new Mini MineWolf (MW240)

Contents:
Expanding footprint –
MineWolf to work in
Western Sahara 1
Training and Support
in East Africa 2
Responding to
customers‘ needs – the
German Army project 3
Customer interview –
MKA DemING d.o.o 4
Technology update –
New Mini MineWolf
(MW240) version 1.2 5
New product –
the Gripperbucket 5
New Technical Director
at MineWolf Systems 6
5th MineWolf Operations
Workshop 6
MineWolf Systems
exhibits in London 7
02/11
News
Issue 2 – 2011
Expanding footprint –
MineWolf to work in Western Sahara
Map of Western Sahara Source: MINURSO
MineWolf Systems is expanding its global
footprint once again. Mechem, the South
African demining company has purchased a
Medium MineWolf (MW330) for humanitarian
mine clearance operations in Western Sahara.
Mechem have already been using a Medium
MineWolf for humanitarian mine clearance in
the Democratic Republic of Congo DRC and
are pleased with the results.
Western Sahara is on the north-west coast of
Africa bordered by Morocco, Mauritania and
Algeria. Administered by Spain until 1976,
the ensuing conflict between Morocco and
POLISARIO following Spain’s withdrawal,
left Western Sahara’s territory contaminated
with landmines and Explosive Remnants of
War (ERW). A 2008 UN Survey concluded
that Western Sahara is one of the most heavily
mined territories in the world. A settlement
between Morocco and POLISARIO, led to
a UN Mission being established in 1991 for
a transitional period for the preparation of a
referendum in which the people of Western
Sahara would choose between independence
and integration with Morocco.
Since the UN Mission (MINURSO) was
established, both parties have banned mine
laying and committed themselves to reducing
the danger represented by residual
mines and unexploded ordnance. Clearance
operations in Western Sahara are undertaken
respectively by the Royal Moroccan Army
on the west side of the buffer strip (known
as the berm) and by UN Mine Action Service
through implementing partners on the east
side of the berm.
The Medium MineWolf will be deployed on
the eastern side of the berm, with operations
coordinated by the MINURSO Mine Action
Coordination Centre. It will be equipped with
both flail and tiller working tools, and a spare
parts package. Training for Mechem operators
will be conducted by MineWolf Systems
in Germany.
Medium MineWolf (MW330)
p 1

Students from MTI maintain the
MW370 tiller during refresher
training in Yei
Inside one of the stores at the MWS
Yei warehouse
Once a machine is sold to a client, work
starts for MineWolf Systems’ East African
team. Whether or not a service contract is
part of the machine sale, the East Africa
team pride themselves on their after sales
service and support. Currently there are
14 MineWolf machines in the East African
region, requiring a large amount of logistical,
operational and mechanical support. There
is also a substantial training requirement to
ensure trained and competent operators and
mechanics are always available to operate
the machines in the various countries.
Training in 2011
2011 has seen an increase in the requirement
for training in the region. The training has
ranged from one-on-one, on-the-job training
to fully fledged operator and maintenance
courses run for or various organisations,
operators and mechanics. In The Republic
of South Sudan, September and October
02/11
News
Training and Support in East Africa
View of the MWS workshop in Yei, South Sudan
Students pose for a photo at the completion of the MW240 Operator/maintenance course
is a particularly busy period as organisations
with MineWolf assets re quire training
for newly recruited operators and mechanics
that have been brought in to cover attrition
from the previous season. There is also a UN
accredi tation requirement for trained operators
to attend refresher training prior to the
commencement of operations following the
July to September stand-down period. During
2011 the East African team has trained
30 individuals from five different organisations
over six different training courses.
Support in 2011
Some clients have MineWolf Systems Technical
Ad visors attached to them directly as
part of a service support contract, however
logistical and mechanical support is also
provided for other clients with MineWolf
products without such a contract.
The MineWolf approach is that a machine
which is not available for operations because
of a mechanical problem is expen sive for the
client and does not look good for the product.
To prevent this, the MineWolf teams will
do all they can in the way of support to assist
the client to get the machine opera tional in
the shortest amount of time. In the past this
has varied from simply supplying a washer,
through to providing a complete prime mover.
In East Africa there is now a comprehensive
workshop located in Yei, South Sudan
where the MineWolf Systems support team
is based. This allows an En gineer to be deployed
in a troubleshooting role anywhere
throughout the region at very short or no notice.
It also allows parts to be sent out quickly
where required and pro vides a location for
major repairs. Although MineWolf machines
are extremely reliable, at the end of the day a
machine is a machine and at times will break
down. The secret to the MineWolf success
in East Africa is that the downtime from mechanical
failures has been kept to the absolute
minimum.
p 2

Photo of German Army MW240
MineWolf Systems prides itself on being a
flexible, dynamic company who listens to its
customers and responds to their requests.
The recent contract with the German Army
is an excellent example of how responsive
the company has been. MineWolf Systems’
German Army project involves the provision
of machines and attachments with full training
support to the German Army. The Army
has procured the Mini MineWolf (MW240) as
part of “German Route Clearance Package”
along with a Fuchs command vehicle and remote
controlled detection vehicle. The three
vehicles will be deployed in convoy together
for the clearance of routes from improvised
explosive devices (IEDs) in Afghanistan.
In total, the Germans have bought seven
Mini MineWolf platforms, four of which are
equipped with the whole range of interchangeable
attachments, including the tiller,
flail, dozer shield, sifter bucket, forklift, bucket,
and the robotic arm with the new gripperbucket
tool. The remaining three machines
are supplied just with the robotic arm and
gripperbucket. As with any forward thinking
customer, they have also procured comprehensive
spare parts packages to enable
the repairs for any technical problems which
may arise.
The flails, tillers, dozer shields etc. allow for
general engineering tasks and any clearance
as required, whereas the robotic arm and
02/11
News
Responding to customers’ needs –
The German Army Project
One of the MW240s for the German Army en route for Afghanistan
gripperbucket are specifically for the removal
of IEDs and ordnance en route.
Since the project inception in January 2011,
implementation conferences between Mine-
Wolf Systems and the German Army have
been held every four weeks. So far, the company
has responded to approximately 300
requests for changes to the design and production
of the machines to ensure they are
fully suitable and compatible with the German
Army’s requirements.
The Germans have also applied a series
of rigorous technical, tactical and logistical
tests to the machines to confirm their utility
once deployed in Afghanistan. The technical
testing, for example included electromagnetic
compatibility (EMC) testing, tactical
testing involved physical manoeuvres to see
how the machines would be deployed and
logistically, they tested how the spare parts
replenishment system will function.
So far, MineWolf Systems has made 50 shipments
of equipment and run seven training
courses ranging from 1 – 3 weeks for German
Army personnel on how to operate, service
and maintain and manage the machines.
In addition, special service, operator and logistics
manuals have been produced to fully
complement the existing German Army systems
and documentation.
p 3

02/11
News
CuSToMER InTERvIEW – MKA DEMInG D.o.o.
with Mr. Stjepan Krsnik, Operations Manager.
MKA DemING doo is one
of MineWolf System‘s oldest
customers in Croatia.
We have interviewed their
Operations Manager who
has spent many years
working with their Mine-
Wolf machine.
MKA‘s MineWolf with tiller
1. How many machines do you have?
a. The company MKA * DEMING d.o.o.
has one large MineWolf (MW370).
2. Why do you use MineWolf?
a. To chop up the soil to a depth of
20 – 30 cm.
b. Removal of vegetation to 610 cm.
c. Finding and destroying mines.
3. How long have you been using the
MineWolf machine?
a. We purchased the MineWolf in 2005.
4. On which types of terrain have you
used the machine?
a. Land that has not been used for 15 – 20
years.
b. Neglected gardens and orchards.
c. Edges of forests.
d. Planted forests in the Baranja region of
Eastern Croatia.
e. Dykes along rivers.
5. How do you deploy the machine on
projects?
a. The machine is used as a method according
to Croatian regulations, where
the machine first technically surveys the
land to a depth of 20 cm and removes
vegetation.
MineWolf working in dense vegetation
b. After that it is easier for manual deminers
to survey the entire surface and
remove mechanically destroyed mines,
or browse through paths of 15 x 15m
during the survey.
6. Where have you deployed the machine
and what is the land used for
afterwards?
a. The machine has been transported
from site to site in the continental part
of Croatia.
b. It removes unnecessary vegetation and
tillers the soil to a depth of 20 – 30 cm
disabling mines.
c. After such machine performance
(alignment harrows, broken vegetation
removal) the soil is ready for all types of
agricultural work.
d. In some cases, hard-working people
did sowing and planting of fields
straight after the machine had passed
through it. (Li ki Osik, Tordinci Banski
Kova evac).
7. Why do you like MineWolf Systems?
“We think that the current cooperation
between our company and MineWolf
Systems has been and remains correct.
MineWolf Systems adheres to the agreed
deadlines, rapid intervention and servicing
of the machine and prone to finding solutions
to the satisfaction of both parties.”
p 4

MW240 version 1.2 with gripperbucket
attachment
Gripperbucket closed Gripperbucket open
Technology update - new Mini
MineWolf (MW240) version 1.2
During the last few months MineWolf
Systems has focused on improving the Mini
MineWolf (MW240) solution according to
the needs of our military customers. This
has included documentation and quality
assurance according to military standards
and many tailor-made improvements to the
machines. Besides the big points there are
many details to make life easier for the user.
02/11
News
This includes – among others – the following:
– A new multi-tool (“gripperbucket”) and an
easy-to-change drive shaft for the manipulator
plus a lot of small improvements on
its hydraulic system
– Improved towing and self-recovery features
– Increased remote control range and an
easy-to-change battery compartment
– Modifications to the hydraulic system for
extreme / unfavourable environmental
conditions
– Many additional occupational health and
safety features
– Development of an up-armouring kit for
the machine
– And much more detailed work: soldierproof
connectors and adapters, labelling
etc.
A lot of the features have influenced the
standard Mini MineWolf product, whereas
others are available as an extra. For full
details of the new Mini MineWolf (MW240)
v1.2 technical specifications contact Mine-
Wolf Systems at info@minewolf.com
new Product – The Gripperbucket
MineWolf Systems’ latest product is the
new gripperbucket tool for mounting on
the remote-controlled robotic arm attachment.
This new tool, specifically designed
for the clearance of unexploded ordnance
and IEDs, combines the functions of
the gripper and the bucket in one tool.
Originally designed at the request of the
German Army, it is now a standard tool in the
range of multi-purpose attachments offered
by MineWolf Systems.
p 5

Karl-Josef Roepke
Participants at the practical
demonstration day at the 2011
MineWolf Operations Workshop
MineWolf Systems has recently employed
Karl-Josef Roepke, an experienced senior
manager with a PhD in mechanical engineering,
as MineWolf Systems Technical Director.
In this newly created post, he will focus on
continually improving the production process,
responding to customer needs and
developing new solutions for the clearance
of landmines and other explosive devices.
He will also concentrate on quality management
and the further development of sustainable
guidelines and procedures.
02/11
News
new Technical Director to head up
MineWolf Systems Factory
The management of the MineWolf Systems’
factory in Germany was handed over to him
in September in order to further focus the
Stockach site on technical issues. Dr. Roepke
will continue to develop and improve the
factory processes to ensure the MineWolf
factory is not only a reliable manufacturer but
also a helpful service provider to the Sales
and Global operation departments, and ultimately
for our customers worldwide.
5 th MineWolf operations Workshop
in Munich
In September MineWolf Systems hosted
their fifth annual mechanical operations
workshop. The theme of this year’s workshop
was managing clearance operations
in a challenging environment. The aim was
to share experiences and practice from a
variety of operations worldwide to advance
best practice in the management and use of
machines for the clearance of landmines and
other explosive devices.
Day one was a full day of presentations
and syndicate discussions on the workshop
theme. As well as presentations from
MineWolf Systems, there were guest speak-
ers from various organisations using Mine-
Wolf machines in the field. Presenters gave
overviews on how machines are managed
in countries as diverse as Afghanistan, the
Democratic Republic of Congo, Jordan, Somalia
and Sudan. There were also presentations
and lively discussions held on insurance,
liability, training, testing and accreditation and
other issues relating to the management of
mechanical operations.
As usual, the second day was for practical
demonstrations, held at the German Army
Engineering School in Ingolstadt. MineWolf
Systems demonstrated the new Mini Mine-
Wolf (MW240) version 1.2 complete with the
robotic arm and gripperbucket as well as the
MineWolf (MW370) with the tiller attachment.
Workshop participants had the opportunity
to drive the MineWolf and to operate the
remote controlled Mini MineWolf, as well
as manipulate the remote control arm and
gripperbucket.
The workshop came to a successful conclusion
with a traditional German celebration at
the Munich Oktoberfest.
p 6

Global Headquarters,
International Sales &
Operations Office
MineWolf Systems AG
Seedammstrasse 3
8808 Pfäffikon SZ
Switzerland
Phone +41 (0) 555 111 500
Fax +41 (0) 555 111 599
Manufacturing,
Training & Logistics Office
MineWolf Systems AG
Winterspürer Strasse 17–19
78333 Stockach
Germany
Phone +49 (0) 7771 914 36 10
Fax +49 (0) 7771 914 36 22
info@minewolf.com
www.minewolf.com
02/11
News
MineWolf Systems exhibits in London
MineWolf Systems stand at DSEi
MineWolf Systems exhibited this year at
DSEi, one of the world’s largest defence exhibition
in London. The biennial exhibition
brings together global military equipment
suppliers with defence organisations and
armed forces from all over the world. With
force-protection against improvised explosive
devices in Afghanistan at the forefront
of many of those attending, there was much
attention on counter-IED measures being exhibited.
The MineWolf Systems stand featured a
Mini MineWolf (MW240) complete with robotic
arm and gripperbucket attachment
to promote their latest IED clearance capability,
as procured by several NATO forces to
protect their troops in Afghanistan.
p 7