Caterpillar will transfer its longwall mining equipment business to Hauhinco and its room-and-pillar equipment to Simmons Equipment Co. Cat’s SH650 shield hauler (above) will now be manufactured by Simmons.
Caterpillar has entered into a preliminary agreement with Hauhinco to divest its longwall product line. Subject to the negotiation of a final agreement, the deal is expected to be completed in the third quarter. Cat said it and Hauhinco will work together to ensure a smooth transition to minimize any impacts to customers and dealers.
Cat’s longwall product line includes roof supports, shearers, armored face conveyors, CST drives and other related equipment.
The company said it made the decision to exit the longwall product line to stay focused on its core products and services. The decision along with the announcement to license intellectual property to Tazewell, Virginia-based Simmons Equipment Co. would mean a complete withdrawal from the underground coal mining business.
Simmons signed an exclusive intellectual property (IP) license agreement with Cat, which grants Simmons global rights to manufacture certain soft rock (coal) mining equipment formerly produced by Cat.
The agreement expands on Simmons Equipment’s existing portfolio of soft rock mining equipment and reflects a continued commitment to providing innovative solutions to the global mining market, explained Simmons Equipment President and CEO Matt Simmons. “We are thrilled to be able to offer these proven solutions to our valued mining customers,” Simmons said. “We have a rich history with mining machinery and adding these trusted products to our growing portfolio solidifies our commitment to being a global leader in soft rock mining equipment solutions.”
The portfolio of equipment includes the CM210 Continuous Miner, CM220 Continuous Miner, Continuous Haulage Product Line, FH110 Battery Hauler, FB85 Feeder Breaker, FB140 Feeder Breaker, RB120 Roof Bolter and the complete battery Shield Hauler Product Line (SH620, SH630, SH650, and SH680). The agreement also grants Simmons Equipment nonexclusive rights to supply aftermarket spare parts and support existing Caterpillar room-and-pillar equipment.
“We are pleased that mining customers will have access to Caterpillar’s differentiated designs for low seam room-and-pillar equipment and aftermarket components,” said Cat’s Group President Resource Industries Denise Johnson. “Cat and Simmons will work together to ensure a cohesive and orderly transition.”
Beginning with the S&S Machinery Co., the Simmons family has been associated with the underground mining equipment business for more than 50 years.
