Aker Wirth Expands Presence in Russian-speaking Market Since the beginning of 2012, Aker Wirth has been providing local contacts for its existing and prospective Russian-speaking customers. The facilities, jointly shared with parent company Aker Solutions, are located in Moscow. “The firm sees a huge market potential, both in mining and in foundation,” said Hans Greve, vice president Mining & Construction at Aker Wirth, who thinks the Moscow facility is the “first step in the firm’s intensive promotion” in that region. Aker Wirth offers roadheaders in the 50-130 tonnes (55-143 tons) weight class, suitable for rock strengths of up to 150 MPa (22 ksi). The latest development from Aker Wirth is the T1.14 roadheader. The machine, with its particularly compact design, plus a telescopic boom, has been optimized for coal mining. This ensures high production rates and ground- preserving driving. Together with Rio Tinto, one of the largest mining companies in the world, Aker Wirth developed a new and innovative tunnel boring system, based on Aker Wirth’s MTM (Mobile Tunnel Miner) technology and its experience and competence in underground hard rock mining and tunneling. New Bentonite Drilling Fluid from CETCO a wholly owned subsidiary of AMCOL International, announced a brand new 230-bbl yield bentonite drilling fluid. VELOXITY-PRO is an easy mixing; high CETCO (Col loid Envi ronmental Technologies Company), based in Illinois, ® viscosity 230-bbl yield freshwater drilling fluid produced from the highest grade Wyoming sodium bentonite. The product can be used in all types of freshwater mud rotary drilling, including all vertical well dr i l l ing and hor izontal dr i l l ing applications. CETCO’s newest drilling fluid was created to improve cuttings removal, as well as circulation. This high-quality bentonite drilling fluid increases viscosity Atlas Copco Adds New Pulverizers Atlas Copco has added two models of bulk pulverizers, the BP 2050 and BP 3050, to its range of silent demolition tools. Key design features include a specially angled shape and wide jaw for improved access to material and a speed valve for a more rapid open and close cycle. “The speed valve actually helps lower the overall cost of ownership,” said Keith Becker, product development specialist for Atlas Copco hydraulic attachments. “If you reduce your opening and closing time, or cycle time, you’re reducing machine hours, operator hours and fuel consumption while increasing production.” Another feature that cuts time on the job and saves money is the high, constant power that these units generate at the jaw tips, even when they’re almost closed, according to Becker. Extra power means it takes fewer bites to demolish a structure, for example. The wide jaw not only makes it easier to feed in material, it also aids in the clean separation of rebar and concrete. The large jaw dimensions enable a high production output as well. Each model comes with a replaceable tooth-plate and cutting blades on the jaw, which results in less down time in the field. The BP 2050 bulk pulverizer and lowers drilling fluid filtrate. VELOXITY-PRO mixes quickly and easily in fresh water and will improve borehole stability. This NSF/ANSI Standard 60 certified drilling fluid comes highly concentrated for maximum yield and will help reduce torque and increase penetration rates. The compact and efficient Aker Wirth roadheader T1.14 DEEP FOUNDATIONS • SEPT/OCT 2012 • 79
