KALGOORLIE TRAY UPGRADES

THE CHALLENGE:

The client had ordered over twenty lighter weight Hercules bodies to suit the updated mine plan; however, they were left with five of the previous design.

The client approached Schlam and asked for potential options.

Schlam’s engineering and aftersales teams met with the fabrication division to devise a solution to upgrade the five dump bodies and see them become working assets for the company once again.

THE APPROACH:

Schlam engineering devised a plan to remove the rear third of the floor section and replace it with a lighter product.

The lighter tail section was manufactured in Forrestfield and delivered to the client’s site in Kalgoorlie, where Schlam’s fabrication team took over the project.

A team of three boilermakers took around five days to complete the upgrades to the first two bodies, and three and a half to complete the final three.

Initially, the intention was to use a forklift to install the new tail section; however, this was deemed unsafe due to the precise angle required to complete the fitment. The team altered their plans and brought in a crane, which needed lugs to be welded onto the new section.

THE RESULTS:

The project was completed on budget and a day ahead of schedule despite numerous challenges.

The five Hercules trays were successfully upgraded and brought closer to the goal weight laid out in the updated mine plan.

The client’s maintenance supervisors were impressed with the fabrication team's work ethic and their work, all conducted in testing conditions.