ERIKS provides customer sealing solution for
Longwall mining systems

Designed and produced by Pioneer Weston, a division of ERIKS Sealing Technology, the new carbon-faced Rotary Joint has now become standard fitment on the Bucyrus continuous miners.

These leviathans among mining machines extract coal at very high speeds of up to 5,000 tonnes per hour. Dust mitigation is a key issue and water jets directed at the heads of the shearer are used. Water ingress on drill heads, however, must be prevented as the heads may corrode, leading to premature failure and costly stoppages.

A 23” Rotary Joint unit with specialist carbon faces enclosed in an electroless Nickel coated casing was devised by Pioneer Weston to meet Bucyrus' stringent requirements. The Joint contains water in the drill head, while O-rings provide static sealing for the seal enclosure. Following minor initial modifications, ten seal units were ordered by Bucyrus.

“This prestigious and demanding project with the leading global manufacturer and supplier of Longwall mining systems shows what ERIKS is all about,” said Chris Dixon, Divisional Sales Director for ERIKS Sealing Technology.

“It shows that we can deliver sealing solutions where our competitors can't, and also demonstrates our ability to work closely with customers to achieve solutions that ultimately improve their processes and operations.”