Periodic Reporting for period 2 - RHINO (Electric bReaker Hammer transforming the mIning aNd cOnstruction industries to zero-emission.)
Période du rapport: 2023-07-01 au 2024-06-30
The following are the main achievements:
Patenting Results: Lekatech has made 10 patentability studies from July 2022 till June 2024 YTD. These studies have led to some patent applications. Current Lekatech patent portfolio consists of 1 utility model (UM) granted, 10 patents (PAT) granted, 7 patent applications (APL) and material for 6-7 patent application drafts (APLDF). Within RHINO, Lekatech has filed 7 new patents during the last two years, between July 2022 and June 2024. These 7 new patent applications concern core hammer technology and controlling of the hammer. All matters contained in these patent applications are also applicable to other than hammer applications. These patent applications are the result of an active invention disclosure process started during 2023, where 50 invention disclosures were recorded.
Development of three electric hammers for three pilots in Finland and Germany with OEMs in the construction and mining industries:
- The assembly of the three hammers have been completed according to plan.
- Also a User Manual was developed.
- Internal testing was done indoors or in the yard when being attached to a hydraulic 13 ton excavator, while a specially designed test bench was used for endurance testing.
- Lekatech obtained the CE marking for the hammer, which included technical documentation and drafting and signing EU declaration of conformity.
Piloting and Validation:
- Three on-site tests, trials, and pilots across Europe in both underground and open-pit mining as well as construction environments were conducted in Finland and Germany.
- The evaluation results are promising in terms of performance, mechanical durability, safety, energy efficiency, and user experience, as seen from recorded statements by operators.
- We have accumulated a total of 1300-1500 operating hours from these tests with pilot partners and testing at the open-pit site in Kausala, as well as on a test bench.
- Lekatech Electric Hammer, compared to an hdraulic hamnmer, has proven to excell in performance, ease of operation as well as lowered noise levels, having a positive impact on operational safety. Specific results include: a) double impact energy, e.g. our hammer can hit twice as hard as a comparable size hydraulic hammer; b) a reduction of 2 dB in noise power reduction (125dB).
- Lekatech has established very good traction with globally leading OEMs and hammer providers. OEMs that are working on digitalization and electrification of their products are in need for suitable attachments, and have shown enormous interest in LEH, which will be the first and only compatible electric hammer in the market.
- Normet, a Finland based, global leader in underground mining machinery, has made an investment into Lekatech. This can be seen as a strong signal from the industry in committing to electric transformation and to Lekatech development.
- The pilots have indicated promising results in terms of performance, precision, and efficiency and confirm or exceed the expectations for the technology.
- 8 new employees since start of the project.