The Shanxi Liliu Coking Coal Group Co (Liliu) will operate the base-plate plow system on a 240m-wide face in low coal at the mine. Production with the new system is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2007.

The longwall system comprises a complete set of special low-seam DBT plow shields equipped with a state-of-the-art PMC-R shield control system. The control system facilitates plow control technology for complete automation.

The company said its Reißhakenhobel base-plate plow is ideal for very low coal as it is designed for seams ranging from about 0.6-1.65m regardless of seam inclination or coal hardness. The seam in the Zhujiadian mine varies in thickness from 0.65-1.55m.

Powered by two 400kW drives via a 42mm plow chain, the DBT plow system – like the six already in service in China – is expected to perform at a rate well in excess of an average US or Australian longwall plow operating in similar conditions. The conveyor system, plow speed, depth of cut and shield support controls have all been tailored to mine conditions to maximise performance and safety.

The shields, plow system and all drive components will be manufactured at DBT’s Lünen plant in Germany, while the PRT line pans will be made at DBT China’s plant at Langfang in Hebei province.

The Liliu system is the seventh fully automated DBT plow system sold into China. The systems already in service are well known for breaking coal production records in coal seams less than 2m thick. DBT’s plow systems offer operational safety benefits because they do not require operators at the working face.

The Tiefa mine has bought two plows and Xi Shan, Jincheng, Datong and Shenyang have bought one each.