Prairie Machine Flexiveyor MSHA approval: haulage design notes for coal engineers
Reviewed by Tom Sullivan
First reported on International Mining – News
30 Second Briefing
Prairie Machine’s Flexiveyor Continuous Haulage System has received MSHA certification from the US Mining Safety and Health Administration’s Approval and Certification Center, clearing it for use in regulated underground coal operations. The modular Flexiveyor is designed to provide continuous haulage between the mining face and section belt, reducing shuttle car traffic and associated congestion in development headings. Certification opens the US underground coal market to the system, giving mine engineers an additional compliant option for redesigning panel layouts and material flows around continuous haulage.
Technical Brief
- MSHA approval was issued by the dedicated Approval and Certification Center (A&CC) for mining equipment.
Our Take
With the IEA expecting US coal use to rebound in 2025 after years of decline, MSHA certification for equipment like Prairie Machine’s Flexiveyor positions it for retrofit and replacement cycles in ageing US underground coal fleets rather than just greenfield demand.
Among the 393 Mining stories in our database, coal-linked items are a minority compared with battery metals, so MSHA-approved haulage systems stand out as one of the few growth niches tied to regulatory-driven upgrades rather than pure volume expansion.
For US operators, deploying an MSHA-certified continuous haulage system on coal sections can shorten internal approval and procurement timelines, as safety-compliant OEM kit typically faces fewer hurdles from corporate risk committees and insurers than non-certified alternatives.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
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