{"id":1176710,"date":"2020-04-07T15:00:04","date_gmt":"2020-04-07T20:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mining.com\/?p=1019646"},"modified":"2020-04-07T15:00:04","modified_gmt":"2020-04-07T20:00:04","slug":"hitachi-brings-the-heat-to-fairbanks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/juniorminingnews.com\/?p=1176710","title":{"rendered":"Hitachi brings the heat to Fairbanks"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Winters in Healy, Alaska, aren\u2019t for the fainthearted. Located just outside Denali National Park and Preserve, the daylight is short and the cold lingers into spring. <\/p>\n<div class='d-flex justify-content-center d-xs-block d-sm-block d-md-none'>\n<div id='div-gpt-ad-1561499308230-0'><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1561499308230-0');});<\/script><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Sometimes, temperatures plummet to as low as -60\u00b0F. Amidst these harsh temperatures, the work continues at Usibelli Coal Mine. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe work in extreme conditions,\u201d said Alex Legrismith, a Usibelli mining engineer. \u201cSteel can shatter in these low temperatures.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Not<br \/>\nonly does the work continue through the winter, but for Usibelli, it\u2019s peak<br \/>\nseason. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe middle of the winter is our largest production time,\u201d Legrismith said. \u201cFairbanks is just up the road, and it\u2019s the coldest city in the United States. Our coal keeps Fairbanks warm.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Usibelli is a family-owned mine started in 1943 by Emil Usibelli. Not only does the mine singlehandedly heat Fairbanks, but its production has increased steadily through the years. <\/p>\n<p>Today, the mine outputs 1.2-2 million tonnes of coal per year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re<br \/>\nall about production,\u201d Legrismith said. \u201cAnd we\u2019ve worked to make our operation<br \/>\nas efficient as possible to output more high-quality coal.\u201d <\/p>\n<h2>Productivity through reliability  <\/h2>\n<p>Usibelli utilizes one powerful Hitachi excavator \u2013 an EX1900-6 \u2013 to output about 50% of the mine\u2019s production. The machine was purchased in 2012 and has been a workhorse ever since. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s just so reliable,\u201d said Robert Bohanon, a Usibelli operator. \u201cI\u2019ve run plenty of other machines. The Hitachi is smoother and has more power.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Legrismith<br \/>\nechoed the machine\u2019s reliability. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur EX1900 excavator is one of the most reliable pieces of equipment we have on the mine,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s had almost no mechanical issues. It\u2019s always running. Its motto should really be, \u2018productivity through reliability.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With<br \/>\na customized 19.5 cubic-yard bucket, it not only boasts big productivity, but<br \/>\nalso a comfortable working environment.&nbsp; <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith<br \/>\nour operators spending so much time in the cab, it\u2019s important that the cab is<br \/>\ncomfortable,\u201d Legrismith said. \u201cWith the EX1900, the ergonomics and visibility<br \/>\nfrom the cab are much better than other pieces of equipment.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>The<br \/>\ncomfort of this machine\u2019s cab has become a bit legendary on the site.&nbsp; <\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs the story goes, our primary coal loading operator, who has been here for over 30 years now, says the EX1900 is the only machine that doesn\u2019t leave him with a stiff neck at the end of the day,\u201d Legrismith said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think the visibility is so much better than other machines, and it runs smoother, which leaves our operators feeling way better.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Thinking of tomorrow, today<\/h2>\n<p>Working in conjunction with the EX1900-6, drone surveying has recently revolutionized Usibelli\u2019s mining process, streamlining it for efficiency and quality. <\/p>\n<p>Legrismith spearheaded the efforts to bring drone surveying to the mine and has experienced positive results since. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cDrone surveying is safer and more efficient,\u201d Legrismith said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cBefore, we used GPS and had to walk around, getting to the crests by foot. Now, we just set out some control points and fly the drone. The result is a perfect survey of the area in very little time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One<br \/>\nof the biggest advantages to drone surveying is to pinpoint where the \u201cgood<br \/>\ncoal\u201d is located so operators can dig in more precisely. This is especially<br \/>\nimportant in Usibelli\u2019s challenging environment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re mining coal that has a parting or \u2018seam\u2019 about halfway through it,\u201d Legrismith said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe drone survey allows us to have great elevation control and hone-in on where this parting is, and where it will be projected in the future. All of this quality variation occurs within 30 feet. We\u2019ve got our Hitachi excavator in these pits, and it\u2019s been doing great because we\u2019ve been able to selectively mine the coal.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>While<br \/>\nthis drone surveying push is a great advancement, Legrismith is always looking<br \/>\nahead, eager to utilize technology and keep the mine moving forward. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cNext,<br \/>\nI would love to see machine control, or have an autonomous truck,\u201d Legrismith<br \/>\nsaid. <\/p>\n<h2>Excavators for the last frontier <\/h2>\n<p>As<br \/>\nLegrismith anticipates the future of mining, there\u2019s one piece of equipment he<br \/>\nwants to see stick around for years to come. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith the performance we\u2019ve seen from the Hitachi, we trust the brand,\u201d Legrismith said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe next piece of equipment I would love to see here at Usibelli Coal Mine is another Hitachi shovel. I think for the mining we have coming up in the next five to ten years, it would be perfect for us.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Working<br \/>\nwith a company that values the community connection is no surprise, as Usibelli<br \/>\nhas gained brand recognition locally by giving back through sponsoring<br \/>\nscholarships and grants to more than 80 organizations annually.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGrowing<br \/>\nup in Alaska, you learn to love it and its community,\u201d Legrismith said. \u201cIt\u2019s<br \/>\nthe last frontier, and it takes a special type of person to love the<br \/>\nlifestyle.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Luckily<br \/>\nfor Legrismith, he\u2019s found the right fit at a company with more than 115<br \/>\nemployees who live for the community and outdoor atmosphere like him. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve been family-owned and run for going on 76 years now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWorking here is like working for a giant family.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Winters in Healy, Alaska, aren&rsquo;t for the fainthearted. Located just outside Denali National Park and Preserve, the daylight is short and the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[369,2857],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/juniorminingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1176710"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/juniorminingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/juniorminingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/juniorminingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/juniorminingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1176710"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/juniorminingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1176710\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1176712,"href":"https:\/\/juniorminingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1176710\/revisions\/1176712"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/juniorminingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1176710"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/juniorminingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1176710"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/juniorminingnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1176710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}