What sets Powertrans apart from its competitors and alternative haulage systems is its commitment to developing innovative haulage solutions with superior engineering, manufacturing quality and safety features.
Powertrans has made a considerable investment in in-house engineering, fabrication, assembly and field commissioning, allowing the company to bring to market a quality product and to then fully support it.
The use of off-the-shelf parts where possible minimises cost and makes maintenance easier. All design and manufacture is aimed at achieving simplicity, reliability and sustainability for remote locations.
All Powertrans products run on standard off-highway light earthmoving tyres, with typical sizes being 11R 22.5, 315/80R 22.5, 10.00 20, 12.00 24 and 14.00 R25, which are readily available (in contrast to large earthmoving tyres), cost-effective and not as sensitive to TKPH limitations as are larger tyres.
By using multi-combination road trains capable of achieving fast cycle times hauling up to 500 tonne payloads with a single operator, mines require fewer vehicles (and fewer operators) to move material, reducing hazards on haul roads.
Directional stability exceeds conventional road train performance, while careful attention to trailer coupling location and weight distribution minimises the swept path of the Powertrain™. With engine braking from both the prime mover and Powertrailer™ engines, as well as braking on all axles, the Powertrain™ has the stopping power to control a fully laden vehicle on a steep down slope. Transmission retarders can be supplied as an option.
On Powertrans’ underground products, fire system nozzles are located at each wheel in case of a brake-initiated fire.
The Powertrans™ haulage systems for surface and underground mining have been designed for long service life. As of September 2006, there were 27 underground and 36 aboveground Powertrans™ road trains in operation, accumulating a total of more than 450,000 engine operating hours.
Based on the experience of these machines, the engines, transmissions and drive axles can expect a service life of around 12,000 hours, while dump bins can expect to be reskinned at around 25,000 hours and trailers can expect a structural life of about 45,000 hours.
The structural components of the trailers are designed to accommodate three or more major rebuilds of mechanical components.
The Powertrailer™ uses off-the-shelf driveline and suspension components, while the unpowered trailers in the Powertrain™ use readily available axle, brake and suspension components.
Wherever possible, parts are common across the trailers, minimising parts-holding requirements. No specialist skills are required to service and maintain the mechanical components.
The Powertrailer™ engine/transmission and cooling modules are readily accessible, and the engine/transmission module can be removed quickly from below or above the chassis.