Bucyrus says it has improved nonproductive longwall move time with the introduction of a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) to its Vers-A-Trac® 650 model. Approximately 50 of these successful roof support carriers have been shipped since the product’s introduction in 2004. The Vers-A-Trac 650AC, featuring the Bucyrus HiPAC10 control system, represents the latest generation of heavy roof support carriers. The Bucyrus HiPAC10 control system is an innovative variable frequency inverter drive which allows costly DC motors to be replaced by higher power, more efficient AC motors. Traction power is increased by 100% and hydraulic power by nearly 300%. These increases, in turn, nearly double loaded traction speed and gradeability, and improve hydraulic performance. (more…)