Low-Cost Maintenance Tips for Large Mine Reclamation Equipment

The mining industry survives on finite resources; therefore, mine owners abandon the mines once the resources are depleted. Not only does the practice render the land useless but also makes it dangerous for people to venture into the abandoned mines. It is for this reason that the Australian government approved the rehabilitation and reclamation of 45 abandoned coal mines in New South Wales in 2017. As a contractor, this means good business if you consider the sheer size of some of the abandoned mines. However, mine rehabilitation takes a toll on equipment, and you can ramp up maintenance and repair costs quite fast, thereby affecting your bottom line. This article looks at low-cost maintenance tips for large mine reclamation equipment.

Let Dealer Monitor Fluids -- One of the best ways to control the cost on large mining equipment is to let the dealer handle fluid monitoring. The reason is that the machines must operate optimally under dirty and harsh conditions that have a direct impact on fluid usage and contaminants. For instance, if you are using dump trucks to transport soil to or from a mine, then the hydraulic fluid might heat up due to the tremendous amount of work. The only way to keep the trucks working optimally is to monitor hydraulic fluid performance and chance it as needed. Since a dealer has the tools and equipment to check and analyse the fluids, it is better not to concern yourself with matters concerning fluids management. It eliminates cases of premature change of equipment fluids, which leads to lower operational costs. 

On-Site Repairs -- When mining equipment develops mechanical problems, you can opt for on-site or in-shop repairs and maintenance. Both have the same service and repair results as long as a qualified technician works on the equipment. However, since you wish to manage costs, then you must consider the cost implication of both alternatives. For instance, in-shop repairs of heavy mine reclamation equipment lead to longer wait times, which chips away on warranty hours. Furthermore, hauling heavy mining rehabilitation equipment to an outside garage costs money, and this only adds to the operational costs. Therefore, on-site repair and maintenance is the preferred approach, especially because a section of large abandoned mines can be converted into a garage. Once maintenance and repairs are complete, equipment is taken straight to site stations. Therefore, on-site maintenance eliminates transport costs and wait time. 

Close Relationship With Equipment Dealer -- A cordial dealer relationship is vital, especially for large and lengthy projects such as mine reclamation. The reason is that equipment damages can slow down operations considerably, especially in situations where a machine stays in a garage longer than expected. A close relationship with a dealer allows you to borrow equipment and ensure continuity of production. Moreover, if the equipment you borrow is a newer version, you can use the opportunity to field-test the machine in a mine environment.

To learn more, contact your local large mining equipment reclamation company.