Scheuerle builds custom strip miner transporter

Griffin Coal Mining is one of the biggest strip mining companies in Australia. Its Collie Basin mines, around 200km from Perth, Western Australia, produce around three million tonnes of coal per year. The company uses strip mining excavators weighing up to 700t each to extract the coal. However, the excavators are not designed for long distance travel. When the company wants to open up new areas for mining, it needs to carry the equipment on transporters.

The company ordered a custom transporter from Scheuerle, based on the German transport specialists InterCombi self-propelled modular transporters. The system used four six-axle modules and two two-axle modules, which can be coupled together according to the load. The system is powered by two power pack units, driving 20 of the total 56 axles over hydrostatic transmission. The system is controlled by a joystick remote control.

For the heaviest loads, all 56 axles can be used, in two groups of 14 axles lines (28 axles per group) coupled side-by-side and connected with distance bearings. The whole system is then raised at the front and lowered at the rear, allowing the exavator to be driven over wedges on to the transporter. Once the excavator is in place, the system is levelled, ready to drive away.

Scheuerle has tested the operation of the system by driving its own SPMTs on to the transporter, and has tested its capacity with test weights. It will be delivered to Australia shortly.