The LTCC market in China accounts for around 30% of China's underground coal production in fully mechanised faces.

 

“The orders provide DBT with an opportunity to gain further design and performance expertise to strengthen its AFC position in other LTCC mines, especially in Shanxi province,” the company said.

 

Shenhua Shendong Coal, located in Shaanxi province northwest of China, is a key customer of DBT shields and AFCs and has ordered three new AFC systems, to be delivered in October 2007 with production scheduled to start at the beginning of 2008.

 

The systems will comprise PF 6 line pans, each with three CST 65 drives rated at 1000kW, delivering an AFC conveying capacity up to 4500 tonnes per hour.

 

Six sets of PF 6 chain conveyors, all equipped with the intelligent CST drive system, had already been sold to Shenhua prior to this latest deal.

 

Datong Coal Mine Group has signed contracts for two further AFC systems for use in sub-level caving operations at the Tashan Coal Mine with two AFCs and one stageloader per system.

 

Datong is also an established DBT customer using an automated plow system and an LTCC AFC system. The two PF 6 systems (also with CST drives) are scheduled for delivery in November 2007, with mine operations commencing early 2008.

 

“Datong placed these two new orders based on the excellent performance of the first system, which has been in operation since mid-2006. Production with the first system is up to 40,000 tons per day and more than 1 million tons ROM per month,” the company said.

 

“These orders are of strategic importance to DBT, as the company is consolidating its leadership for LTCC,” the company said.

 

Meanwhile, Huisen Coal, in Shaanxi province, ordered two FBL-10 multi-functional vehicles, two MH-40 underground diesel utility vehicles and two CHT-50 shield trailers for its Liangshuijing mine in February.

 

Huangling Mining, also in Shaanxi, placed an order for two FBL-55 loaders for its No. 2 mine, which will work alongside the two FBL 10 multi-functional vehicles with CHT-50 trailers and two MH-40 diesel vehicles purchased in 2005.