A new P&H Optima dipper configured for increased digging efficiency and consistent fill factors in copper ore loading applications is providing a growing number of mines with greater productivity performance value.

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN -- May 2008 -- A new "P&H® Optima®" mining shovel dipper developed by P&H Mining Equipment and tailored to the hard-rock material handling conditions often encountered in copper mining operations is helping to increase production efficiencies in a growing number of mines.

A leading supplier of cost-reducing equipment to the surface mining industry, P&H Mining Equipment works continuously with surface mines to identify opportunities for applying technology to help reduce mining production cost.

When a major copper mining operation learned of a new overburden-loading dipper that P&H Mining Equipment developed in concert with its P&H MinePro Services® service support network on behalf of a large coal mining operation in the Powder River Basin in Wyoming, it set in motion an effort to develop a copper ore-loading dipper aimed at providing similar performance gains in some copper mine settings.

To achieve that objective, P&H and MinePro worked with the copper mine to identify key factors such as material being loaded, dipper geometry and shovel power systems dynamics that can affect shovel dipper performance. Throughout this process, P&H engaged with a research and development engineering partner in Australia to apply a systematic approach for testing and evaluating promising dipper designs.

P&H identified several dipper geometry configurations and transformed them into scale models. The models were then subjected to repetitive dig cycles using a test bin loaded with material simulating copper ore. Comparative data and video analysis pointed to one dipper concept in particular that generated significant and consistent performance gains over the previous standard copper dipper, including…

• 6 percent increased payloads,
• 3.5 percent faster dig times, and
• 1.4 percent less energy expended per ton moved.

Soon afterward, P&H transformed that design into a 74 cubic yard P&H Optima “copper” dipper installed on a new P&H 4100XPC electric shovel in a major mine in North America. Although the information is proprietary and unavailable for disclosure, performance results for the new “copper dipper” met the mine’s requirements, leading to orders for more such dippers from that mine as well as others in South America with similar material handling conditions.

Beyond coal overburden and copper dippers, P&H Mining Equipment and P&H MinePro Services are working on more dipper designs customized for the unique material handling conditions encountered in other major mining commodities.

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.