Case Study: Enhancing Mining Operations with a Custom Man-Rider™ Winch

Industry: Mining

When a mine operator acquired an old mining site,  it aimed to boost productivity by extending the existing mineshaft from 400 feet (122 meters) to 650 feet (183 meters). Transporting both personnel and equipment to this new depth presented unique challenges that required a specialized solution to meet both quality and expertise.

Challenges

• Extended Depth Requirements: Needed to safely lift and lower people and equipment down a 650-foot mineshaft.
• Limited Compressed Air Supply: Required sufficient  compressed air to operate a conventional pneumatic winch.
• Harsh Environmental Conditions: Necessitated reliable equipment unaffected by cold in freezing winter temperatures.

Solution

Ingersoll Rand engineered a custom Man-Rider™ FE5i-MR electric winch tailored to the customer's specific needs:

• Electric Winch with VFD: Utilized a Variable Frequency Drive for precise speed control, overcoming the lack of compressed air.
• Motor Encoder: Integrated an encoder to provide accurate speed readouts, enhancing operational safety.
• User-Friendly Controls: Implemented push-button controls for intuitive and efficient operation.
• Adapted for Cold Temperatures: Chose electric over pneumatic controls to ensure reliability in freezing conditions.

Results

• Increased Productivity: Enabled efficient movement of personnel and equipment, streamlining operations to the new 650-foot depth (198 meters).
• Enhanced Safety and Reliability: Provided a dependable solution that performed optimally in harsh winter environments.
• Customized Expertise: Demonstrated Ingersoll Rand's ability to deliver high-quality, custom solutions tailored to industry-specific challenges.

Trusted Provider

By leveraging its engineering expertise and commitment to quality, we delivered a custom solution that not only met but exceeded the mining operator's needs, reinforcing its reputation as a trusted provider of specialized lifting and pulling solutions in the mining industry.