Capital Equipment News February 2015

TRANSPORT

protection. The distinctive shape and im- posing appearance of the Scania cab is built around a tough rigid steel cage and has been built to withstand severe impact. Also incorporated into the design of the bus is a ROPS over the cab which meets global safety standards. The bus body itself is locally designed and manufactured comprising a cage design us- ing six tons of steel in the structure. From the outset, the construction was monitored by the University of Pretoria who also con- ducted the destruction testing. Built to SANS 1563 specification, the mining bus also conforms to ISO 3471 and ISO 3449 (FOPS and ROPS). The bus has taken two years in the development stages before the final product was released in order to en- sure conformity with the road ordinance and stringent mining requirements. The Scania mining bus has all the right specifications to enable a safe ride for its 34 occupants as every aspect of any long term requirement has been built into the design. From the Opticruise transmission to the 250 mm clearance, every aspect has been me- ticulously calculated. High mounted brake boosters prevent damage when negotiating uneven terrain considering the ability of the unit to tackle up to 50% inclines. The 25 degree approach angle and the 22 de- gree departure angle classify this vehicle as a true off-road machine. The comfort of the passengers has not been neglected as

noise levels in the bus have been kept down to 76 db while the securely anchored seats (SABS spec) have three-point safety belts as an additional precaution. On the road the Scania Mining Bus exudes a comfortable ride with the benefit of built- in anti-roll stabilizers complimenting the flexible chassis dynamics and full parabolic suspension. The ABS braking system has been supplemented with a retarder, adjust- ed to be available at operating speeds as low as 10 kph, adding to the safety features of the bus. A communication system has been included in the design to enable the driver to com- municate with the passengers at all times and to also monitor the performance of the vehicle under all conditions. Chris Swanepoel, Manager, Mining Division at Scania, who has been involved with the development of the bus since the outset and is well proud of the final product said, “With the introduction of the Mining Bus, Scania has increased its ability to provide extensive solutions to mining operations with strong performance packages that re- duce operational risks and contribute to a low production cost.” b

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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS FEBRUARY 2015