The project titled “Design and Prototype Manufacturing of an Electro-Hydraulic Loader for Underground Coal Mines”, carried out in cooperation between Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN) Mining Machinery Application and Research Center and the Turkish Hard Coal Enterprise (TTK) Mining Machinery Factory, has been successfully completed. Within the scope of the project, the prototype loader was manufactured and received ATEX certification, making the machine ready for use in underground mining.
A meeting was held at the TTK Factory Management Directorate to mark the completion of the project. The meeting was attended by BEUN Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Servet Karasu, Director of the BEUN Mining Machinery Application and Research Center Prof. Dr. Okan Su, TTK General Manager Muharrem Kiraz, relevant TTK executives, academics, and those who contributed to the project.
Prof. Dr. Karasu: “A Concrete and Valuable Example of University-Industry Cooperation”
BEUN Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Servet Karasu stated that the prototype loader developed within the scope of the project was a concrete and valuable example of university-industry cooperation. Noting that a domestic loader was developed to meet the needs of underground coal mining by bringing together the university’s scientific knowledge and the long-established experience of the TTK Mining Machinery Factory, Prof. Dr. Karasu expressed his satisfaction with the progress made in the project.
Prof. Dr. Su: “Knowledge and Long-Standing Experience Came Together”
BEUN Mining Machinery Application and Research Center Director Prof. Dr. Okan Su also stated that the project was a successful example of university-industry cooperation. He noted that a domestic loader capable of meeting the needs of underground coal mining had been developed by combining the university’s scientific knowledge with the TTK Mining Machinery Factory’s many years of experience. Prof. Dr. Su thanked all stakeholders who contributed to the project.
TTK General Manager Kiraz: “Domestic Production Is of Great Importance for Our Country”
TTK General Manager Muharrem Kiraz recalled that the importance and necessity of domestic production had become more evident during and after the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation. Stating that Türkiye had made significant progress in domestic production, Kiraz expressed his satisfaction with contributing to efforts to develop domestic technologies in the mining sector. He thanked everyone who contributed to the implementation of the project.
The project, completed through cooperation between BEUN and the TTK Mining Machinery Factory, is important in terms of bringing universities’ scientific knowledge together with industry’s production experience. The electro-hydraulic loader prototype, developed to meet the needs of underground coal mining and awarded ATEX certification, contributes to efforts to expand the use of domestic machinery technologies in the mining sector.
