Doosan DA30 ADT put to the test at Polish salt mine

New articulated dumptruck hauling raw materials at Polkowice-Sieroszowice Mine

A NEW Doosan DA30 articulated dumptruck has been put into operation, hauling salt about a mile underground at Polkowice-Sieroszowice Mine, in west Poland. At the KGHM Polska Miedź-owned mine, copper, silver and salt are extracted over an area totalling 176 square kilometres.

Both mine face machinery and auxiliary equipment must satisfy the highest standards, and the Doosan DA30 ADT is no exception, ranking high among top underground performers.  At Polkowice-Sieroszowice Mine, the DA30 truck transports raw materials and is one of six Doosan dumptrucks operating on site.

The Doosan DA30 ADT weighs over 23 tonnes but when fully loaded, its weight exceeds 50 tonnes. As with the rest of the mining equipment, the machine was dismantled and taken down the mine via a special mine shaft and then reassembled.

The DA30 dumptruck at Polkowice-Sieroszowice was sold by Wigropol, a local Doosan sub-dealer in mining equipment. ‘We understand the challenges our machines face, and know which ones will overcome them best, which is why we can offer products which perfectly match our customers’ needs,’ explained Wigropol director Ryszard Martyniak.

When asked to describe some of the most extreme conditions that the Doosan ADT has had to work in, Marek Gruchala, mechanical engineering assistant manager at Polkowice-Sieroszowice Mine, said every situation is extreme.

‘The fact the machine operates underground in an environment subject to extremely high temperatures and dust levels, puts it to the test every day, ‘ he explained. ‘A special guard and barrier housing was designed to protect the lights and windshields when passing through rubber dams.

‘A special platform for the roadheader operator’s assistant was installed to supervise and control salt loading. The machine is also equipped with an ANSUL extinguisher system and DOTRA Communications system. Should the machine experience very steep dips, the interaxle differential lock can be activated on all the wheels.’

Mr Gruchala continued: ‘The machine works 15h a day, sometimes travelling three miles each way.  We, therefore, appreciate the low exhaust emissions of the ADT’s Scania diesel engine which fully complies with Stage IIIB standards.  The level of emissions produced in tunnels can be significant. Recent test results have shown that particulate levels are well below 100 ppm (parts per million) in the vicinity of the exhaust, compared to standard requirement levels of 300 ppm.

Salt is delivered from the roadheader by the DA30 truck to the crater, then to the crusher, and on to a double-deck vibrating screen. The process continues until the grain size is down to less than 5mm. The salt is then conveyed to fine vibrating screens.

When all the quality requirements have been met, a belt conveyor moves the salt to a deposit for road transportation throughout Poland and Central Europe.