Underground - Longwall

Cat® customized systems for longwall mining range from hydraulic roof supports and automated plow systems to shearers, face conveyors and roof support carriers.

ARMORED FACE CONVEYORS

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.

CST DRIVE 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.

MINING CONTROLS

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.

PLOWS

Cat® Plows are the mining system of choice for low and medium seams – exceeding the performance of shearers and delivering rapid production.

ROOF SUPPORTS

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. 

ROOF SUPPORT CARRIERS

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.

SHEARERS

At the forefront of every high-performance longwall is a mining machine that works reliably and meets production requirements. Cat® Shearers are built to meet those requirements.

VARIABLE FREQUENCY DRIVES

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.