Mining students have acquainted themselves underground with state-of-the-art technologies used in OKD mines

Mining and mining geology distance learning students of the Secondary Industrial School in Karviná went down the Darkov Mine shaft on 9 May. The excursion aimed at acquainting them with the state-of-the-art and most progressive mining technologies used in OKD. It was decided to take them to the high-capacity Longwall 340 206 equipped with such technologies under the POP 2010 Programme. Lubomír Kokošínský, Head of Mining Engineering Services SLZ 1, informed the students about work progress and used equipment.

“The detailed system to transport the individual sections of Bucyrus DBT 2600/5500 mechanical supports to the assembly chamber, and in particular, the post-assembly transport of the whole sections weighing 35 tons on a suspension track through a cross cut reflect the high professionalism of the equipping section workers,” Jan Kubica, a senior distance learning student summarized their impressions from the visit to the mine.

On the mining roadway, the students were impressed by the assembled part of the FITE PF 6/1042 gathering conveyor. They were also informed about the roof security method and seam floor ripping by means of the AM 50 roadheader.  Afterwards, they saw the mucking system from the longwall as far as the bunker, which system also includes the Belt 1200 belt conveyor.

“After going up the mine shaft, the students could also see the DHR 75 roadheader and sections of the Eickhoff  SL 500 shearer loader to be installed in Longwall 340 206. I would like to thank Ivo Kuznik, Chief Payroll Economist at the Darkov Mine and Roman Mynář, Head of Material Management, who prepared the excursion and accompanied the students underground,” added Jan Kubica.

Within the two-year post-secondary, mining and mining geology distance learning programme at the Secondary Industrial School in Karviná, the high school graduates from other fields of study extend their education to work as technicians and middle managers in the mining industry. Last year 59 students started to study the third course of this study programme, and 43 of them were employees of the mining company OKD.

Bohuslav Krzyžanek