Inbye general manager Mark O’Toole told International Longwall News that since being installed this May at Beltana, Australia’s highest producing coal mine, the pan line contributed to 851,833t of coal being produced in June. Inbye also has an order for a complete longwall pan line due for delivery to West Wallsend mine in Newcastle this November.

Inbye also unveiled a 48mm KBP (Kettenwerk Becker Prunte) single pitch chain at QME 2006, which provides a higher working capacity and longer chain life. The single pitch chain is now available across the industry and can be fitted to any armoured face conveyor, which means choices are not limited to one supplier.

The KBP chain and flight bars available through Inbye are manufactured in Germany and enjoy the largest market share in the German domestic market for the extreme conditions encountered in the DSK mines.

The Richard Hippenstiel GmbH conveyor sprockets used by Inbye feature a unique TD pocket profile to give better performance as the chain elongates, and have been installed at mines such as West Wallsend and Oaky Creek.

O’Toole said showcasing Inbye’s longwall pan at QME generated lots of interest from visiting underground coal industry participants.

“This is definitely a time of exciting opportunities for Australian manufacturers,” he said.