Today RMI has longwall mining pumping systems working in seven different Chinese provinces.

“Language and remote travel logistics aside China is the same as any customer,” RMI sales director Steven Smith said.

“They demand reliable high quality equipment with back up and service to minimise downtime and maximise output. Fortunately RMI has earned this reputation over the years and 2004 has been a very busy time.”

The Shenhua Group recently received seven new systems, making a total of 27 systems to the company since the first was supplied to the Dalutia Mine in 1994.

The typical systems now provide on demand 1272 litres per minute of emulsion at pressures of 350 bar, plus 1269 l/min for shearer water supply for dust and gas dilution, to help meet Shenhua’s world record longwall production.

Other Chinese business includes skid mounted pumping systems for the Daning Mine, Shanxi Asian American Daning Energy Company, and the first foreign equipped longwall for Yang Chang Wan Mine at Ningxia.

Elsewhere in the world RMI supplied its second longwall pump system to Consol’s Bailey Mine in North America and in the UK the third outbye remote longwall pumping system for UK Coal’s Dawmill Mine.

Down under in Australia, RMI has supplied a crawler mounted pumping system for Centennial Coal's new Mandalong longwall.

“With coal demand still strong RMI look forward to the coming years challenges,” Smith said.