Neyveli lignite Corporation limited has successfully overhauled a bucket wheel excavator (BWE) which has been in service in Mine-I for the past 36 years. B Surender Mohan, CMD NlC, commissioned the machinery at the Specialized Mining Equipment (SME) Erection Yard of Mine-I.
The 1400 ltr bucket wheel excavator 1355 (BWE), supplied by O&K Orenstein & Koppel, Germany was commissioned in Mine I on August 28, 1978. The BWE had completed 36 years of life with 1,68,000 total working hours in the excavation. Earlier, the machine was rejuvenated after working 1,24,000 hours. and this has been taken after 44,000 running hours.
To extend the life of the machinery , the major overhaul programme was taken at a cost of `19.29 crore. During overhaul the BWE parts were strengthened and replaced as required.
In a function at the SME Erection Yard of Mine-I, Mohan commissioned the machinery in the presence of Rakesh Kumar, director (finance), S Rajagopal, director (power), S Boopathy, director (planning and projects) and Subir Das, director(mines) of NlC limited.
The event was attended by C Senthamizhselvan, N Illamparuthi, executive directors, Syed Abdul Fatakq Khalad, CGM/Mine-I & IA, senior officials, employees, representatives of trade unions and associations.The reconditioned machinery is expected to work further 15 years with rated capacity to enhance production efficiency.