The P&H 757 moving from Europe to the United States was dismantled in Newcastle, England by a local work force led by experts from P&H MinePro Services teams in the U.K. and the U.S.

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN -- April 2008 -- A veteran P&H 757 dragline will enjoy a new lease on life after undergoing dismantling in England and shipment to the United States. The machine was sold in 2006 by UK COAL to The North American Coal Corporation (NAC) based in Dallas, Texas, and the dragline relocation entails an arduous operation that began in September 2007.

The massive dragline started its career in 1992, where it worked for a decade in England’s surface coal mining industry, moving more than 330 million tons (300 million tonnes) of overburden material during that time. Affectionately known as the “Ace of Spades”, the machine was first owned by British Coal, then by UK COAL, and ultimately parked when the operational area of British coal sites became smaller, making the machine too large for the region. Still in good working condition, UK COAL put the dragline up for auction in 2006, and sold it to The North American Coal Corporation for use at a mine in the United States.

With assistance from a local work force in England, experts from P&H MinePro Services teams in the U.K and the U.S., along with NAC, oversaw the safe dismantling of the dragline. The disassembly is now complete, and components are being prepared for shipment to NAC in the United States, which will store them in New Orleans for anticipated use at a future mining project.

Weighing about 4,400 tons (4,000 tonnes), the P&H 757 dragline is surprisingly light on its feet as it moves on mechanical shoes, which have travelled about 200 miles (322 km) thus far in their working life. The machine’s 110-ton (100-tonne) capacity bucket can scoop 5511 tons (5,000 tonnes) of overburden every hour, and can hold two Land Rovers parked side by side.

Once reassembled and operating again in the United States, the P&H 757 dragline will be capable of working approximately 6,000 hours a year for the next 20 years.

P&H Mining Equipment is a world-leading supplier of electric rope shovels, large rotary blasthole drills, and walking draglines, with global life cycle management support through its distribution arm, P&H MinePro Services. MinePro Services also represents and supports over thirty leading lines of equipment and services globally as a strong partner for the mining industry.