A large diesel tractor, designed to haul longwall shields and featuring a new Fletchbus^tm control system, will be on display at the Bluefield Coal Show, booth 1611-1612, in front of the armory.  Designed and built by J. H. Fletcher & Co., leading manufacturer of mobile underground mining equipment, the unit includes a Mercedes diesel engine, Kessler axles and Clark transmission.

 

The initial 3800-Series custom tractor was designed by Fletcher for an Illinois customer, and has become a full-fledged product line.  The company has built 17 units with six more currently on order.  The tractors are used to transport materials, supplies, and equipment into the mines efficiently.  Each unit features a 5^th wheel and pintle hitch arrangement, powerful diesel engine, four-wheel drive, pressurized and enclosed cab and the added maneuverability of an articulated chassis.

 

The five tractors in the Illinois order were 68” high.  All were 10’ wide and 25’ 3” long, with ground clearance of 12”.  By the second order, two machines for a West Virginia mine had the machine height lowered to 60”, and not long after, Fletcher delivered a unit to a customer in Virginia that was 46” high.  Fletcher has also been working on various attachments for these machines, and recently added battery lifting arms for a customer in the West.

 

“The Fletcher objective is always to evolve to meet our customers’ needs,” said Ben Hardman, coal products sales manager.  “We maximize horsepower and towing requirements, but match them to size restrictions.”

 

Visit the Fletcher booth to view the new tractor close up. For more information, visit www.jhfletcher.com, or contact Ben Hardman at bhardman@jhfletcher.com, 304-525-7811.