Foreword

n history, before miners had access to productive equipment and blasting agents, mining was really-hard manual work. The idea of excavating large volumes of rock to access even the richest mineral zones was not feasible, and, as a result, ore veins were selectively followed, predominantly close to the surface, or inside mountains. During the past century, introduction of diesel power and electricity, combined with new methods of mineral dressing, paved the way for large scale open pit mining, and later for mechanized underground mining. Nevertheless, the largest quantities of ore are still excavated from surface deposits. Atlas Copco, as an equipment supplier with a truly global presence, has been at the forefront of development in a number of mining sectors. From pneumatic to hydraulic power, from railbound to trackless haulage, from handheld to rig mounted rock drills, and lately, from manual to computerized operation, Atlas Copco expertise is making mining safer and more efficient. Today, the mining industry, in its continuous battle for profitability, is getting more and more capital intensive. Technical development, especially in underground mining, has been extremely rapid during the past decade. Less labour is required, and safety and environmental aspects are of prime importance. Consequently, mines using equipment and technology more than ten years old are increasingly under pressure to reinvest, or alternatively, to close down or sell up. When designing, manufacturing, selling and servicing Atlas Copco equipment, we commit ourselves to achieving the highest productivity, and the best return on customer investment. Only by being close to customers, by sharing their problems and understanding their methods and applications, do we earn the opportunity to be the leading manufacturer, and the natural first choice. Underground Mining has been published in two parts, the earlier volume covering Methods, and this volume devoted to Equipment. Our main ambition with these books is to stimulate technical interchange between all people with a special interest in this fascinating business. These include, in particular, underground miners, managers and consultants, universities, and our own sales and marketing organization. In Underground Mining Methods, case studies from leading mines around the world illustrate how geological and geotechnical conditions, never being identical, give birth to new and more successful variants of mining methods. In Underground Mining Equipment, our technical managers explain the latest product technology, designed to complement and enhance these methods. We hope that this material is food for thought, and will result in expanded contacts between mining companies in their battle to be more competitive and profitable. To keep our reporting alive and up-to-date, we welcome your comments and contributions to make our editions increasingly more comprehensive and interesting. Meantime, enjoy the reading, and thankyou for your support - past, present and future.

Veikko Suvanto
Product Line Manager, Underground Drilling Equipment, Loading and Transport, Atlas Copco Rock Drills AB veikko.suvanto@atlascopco.com
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UNDERGROUND MINING EQUIPMENT