The Datong Coal Mine Group, Xinpingwang Datong City will operate the plow on a 200 m-wide face at the Jinhuagong Mine in Shanxi province. Coal production with the new system is scheduled to start on January 1, 2005.

The longwall system comprises DBT state-of-the-art PM 4 shield control system and plow control technology for complete automation, requiring no operators at the face. The DBT Gleithobel® plow is designed for seams ranging from about 0.9m to 2.2m regardless of the inclination of the seam or the hardness of the coal.

The high extraction and loading rate results in production rates of up to 1.500 t/h in softer coal. The seam in the Jinhuagong mine varies in thickness from 1 to 1.6m. The plow will be driven by two 400 kW motors via a 38mm plow chain. Although the coal is relatively hard, cutting tests indicate that this DBT plow system – like the four already in service in China – will perform at a rate well in excess of the average domestic longwall plow operating in similar conditions.

The conveying system, speed of plow, depth of cut and shield support controls have all been tailored to the application to maximize performance and safety.

The Datong system is the fifth fully automated DBT plow sold into China. The four already in service there are well known for breaking coal production records and especially for their high safety standards. After Tiefa (two plows), Xi Shan and Jincheng (one each), Datong is the fourth Chinese coal company to select DBT automated plow technology.