Hard-rock mines run on hydraulics – from underground jumbos to fixed plant. Motion helps sites lift reliability by keeping oil clean, planning maintenance, and auditing systems before failures compound.
Hard-rock environments punish hydraulic systems in predictable ways: dust ingress, vibration, heat, and high duty cycles that accelerate wear. When oil cleanliness slips, pumps, valves, and motors follow – and ‘small’ issues become repeat callouts.
“It really comes back to one thing: oil cleanliness,” Motion general manager – repair and services Adam Dorahy said. “In dusty conditions, any point where dust can get in can shorten component life fast. Keeping breathers and ingress points under control is critical.”
Hard rock vs underground coal
Mechanically, mobile equipment is comparable across underground applications. Motion supports J.H. Fletcher equipment, including jumbo drills used for drilling and bolting to support underground headings.
“From our side, J.H. Fletcher is core to what we do,” Dorahy said. “If it’s J.H. Fletcher gear in a hard rock operation, we can support it. If it’s a hydraulic system, we can maintain it, repair it, and rebuild it.”
The main distinction is the operating environment. Underground coal is treated as a gaseous, potentially explosive atmosphere, so electrics must be intrinsically safe or housed in engineered flameproof cabinets. Hard-rock mines are generally non-gaseous, which allows more conventional electrical systems.
To continue reading this piece, visit Industry InMotion Edition 1.
