Joy said the new machine is also designed to reduced the potential for frictional ignitions.

In comparing Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) dust samplings for two mines covering six months before and after the introduction of the new wethead, Joy said the dust reductions were reflected in a study by Southern Illinois University, which showed showing reductions at the miner's return side of 35% on average.

Perhaps one of the most significant advantages of the wethead continuous miner is its significantly reduced appetite for bits, or cutting surfaces, which on average, is down 50%.

At one South African test site, Joy said this figure reached 70%. With each bit costing as much as $10 each, that represents a potential annual savings of $50,000 per machine. Joy also said that since testing on the first machine began in 1995 to today, not a single face ignition has been associated with the miner.

The Joy wethead miner was under development for 10 years before its introduction to the market in March 2006. In 2007, 26 wethead miners entered into production, and in 2008, an additional 26 machines are expected to join them.