South Africa-based manufacturer Cobra Projects is producing 14 ventilated operator cabins for a Tier 1 mining company in Australia – fitted with air filtration manufacturer Sy-Klone’s filtration systems supplied by local heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) specialist Booyco Engineering.

The cabins allow operators to remotely operate heavy mining equipment in their line of sight, providing a cool and dust-free environment to enhance their concentration and performance. Adhering to tight lead times, two of the units were shipped earlier this year and the remainder will be on site in Australia in this last quarter of 2024.

“One of the critical aspects of a sealed cab is allowing the entry and recirculation of fresh air, to provide a safe and conducive environment for the operator,” says Cobra Projects business development manager Neal Forman.

“We achieved this through our collaboration with Booyco Engineering, [which] supplied the Sy-Klone fresh air pre-cleaner as well as the recirculation component and monitor,” Forman explains.

Sy-Klone’s patented RESPA air quality products reduce respirable dust and debris, providing clean air to HVAC systems and ensuring that recycled air is safe and breathable. The system also includes specialised filters for the recirculated air inside the cab.

“In line with the ISO 23875 global standard for cab air quality, we also included Sy-Klone’s RESPA Advisor cab monitors from Booyco Engineering,” Forman says, adding that these monitors raise safety levels by ensuring the operator or supervisor is consistently kept informed on the pressure and quality of the air in the cab.

If there is a build-up of unsafe levels of CO2 in the cab, which can lead to operator fatigue and loss of alertness, the monitor can sound an alarm. Additionally, it is able to detect a loss of pressure, aiding the prevention of harmful respirable particulate entering the cab.

Forman highlights that health regulations dealing with air quality in countries such as Australia are becoming more stringent – making it essential that their specifications on this contract complied with ISO 23875.

He notes that, while the ISO 23875 air quality standard is not yet a mandatory requirement on South African mines, it is likely that it is only “a matter of time” before this step is taken – especially for the dusty conditions at coal mines.

“Our business is really about continuous improvement, so we work with partners like Booyco Engineering to incorporate high value technologies like Sy-Klone’s air quality solutions,” he says.

Cobra Projects specialises in custom-built, special-use vehicles for opencast and underground mining, providing services such as lubrication systems and diesel and water transportation. Prior to this Australian contract, the company designed and constructed a range of self-contained cabins for remote equipment operation on mines.