UNEX modernizes other giant machines for mining companies in Northern Bohemia

Uničov, 31 August 2006

The engineering-metallurgic complex UNEX, supplier of technological units and long-term producer of bucket-wheel excavators for open-cast coal mining, has delivered another modernized giant KU 300 machine, serial number 40 (KU 300/40), after its general overhaul and reconstruction.

The modernization of the giant machine, weighing 1,194 tons, lay in the installation of a new bucket-wheel boom. It will enable the machine user, Severočeské doly, Doly Bílina, to mine brown coal even in aggravated geological conditions. Apart from reinforcement of the boom structure, the concept of the entire head was changed, i.e. the wheel, wheel with buckets, abrasive ring with hopper chute and belt conveyor. As a result, KU 300/40 can achieve a capacity of up to 3,600 cubic metres of earth per hour.

The giant KU 300/40 machine was built in 1988 at Uničovské strojírny – the present day Unex, and it was put into operation in the coal beds in Northern Bohemia in the same year. From that time it worked without a major repair until this year when, after eighteen years of operation, its first general overhaul was carried out.

Currently, Unex is preparing the modernization of another two giant machines: KU 800/11 for Mostecká uhelná společnost and KU 800/16 for Sokolovská uhelná společnost. The goal of the repairs is to extend the service life of the machines, to improve their mining parameters and to increase the overall safety of both machines. Unex also participates in key deliveries for the general overhaul of the KU 300/20 machine which works for Sokolovská uhelná společnost.

After the modernization KU 300/40 has the following basic parameters:

Weight - 1194 t

Wheel diameter - 7,5 m

Number of buckets - 13 pieces

Bucket volume - 365 l

Capacity of wheel drive - 500 kW

Theoretical capacity - 1300÷3600 m³/h (limited by transport capacity of conveyors)