Numbers Are Steady for This Year’s Bluefield Coal Show  

by jennifer jensen, associate editor

This year marks the 23^rd year of the Bluefield Coal Show organized by the Chamber of Commerce of the Two Virginias. The show will take place September 11-13 at the Brushfork Armory-Civic Center in Bluefield, West Virginia. Numbers are up slightly this year, with nearly 190 exhibitors set to showcase their services and products at the three-day event.

Attendees can also expect several new events at this year’s show. They have added a business resource center and job fair. Deborah Maynard, vice president of membership services for the chamber, said the show will also feature information about the foreign trade market. The U.S. Small Business Administration will be on hand to discuss its Office of International Trade as well as how to market products and services globally and finance those transactions.

Exhibitors will get extra exposure during the show through live television interviews, Maynard said.

The show will kick off with an exhibitor’s reception on Tuesday, September 10 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

On Wednesday, September 11, there will be a media and exhibitor appreciation breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Jimmy Brock, CEO of CONSOL Energy, will deliver the keynote address at the breakfast.

“CONSOL Energy is a major operator in the American coal industry and Jimmy Brock is a highly respected leader with a career spanning five decades and an extensive knowledge of the industry,” General Chairman Robert W. “Bob” Ramsey said.

A ribbon cutting ceremony will follow the breakfast at 9:50 a.m. at the front entrance of the armory. The exhibit hall will then be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

A Monte Carlo Night will be held on Wednesday from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. For more information, contact info@bluefieldchamber.com.

The exhibition will continue on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Coal Age spoke with a select group of exhibitors to get a preview of what attendees can expect at the show.

Force Control Marks 50 Years of Manufacturing Clutches, Brakes

Force control Industries Inc. will be celebrating their 50^th year designing, manufacturing, and supporting industrial clutches and brakes at this year’s show.

Many applications in the coal processing area can take advantage of brakes and clutches with oil shear technology, which includes longer cycle and higher cycle rates without regular maintenance and adjustment, according to Stan Porter of Force Control Industries. This leads to more production, less downtime, and lower maintenance cost, he added. The company will feature its MagnaShear electric release, spring-set motor brakes at the show, which are made in the U.S. and Porter said are ideal for underground applications, preparation plants, and shipping and loading facilities.

Force Control clutches, brakes and clutch brakes are used in coal sweep samplers, rail car and barge positioners, conveyor tensioners, and processing equipment. Force Control motor brakes are available up to 1,250 lb-ft of torque, clutch brakes up to 78,000 lb in., and large tension or stopping brakes up to 250,000 lb-ft.

Oil shear technology improves clutch or brake performance and extends life, Porter said.

Longwall Mining Services Debuts New Name, New Products

Longwall Mining Services (LMS) is transitioning to a new name — Limitless Mining Solutions. It was established in 2005 to find “new products and new solutions to existing problems,” President John Whitfield said. Something that continues to hold true today.

“We try to focus on the fact that we are continually looking for new innovations and solutions,” Whitfield said. “I’ve taken great pride in trying to bring innovation and improvements to the industry.”

The company will feature several new products at the Bluefield Coal Show, including a conveyor cleaner, ventilation fan, ventilation accessories and new lighting products.

The Starclean conveyor belt cleaner is the latest German-designed and engineered cleaning product that performs superior cleaning in a cost-effective way, Whitfield said.

The industry hasn’t had anything new in the segment of mine ventilation fans in more than 25 years, Whitfield said. So, the company will be debuting a new fan, the LMS Mine Ventilation Fan, which has a modular construction and new blade technology. This “vastly improves efficiency and performance while reducing noise,” he added.

The company will also be bringing along new mine ventilation products into the North American market. LMS is now the official North American dealer for Rocvent. This is the first time those products will be available to the North American coal industry, Whitfield said. Rocvent offers duct and tubing, curtains and accessories.

“They know what they are doing and have a product line suitable to the market,” Whitfield added.

The company will also showcase GE electric motors.

New lighting products for outside warehousing will also be featured. LMS will be the North American outlet for a “well-established supplier,” Paramount Lighting, Whitfield said.

Another product the company will feature is a premium super-absorbent polymer called Premium SAP, Whitfield said.

Quaker Houghton Will Promote Products for Safe Work Environment

At this year’s show, Quaker Chemical Corp. will unveil a new name thanks to its merger with competitor Houghton International. The two companies have combined to create Quaker Houghton and will be the “global leader in industrial process fluids to the primary metals and metal working markets,” the two companies said.

The company will continue to focus on products that “support a safe work environment,” said Jessica Sabedra, director of global marketing communications.

“We are rooted in companies commonly acknowledged as authorities in industrial fluids and valued experts in customer processes,” Chairman, CEO and President Michael F. Barry said. “Our similar cultures and values, combined with the talent and resources we bring to Quaker Houghton, create exciting opportunities to deliver innovative solutions that will help our customers’ operations run even more efficiently and effectively.”

The new company will offer metal cutting and forming fluids, corrosion protection fluids, specialty hydraulic fluids, and steel and aluminum rolling oils. Houghton customers will benefit from Quaker’s strength in specialty greases, high-pressure die casting, mining specialties, surface treatment and bio-based lubricants, while Quaker customers will have access to Houghton’s heat treatment quenchants, offshore hydraulic fluids, metal finishing products, and a broader metal removal fluids portfolio.

At the show, Quaker Houghton will present dust suppressants, industrial lubricants, and fire-resistant hydraulic fluid products.

One of these products is MINETECH Q-FOAM, which is a low-pressure, two-component, spray polyurethane foam used as ventilation sealant.

Another product the company will feature is the DUSTGRIP JFP-95. This is a dust suppressant formulated to lower water surface tension, allowing it to penetrate and effectively knock down dust particles, the company said. Designed to be used in continuous miners, crushers and at specific transfer points, it provides ongoing dust suppression with minimal maintenance and oversight, the company added.

QUAKERHYD, a complete line of hydraulic fluid formulated from high-quality base oils and carefully selected additive systems to offer outstanding thermal stability, will also be featured at the show.

Lastly is the company’s QUINTOLUBRIC 888. This product is designed to replace anti-wear, mineral oil-based hydraulic fluids used in applications where fire hazards exist. These can also be used in environmentally sensitive hydraulic applications without compromising the overall hydraulic system operation, the company said.

Strata Showcases Diverse Product Mix

At this year’s show, Strata Worldwide will showcase several products, including the advancements it has made with electronics. “Building on our Digital Bridge systems, we have a new system that integrates with leaky feeder,” said Paula Gunnels, marketing manager, Strata Worldwide. “It essentially puts a digital ethernet into a leaky feeder system, which would allow the mine to run cameras, phones and WiFi systems over leaky feeder.”

In the area of roof support, Gunnels said the company would have a few new things on the stand, such as its AFS (Advanced Foam Solutions) for filling cavity and rock consolidation. “We will also be discussing the recently announced partnership with Burrell,” Gunnels said.

Strata Worldwide recently signed a distribution agreement with Burrell Mining International for the promotion and distribution of Burrell’s CAN and Omega Block coal mining products to the North American mining market (See Suppliers News, p. 42). The CAN is a popular yieldable secondary roof support and Omega Blocks are used to build stoppings underground. They are three times the size of standard masonry blocks and weigh significantly less.

More of what attendees can expect from this year’s exhibitors continues below.

ABB Motors and Mechanical

ABB Motors and Mechanical Inc. is a marketer, designer, manufacturer, and service provider of industrial electric motors, generators and mechanical power transmission products. ABB and Baldor-Reliance brand industrial motors range from sub-fractional to 100,000 horse-power and include NEMA, IEC, AC, DC, variable speed, synchronous reluctance, gear, and servo motors. Dodge mechanical power transmission products include mounted bearings, enclosed gearing, couplings, bushings, sheaves, and pulleys. The company will feature products that focus on safety and reliability in harsh applications. These products include the Baldor-Reliance Crusher Duty motor line, designed for severe-duty service and high starting torques; Dodge Safety Mount roller bearings, with a patented built in mounting system for simple, fast and safe installation and removal; and Smart Sensor technology, a monitoring solution that provides an overall health indication of the equipment to let a company know when maintenance is needed, according to the company.

Bluefield Manufacturing

The largest brattice cloth manufacturer in the eastern United States, Bluefield Manufacturing Inc. provides a wide selection of Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)-approved brattice/ventilation curtains. The company’s popular 2900 All Clear fly pad has been carefully designed to offer superior window clear visibility for safety, according to the company. The 2511 Crystal Clear fly pad and 3100 Ultraview combines clear visibility with high tear strength.

Brookville Equipment Corp.

Brookville Equipment Corp. will exhibit its custom-manufactured rail-mounted and rubber-tired equipment, including locomotives, personnel carriers, maintenance and specialty vehicles, and tractors. Brookville has more than a century of experience designing, building, and rebuilding rail-mounted vehicles for mining applications and is a leading supplier of rail-mounted vehicles to the Appalachian coal basin. Power supply options for Brookville’s vehicles include diesel, battery, and trolley, which are customizable. In addition to new vehicle builds, Brookville also rebuilds existing locomotives, personnel carriers, and specialty vehicles and provides responsive original equipment manufacturer support, training, commissioning, and parts support for vehicles in the field, according to the company.

Cincinnati Mine Machinery

Cincinnati Mine Machinery Co., now in its 95^th year, continues to invest in product development while employing the newest manufacturing technologies and drawing on years of experience, according to the company. Cincinnati Mine said it is a leading manufacturer of the strongest conveyor chain on the market to date. Also available are multiple different types of crawler chains with standard forged or carbide grousers to suit a customer’s specific conditions.

Innovative Wireless Technologies

Innovative Wireless Technologies (IWT), a leader in underground wireless communication and tracking, will showcase the wireless SENTINEL Uniti Node, which allows users to access real-time production and maintenance data from hard to reach places for money-saving mine analytics, according to the company. It is available in various software-upgradeable configurations, including voice, text and tracking. IWT has affordable, customizable communication, tracking, and gas monitoring solutions for the most reliable, wireless digital network, the company said.

JENNMAR

JENNMAR, along with its brand of affiliates, will be exhibiting its customizable and reliable ground support products, an array of structural support/props, conveyor structure, underground bits, continuous miner bits, and manufacturing bits. It is a diversified manufacturer and services provider, which sets the standard in terms of quality and safety, according to the company. It formed the foundation of its business with three words: safety, service and innovation.

J.H. Fletcher

J.H. Fletcher & Co. is proud to be returning to the 2019 Bluefield Coal Show. This year, Fletcher will feature a CRRII-13. This crawler-based Roof Ranger was recently remanufactured to new machine standards and is backed by a new machine warranty. Fletcher will also be featuring the latest in roof bolting technology, its custom equipment, as well as remanufactured machines.

Longwall Associates

Longwall Associates Inc. is a formidable leader in the supply of wholly customized OEM and rebuilt longwall conveyor systems for coal and trona extraction, according to the company. Longwall Associates conveyors comprise AFC’s, stageloaders, crushers, tail pieces and all ancillary components, including sprocket assemblies and flight bars. Longwall Associates conveyor systems seamlessly integrate with every shearer and roof support to optimize production and achieve success in a myriad of mining conditions and face lengths, the company said.

Matrix Design Group

At this year’s show, Matrix will host a product demonstration area. Along with demonstrating its full suite industry-leading products, Matrix will also be introducing the UVision machine lighting system and the proven M5 Mobile Methane Monitoring system. Matrix will also provide food, beverages, and games for attendees to enjoy throughout the show.

Precision Pulley and Idler

Precision Pulley and Idler is a global provider of high performance, innovative conveying components and has been providing components to the coal industry for more than 40 years. Strategically located service centers allow delivery within 24-48 hours on standard parts. They will feature their pulleys and idlers at this year’s show.

Richwood

Richwood will be showcasing some equipment from its Material Containment and Belt Cleaning Systems at the event this year. Richwood’s Belt Cleaners have long been at the forefront of efficiency and innovation in the material handling industry with their self-adjusting, air pressure controlled design, according to the company. In addition to cleaners, Richwood will also have demonstrations of the material containment systems, which provide maximum belt support with continuous arc saddles and idlers and to keep a product on the belt and moving with skirt and canoe liners. Richwood’s solutions are custom-engineered to each application with a satisfaction guarantee.

Syntron Material Handling

Syntron Material Handling (SMH) is a global leader providing material handling solutions for conveying, feeding, screening, elevating, and mining controls of bulk product. SMH will exhibit the Link-Belt Idler Structure; CEMA D tapered roller bearing idlers; 4-in. channel stringers; and adjustable floor stands. SMH will also feature a Link-Belt Dual 250-HP VFD Belt Drive (master/follower configuration) with the PLC and MMI integral to the skid. This belt drive utilizes two ABB ACS880 VFDs and Syntron Material Handling’s custom engineered air-to-air heat exchanger.

U.S. Tsubaki

U.S. Tsubaki will feature its WORKHORSE elevator chains at the show, which are specifically designed for use within aggressive bulk-material handling environments with harsh fine particulates such as cement, lime, gypsum, salt and potash, according to the company. Leveraging Tsubaki’s extensive heritage within the aggregate segment along with a proprietary blend of premium domestic steels and refined heat treatments, the WORKHORSE Series was uniquely bred to provide superior strength, maximum toughness and dependability, according to the company.