By Jennifer Jensen, Assistant Editor
The 20th biennial Bluefield Coal Show, Appalachia’s premier coal show and one that is described as a “coal show for coal people,” will be held September 11-13 at the Brushfork Armory-Civic Center in Bluefield, W.Va, by the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce. Attendees can work their way through more than 240 exhibitors who will be showcasing their latest products and services.
“The Bluefield Coal Show continues to be the premier show of its type in the eastern United States,” said Marc Meachum, president and CEO of the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce. “Many months of planning, along with literally hundreds of volunteers and great community support, go into making this show so successful. This is the 20th biennial show and promises to be the best yet.”
A change to this year’s event is how attendees will get to the show. Meachum said they are developing a new parking pattern for all show attendees, which will involve everyone parking at an offsite location and being transported to the show via chartered buses. “We believe this will eliminate the parking difficulties we have had in the past,” he added.
The show starts Wednesday, September 11, with a media appreciation breakfast at 8:30 a.m., followed by the opening ceremony and ribbon cutting at the main building of the armory at 9:50 a.m. The show opens at 10 a.m. Seminars will be held on Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m. in the classroom area. Seminars are open to exhibitors and attendees.
On Thursday, September 12, A Voice for Coal, in conjunction with the National Mining Association’s Count on Coal, will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the classroom area of the armory.
“The 2013 Bluefield Coal Show is shaping up to be the largest in its history. More than 240 exhibitors, a complete sellout, are going to be showing the latest in mining equipment and products,” Meachum said. “We anticipate that more than 7,500 people, all involved in the mining industry, will visit the show.”
Coal Age recently contacted several exhibitors to obtain a sneak peek into their booth displays. Below is a sample of what attendees will see while visiting this year’s show.
ASGCO Complete Conveyor Solutions, headquartered in Allentown, Pa., is a manufacturer and service provider of proprietary bulk conveyor components and accessories. At the show, ASGCO’s fully equipped mobile showroom trailer will be showcasing a broad range of products, including the Tru-Trainer belt tracking idlers, Skalper series of primary belt cleaners, Razor-Back secondary belt cleaners, Safe-Guard Conveyor Idler Guard and Return Idler Cage. They will also feature their improved Impact Cradle Bed with no pinch point or idler junction area. Designed to protect conveyor belts from damage, the beds support the belt across the entire width of the belt using a semi-U-shaped design.
A.W. Chesterton Co. is a leader in sealing devices for the mining industry. Chesterton works with repair shops to offer a different approach to total cylinder fitting that saves money and delivers a better, more reliable cylinder back to the mine, according to the company. They specialize in designing and manufacturing custom cylinder repair kits. Their West Virginia distributor will present INPRO Bearing Insolators. INPRO specializes in bearing protection for rotating equipment. Chesterton West Virginia also distributes LAKOS Separators. LAKOS is a high-performance, liquid-solids separation system that removes sand and silt from source water.
Baldor Electric provides quarry and crusher duty motors, 841 XL severe duty motors, MagnaGear XTR large horsepower gearing, controlled start transmissions, mounted bearings and conveyor components. Baldor•Reliance and Baldor•Dodge brands increase uptime and reduce total cost of ownership, providing customers with reliable and long lasting service in the most harsh and severe environments, Baldor said.
Brookville Equipment, a manufacturer of customized battery- and diesel-powered haulage and transportation equipment for the underground mining and tunneling industries, will share information on its vehicle portfolio and the latest product innovations and integrations, as well as services offered by its post-production group, Brookville Services. Brookville manufactures rail-mounted, low height and narrow gauge locomotives, personnel carriers, maintenance and support vehicles, in addition to rubber-tired scoops, tractors, and articulated and four-wheel steer vehicles.
Caterpillar will display its CM210 Continuous Miner and SU488L Scoop, and attendees can explore what they have to offer for conveyor systems and highwall miners. A local Cat dealer will be on hand to talk about after-sales support options, and how they can help improve mining operations. Experience the Touchpoint interactive digital kiosk, where one can explore everything Caterpillar has to offer to the mining industry, above and below ground.
Dry Systems Technologies specializes in the development of clean, safe and MSHA-compliant upgrades for existing engines, complete re-power of diesel-powered mining and construction equipment, and complete power packages for new machinery builders. They also offer machine upgrades, including full machine rebuilding capabilities and OEM line of new machinery. They will display the newest addition to their fleet of DST OEM equipment at the show, the DST 18.5T-PH diesel-powered product hauler. It is available in both permissible and non-permissible models.
Flanders designs, manufactures and services complete electrical power and distribution systems for underground mines. Whether its large power centers and switchgears or small control boxes, Flanders has or can build a solution to meet those needs.
With more than 60 years of experience in surface and underground coal mining, expertise in AC and DC motor repair, belt starters, controllers, variable frequency drives, underground power centers and high voltage transformers, Flanders said they can help increase productivity, manage maintenance costs and improve safety by combining craftsmanship with the latest technologies and superior customer service based on timeless principles.
Huesker offers longwall recovery grid systems, roof and rib support, roadway reinforcement and highwall support.
JADCO Manufacturing is an ISO 9001:2008-certified provider of wear-resistant products to combat severe impact and abrasion challenges. They offer 24-hour service and their welding standards are certified AWS D1.1. Products include the Chromeweld chromium-carbide overlay plate; OT-Plus wear steel outlasts; Hardguard wear blocks; Tru Tuff pins, shafts and bushings; and Razortuff thin wear steel.
Jennmar is a family-owned company that specializes in ground control technology for the mining, tunneling and civil construction industries. They develop and manufacture ground control products, including bolts, beams, channels, trusses, resin and rebar.
Their network of affiliates includes engineering services, resin and rolled steel manufacturing, custom steel fabrication, chemical roof support and sealing products, and their own trucking company. This ability to provide a complete range of products and services ensures quality, efficiency and availability resulting in reduced costs and increased customer satisfaction, Jennmar said.
J.H. Fletcher & Co. will be presenting a RRII to WT-DDR conversion, including up-to-date safety features, added walkway, and rib access booms at its booth.
Information regarding Fletcher’s modernization program, and about the entire product line, along with the ability to interact with Fletcher presentations, videos and animations, will be provided.
Joy Global, through P&H and Joy brands, manufactures, markets, and services original equipment and support parts for the surface and underground mining industries. Joy Global’s products and related services are used extensively for the mining of coal, copper, iron ore, oil sands, gold and other mineral resources.
Joy Global incorporates the latest automation technologies to drive higher performance in room and pillar mining. Joy Global’s focus on mining, along with its innovative people and technology, and zero harm mentality, assist mine operators in achieving higher levels of production, while lowering overall operating costs, the company said.
LaMarche Manufacturing Company will showcase a battery charger using microprocessor-controlled SCR charging technology. It has a programmable entry of battery AMP HR rating and is used extensively in pillar operations to recharge scoop and other mine vehicle batteries.
Lewis-Goetz & Co. has been servicing the mining industry for more than 75 years. They are a distributor of industrial hoses, hydraulic hoses, sealing products and conveyor belts with more than 90 locations in North America. They will feature two products at their booth: a product that extends the life of bearings and protects shafts from corrosion, and a new protective hose cover that is MSHA-approved and can be added after installation.
Line Power/Electric Motor Repair & Sales offers electrical power distribution and control equipment, including longwall controls, power centers, vacuum circuit breaker, switch houses, substations, pump and belt starts, and transformers. They will be exhibiting the patented DowntimeSaver DTS feeder circuit protector and the Manric magnetically actuated vacuum circuit breaker, as well as electric motors and motor rebuilds.
Longwall Associates Inc. is a designer and manufacturer of conveyor systems used in underground longwall operations for coal and trona extraction. Their line of conveyor systems include an armored face conveyor (AFC), stageloader, crusher, tail piece and all ancillary components. They integrate to any design/type of shearer and roof supports.
With OEM conveyors operating on three continents and in four countries, these conveyors systems are powered to perform and optimize production under any circumstance, achieving success in a myriad of mining conditions, the company said.
Precision Pulley & Idler (PPI) will be displaying a Pro Series Drum Pulley that eliminates the most common reason for pulley failures. They will also have on display their patented Herringbone Wing that combines increased performance characteristics and durability. In addition to their innovative pulley products, visitors can check out a variety of CEMA idler products engineered to handle the toughest environments.
Richwood designs innovative solutions for the worldwide bulk material handling industry. For more than 30 years, mines have put their confidence in Richwood’s problem-solving experience. Clean conveyors and sealed and protected load zones from site specific solutions means lowered maintenance costs, safer work areas and more productive operations, Richwood said.
R.M. Wilson Co. specializes in longwall chain, flightbars and connectors, longwall AFC and BSL gearboxes, fluid couplings, water drain soft start couplings, conveyor belt, conveyor belt fasteners and belt cleaners, safety supplies, SETCO solid rim tires, miner and shearer bits.
Saminco Inc. will unveil its 1,000-V family of high-voltage variable frequency drive (VFD) systems for shuttle cars, continuous miners, feeder breakers, shearers and roadheaders. Available in 800V to 1,260V, these systems can be retrofitted to existing equipment and include inverters and rectifiers. Saminco has been designing and manufacturing AC and DC drives from 1 kW-100 kW for AC voltages and 110V-1,140V, and DC voltages 96V to 1500V, for more than 20 years.
Saminco’s range of 128V DC/AC traction systems used for battery-powered vehicles require no change in battery charging and maintenance infrastructure to allow for economical upgrades from DC to AC traction. They also offer rebuilding services for existing motor controller explosion-proof panels and training for all products.
SETCO specializes in fabricated wheels and solid rim tires for shield haulers, scoops, roof bolters, trailers, power centers and tractors.
Strata Worldwide has expanded its product lines substantially over the last two years and will be showcasing new technologies in mining communications, safety and construction services. A featured product will be the Strata Change-Over-Station. This transitional chamber is designed for temporary use in an emergency to facilitate a safer exchange of breathing apparatus during a mine evacuation.
Strata will also highlight its products in mine safety, HazardAvert Proximity Detection, refuge chambers, wireless communications and tracking, ventilation systems, and roof support.
Sub-Technical Inc. is a full-service contractor specializing in ground and water control. Underground, they apply polyurethane grout to stabilize roof or face condtions. Surface work includes pre-grouting of shafts, sealing of impoundments and pre-grouting prior to low cover crossings.
Teufelberger Seil Ges.m.b.H. is a manufacturer of steel wire ropes. Two production sites in Austria concentrate exclusively on the manufacturing, research and development, marketing and sales of mining wire ropes. They offer all types of shaft ropes, from hoist ropes, guide ropes, balance ropes to braking ropes.
Trojan Tire Inc.’s patented tire fill technology is made from rubber compounds for added strength and durability. TUFFIL and heavy-duty reusable SOFT CORE have been proven in a range of applications and is 12 times stronger than polyurethane, the company said.
United Mining Equipment (UME) has been headquartered outside of Pittsburgh, Pa., since 1993 and has a global presence with a location in Baotou, China. While offering innovative products from other leaders in the mining industry, UME has a full lineup of their own. Hydraulics, electronics and cables are all designed in-house and serviced by their experienced staff.
U.S. Tsubaki Inc.’s Engineering Chain Division is a manufacturer of mining chains that are used in underground, above ground and preparation plant applications. They currently manufacture many different sizes of mine chains for several major OEMs.
They use premium-grade steel, heat-treated to precise specifications and assembled with the heavy press fits required to withstand the punishment of powerful, high-production mining equipment. Their complete line of mining chains includes shuttle car chain, feeder breaker chain, tram drive chain, wash box chain, drop forged rivetless chain and jig washer chain. They also manufacture made-to-order chains and attachment configurations.
Van Der Graaf designs and manufactures drum motors. They will be exhibiting the Extreme Duty Mining Series Drum Motor. It is a one-component conveyor drive where the motor, gear drive, and all the moving parts are enclosed inside a drum and sealed in an oil bath, protecting it from harsh environments and providing a reliable, less complex and maintenance-free belt drive solution, the company said.
Voith Turbo will showcase its latest developments in constant fill and fill-controlled fluid couplings for the mining industry. Voith couplings are used on high-powered face conveyors, belt conveyors, crushers, fans, pumps, etc.
West River Conveyors and Machinery will display a new 48-in. dual 150 HP alignment-free belt drive, as well as a 48-in. by 16-ft heavy-duty glide bar tail section. The company custom builds and designs conveyor packages. They also stock thousands of new and used conveyor parts that include belt rollers, pulleys, bearings, heavy conveyor sprockets, motors, fluid couplings, bull gears, backstops, chains and more.
Wooster Hydrostotics is an ISO 9001-certified remanufacturer and repair shop of hydraulic pumps, motors and cylinders, specializing in Bosch Rexroth, Linde, Denison, Hagglunds and more.
