Luminant's lignite production is over 30 million tons annually.
TEXAS' BEST LIGNITE MANUFACTURER LUMINANT TAKES NOT JUST ONE BIG TOWL MOVEMENTS - AND WITH ENJOYABLE RESULTS
Donna Schmidt, Area Editor

Everything is bigger in Texas - and it doesn't stop with the state's lignite mining scene. Luminant, the state's largest lignite producer, certainly took that promise last year when they embarked on a project to move a total of four gigantic towlines to new locations while fully advancing in terms of safety and productivity.

The project, three years in the making, involved moving the movable lines from Luminant's Big Brown mine, Kosse mine and Martin Lake mines to newly developed mining sites, including the still-new Liberty complex. In total, it lasted two full seasons and hauled over 30 miles of towlines across central and eastern Texas.

Manufacturer and competitive manufacturer retained global transportation engineering and applications group Mammoet USA South for moves; The company brought in a new, state-of-the-art 1,000-wheeled vehicle to transport four units weighing between £6m and £13m each. About 60 self-propelled modular transporters and trailers powered by nine 600 horsepower engines were required to complete the project on time.

The time it often takes to completely disassemble and rebuild a tow rope, and the months it takes to get it to a new home, has drastically reduced — and despite stretching 15 miles to one of the moves. According to Steve Kopenitz, senior vice president of mining for Luminant, it was crucial to do everything safely, efficiently and cost-effectively, so the teams were delighted when they were able to reduce the relocation process to just a few weeks using interconnected trailers.