Apex were approached by a leading manufacturer of mining equipment in Russia to upgrade and develop their new machinery to withstand fierce conditions.

The client manufactures and supplies to customers in over 50 types of mining and mineral-processing equipment, driving machines, loaders, drill loaders and shearers, heading-and-winning machines, self-propelled drilling rigs, mineral-processing equipment and general machinery products.

In the underground mines of Russia, Belorussia and Ukraine, the client’s machines extract 90% of potash ore and the most part of rock salt produced there. Potash (potassium chloride) is one of three essential nutrients plants require for healthy growth, making it a much sought after fertiliser in food production all over the world. Whilst developing a new machine to be used in the extraction of Potash, the client sought the expertise of Apex. With over 30 years experience in designing and manufacturing bespoke cylinders, pistons and parts for an extensive range of hydraulic machinery, Apex were the obvious choice.

After a detailed consultation with the client Apex designed and manufactured the bespoke cylinders according to exact requirements (this included 4x conveyer raise cylinders, 4x Gathering head raise cylinders, 4x Stab jack cylinders and 4x Swing cylinders)

Further to the success of this international project was providing a solution to the damage caused by the very corrosive environment in which Potash mining is often conducted. The combination of a low pH environment, temperature changes, humidity, exposure to moisture, caustics and acids can cause significant damage to machinery. This is before taking into consideration the damage resulted from heavy usage, impact, wear and galling.

With over 30 years experience in designing and manufacturing bespoke cylinders, pistons and parts for an extensive range of hydraulic machinery, Apex were the obvious choice.

After years of rigorous research, development and field testing Apex released their own range of superior cylinder coating COREX. COREX is an extremely hard, dense, cohesive rod coating with extremely high bond strength. It outperforms hard chrome coatings (HCP) on impact, corrosion, wear, time efficiency as well as having ecological advantages.

COREX’s extreme hardness, up to 1400Hv, provides excellent bond strength of <10,000psi compared to HCP 750-850HV, <5000psi. >HCP porosity is 5-10% with additional micro-cracks in contrast COREX porosity is 1% with NO micro-cracks

After manufacture the cylinders were upgraded with their COREX coating before being transferred to the testing department where rigorous trials proved the cylinders ready for their speedy delivery to their new underground home in the Potash mines of Russia.

Apex’s wealth of experience, expertise and innovative industry solutions all contributed to the success of this unique international project.

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The following products were utilised as part of this project. For more detailed information on these products, click on an image below…

The following services were utilised as part of this project. For more detailed information on these services, click on an image below…