200 powered roof shields designed for American mines, each weighing 25 tons – this is one of the largest projects carried out in Felgenhauer’s halls. However, it’s not the numbers but the quality of the products that mark the true success here. A success that was built on a partnership created from scratch. Let’s take a look behind the scenes.
“Collaboration is priceless. We come from different continents and time zones, yet we share the same goal, speak the same language, and work as one team,” says Mike Carruthers, product quality specialist at PSS, when describing the work with Felgenhauer.
One Phone Call Was Enough
A strong business partnership allows for greater success. The latest collaboration between Felgenhauer Steelworks and PS Systems is a perfect example of this.
In the second half of this year, shipments of 200 powered roof shields began, which will significantly enhance both productivity and safety in American mines.
This type of cooperation becomes a crucial part of the company’s history and is long remembered. But it all started rather modestly. “It was just a regular phone call from a British agent asking us to collaborate with an American company. We didn’t know it would be such a big success, but after our first contact with PS Systems, everything became clear,” recalls Daniel Mewes, Managing Director of FSW, in a video summarizing the project.
Felgenhauer Steelworks was fully prepared to take on the task. The company has been in the market for over half a century and has been involved with the mining industry since its inception. Experience, knowledge, and skilled welders—everything was in place. What was equally important was that the future partner operated by the same values. This allowed the creation of unique products that stand out not only for their durability and resistance but also for their versatility.
Shields That Save Lives
The design of the powered roof shields was optimized and adapted to all modern mining wall systems, with a support capacity of up to 1355 kg. The most time and attention during production was devoted to quality. This is crucial because the primary purpose of the shields is to protect human life.
“Safety and reliability are the most important features of mining shields. People who work hard underground don’t want to worry about what might go wrong with the equipment,” emphasizes Tom Singleton, project engineer at PSS, adding, “Felgenhauer is executing this project with the utmost precision, providing miners with a sense of security.”
A key factor was ensuring that the parameters remained consistent throughout the entire lifespan of the shields. This was achieved through high-quality steel and the use of the latest anti-corrosion technologies. Rigorous inspections, in turn, ensured that every weld was done with surgical precision.
The powered roof shields developed by Felgenhauer Steelworks and PS Systems will soon be showcased in Las Vegas at MINExpo, the world’s largest mining industry trade show. They stand a chance of being recognized by the industry, which could lead to more projects in the future. “I believe our partnership with Felgenhauer will last much longer than it has so far, and we’re excited to see what’s next,” says Tom Singleton. “We’re ambitious about producing even more specialized mining equipment,” adds Konstantin Felgenhauer, project manager at Felgenhauer.
