Most CM sections mine at a width of 4.8-5.2m but the machine under conversion is being taken out to 5.8m. Joy said this will be the widest Joy CM operating in the Australian underground sector.
Both the cutting head and the apron are being widened and Joy's latest JNA control system is also being fitted to the 12CM12. The work is being done at the company's Parkhurst facility in Queensland.
ILN understands that the mine wants wider roadways so that services can be brought much closer to the face, possibly eliminating the need for a mono-rail completely.
