“We’re all looking forward to being the first underground coal mine in the world with all Cat equipment. We also look forward to continuing our relationship with Caterpillar and solidifying that commitment,” said Rick Craig, vice president for operations, Armstrong Coal.
The fleet, which features four Cat CM235 Continuous Miners supported with face haulers, roof bolters, scoops and feeder breakers began operating at Lewis Creek in late September. It will be supported by Wayne Supply locations in the area. Lewis Creek mines the 50-inch thick West Kentucky No 9 Seam. Targeted sales of clean coal from the mine are 800,000 to 900,000 tons annually.
Lewis Creek is also home to a surface coal mine that uses Cat equipment, including rigid-frame mining trucks and articulated trucks. Armstrong has multiple surface mines throughout the region all of which use Cat equipment supported by Wayne Supply. Wayne sold 80 pieces of surface mining equipment to Armstrong as it started up its fleet of mines in Western Kentucky.
“This sale is an important milestone in the integration of the former Bucyrus underground coal mining products,” said Phil Kelliher, general manager of the North American region for Cat Global Mining. “The trust and confidence Armstrong has placed in us by buying this line of products is absolutely critical. This is the example that we want to build on with our customers.”
