A national powertrain service provider is making underground mining easier, even in the most challenging of environments. Drivetrain business development manager of capital equipment sales Joel Mathews writes.
Fully customisable underground mining utility vehicles are innovative and quickly proving to offer reliability and many more advantages in underground conditions.
The Kovatera KT200 is becoming popular for its durability, safety and sustainability. The underground mining utility vehicle is designed to handle extremely demanding underground environments. They operate with ease in some of Australia’s harshest conditions.
Kovatera is arguably the safest underground mining vehicle. It comes with a standard 4.5mm steel floor plate and optional 6.5mm protection plate. The Adelaide University Centre for Automotive Safety Research found this gives up to 11mm of protection against rock bolt penetration.
The vehicles are fitted with roll over protection (ROPS) and falling objects protection (FOPS), which are ISO Certified and come standard.
Reversing cameras and a driver’s door interlock are installed, the latter of which automatically stops the vehicle when the driver door opens. It also has a heavy duty driveline that incorporates a spring-activated hydraulic release (SAHR) brake system, unlike traditional on-highway vehicles.
Built to last
Drivetrain, which is part of Engenco Limited, knows traditional 4×4 utility vehicles are mostly just built for highways. That design makes them more vulnerable during underground mining activities.
For example, they are prone to rust, braking complaints and other safety issues. When rust makes contact with sulfides, they can become up to 14 times more acidic than the salinity of ocean water. Kovatera’s chassis is fabricated with a flat plate, unlike highway vehicles that have rolled chassis which traps water and starts rusting from the inside out. This design helps prevent water from entering while reducing the risk of rust and having to pay huge repair bills.
Kovatera’s backbone is exceptionally strong compared to standard, 0.9mm-thick car chassis. These custom vehicles have a 13mm thickness, making them nearly 14 times wider than conventional cars.
The vehicle’s payload capacity is 2500 kg, about twice that of a regular utility vehicle. Cost of ownership is roughly half that of a regular ute over the same 10-year period. It is also far more economical to run even with a Cummins 3.3L turbo diesel engine, 110 horsepower, and robust Dana T12,000 powershift transmission.
The suspension is fitted with Dana axles and wet brakes. This helps prevent exposure to outside contaminants or damaging substances, extending brake life and lowering maintenance costs.
The vehicle has a top speed of 30 km/h and a 10-year operating lifespan, meaning it might outlive many mining operations. Drivetrain describes Kovatera as a workhorse for a small truck that still fits into a utility vehicle market. The authorised dealer has so much confidence in the manufacturer’s design it offers a five year, or 5000 hour, warranty on the chassis. This is touted to be a mining industry first.
Rapid rollout
At least 20 Kovatera vehicles have been deployed to mine sites across Australia at the time of publication with more in progress for delivery and low lead time inventory. The number is increasing every day, with most of them being based in North Queensland. Some are in South Australia and Victoria. There is also strong interest from Western Australia and New South Wales.
Kovatera vehicles are available in either single cab, crew cab, or explosive vehicle styles. A new scissor deck model will be released that not only drives but can even raise a work-platform deck up to most mine ceilings.
Meanwhile, Drivetrain is working with Kovatera to release the latest battery electric vehicle called the KT300E in 2023. Drivetrain will work with mining companies to help them transition to the new vehicles in line with their equipment strategy.
Why wait?
Some competitors advertise wait times of up to two years due to global supply shortages. However, Drivetrain promises to maintain a pipeline of machines at all times. This currently provides a maximum lead time of 6 months, in most instances shorter, between the time a customer places an order and collects the keys. With Kovatera increasing manufacturing, lead times are expected to reduce even further.
Kovatera is one of the safest and most innovative vehicles in the modern marketplace. It increases productivity, decreases costs and improves future sustainability.
Drivetrain is confident the Kovatera vehicle can improve all payload, safety and lifespan requirements.
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