Why the ZWY-60 Mucking Loader Is the Right Fit for Small Mine Tunnels?

If your mine headings are only about 2 to 3 m wide, a compact electric mucking loader will usually get more work done than a larger machine, simply because it can reach the face and move freely once it is there. The HNYT ZWY-60 mucking loader is built for these conditions. Its body is 1.67 m wide and 1.77 m high, yet the bucket digs across a 3 m width. A 15 kW electric motor (380/660 V) produces no exhaust underground, and the rated loading capacity is 60 t/h. Below we explain what each of these figures means in a real tunnel, and when another model is the better choice.

The machine in the photos has just come off our assembly line and is on its way to a customer’s site.

ZWY-60/15T Specifications

These figures are taken from the machine’s nameplate.

The ZWY-60 is offered in more than one configuration. For other power and conveyor options, see the ZWY-60 wheel mucking loader product page or the full range of palas cargadoras.

Why a 1.67 m Body Width Matters

Many metal mines, phosphate mines and older drifts have headings only 2 to 2.5 m wide. A standard loader cannot get in, and a large mucking loader gets stuck at the first tight spot. With a narrow body and a small turning radius, the ZWY-60/15T can move and turn under the face even in these headings.

The table shows how much side clearance the machine leaves in straight tunnels of different widths. Pipes, cables, ventilation ducts and drainage ditches all reduce the usable width, so measure the narrowest clear point of your tunnel, not its nominal size.

Calculated from the 1.67 m body width for straight tunnel sections. Use it as a first check, not as a guarantee for your site.

Height works the same way. Some drifts have low roofs where taller equipment hits the supports or the services overhead. At 1.77 m, the ZWY-60/15T passes under them easily in tunnels more than 2 m high. The boom still needs room to raise the bucket, so include the clear height at the face when you send us your tunnel data.

Electric Drive: No Exhaust at the Face

The 15 kW motor runs on 380 V or 660 V, the standard supply voltages in most mines. An underground heading is an enclosed space where diesel exhaust has nowhere to go. It makes the work harder for the crew and is a safety risk. An electric mucking loader gives off no exhaust and runs more quietly, so conditions at the face are much better. For coal mines, ask for the version with explosion-proof electrical components. If your site uses a different supply voltage, tell us when you enquire.

What 60 t/h Means in a Shift

By hand, a crew of three taking turns can typically move only a few dozen cubic metres of rock in a day. The ZWY-60/15T is rated at 60 tonnes per hour, which works out to about 480 tonnes over an eight-hour shift. Real output will be lower, because the machine waits for mine cars or trucks, moves between faces and deals with oversize rock. Even so, the gap compared with hand mucking is very large, and fewer workers are exposed at a freshly blasted face.

Is a Small Mucking Loader Strong Enough?

This is one of the questions we hear most often. With mucking loaders, bigger is not automatically better; the right size is the one that fits the tunnel. A large machine in a narrow heading spends its time manoeuvring instead of loading. The ZWY-60 uses a field-proven hydraulic system and conveyor frame, and there are no shortcuts on the parts that take the hardest wear.

The unit in the photo below was lifted out of our workshop by overhead crane and loaded straight onto a flatbed truck. At the customer’s site it is unloaded and can be driven into the mine.

Where the ZWY-60/15T Fits, and When to Choose Another Model

The ZWY-60/15T wheel mucking loader is a good match for:

• Metal mine, phosphate mine and coal mine headings about 2 to 3 m wide
• Small tunnels and water diversion tunnels more than 2 m high
• Old mine upgrades where narrow drifts keep larger equipment out
• Projects that need faster mucking but are limited by tunnel size

If your conditions are different, one of these options may suit you better:

For a step-by-step method, read our guide on how to choose an underground mucking loader.

PREGUNTAS FRECUENTES

What tunnel size does the ZWY-60/15T need?

It is designed for headings about 2 to 3 m wide and more than 2 m high. Send us the clear width and height at the narrowest point, and our engineers will confirm the fit.

Can the ZWY-60 be used in coal mines?

Yes. Ask for the version with explosion-proof electrical components and tell us the standard your mine must meet.

What power supply does it need?

The 15 kW motor runs on 380 V or 660 V. If your site uses another voltage, let us know when you enquire.

What gradient can it climb?

Up to 6°. For steeper headings or soft, wet floors, a crawler model is the better choice. See our comparison of wheeled and crawler mucking loaders.

How many tonnes can it load in one shift?

The rated capacity is 60 t/h, or about 480 tonnes over eight hours. Actual output depends on how quickly mine cars or trucks are exchanged, rock size and travel between faces.

Related Products and Information

• ZWY-60 wheel mucking loader: product page and configurations
• Cargadoras de ruedas: all models
• ZWY60 electric crawler mucking loader: for steeper or softer ground
• Underground mucking loader: how to choose the right machine
• Wheeled vs. crawler mucking loaders
• ZWY80 wheel mucking loaders for overseas shipment

Send Us Your Tunnel Size

If your headings are narrow and mucking is holding up the cycle, send us the clear width and height of the tunnel, the gradient, the rock type, your supply voltage and the output you need per shift. Our engineers will check whether the ZWY-60/15T fits and recommend a configuration with a quotation.

Email: export@ytequipment.net, WhatsApp: +86 17369222201, or use our contact form.