The workhorse of underground mucking
Once ore is drilled and blasted, it has to be moved, and underground the machine that does it is the LHD loader, also called a scooptram. LHD stands for load-haul-dump: a single low-profile articulated machine scoops the broken muck pile, trams it down the heading to an ore pass, truck or stockpile, and dumps it. Its defining feature is a low, wide stance that fits the cramped cross-sections of underground development and stoping where a conventional loader could never operate.
How it works
A heavy front bucket on lift arms digs into the muck pile; the operator crowds and curls to fill, then trams with the load to the discharge point. Center articulation gives a tight turning radius in narrow drives, and a low cab and engine deck keep the overall height down. Drives are diesel for flexible, self-contained operation or electric (tethered or battery) for low-emission, low-heat working in deeper or poorly ventilated mines.
Selection logic
The main decision is bucket size, which is governed by your heading dimensions and target mucking rate. As a rule of thumb, match bucket capacity to the haul truck or ore-pass throat and to the smallest drive the machine must work in, since an oversized unit cannot turn or pass. Xinhai configures bucket capacity, machine height and width, and diesel or electric drive to your underground layout and ventilation.
- Load, haul and dump in one compact machine
- Low-profile, articulated for tight headings
- Diesel or electric drive options
- Heavy-duty bucket and arms for hard, abrasive muck
Where it fits the mining cycle
The LHD picks up directly from the muck pile produced after development drilling and blasting, and is the link between the working face and the haulage system that delivers ore to surface. Its productivity, set by bucket size and tram distance, often governs the whole mine’s mucking rate, so matching the machine to the heading and the haulage it feeds has an outsized effect on output. From there ore reports to primary crushing and on to the processing plant. Upstream, the orebody that the LHD develops is first defined by a core drilling rig.
Browse the full underground mining equipment range. For help sizing bucket capacity and drive type to your headings, contact our team.
Technical Specifications
| Type | Underground LHD (load-haul-dump) / scooptram |
|---|---|
| Bucket capacity | Configurable, ~0.5-6 mu00b3 class |
| Drive | Diesel or electric (tethered/battery) |
| Profile | Low-height, articulated for tight headings |
| Steering | Center-articulated, tight turning radius |
| Bucket | Heavy-duty with wear-resistant edge |
| Tramming | Self-propelled, load-and-carry |
| Application | Underground mucking, development & stoping |
| Customization | OEM / ODM, sized to headings & ventilation |
Frequently Asked Questions
What bucket size LHD do I need?
Bucket size is set by your heading dimensions and target mucking rate, and should match the haul truck or ore-pass throat it feeds. An oversized machine cannot turn or pass in narrow drives, so the smallest working cross-section often governs the choice. Xinhai sizes bucket capacity and machine dimensions to your underground layout.
Diesel or electric LHD?
Diesel LHDs are self-contained and flexible, ideal for mines with adequate ventilation and changing work areas. Electric LHDs, tethered or battery, produce no exhaust and less heat, which suits deep, hot or poorly ventilated workings and cuts ventilation cost. The right choice depends on mine depth, ventilation capacity and emissions goals.
What is the difference between an LHD and a wheel loader?
An LHD is purpose-built for underground: low profile, articulated steering and compact width let it work in cramped headings where a standard wheel loader cannot fit or turn. It also combines loading and short hauling in one machine. Surface wheel loaders are taller and wider and are not suited to confined underground drives.
Can the LHD load haul trucks directly?
Yes. A common cycle is load-haul-dump into an underground truck or ore pass, and the LHD's bucket and dump height are configured to match the truck or pass it serves. Matching the LHD bucket to the truck bed keeps loading cycles efficient. For very short hauls the LHD may tram ore directly to a stockpile or tip.
