ALTERNATIVE DRIVES / DIGITALISATION IN QUARRYING SHOWCASED AT STEINEXPO 2023
Liebherr showcased over ten machines from its earthmoving and mining product segments at steinexpo 2023 , from 23 to 26 August 2023 . In addition to the products on static display and presented in live shows , the focus of the company ' s presence was also on alternative drives and the latest developments in the field of digitalisation . Several crawler excavators , an articulated dump truck , the largest Liebherr wheel loader as well as other wheel loader models , dozers and a mining excavator were on display at Liebherr ' s main booth , which covered around 1 200m 2 .
According to Liebherr , steinexpo has been an important trade exhibition in the earthmoving and quarrying sector for many years . This year , the group planned to give around 50 000 visitors in Homberg in central Germany an insight into the product highlights and solutions for quarries and mines . For example , the earthmoving and mining product segments highlighted the TA 230 articulated dump truck , as well as other machines for earthmoving in the extraction industry and a 100-tonne mining excavator .
The company focused on alternative drives in the field of new technologies at the exhibition . As part of its technology-neutral approach , the group provided insights and an outlook on various drive concepts – from the conventional combustion engine to hydrogen-based drives and electric drives . Digitalisation in the earthmoving and mining machine sector was showcased through digital assistance systems or virtual product simulations .
Extraction industry : alternative drive technologies The group presented , among other things , its work on electric and hydrogen-based drives specifically for the use of machines in the extraction industry . Liebherr says that in heavy-duty applications in particular , promising opportunities are opening up with hydrogenbased drives that offer representative ranges with high overall performance . The use of low-emission alternative fuels , such as HVO ( Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil ), which can already be used in the majority of Liebherr machines , also played a role at the exhibition .
Liebherr ' s first hydrogen combustion engine – the H966 was developed by the Components product segment for demonstration at the expo and field trials . It is based on port fuel injection technology ( also known as PFI ). The results achieved using this technology show the great future potential of hydrogen-based drives and speak in favour of using such drives , especially for offroad applications . The engine was first demonstrated at Bauma 2022 in the R 9XX H2 , as a hydrogen excavator prototype . In addition , Liebherr presented an innovative solution for the mobile refuelling of construction machinery with gaseous hydrogen together with Maximator Hydrogen GmbH .
PLANT AND EQUIPMENT •
ALTERNATIVE DRIVES / DIGITALISATION IN QUARRYING SHOWCASED AT STEINEXPO 2023
1 . The H966 engine – developed and produced at Liebherr Machines Bulle SA in Switzerland .
2 . The TA 230 Litronic – exhibits outstanding off-road capability , maximum traction and concentrated pulling power .
3 . The 100t R 9150 mining excavator .
Powerful and all-terrain dump truck The TA 230 Litronic articulated dump truck was on display at steinexpo in both the static exhibition and the live show . It is specially designed for demanding use in the quarrying industry and for overburden transport . The machine offers a wide range of optional equipment especially for wear-intensive use in quarries , as well as assistance systems .
Modern assistance systems make work easier : efficient dozers for extraction The PR 756 Generation 8 dozer showed the advantages and possibilities offered by modern assistance systems . These systems make an operator ' s work easier , while at the same time enabling safe and economical use of the machine . In addition to the Liebherr Silent Design , which enables particularly quiet operation , the revised electronically controlled hydrostatic drive with EcoMode allows for even greater fuel efficiency . The hydrostatic drive concept , which is standard in the new Generation 8 dozers , also enables significant cost savings for the customer due to the efficiency improvements .
Lower fuel consumption : improved crawler excavators – 70-100t class The new R 992 crawler excavator was also on show . Like the entire product range of 70-100t excavators , it is characterised by optimised performance data , increased driving comfort , new assistance functions and low fuel consumption after numerous improvements . The new and patented Liebherr Power Efficiency ( PE ) - Engine Control system contributes in particular to the latter . Suitable for use in mining or quarrying is , among other things , the crawler excavator R 978 SME – equipped with a new frame – was demoed . An R 992 Generation 8 complemented the crawler excavator range .
Efficient and safe : wheel loaders with assistance systems Also showcased were the mid-sized L 546 at the booth and the large L 586 XPower ® in a live demonstration . Both machines feature efficient and powerful drive technologies and are available with innovative assistance systems . The L 586 XPower ®, for example , is equipped with a weighing system developed by Liebherr that provides the driver with additional information and enables the weighing data to be evaluated via Liebherr ' s LiDAT fleet management portal , which , among other things , provides an overview with relevant machine and application data . The L 546 exhibited at steinexpo is equipped with active person detection and thus significantly increases safety in the quarry .
Powerful 100t mining excavator for quarries and mines The mining product segment exhibited the Liebherr R 9150 100t mining excavator designed for quarrying and mining and the 18.7m 3 capacity bucket of an R 9350 . The latest technologies , products and solutions for modern mining were showcased in a virtual mine . With the aid of virtual reality goggles , visitors could test the various assistance systems by Liebherr Mining in a virtual R 9600 , which is one of the largest Liebherr mining excavators with an operating weight of 600 tonnes . •
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All images supplied by Liebherr www . africanmining . co . za African Mining Publication African Mining African Mining • October 2023 • 35