Alfabs Mining Equipment will highlight its air-operated, self-contained biological toilet for underground mines at the Goldfields Mining Expo (GME) from October 26-28, 2010.
The Alfabs Poo Pod produces no odour or effluent under normal conditions with waste deposited directly into its aerobic treatment plant.
“This completely eliminates the need to bring the Poo Pod to the surface for emptying or servicing as is the case with conventional sanitation systems.
It also eliminates the task of transferring night soil from latrines to a central disposal point,” said Alfab’s Grahame Boulsover. This also results in significant manpower savings.
The pods are in use at more than 85% of NSW’s underground coal mines with some units also installed at Queensland mines and three units in service in Western Australia.
Hunter Valley-based Alfabs was established more than 50 years ago and has about 100 employees. It manufactures and supplies mining equipment that features innovative, adaptable technology.
Its products include QDS roof bolting platforms, materials handling equipment, secondary support bolters and underground toilets.
The company’s coal mining clients include Xstrata, Centennial, Peabody, Donaldson, AngloCoal, BHP Billiton, Austar Coal, NRE Minerals, Vale and Ashton.