Dowty and Longwall Mining

Dowty Mining Equipment manufactured and supplied thousands of power roof supports and other mining equipment to the Longwall Mining process worldwide

Longwall mining is a form of underground coal mining where a long wall of coal is mined in a single slice. The longwall panel is typically 3 – 4 km long and 250 – 400 m wide

It is a highly productive underground coal mining technique.

Longwall mining machines consist of multiple coal shearers mounted on a series of self-advancing hydraulic ceiling supports.

The entire process is mechanized.

 

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Pit Prop Shields

Although not a Dowty information publication, this short video by CAT demonstrates the Longwall Mining Process

Pit Prop Shields
Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub
Diagram of Longwall Mining Technique
Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub
Typical layout of machinery
Original photo in the Dowty archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub
Dowty Australia - Longwall Roof Support

Comments about this page

  • Thank you for your message Joseph, unfortunately we do not have any Dowty film footage of the Longwall Mining Process otherwise we would have posted it… we also try to encourage ex Dowty employees and visitors to our site to leave comments, photos and stories… there is also a Facebook Group where content is shared (Dowty Group of Companies)…

    By John Redfern (04/11/2019)
  • Amazed that you use an FMC (USA) video vs Dowty . Dowty made millions and were THE name in UK mining for years . I am underwhelmed by the lack of content in Dowty’s heritage page. Surely your retirees have historical content, records and stories to recount. I was an Undermanager at Silverwood colliery in 1983-85 and recall installing the new 270 ?? shields

    By Joseph Eamonn ONeill (02/11/2019)

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