CMI develops innovative solutions for the mining industry
Introducing the CMI-EV-1730 battery-powered man carrier
Saskatoon-based Continental Mine & Industrial Supply Ltd. (CMI) collaborates with its customers to define and provide innovative solutions for the Saskatchewan mining industry.
What this means is that CMI has a unique process to leverage its team’s more than 100 years of combined experience in all aspects of mining. This experience ranges from underground production and maintenance to surface processing, major projects and mine expansions.
Established in 1990, CMI provides dedicated service to the province’s mining and industrial operations. Using the wisdom that CMI’S team has gained throughout the years allows the team to ask all the right questions at the start of each project. In this way, the right problem, the scope of the project and the customer’s needs are welldefined ahead of time.
“Once this initial assessment has been done correctly, it’s then quite easy to deliver the right solution by providing equipment that’s tailored to meet our customer’s requirements,” says Dwayne Howatt, a partner at CMI.
Howatt grew up in Regina and studied mechanical engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. His career includes more than a decade at Agrium as a surface maintenance project engineer, underground field foreman, head of engineering for surface and underground, and then mine maintenance superintendent.
In 2007 Howatt founded Howatt Consulting as a project management firm and it has since become a full-service engineering consulting firm. Howatt Consulting is presently managed by general manager and V-P Rory Duncan and has approximately 30 employees. In 2010 Howatt joined CMI as a partner.
“I’m driven by building things and I thrive on making things bigger and better. That’s why I like expansion-type projects and developing new equipment,” describes Howatt.
The next generation of Saskatchewan mining – and mining in general – will work to expand and maximize the use of electric equipment. As a result, hopefully the emissions and operating costs associated with diesel equipment will be minimized. Reduced ventilation requirements will also mean that mining companies can increase productivity within their operations.
However, this shift to electric equipment does not come without its challenges. Mine operations have experienced reliability issues with batteries and mechanical components. In addition, the high cost of infrastructure for charging systems is too much for some companies to implement.
“We’ve used our process to develop our new CMIEV-1730 battery-powered man carrier. CMI’S designs take all of these issues and challenges into consideration to provide the optimum solution for all mining applications,” says Howatt.
CMI’S first batterypowered man carrier was used at a palladium and platinum mine in Montana.
“The Montana mine had some unique challenges involving very long and steep ramps to enter and exit the mine. Our regenerative braking proved to be very beneficial to not only utilize the energy to maximize battery life, but to reduce maintenance costs on brakes.”
First, CMI starts with a great chassis; the Club Car Carryall 1700 chassis is already proven in Saskatchewan’s potash mines. This chassis has well over 11,000 hours of service with minimal repair requirements. Plus, it has a 1,600 lbs rated capacity and comes with a certified modular ROPS with an optional 72-inch low profile version.
Next CMI adds its batterypowered drive system into the CMI-EV-1730’S chassis. This system is designed with modular construction for ease of maintenance. The drive system has six main components: the drive motor, programmable drive controller, lithium iron magnesium phosphate batteries, the battery management system (BMS), the control box and the charger.
CMI’S system is designed to protect mechanical components from failure due to the torque capacity of the electric motor system. While preventing abuse, the control system will monitor overall system current and the allowable time at high-current loading can be adjusted to meet the operation’s needs.
Designed to provide maximum reliability, this control system can also have other safety options added, such as inclinometers or impact monitoring. Plus, its reliability is backed by a fiveyear battery warranty. There are many models available with battery capacities up to 210 Ah, with an estimated range of 60 to 75 kms, without regenerative braking or opportunity charging.
“Our regenerative braking system is designed to provide a third means of braking while it maximizes battery life and minimizes brake maintenance. The system is designed to bring our vehicle to a full-stop on a ramp and the degree of braking can be optimized based on each customer’s unique mine conditions.”
To provide more opportunities to charge, while eliminating any costs for a major charging infrastructure, the new CMIEV-1730 is equipped with an onboard charging system. This system can plug into any 110 or 220 volt plug throughout the mine, which allows for charging during lunch and coffee breaks.
Concludes Howatt: “Our team at CMI has produced a battery-powered man carrier that can be tailored to the unique requirements of any customer’s mine. We look forward to working with you to optimize your fleet, reduce emissions and maximize your mine’s overall efficiency.”
Find out more about the CMI-EV-1730 battery-powered man carrier at www.cmisk.ca or phone (306) 975-1944.