Batchfire Resources Cat Dozer Fleet Boosts Productivity

23 November 2022

Batchfire Resources investment in Cat Dozer fleet, boosts productivity. 

Batchfire Resources is committed to investing in its mining assets to boost productivity, reliability, and fuel efficiencies through its ongoing partnership with Hastings Deering.  The energy coal mined by Batchfire Resources plays a crucial role in generating around 18 per cent of Queensland’s electricity needs every year. Investing in four new Cat D10s and four new Cat D11s over four years through Hastings Deering continues Batchfire’s strategy of upgrading its mining fleet to deliver operational and sustainability benefits. Daniel Boal, Superintendent Mobile - Engineering and Maintenance at Batchfire Resources, said it is a priority for the mine to invest in new machinery that allows older models to be phased out.  “There were no questions, we were going Caterpillar dozers,” said Mr. Boal.

When looking to invest in its mining fleet, Batchfire Resources was exploring ways to reduce carbon emissions per bank cubic metre waste and improve productivity. “Overall, we aim to produce around 10 million tonnes of coal annually. We continue to invest in the mining fleet to ensure that we’re getting the productivity gains and sustainability benefits on site,” said Mr. Boal.

Mr. Boal said investment in the new dozers was a commitment to ensuring Batchfire’s mine operations would use more fuel-efficient machinery to help reduce carbon emissions and maintain productivity. “The impressive reliability and performance of our existing fleet of Cat dozers was an important factor in our decision to invest in the new Cat D10s and Cat D11s.” “They are essentially replacing older version D11Rs and D10Rs, and we’ve seen an efficiency gain of 10% on the new style engines.” Batchfire Resources has also installed Cat Terrain features in the new dozers to improve pit and waste dump bench control, maintain design compliance, and reduce rehandling of waste, all which help reduce emissions through efficient haul truck operations and optimizing material moved to uncover the energy coal.

The new dozers have Cat Terrain enabled which uses high-precision guidance technologies, and material tracking to help the machines work according to plan. With onboard guidance tools and real-time feedback, Terrain for grading gives dozer operators the information to maximize machine efficiency by monitoring coal seam location, bench heights, cycle times and volume of material cut and filled.   “They get the job done right the first time. If we put a plan in, they work to the plan, they finish the plans and its done.” With continued schedule optimisation, Batchfire Resources is using the D11s to undertake more cross dragline pit bulk dozing with the D11Ts. Batchfire Resources Superintendent – Dragline and Mine Services – Mining and Production, Matthew Scales, confirmed that Batchfire has recently re-introduced Dozer push back when setting up benches for the Draglines. “That’s to optimise the dragline fully and make sure they’re efficient in what they’re doing. It just makes them more productive by having the D11s in front of them. We expose more coal and progress the plan a lot quicker,” Matthew said.  “We upload mine plans into them, and we’ve put ramps in recently using that system, within 30 millimeters of the designs. I mean, that’s excellent.

“It takes a bit of pressure away from having people on the ground, exposing them to additional hazards.  “Being in Biloela, our relationship with Hastings Deering Rockhampton is crucial, and with that, the product support we get. “Our journey with Caterpillar and Hastings Deering has been a long one with our Dozers. Caterpillar Dozers are a cut above, they’re always reliable, easy to work on, they always hit their AV Targets, it was no question, we were going Caterpillar dozers,” he said. With improved technology, equipment updates and maintenance support, the Batchfire Resources team works with Hastings Deering to maximise the performance of their Caterpillar Fleet.