BUCKETS AS BIG AS A UTE

Bulk handling is tough work, and takes its toll on equipment, which is why Hunter Valley consulting firm, Integrated Engineering Services, called in JPC Engineering to re-model the bucket wheel on the stacker system at a local mine.

This enormous machine moves a mind-boggling 4500 tons of coal an hour in a series of 1 cubic metre buckets. It was a demanding task —JPC Engineering had to work from 30 year-old German drawings and the timeframe was very tight.

In just three weeks, the job was done: the bucket wheel was entirely re-modeled, incorporating a range of design improvements to reduce wear, such as new wear plates and cover-strips. Back to the coal face once more!