About Us

What is Highwall Mining?

The GHWM300M produces high volumes of coal at very low costs. More importantly, it is safer than traditional underground mining, as it sends no one underground, and it works economically with a small crew and very little support equipment. It’s versatile in its mobility and application, and it produces large quantities of coal at inherent ash levels. When you need to improve the recovery of your coal reserves, consider the Highwall Miner – consider the GHWM300M.

The Gainwell Highwall Mining system offers an innovative and efficient method for extracting coal from exposed seams in a multitude of applications.

The GHWM300M works on the pit floor or bench directly in front of the exposed seam. Up to 300m (1,000 ft) long parallel rectangular “drives” are cut into the coal seam by means of the cutter head module and push beams (unmanned coal-conveying elements).

These push beams transport the cut coal internally via two counter rotating spiral conveyors (augers) back to the entry of the drive and then onto a stockpile.

The whole mining cycle is completed by a 3-4 man crew with no personnel ever going underground.

Whether you’re operating a trench, open cast or contour mine, the Gainwell highwall mining system can extract coal affordably and safely.

• Open cast: Highwall mining is used to mine coal from underneath the final highwall, when the strip limit is reached due to economic reasons or surface conditions.
• Contour mining: In a mountainous area, the Gainwell highwall mining system can follow a coal seam along the side of the hill.
• Trench mining: The unit mines coal from both sides of a purpose-prepared trench; this mining method is used when an open pit is not an option.