Swedish steel prize nominee 2017
Revolutionizing underground mining with high-strength steel
2017 | Fermel | South Africa 6 min read
Light Duty Vehicles (LDV) are used throughout the mining industry for transporting a variety of different applications within underground mining environments. South African company Fermel (Pty) Ltd identified this specific market sector as an ideal opportunity to develop a dedicated Mining LDV – the Maverick product range. They utilized high-strength steel to develop a sustainable solution that has been nominated for the 2017 Swedish Steel Prize.
Entirely new design
In most conventional mining operations, LDVs are found in the form of pick-ups or normal light utility vehicles that have been upgraded or retrofitted to try and comply with the basic mining safety regulations.Fermel (Pty) Ltd is a 50-year-old veteran of the mining industry and a manufacturer of mechanized mining machinery for underground trackless operations.
They developed the Maverick range to offer an unrivalled alternative to light utility vehicles.
“Around mid-2014, we identified this opportunity on the basis that new mining legislation and tighter safety requirements were due in the not-too-distant future,” explains Corné Wehr, Product Design Manager at Fermel (Pty) Ltd.
The goal was to create an uninhibited mining vehicle that would outperform current offerings being used in conditions and duty cycles that they are not designed for.
One vehicle, multiple applications
The first step was to develop a drive train that would work under heavy loads and that would form the basis for a range of vehicles with different purposes.“There were some challenges along the way,” explains Wehr. “With great effort we identified the correct axles and transmission for this application. We then needed to find a way to design a vehicle that both looked appealing and was practical for the application. We also wanted to be able to manufacture the vehicle without spending money on special tooling, but apply conventional fabrication methods.”
Role of high-strength steel
Fermel’s conventional design methodology is based on the use of 355JR “mild steel”, however, it did not take long to see that a new alternative was needed in order to create a robust solution that would give a return on the customer’s investment.Hardox 450 was chosen for the cab and Strenx 700 for the chassis. These two materials would provide maximum payload at minimum weight, as well as allow for the optimal welding applications needed for manufacturing.
Hardox 450 was also used to achieve a cab and fender assembly that would be able to provide the perfect compromise between a light and robust structure, and is an essential requisite in creating a unique competitive advantage.