<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/miningproductsmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Fairbanks1.jpg\")
Winters in Healy, Alaska, aren\u2019t for the fainthearted. Located just outside Denali National Park and Preserve, the daylight is short and the cold lingers into spring. Sometimes, temperatures plummet to as low as -60\u00b0F. Amidst these harsh temperatures, the work must go on at Usibelli Coal Mine.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe work in extreme conditions,\u201d said Alex Legrismith, Usibelli mining engineer. \u201cSteel can shatter in these low temperatures.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not only does the work continue through the winter, but for Usibelli, it\u2019s peak season.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe middle of the winter is our largest production time,\u201d Legrismith said. \u201cFairbanks is just up the road, and it\u2019s the coldest city in the United States. Our coal keeps Fairbanks warm.\u201d<\/p>\n
Usibelli is a family-owned mine started in 1943 by Emil Usibelli. Not only does the mine singlehandedly heat Fairbanks, but its production has increased steadily through the years. Today, the mine outputs 1.2-2 million tons of coal per year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all about production,\u201d Legrismith said. \u201cAnd we\u2019ve worked to make our operation as efficient as possible to output more high-quality coal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Productivity through Reliability<\/h4>\n
Usibelli utilizes one powerful Hitachi excavator \u2013 an EX1900-6 \u2013 to output about 50% of the mine\u2019s production. The machine was purchased in 2012 and has been a workhorse ever since.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just so reliable,\u201d said Robert Bohanon, Usibelli operator. \u201cI\u2019ve run plenty of other machines. The Hitachi is smoother and has more power.\u201d<\/p>\n
Legrismith echoed the machine\u2019s reliability.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/miningproductsmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Fairbanks2.jpg\")
\u201cOur EX1900 excavator is one of the most reliable pieces of equipment we have on the mine,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s had almost no mechanical issues. It\u2019s always running. Its motto should really be, \u2018Productivity through reliability.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
With a customized 19.5 cu.-yd. bucket, it not only boasts big productivity, but also a comfortable working environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith our operators spending so much time in the cab, it\u2019s important that the cab is comfortable,\u201d Legrismith said. \u201cWith the EX1900, the ergonomics and visibility from the cab are much better than other pieces of equipment.\u201d<\/p>\n
The comfort of this machine\u2019s cab has become a bit legendary on the site.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the story goes, our primary coal loading operator, who has been here for over 30 years now, says the EX1900 is the only machine that doesn\u2019t leave him with a stiff neck at the end of the day,\u201d Legrismith said. \u201cI think the visibility is so much better than other machines, and it runs smoother, which leaves our operators feeling way better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thinking of Tomorrow, Today<\/h4>\n
Working in conjunction with the EX1900-6, drone surveying has recently revolutionized Usibelli\u2019s mining process, streamlining it for efficiency and quality. Legrismith spearheaded the efforts to bring drone surveying to the mine and has experienced positive results since.<\/p>\n
\u201cDrone surveying is safer and more efficient,\u201d Legrismith said. \u201cBefore, we used GPS and had to walk around, getting to the crests by foot. Now, we just set out some control points and fly the drone. The result is a perfect survey of the area in very little time.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the biggest advantages to drone surveying is to pinpoint where the \u201cgood coal\u201d is located so operators can dig in more precisely. This is especially important in Usibelli\u2019s challenging environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re mining coal that has a parting or \u2018seam\u2019 about halfway through it,\u201d Legrismith said. \u201cThe drone survey allows us to have great elevation control and hone-in on where this parting is, and where it will be projected in the future. All of this quality variation occurs within 30 feet. We\u2019ve got our Hitachi excavator in these pits, and it\u2019s been doing great because we\u2019ve been able to selectively mine the coal.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/miningproductsmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Fairbanks3.jpg\")
While this drone surveying push is a great advancement, Legrismith is always looking ahead, eager to utilize technology and keep the mine moving forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cNext, I would love to see machine control, or have an autonomous truck,\u201d Legrismith said.<\/p>\n
So far, Legrismith has only noticed one downside. \u201cI used to get some exercise surveying and getting outside,\u201d Legrismith smiled. \u201cBut then I got the drone and need to get to the gym.\u201d<\/p>\n
Excavators for the Last Frontier<\/h4>\n
As Legrismith anticipates the future of mining, there\u2019s one piece of equipment \u201cWith the performance we\u2019ve seen from the Hitachi, we trust the brand,\u201d Legrismith said. \u201cThe next piece of equipment I would love to see here at Usibelli Coal Mine is another Hitachi shovel. I think for the mining we have coming up in the next five to ten years, it would be perfect for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Usibelli decides to purchase equipment, they turn to their dealer, Construction Machinery Industrial (CMI).<\/p>\n
\u201cOur relationship with CMI has been wonderful,\u201d Legrismith said. \u201cThey\u2019ve done nothing but stick by us.<\/p>\n
hey are always extremely fast in getting us what we need to keep us running, and they know the community and mining industry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Working with a company that values the community connection is no surprise, as Usibelli has gained brand recognition locally by giving back through sponsoring scholarships and grants to more than 80 organizations annually.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrowing up in Alaska, you learn to love it and its community,\u201d Legrismith said. \u201cIt\u2019s the last frontier, and it takes a special type of person to love the lifestyle.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luckily for Legrismith, he\u2019s found the right fit at a company with more than 115 employees who live for the community and outdoor atmosphere like him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been family-owned and run for going on 76 years now,\u201d he said. \u201cWorking here is like working for a giant family.\u201d<\/p>\n
This article first appeared in Hitachi\u2019s BREAKOUT magazine, Spring 2020 issue. Usibelli Coal Mine is serviced by Construction Machinery Industrial LLC, Fairbanks, Alaska. Check out the video at HitachiConstruction.com\/usibelli<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Usibelli Utilizes One Powerful Hitachi Excavator To Output About 50% Of The Coal Mine\u2019s Production. By Caroline Schweitzer<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":117,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[122,125,123,121,124,77],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","tag-alaska","tag-construction-machinery-industrial","tag-denali-national-park","tag-fairbanks","tag-hitachi","tag-usibelli-coal-mine"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t