multifunctional powerhouse - Mercedes Benz

16 OPEN-CAST MINING • UNIMOG 2 • 2010
The wide-ranging body and equipment mounting options exactly meet the needs
of RWE Power: Here a Unimog configured as a tanker is supplying essential fuel.
“The Unimog is vital”
Jörg Rübsteck, from the RWE Power Vehicle Service staff, talking about vehicle outfitting options
developed specially for open-cast mining and how the Unimog handles extreme situations.
Jörg Rübsteck is thoroughly impressed by the Unimog.
Unimog Magazine: Mr. Rübsteck, your
company has been relying on the Unimog
for a long time …
Jörg Rübsteck: Yes, indeed. The Unimog has
been working at the Hambach mine since its
very beginnings. We even still have a really
early Unimog still in operation: a U 900, built
in 1978. It is the oldest in our field. We are
still using it to transport material.
Unimog Magazine: What makes the Unimog
so attractive for open-cast mining specifi -
cally?
Jörg Rübsteck: We were convinced above all
by its versatility. The Unimog is tops
wher ever you need to get a vehicle across the
toughest of terrain – whether with a diesel
tanker or a crane mounted on it. A particular
challenge is that the ground conditions
on-site are continually changing. Yet the
Unimog never lets us down.
Unimog Magazine: How do the vehicles cope
with the extreme conditions?
Jörg Rübsteck: Very well. Our Unimog are
fitted with special features which additionally
protect them against dust and mud. We devel-
selection criterion for RWE. Because only vehicles capable of minimising
vibration will protect and preserve the health of their drivers.
As part of its strong commitment to occupational health and safety,
RWE Power conducts vibration measurements on all vehicles. These
are applied to determine how long a driver can operate a vehicle without
interruption before it poses a health risk. “The operating time of the
Unimog is six hours per shift. That is a very good length of time given
the conditions under which we operate,” Rübsteck states. Thanks to its
helical-spring deformable chassis, rigid cab mounting and air-sprung
comfort cab seat, the Unimog provides a workplace which not only falls
well within stipulated vibration limits but also retains a very high
degree of comfort and quiet even in extreme conditions.
Just how extraordinary the Unimog’s operations at the Hambach
mine are is also illustrated by the fact that Mercedes-Benz conducts
vehicle testing at the site. “It provides us with an ideal test setting,
because the brown coal, water and mud create really extreme conditions,”
explains Unimog product manager Jan Debler. Those extreme
conditions can be used to simulate scenarios which would otherwise
take years to recreate. They enable Mercedes-Benz to test the Unimog
in a kind of time-lapse environment. “We place great value in being
oped the brake encapsulation installed in all
our vehicles together with Mercedes-Benz
for example. It isolates the brakes behind a
steel covering, so protecting them against
dirtying. The brakes are much more durable
as a result. The heavy-duty tractor tread on
the tyres prevents dirt from getting trapped
in them and additionally provides optimum
traction on rugged terrain.
Unimog Magazine: How long do the Unimog
run for?
Jörg Rübsteck: It depends on what job they
are doing. On average, we run Unimog for
between 7 and 13 years. During that time, they
cover between 180,000 and 300,000 kilo -
metres. That is a lot – especially given the
extreme conditions on-site. 200,000 kilo -
metres at an open-cast mine is almost comparable
to twice or even three times the
mileage on the road. r