Underground - Longwall

Maximum productivity in the longwall is possible only if the conveyor technology can keep pace with the output of the mining machines. Cat® Armored Face Conveyors (AFCs) keep your production moving – delivering maximum capacity, high drive power, high availability and reliability.We take available space and desired production capacity into account when designing a complete, customized Cat conveyor system for your operation. Whether you want to build a 500-meter (1,640-foot) longwall, or mine different seam heights, Caterpillar supplies a perfect-fit solution – from AFC, to main and tail drives, to chain and entry conveyor systems.

The Drive for Productivity – With constant pressure for greater productivity, improving the performance of longwall systems remains a key goal for mine operators. At Caterpillar, all aspects of longwall operation and machinery are continuously reviewed to find ways to improve productivity and reduce the overall cost of mining. The performance of the face conveyor system is continually improving.

The Cat family of Programmable Mining Controls (PMC) offers state-of-the-art microcontroller technology and increased computing power allowing a completely new dimension of longwall automation.Cat Mining Controls provide all the functionality needed for enhanced control of drives, roof supports, plow or shearer ―future-oriented automation for maximum longwall productivity.

Plow systems from Caterpillar make the plow the mining system of choice for low and medium seams under 1.8 m (5.9 ft). With features offered only by Caterpillar, our plow systems exceed the production performance of shearers and offer future-oriented solutions for hard-coal mining.

Steep grades, very thick and very thin seams, unstable roofs and massive sandstone plates, soft ground and geological faults. These varying conditions require a high level of adaptation to specific requirements. Cat® Roof Supports are world-renowned for their reliability under the most extreme conditions. With superior availability and unparalleled quality in design and production, our roof supports set the standard in longwall mining.

Our product line is extensive to match the varying application and capacity needs of mines around the world. The goal is simple, to move equipment, supplies and materials from one location to another with speed, safety and precision.

Highly productive longwalls place the highest demands on quality and reliability of modern shearers. Cat® Shearers are built to meet these requirements.

The Cat^® variable frequency drives for armored face conveyors are designed to deliver variable speed of the armored face conveyor, very accurate load sharing between gearboxes, and better efficiency when operating in weak power networks.