Bucyrus’ bosses saw their products in use by OKD

KARVINÁ – It was the first time ever that top-slot bosses of Bucyrus had a chance of seeing their products in action at OKD’s coalfields. On Friday, January 23^rd, on the occasion of the first phase of the POP 2010 project, they went down the Lazy Shaft of the Karviná Mine. Where else but to Face #139704 -1, which is equipped with 105 DBT 2800/6000 sections, the tallest ones in the world.

“In some places, it looks like America here,” joked OKD’s CEO Klaus-Dieter Beck, who accompanied the guests to Seam #39, Block 7, between Levels VIII and IX, together with OKD’s Operations Manager  Leo Bayer, Shaft Manager Pavel Hadrava, Lazy Shaft’s Chief Supervisor Libor Stebel and translator Eva Vévodová.

“Working conditions in the United States are much easier,” was a shared opinion voiced by the four top managers of the supplier of mining technologies, namely Tim Sullivan (No. 1 at Bucyrus International), Bill Tate (Vice President for Trade and Marketing), Dieter Gessner (responsible for Europe, Russia and India) and Keith O´Neil (head of the US Division and the point of contact of the POP 2010 programme).

At the face supervised by Section Supervisor Petr Weiss and “served” by the gang led by Foreman Lumír Mosler, the gentlemen wanted to see the supports in practice and hear what the miners thought of them. The supports’ loading capacity, electrohydraulic actuation and automatic control modes were praised, while pillar props and their design received some less flattering comments, as they allegedly cannot put up with shocks too well.    

However, the visit of the first working face equipped under the POP 2010 programme went well. The representatives of Bucyrus were satisfied when leaving for “their” recently purchased plant in Ostrava, ex-Bastro. “I believe in long-term contacts with OKD. I am looking forward to the next phase of the POP 2010 programme  and future cooperation,” concluded Tim Sullivan.

(uzi)