Since the early 1970's, SIMM Engineering & Mining Division became closely involved the then National Coal Board of Great Britain in developing intrinsically safe hydraulic chain cutters, pulling machines, roof bolt cutters and wire rope/cable cutters, all designed for use in hazardous areas underground in deep mines.

SIMM HYDRAULIC CHAIN CUTTERS
Over 30 years ago the underground mining industry in Britain needed to improve productivity and safety and asked Simm Engineering if they could develop an intrinsically safe chain cutter to cut coalface chain up to 26mm diameter. In 1976 SIMM designed and manufactured their model SS1 chain cutter for up to 26mm diameter chain. This unit, operated initially by a steel hydraulic handpump, cut the chain in under 2 minutes thus reducing valuable downtime at the coalface and enabling production to re-start in the lowest possible time. Before Simm cutters were introduced, the chain had to be cut by a hand saw which was a laborious, painstaking and time consuming practice.

The first 26mm capacity chain cutters were operated by a hydraulic handpump. A speedier and labour saving device was soon introduced which was the Simm SS3a hydraulic Intensifier. The Intensifier unit provided a rapid means of operating the chain cutters using the hydraulic pressure source available at the coalface and boosting this pressure to the required level to cut the chain.

As mining chain became heavier, in 1988 we developed the model SS6 34mm capacity chain cutter. This is now the most popular size with many sets being sold to all the remaining coal mines in the UK and also through distributors to countries abroad including China, Australia, USA, Canada, south Africa, Russia and many european countries.

In 1996 the Simm SS9 cutter was introduced to the market to cut chain up to 46mm diameter and in recent years as the demand for even heavier and larger diameter chain increased, we now produce the Simm model SS15 chain cutter which will cut up to 50mm diameter grade 80 and 100 coalface chain.

SIMM HYDRAULIC HAULAGE UNITS
The 6 and 12 tonne capacity SIMM-PUL 'tirfor' type hydraulically operated intrinsically safe Haulage or Pulling Units were originally designed for the British Coal Industry as a larger, labour saving version if the Tirfor winch. These versatile units, apart from being originally used for a variety of jobs underground where pulling applications are required in hazardous and often cramped working conditions where conventional winches cannot be accommodated, are now also used in a variety of applications in many other industries including the erection of the roof of the Millennium Dome where 36 x 6 tonne SIMM-PUL units were used simultaneously to raise the roof into position.

SIMM HYDRAULIC WIRE ROPE AND CABLE CUTTERS
The SIMM range of hydraulically operated Wire Rope and Cable Cutters are designed for remote cutting operations with double acting cylinders and a concave edged single blade cutting system to ensure a clean and full cut of the finest and toughest cable and wire rope. The four models will cut from 38mm diameter up to 114mm diameter and have a proven track record in many industries including:-

Mining, Manufacturing, Recycling, Construction & Demolition, Oil & Gas Production, Offshore Subsea Engineering, Nuclear Power Generation and Decommissioning.

SIMM HYDRAULIC BOLT CUTTERS
The two sizes of SIMM hydraulically operated Bolt Cutters are intrinsically safe units again originally designed for cutting roof and floor bolts in hazardous/methane areas underground in deep mines. The cutting range is from 20mm diameter to 37mm diameter bolts and can also be used for safely cutting reinforcing bar.

SIMM HIGH FLOW HYDRAULIC INTENSIFIER
The SIMM high flow Intensifier is extensively used in the mining industries with the SIMM range of Chain, Bolt and Wire Rope/Cable Cutters. The unit utilises the hydraulic/emulsion pressure available at the coal face and boosts this pressure to the required level to cut chain, bolts etc.