Three new Komatsu loaders for Banks Mining

Six-figure plant investment driving further emission reductions at Northumberland sites

DURHAM-based Banks Mining say they are making further progress in their bid to minimize vehicle emissions at their current and planned future operations in Northumberland, thanks to their latest £615,000 plant investment.

The family-owned business has recently taken delivery of three new 27.5-tonne Komatsu WA470-8 loading shovels at its Shotton surface mine, near Cramlington. These are now being used to move materials around the site and are said to provide fuel-efficiency savings of around 40% compared with other similar plant.

The machines, which can carry a load of up to 8 tonnes, were sourced through Marubeni-Komatsu’s Chester-le-Street branch, and have been tailored to meet the specific operating requirements at Shotton.

The loading shovels are equipped with a state-of-the-art telemetry system that provides a range of data to help Banks monitor and manage the way the machines are being used, and to help ensure they are performing with maximum efficiency.

The investment continues Banks Mining’s policy of working with local suppliers wherever possible, and follows on from last year’s £3.5 million investment in new mobile plant through the Boldon branch of Finning (UK), Caterpillar’s Peterlee site, and the Scot JCB dealership in Newcastle.

Robbie Bentham, plant director at Banks Mining, said: ‘Keeping our plant fleet up to date, ensuring it is working with maximum efficiency and making the right equipment available to our highly skilled teams are all essential parts of our surface mining operations.

‘We recognized the benefits that would come with an investment in this next-generation equipment, and have had excellent support from the local Komatsu team in configuring the vehicles to do the work that we require in the best possible way.

‘The regular performance data that we are getting from the new equipment is invaluable, and having greater fuel efficiency is helping us in our continuing drive to minimize emissions from plant used at our surface mines.’

He added: ‘Working with regionally based suppliers in this way allows us to maximize our investment in the North East economy, and it’s hugely advantageous to have easy access to this expert Komatsu team within our home region.’

Arron Mellors, sales manager at Marubeni-Komatsu’s Chester-le-Street branch, commented: ‘We listened to the operational requirements that Banks Mining wanted to fulfil, and carried out a number of site visits and surveys to ensure we were providing exactly the right machine for the job.

‘The data we’ve gathered from the vehicles so far shows they’re performing as we would have hoped, and the drivers are quickly getting used to operating their new machines.

‘There’s a strong relationship between ourselves, Banks Mining and the Komatsu factory at Birtley, and it’s good for us as a business to have a client of this size on our doorstep.’