Manitou targets world underground coal industry As an above ground machine in its traditional applications, the Manitou telescopic handler is arguably one of the most versatile pieces of equipment available on the market today. With a quick hitch, it can be used with a wide range of attachments commonly used in earthmoving, agriculture and many other industries. Its telescopic boom provides additional horizontal and vertical reach capabilities and also opens up the use of man baskets, and various jib attachments for lifting. The platform of a compact rigid chassis with four wheel drive and steer, and a cab that is easy to enter and exit, adds to the appeal of the Manitou telescopic handler. Multi-purpose equipment has also been used in underground coal mining for some time. As well as traditional materials handling and transport roles, this equipment has been used for specialised tasks such as cable reeling,
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Manitou targets world underground coal industry
As an above ground machine in its traditional applications, the Manitou telescopic handler
is arguably one of the most versatile pieces of equipment available on the market today.
With a quick hitch, it can be used with a wide range of attachments commonly used in
earthmoving, agriculture and many other industries. Its telescopic boom provides
additional horizontal and vertical reach capabilities and also opens up the use of man
baskets, and various jib attachments for lifting. The platform of a compact rigid chassis
with four wheel drive and steer, and a cab that is easy to enter and exit, adds to the
appeal of the Manitou telescopic handler.
Multi-purpose equipment has also been used in underground coal mining for some time.
As well as traditional materials handling and transport roles, this equipment has been
used for specialised tasks such as cable reeling, conveyor belt handling and stone
dusting; where their intermitted use makes a dedicated machine an expensive solution.
South African beginnings
It made sense that there would be a convergence of these two technologies, and this
happened in South Africa when a Manitou MLT731 and a MT732 telescopic handler were
adapted for underground coal mine use for Magatar Mining in 2003. This machine had an
additional requirement of a 1.5 metre head height, in addition to the explosion Protection
and other requirements for operation in an underground coal mine. The low height was
achieved through a mix of smaller diameter tyres and a lowered cab.
The Magatar Mining machine works with forks to handle palletised consumables such as
conveyor rollers, and with a bucket for general clean-up duties. With its auxiliary
hydraulic power outlet, it can also carry and power specialised equipment fitted with fork
pockets, such as a compressor or a stone duster. The compressor can be used to booster
start flameproof engines, pump tyres or power pneumatic tools; while the stone duster is
important in depositing powdered limestone on the walls of the tunnel to reduce the risk
of explosion.
Philip Venter of Magatar Mining sees the benefits of the Manitou telescopic handler as
being its versatility, and the reliability that comes from having something based on a
production machine produced in volume (many specialist underground mining machines
are produced in low volumes: they are costly as a result of this, and have varying levels
of reliability).
Venter sees the Manitou performing the functions of a tractor, a crane or other lifting
machine, and a clean-up machine. However the range of attachments is much broader.
Around 20 explosion protected Manitou telescopic handlers have now been supplied into
underground coal mines in South Africa. The range of attachments that they are work
with includes forks, bucket, jib, man basket, tyre handler and can handler. A can is a steel
cylinder filled with aerated concrete, which is used in South Africa as a roof support. The
can handler is similar to a rotating grab in the way that it picks up and turns a can.
These attachments by no means exhaust the range of tools that can be used
underground with telescopic handlers: imagination and innovation will no doubt see this
range expand considerably as more mine owners come to appreciate and further explore
the versatility of these machines.
Australian input
Manitou’s success in the South African underground coal market has seen the company
looking at wider markets, with the ultimate aim of having explosion protected machines
as a standard offering around the world.
Manitou Australia has taken the lead in developing the explosion protected telescopic
handlers for the world market. Not only does Manitou Australia have the required
resources for this type of project but Australian Standards for mine equipment are
accepted in most parts of the world. A machine developed to meet Australian
requirements could be sold in many other markets. (Manitou is also considering a
separate development programme for a potentially large market that has different
requirements.)
The first showing of this machine in Australia was at the AIMEX international mining
exhibition in Sydney in September 2011. The machine on show was based on the MT732
(7 metre lift height, 3200 kg lift capacity) and known for the time being as the MT732
explosion protected. It was 2.0 metres in height, with Manitou envisaging that this
machine will become available commercially in three standard heights; with other heights
available if required, through modification of the most suitable standard machine. In the
future other capacities of explosion protected machine may be developed in response to
feedback from the market.
One difference to the standard Manitou MT732 is immediately apparent: the enlarged
engine bay. This is to house an explosion protected engine and an enlarged radiator. The
extra guarding around the cab is another obvious change from standard.
Less obvious are changes such as the fail safe brake system, steel fuel tank, engine
flameproofing with an electronic shutdown system, air start system, fire resistant and