Normet, a developer and manufacturer of battery-electric underground mining equipment, has launched two new SmartDrive platforms, one for its smaller vehicles, another for its large sizes. A key element of the Finnish company’s electrodynamic technology is that the need for a driveshaft and gearboxes are eliminated through driving the externally cooled mining axles directly with permanent magnet motors in a highly efficient direct-drive configuration.
The new XS-series and the L-series build on the success of the existing M-series SmartDrive, with over 60 units already operating across six continents. The new platforms are designed to cover a wide range of applications and needs, from compact and agile solutions for confined spaces to heavy-duty, high-capacity machines for demanding underground operations.
The compact and agile XS-series SmartDrive with a 3.5-ton payload capacity is ideal for light transportation needs in smaller tunnel profiles and confined underground spaces. Its small size and four-wheel-steering enable excellent maneuverability and access to narrow areas, making it the perfect solution for projects with limited space. The Variomec XS product offering includes logistics products to cover personnel, material and fluid transportation needs, also specialized vehicles for equipment servicing and the transportation of injured persons.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, the L-series SmartDrive is built for heavy-duty, high-performance operations with a 15-ton payload capacity. Built for heavy transportation needs, the L-series is equipped with heavy-duty components, ensuring durability and efficiency in long-ramp operations. With extended battery capacity and high motor power, the L-series delivers optimal speed and performance in steep mining ramps.
The L-series is engineered to handle the most demanding underground operations, including material transportation, concrete transport, and fluid transport. Its heavy-duty design and advanced battery-electric technology make it the ideal solution for projects that require reliable performance under extreme conditions.
Powered by permanent magnet electric motors with instant torque, SmartDrive BEVs operate without local emissions. The fully reversible 4WD ensures maneuverability in challenging underground conditions, while advanced energy recuperation technology captures braking energy during downhill driving.
– Samu Kukkonen, Technology Director
In essence, the engine generates electricity, which is then used to drive the electric motors at the axles. This power conversion decouples the engine RPM from the speed of the machine and, consequently, enables optimizing it for both best possible fuel economy and performance.
Ancillary equipment, too
Normet designs and manufactures an assortment of ancillary equipment, too, some of it also incorporating magnetic technology. Its Xrock Hydraulic Magnet HMC25, for example, increases productivity with fast demagnetizing. Its plug-and-play design allows for straightforward integration into various machines and is fully compatible with the company’s couplers and chain setups. A durable steel cover protects the integrated magnet generator from the tough working conditions of underground mine operations.
From main offices in Espoo, Normet operates globally with over 50 locations in 30 countries worldwide. Since 2019, its SmartDrive machinery has been at the forefront of transforming underground spaces into fully electric, zero-emission operations. See www.normet.com.
