris Symonds the Fabrication Manager at CAT Underground Mining. "To work in an underground mine everything has to be twice as strong, height and width has to be kept to an absolute minimum, and the loaders all articulate in the middle, in order to be able to manoeuvre throughout the mine."

"We produce the loader frames using 350 and 250 grade XLERPLATE® hot rolled plate steel from BlueScope Steel," says Chris. "About 20 tonnes of XLERPLATE® steel is used in an R-2900 loader.

"Each steel component of a loader will be subjected to different levels of stress in its working life. We conduct a stress analysis to determine the appropriate grade of XLERPLATE® steel for each machine component. Most commonly, we use 350 grade XLERPLATE® steel for the rear frame chassis, and 250 grade for covers."

According to Chris, the flexibility and short lead times that BlueScope Steel offers is a key factor in his decision to use XLERPLATE® steel. "We are able to give BlueScope Steel a forecast of our steel requirements, based on orders for new machines. However, we also have to deal with unplanned spare parts supply and repairs, which is impossible to forecast. That's where BlueScope Steel has been excellent in being able to supply product at short notice. It allows us the flexibility to cope with a changing manufacturing programme."

According to Chris, the sky is the limit for Caterpillar Underground Mining.

"We would always prefer to use XLERPLATE® steel from BlueScope Steel," adds Chris. It's a local Australian product, which means delivery is more convenient, more reliable and the quality is excellent."

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