Scania-based EWP gives miners a lift

Gippsland-based lifting specialist Safetech recently chose Scania's XT truck as the basis of a custom elevated work platform (EWP). The vehicle will go on to deliver a range of safety and productivity benefits for a major mining operation, where it will allow technicians to carry out service and repair work to a range of mining machinery and on-site infrastructure.

To suite the mine operation's requirements, the EWP had to highly maneuverable even over rough terrain, while also being able to work onsite over long periods.

Utilising the truck means the mine's operators can tackle significant maintenance tasks while the mining equipment remains in situ, minimising costs and reducing downtime.

The EWP itself can lift service crews up to 11 metres in height, while the 7.5-metre-long platform can also move laterally by up to three metres. It can handle a payload of up to 1.5 tonnes and sits securely on outriggers that descend directly from the chassis, rather than extending outwards, giving the platform a more compact footprint.

Rear hydraulic outriggers also support the truck, or can lift the truck of the ground entirely if required, and the platform can be adjusted electronically to remain perfectly level.

This Scania XT marks the largest vehicle-mounted EWP produced by Safetech to date. The Scania XT was chose for its robust, off-road-ready construction and mining-friendly features, and because it was large enough to safely lift several technicians off the ground.

According to Chris White, Safetech Business Development Manager, the EWP delivers benefits on many fronts.

"One of the benefits for the mining operators is that traditionally while working on the large mining excavators and haul trucks, the technicians have had to climb up the stairways several times each day to access the service areas, while carting all their gear and the service components," he said.

"Now the platform will lift them directly to the correct height, so there will be less potential for slips, or strains.

"We have designed the safety gates to be wide enough opening that a forklift can load a pallet onto the platform. The platform can be left in an elevated position all day if necessary, allowing the maintenance crew to leave their tools and equipment in place if working on a particularly long job."

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The build took around three months and was assisted by a high degree of preparation by the Scania factory to ensure the chassis was ready to accept the Australian body, including – for example – the correct power take-off installation.

"This has been an intricate build," Chris says.

"We had to engineer the ladder system, the vehicle self-levelling system as well as the platform traverse system, the on-board controls and the hydraulics, so it has required a broad set of skills. However, we design, engineer and build many similar examples for use in mining and other markets."

The Scania P 380 XT is fitted with a day cab and uses a 6x4 chassis configuration, powered by a Euro 5 compliant, six-cylinder engine. The truck weighs around nine tonnes and platform and associated systems adds around another six tonnes.

In addition to tie-downs, control panels and safety gates, the platform also boasts compressed air lines on retractable spindles and work lights, as well as a non-slip extruded aluminium floor.

Scania’s Business Manager, Mining, Rene Van Oppen, says the Scania XT was well suited to the role.

"The New Truck Generation Scania XT is designed for hard work, and it comes with a number of features that make it perfect for mining operations," he says.

"Aside from the protruding steel front bumper, the 40-tonne-rated tow hitch and the high-riding chassis, the cabin delivers excellent visibility for the driver. When you're backing up or parking among big machines you need great all-round vision, and the XT really delivers here.

"Working with Safetech we knew that the Scania chassis would be a good fit for the body they were designing because Scania puts a lot of effort into being easy to integrate with body control modules as well as securing a body to the chassis.

"And because there are many Scania trucks in operation on mine sites, it makes sense for mining operators to specify the Scania as the workhorse for this EWP concept.

"Since beginning this project with Safetech there has been a lot of industry interest in the concept, and we are confident that other mining operators around the county and potentially across the globe will be able to see the benefits of this EWP design, which could literally save them millions of dollars per year."