Designed for safety: Outotec's 7-Axis Beam Mill Reline Machines
Due to confined spaces, hot environments and arduous tasks, grinding mill relining can be a challenging job for even the most experienced crew. The most critical and potentially dangerous part of this process is the operation of the mill reline machine. Outotec's new 7-Axis Beam Mill Reline Machines (MRMs) set a new benchmark for safety and are the only MRMs that fully comply with the European Machinery Directive.
The beam MRMs can be maneuvered using a conventional rail arrangement or optionally a tire drive system, which provides increased flexibility for transport around the mill deck. A travelling liner cart with powered slew for rotating liners and a crane with 7 degrees of freedom for manipulation of the liners inside the mill ensures safe, efficient, and reliable operation.
"We wanted to make relining safer," says Ruari Soutar-Dawson, Product Manager for Outotec's Mill Reline Machines. "It's one of those high risk environments, so you need to either design out the hazards all together, or implement proper safety equipment and systems to make sure people are as safe as possible."
Safety Focused Design
Simply put, Outotec's Mill Reline Machines are the safest on the market. Featuring remote control operation, state-of-the-art electro-hydraulic proportional control blocks with advanced fault detection, and safety rated components and systems; safe machine design is a primary focus.
"We have rated it as a crane, which means that it has to comply with much higher safety standards than other competitor equipment that's currently on the market," says Brian Berger, VP of Outotec's Grinding product line. "In order to define it as a crane it must meet multiple different safety standards, including load limiting devices and redundant control systems both in electric and hydraulic controls."
Robust and Efficient Operation
Outotec's beam MRMs are highly specialized pieces of lifting machinery designed to safely and efficiently replace wearable grinding mill lining systems. The machines have multiple options for beam and crane sizes of differing working load limits to suit a wide variety of mills.
"It has been an immensely challenging, and rewarding opportunity to develop this machine entirely in house. Starting from a clean sheet design and utilizing our extensive experience in CAD modelling, drafting, FEA and fatigue analysis, electrical engineering, PLC programming we have total control over the development, and the continued evolution of the equipment," says Ruari Soutar-Dawson.
The main features include:
- Radio remote control with pendant back up allows operators needed flexibility to closely observe working areas while still being in full control of the reline machine
- Feedback screen provides crucial, real-time information to operator
- State-of-the-art electro-hydraulic proportional control system
- Powered travel and rotation of the liner cart
- Rail or tire drive options, 4-wheel steering on tire variants
- Safety rated control components
- Alignment camera system for grapple (optional)
In addition to 7-Axis Beam Mill Reline Machines, Outotec's offering includes other types of MRMs designed to specifically for the smaller SAG mill and Ball mill market, as well as full life cycle services for maintaining and optimizing mills.
