WesTrac and its subsidiary Hushpak have delivered what they are saying is as an progressive sound suppression resolution to The Bloomfield Group that has diminished the noise output of 19 Cat 793F mining vehicles.
Managing the sound output from heavy equipment could be a difficult job on mine websites, however that is beginning to turn out to be simpler for a lot of businesses, in accordance with WesTrac.
“That’s thanks to a range of innovative sound suppression offerings from leading Caterpillar dealer WesTrac, which in the last two years has delivered 19 Cat 793F large mining trucks to Hunter Valley-based mining customer The Bloomfield Group showcasing these capabilities,” it stated.
Using a mixture of Caterpillar manufacturing unit choices and inhouse, customised options, WesTrac was tasked with lowering the noise of the Cat 793F vehicles to ranges that aligned to Bloomfields’ necessities at its Bloomfield and Rix’s Creek mines – in shut proximity to Maitland and Singleton, respectively.
According to WesTrac NSW Strategic Growth Manager, Alan Corcoran, the answer achieved that objective on time, inside funds and included a number of requested customisations.
“Working with our subsidiary Hushpak, we devised a solution that passed the sound output tests in the first instance,” Corcoran says.
Hushpak is a standalone engineering business specialising in sound suppression and attenuation on each cellular and stuck plant. WesTrac acquired the corporate in March 2022.
“Sound comes from various outputs, particularly on mobile plant,” he explains. “The engine, transmission, fan, hydraulic pumps and numerous different elements compound to make these giant machines fairly noisy.
“Caterpillar provide ready-to-order sound suppression kits for mining machines, however, in some instances, there are gaps within the product providing. Many of our clients have distinctive wants, particularly in areas just like the Hunter Valley, the place mine websites are in nearer proximity to cities and residential areas.
“These customers have additional requirements that need further sound suppression. Meeting these unique needs, on all types of mining equipment, such as this customer’s 793F trucks, led to this project to bridge the gap.”
Such is the case for Bloomfield, which produces round 2.5 Mt/y of saleable coal from its mines in New South Wales, the place all haulage and ancillary equipment fleet are Cat merchandise.
Following intensive market analysis carried out in 2020, Bloomfield Plant and Equipment Manager, David Worboys, and his broader workforce settled on the 220-t-class Caterpillar 793F truck and have since taken supply of 19 models from WesTrac’s Tomago department, now working at Rix’s Creek and Bloomfield mine.
Worboys says all vehicles fitted out with the Hushpak-engineered sound attenuation bundle have been contributing to ongoing website noise compliance and minimising influence to close by communities.
“We pride ourselves on being good neighbours, and therefore we make every effort to minimise the noise impacts on them,” he says. “We use engineering greatest follow the place we will, to attain as excessive sound output discount as we will.
“These 793Fs are a 20-year investment for our business and are setting the foundation for our haulage fleet moving forward.”
With that in thoughts, WesTrac’s gear specialists and engineers labored with Hushpak and Bloomfield to develop a personalized resolution for the 793F that took airflow, weld areas, centre of gravity, visibility and entry for upkeep into consideration.
On completion of the primary 793F match out, WesTrac engaged an unbiased tester to evaluate the noise output. Testing was carried out at WesTrac’s NSW headquarters in Tomago.
Following supply of the primary two vehicles to website, WesTrac and Hushpak continued to work with Bloomfield to manage minor changes which have been carried via to different vehicles delivered.
“Through collaboration, using expertise from us on site and working with WesTrac and Hushpak to come up with solutions introduced into the sound attenuation package has ultimately delivered a great product,” Worboys says.
Corcoran stated WesTrac’s skill to tailor options to fulfill buyer necessities in addition to broader necessities comparable to emission discount targets fuels the corporate’s steady enchancment program.
