NEWS

Previous issue Issue 2 - 2007

Inside this issue: Next Generation MineWolf Bagger Provides

Next Generation Capabilities in Difficult Terrain MineWolf Bagger The newly redesigned MineWolf Bagger The MineWolf Bagger complements the Provides Demining Capabilities is a purpose-built, fully protected MineWolf and Mini MineWolf by providing in Difficult Terrain excavator with a powerful tiller demining demining capabilities in challenging and 1 tool. hard-to-reach areas such as trenches, MineWolf Systems craters, very steep slopes, and heavy Achieves Outstanding vegetation. The MineWolf Bagger pictured Results at Humanitarian here is a Liebherr 914 excavator which has Demining Symposium been fully armoured (undercarriage, 2 hydraulics, cab, sides, and arm) for NPA Purchases 2nd protection from direct (AP, AT) and indirect Mini MineWolf for Demining Tasks in (trip-wired, fragmentation) mine blasts. Bosnia-Herzegovina Powered by an integrated, rear-mounted Equipped with the tiller, powerpack and 3 240HP powerpack which shares the additional armour, the total weight of this MineWolf Withstands excavator’s main 600 litre fuel tank, the machine is 26.5 tons. Multiple AT Mine Blasts at EOD Trial in 1.4 meter wide tiller is capable of clearing Vienna irregular and hard-to-reach ground to a 3 depth of up to 25cm. Mounted on the end

U.S. Department of of the 8 meter long armoured excavator State Shortlists arm and able to pivot through 90 degrees, MineWolf Systems For Support Funding the working tool consists of an 830mm in the Balkans diameter steel rotor mounted with 40 4 hardened, and easily replaceable steel MineWolf Systems teeth.

exhibits at IDEF 2007 in Turkey MineWolf Bagger ready for transport 4

The MineWolf Bagger tiller and powerpack have been designed to be integrated with

most standard excavators in the 20 - 24 ton Newsletter archive weight class (i.e. CAT 320, Liebherr

914/924, O&K RH6). The machine is easily

transported on a standard low-loader. New MineWolf Bagger in action

ISO9001:2000 Certified The tiller is able to churn through hard, Contact MineWolf Systems for information rocky soil and dense vegetation at speeds about purchasing or leasing this machine, of up to 800 RPM, and can achieve or about upgrading a pre-existing excavator clearance capacity of up to 1200m²/hr. with demining capabilities.

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News

MineWolf Systems Achieves Outstanding Results at Humanitarian Demining Symposium

The MineWolf, Mini MineWolf and MineWolf Bagger clearly The new MineWolf Bagger, a standard armoured demonstrated the advantages of tiller-based mechanical excavator equipped with tiller and power pack for demining at the 4th Humanitarian Demining Conference demining irregular and uneven ground such as hosted by the Croatian Center for Testing and trenches, steep slopes and heavy vegetation, was Development (HCR-CTRO) which was held during 23 – 27 also demonstrated. April in Sibenik, . The highlight of the event was a side-by-side demonstration and trial of 9 mechanical demining machines from 6 manufacturers in three categories (light, medium and heavy) on a test minefield.

Introducing the new MineWolf Bagger, a tiller working tool and powerpack attached to a standard armoured excavator

The MineWolf, one of 3 manned machines Line-up of demining machines at Humanitarian Demining Symposium 2007 participating, was able to clear both 50m lanes in 5 Both the Mini MineWolf and MineWolf achieved outstanding minutes and 35 seconds, significantly ahead of the results in their categories in terms of consistent ground other 2 comparable machines at the trial (Bozena 5: penetration measured via randomly buried masonite boards, 16min. 53sec, DOK-ING MV10: 11min 25sec.) dust generation, and time to complete the task.

Mini MineWolf with tiller (right) and a Samson 300 with flail (left) during the demonstration. Note the difference in dust generation The MineWolf machines excelled in both depth consistency, minimal dust generation, and execution speed The demonstration underscored the advantage of tiller-based mechanical demining in hard and dry soil: superior visibility, more consistent depth penetration, and speed. For ground conditions requiring a flail (i.e. shallow topsoil over bedrock), the MineWolf machines may also be fitted with a flail.

Over 150 attendees from 35 countries witnessed the event including representatives from Japan, France, Germany, The MineWolf Team at Sibenik 2007

Turkey, , USA, , Ukraine, Chile, Columbia, For more details about the trial and results, please Afghanistan, Mozambique, , and the Balkans. contact us.

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News

NPA Purchases Second Mini MineWolf for Demining Tasks in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) has purchased their second Mini MineWolf, a fully accredited remote-controlled medium demining machine, to support their ongoing demining operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The new machine will be used as a tool for mechanical ground preparation, on technical survey and clearance operations together with manual deminers and Mine NPA Operated Mini MineWolf in Bosnia Detection Dogs. The area where it will be used is known as Photo courtesy of Damir Atikovic, NPA Bosnia

Dubrave in the South-western part of Brčko District, a Afterwards, the team will transfer the machine to highly populated area contaminated by various types of another contaminated community, Bukovac. Here the mines. Several mine incidents have been recorded in this new Mini MineWolf will work with the first Mini MineWolf area, including a recent mine incident by an employee purchased in 2006 to free the land for construction of a working for a nearby market complex that employees new road to connect several hamlets, and allow access nearly a thousand workers. Clearance operations here will to land and houses which have been inaccessible due help the area to recover economically and contribute to to mine contamination. The 2 machines will greatly normalisation of living conditions where people feel safe to increase productivity of the manual deminers and MDD move about freely, as well as to facilitate the return of teams, and reduce the overall cost of the operation. inhabitants to abandoned houses.

MineWolf Withstands Multiple AT Mine Blasts at EOD Trial in Vienna MineWolf Systems demonstrated the robustness of the The importance of the exhibition was underscored by MineWolf mine clearance machine at the Explosive the attendance of the Austrian Minister of Defense, Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Demonstration and Trials held Norbert Darabos, who showed an interest in the at Vienna, Austria during 7-11 May 2007. MineWolf solutions.

MineWolf Trial with AT 75 Mines Click here to watch the detonation video (3.6MB)

MineWolf Systems was present at the exhibition with a stand and two mine clearance machines: the MineWolf and Result of 2 AT 75 Mine blasts: 2 missing teeth Mini MineWolf. During trials against live anti-tank mines The demonstration underscored the effectiveness of (Austrian-made AT 75 mines with 7.4kg TNT), the tiller-based mechanical mine clearance. For maximum MineWolf tiller experienced insignificant damage, losing flexibility the MineWolf may also be equipped with a flail only 2 easily replaceable metal teeth. The open-basket as ground conditions require. tiller design suffered no damage.

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News

U.S. Department of State Shortlists MineWolf Systems for Support Funding in the Balkans

The U.S. Department of State has The Department of State has informed the International decided to channel its funding for Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance humanitarian demining in Bosnia and (ITF) of its decision regarding the capabilities Herzegovina to demining organizations assessment, and the United States' plans for demining that have the "management structure, personnel and in the future. The ITF will carry out the United States' equipment to perform demining tasks of the size and instructions beginning with the first demining tender for complexity that the United States has decided to fund in involving U.S. funding in 2007. the future". To this effect, the Department of State commissioned Quality Solutions International (QSI), an For the official announcement and list of qualifying international humanitarian mine action firm, to conduct an organisations, please visit the US Department of State independent assessment of demining organizations website at http://www.state.gov/t/pm/rls/fs/82833.htm accredited by the Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Center (BH MAC).

As a result, 19 organisations were selected as eligible to receive matching funding for demining projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina. MineWolf Systems is the only organisation that also manufacturers mechanical demining equipment to make the list.

MineWolf Systems Exhibits at IDEF 2007 in Turkey

The 8th annual International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF 2007) was held during 22-25 May, 2007 in Ankara. IDEF is considered the premier defense exhibition in Turkey and the region. 494 companies from 48 countries participated,

including MineWolf Systems who made its first

appearance with its Turkish partner Sinlak Holding who The importance of landmine clearance in Turkey was represent several major international defence companies underscored by a tragic landmine incident on 24 May in including BAE Systems and AM General, the maker of the Southeast of the country which resulted in 16 Humvee military vehicles. A large interest in mine military casualties. There are an estimated 400,000 clearance equipment was expressed, and detailed landmines laid during the decades long conflict between discussions with Turkish authorities were held. the PKK and the Turkish military.

MineWolf Systems AG Seedammstr. 3 Phone +41 (0) 555 111 515 Email [email protected] CH – 8808 Pfäffikon, Switzerland Fax +41 (0) 555 111 599 Internet www.minewolf.com

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