JOY Wethead Continuous Miner Improves Safety and Cuts Costs
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WARRENDALE, PA October 2007-Joy Mining Machinery's second generation wethead continuous miner continues to improve mine safety and productivity by further reducing respirable dust levels, improving visibility and reducing the potential for frictional ignitions while reducing bit costs, the company said.
In comparing Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) dust samplings for two mines covering six months before and after the introduction of the JOY wethead, Joy said there were significant dust reductions, reflecting an earlier Southern Illinois University study showing reductions at the miner's return side of 35% on average.
In addition, Joy said bit consumption was significantly reduced by 50% on average, and as high as 70% at one South African test site. Costing as much as $10 each, that represents a potential annual savings of $50,000 per machine. Also, from the first machine tested underground in 1995 to today, not a single face ignition has been associated with the miner.
The JOY wethead miner had been under development for 10 years before its introduction to the market in March 2006. In 2007, 26 wethead miners entered into production, and in 2008, an additional 26 machines are expected to join them.
For further information on this release, call
Lou Boltik
Director Marketing Communications
724-779-4557 (USA)
lboltik@joy.com
