ACT, a Russian company, has been operating in the special equipment market for over 15 years and is currently the official distributor of the Chinese brand LGMG Heavy Machinery. Its equipment operates in various climatic conditions in Russia. In order to understand how the comprehensive solution of АСТ can be implemented in practice, Russia Construction Machinery Network went to the Malutka mining area of Amur Gold, a large gold mining enterprise in Russia. There are 15 temporary heavy machinery LGMG MT86H mining dump trucks in the mining area, which transport ore in 20 hour shifts every day. The mining area is located in the northern part of Khabarovsk Krai and can only be accessed by plane or winter ice roads (ice roads). Since 2007, the mining area has been extracting gold bearing ores. In addition to the mining site, there are also gold selection plants, worker dormitories, repair workshops, and administrative living buildings here.
The climate conditions in the mining area are extremely harsh, but practice has shown that Chinese equipment has demonstrated strong adaptability. The lowest temperature in winter can reach -61 ℃, and the highest temperature in summer can reach+30 ℃. In the Maliutka mining area, there are still some permafrost areas where the soil does not melt even in summer, and snowfall has already begun in September. The reason is that the mining area is close to Yakut. The cooperation between ACT Company and Amur Gold began in 2014, when АСТ supplied three Sunward intelligent open-pit drilling rigs to Amur Gold and was responsible for its subsequent services. In 2018, "Amur Gold" sought help from "АСТ" to replace its articulated dump truck Volvo with a rigid truck with a larger payload capacity. The customer plans to purchase a 60 ton dump truck made in China, so they have chosen the LGMG MT86H. Previously, several equipment from the LGMG factory (although of other models) had been operating at the Kolf quarry in Khabarovsk for several years. After visiting the operation of these dump trucks, representatives of 'Amur Gold' decided to purchase them, "said Konstantin Stepanushko, head of the mining equipment and mining equipment sales department of" ACT ", recalling the process.
In January 2020, the first batch of four LGMG dump trucks were transported by trailer to Tomote (Ardan region) in the Sakha Republic. Here, the truck was assembled and then drove 800 kilometers on its own to reach the "Perevarni" mining area (now sealed and the truck has been transferred to the "Maliutka" mining area). The next 11 dump trucks will be transported to the "Maliutka" mining area in 2020 and 2022 respectively.
The communication with the dealers was very smooth. The experts at 'АСТ' selected the equipment for us based on our needs and the working characteristics of the mining area. Our operators also tested the truck during the 800 kilometer journey from Tomote to 'Perevarni'. This helped us better understand the performance of the equipment and evaluate the quality of Chinese equipment, "commented Peter Kalmagin, chief mechanic of 'Amur Gold'. During the two-week journey (with trucks traveling at a speed of 15-20 kilometers per hour), the driver and sales representative of "Amur Gold" sat in the cockpit throughout the entire journey. As the employees of Amur Gold recalled, 'During this period, we almost mastered all the details of operating the equipment and became very proficient in our movements.'. Multiple times the equipment got stuck in snow, and one car almost fell into the river. So along the way, we also practiced the flexibility of equipment and the responsiveness of employees in case of emergencies, "joked the personnel involved in transportation.
For new customers who are not yet familiar with Chinese brand equipment (such as large enterprises or potential customers planning to expand their equipment library), ACT Company will organize visits to the production lines and workshops of LGMG factories in China. We provide customers with the opportunity to personally verify the performance and reliability of their equipment. Customers can learn about the overall condition of the equipment at the factory, evaluate the economy of maintenance, and plan the financial costs of using dump trucks. Interested customers can also test the equipment at the factory's testing ground. In addition, Chinese factories will hold open days and invite companies that are already using the equipment to participate. Customer company mechanics will also be sent to the factory for training, "added Konstantin Stepanushko. Even if customers do not purchase equipment after visiting, it is not a frustrating thing. Every time we introduce which companies have visited our factory to the next potential customer, it further proves the seriousness and openness of our company's business, "the expert added. The next important stage of comprehensive equipment supply services is the mandatory pre-sales preparation and on-site debugging of mining dump trucks. Before each batch of equipment is delivered, our experts conduct a technical status check to ensure that all systems are functioning properly and meet technical specifications, and that there are no signs of wear and tear on the equipment. We inspect the main components: engine, transmission, hydraulic system, and braking system. All systems, including electronic control modules and sensors, are set up and calibrated according to factory standards. We also prepare necessary documents, including equipment passports, certification certificates, and operating manuals, "ACT company stated.
The MT86H dump truck is equipped with a Weichai engine and a long-life gearbox. The double-layer frame is made of high-strength steel with a thickness of 10+10 millimeters, and the bottom of the radiator of the cooling system is protected by a 2 millimeter thick steel plate. In the steering system, two steering hydraulic cylinders are installed on the front axle instead of steering racks (similar to the design of loaders and other construction machinery, which draws on Volvo's system). In fact, every part of a dump truck is designed specifically for working in remote areas with harsh environments and complex logistics. According to the special working conditions in our mining area, the truck is also equipped with additional cab heaters and preheating devices to achieve warm engine start in winter, "Peter Kalmazin added. Through pre-sale preparation and follow-up service support from dealers, the technical availability rate of dump trucks has reached 0.93.
Another major advantage of LGMG mining dump trucks is the direct establishment of a parts consignment warehouse in the "Amur Gold" mining area. This greatly reduces the delivery time of parts during maintenance and shortens equipment downtime. The warranty service and maintenance of dump trucks are completed on site by experts from ACT company, who have received training in Chinese factories. In 2023, with the support of LGMG, АСТ established an official service station in the "Maliutka" mining area to provide repair and maintenance services more quickly. The five service experts of the company adopt a shift system, stationed in the mining area, and change shifts every two months. They monitor the operation status of equipment and write reports on a daily basis. In addition, they communicate with operators, provide necessary advice and support, "said Peter Karmazin. Therefore, we always know which dump truck is in a stopped state, how long the repair will take, and the next technical maintenance time. This is very helpful for planning the work progress of the mining area, and also improves the production efficiency and safety of the mining area.
The maintenance cycle for each equipment at the LGMG service station in Malyutka mine is 250 working hours, and dump trucks require technical maintenance approximately every 10 to 11 days. According to the cumulative usage time of the dump truck, the maintenance content will vary each time, and usually some parts will be replaced. As of now, the LGMG MT86H dump truck delivered in 2020 has run for 10000 working hours, while the equipment delivered later has run for 6000 working hours.
We mainly conduct regular scheduled maintenance, including changing oil, filters, and other consumables. In the current repair process, we have replaced the components, brake pads, and lining of the mountain brake system - all of which are 'consumables'. There is also a free engine replacement during the warranty period. For these situations, the Chinese factory always actively responds to customer needs, "emphasized Konstantin Stepanushko.
At present, "Amur Gold" is still using other equipment provided by АСТ company, including 7 HOWO 6x6 wheeled dump trucks, 2 Zoomlion cranes, 4 LGMRT loading conveyors, 9 Sinome mining dump trucks, and 6 HUATAI self-propelled drilling rigs. The dump truck operates year-round, with 30 operators taking turns operating in two shifts. These vehicles only operate within the mining area, traveling 200 to 250 kilometers per day and transporting up to 600 tons of ore.
Currently, negotiations are underway between Amur Gold and ACT Company regarding the selection and sale of the most suitable equipment for underground operations.