LOADING TOOLS
Hitachi Construction Machinery Thailand recently completed the handover
of seven units of mining excavator Hitachi EX3600E-6LD to major
contractor Italian-Thai for use in Mae Moh coal mine’s Project 9
Moh lignite coal mine. The handover ceremony was attended by Somphong
Boonsiri (Senior Vice President of Italian-Thai Development Public Ltd),
Sonosuke Ishii (Vice President and Executive Officer of Hitachi Construction
Machinery Japan), Katsunari Mugishima (Managing Director of Hitachi
Construction Machinery (Thailand) Co Ltd) and Amnat Piyajittra (Chief
Operation Officer of Hitachi Construction Machinery (Thailand) Co Ltd).
The seven EX3600E-6LDs will be used for excavating coal as part of Project
9 for mine owner Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) at Mae
Moh mine which is in Lampang Province. Hitachi Construction Machinery
Thailand is also a technical support service provider for this project. The
EX3600E-6LD (360 t) electric excavators now represent the largest excavator
models being used in Thailand, and use clean technology to support a green
environment, causing no pollution to neighbouring communities. Moreover,
they support the generation of electricity of Mae Moh Power Plant which is in
accordance with the government’s environmental policy.
Since the project began in 2000, Hitachi says that Italian-Thai Development
has been showing confidence in it as a long-standing business partner. “In
the future, both companies will continue to cooperate in joint investment
projects in Mae Moh mine and other ongoing national projects.”
This EX3600 model is also evolving. In 2019 Hitachi unveiled the EX3600-7
mining excavator, which it says will initially deliver increased efficiency,
reliability and durability for customers in North and South America. The new
model is the fourth machine in Hitachi’s new EX-7 Series lineup, following the
recent launch of the EX5600-7, EX2600-7 and EX1200-7.
“The EX3600-7 sets a new standard in the mining industry,” said Brian
Mace, Mining Product Marketing and Applications Manager, Hitachi
Construction Machinery – Americas. “With a multitude of innovative features,
it’s a reliable workhouse that is ready for its tough job. A variety of new
features reduce its fuel consumption, increase its efficiency and make
maintenance even simpler.”
Available in a backhoe or shovel configuration, the new EX3600-7 features
Fuel Consumption Optimisation (FCO) technologies that reduce consumption
costs while achieving superior productivity and enhancing sustainability.
Through engine options and hydraulic system improvements, the new machine
reduces fuel consumption by 4-7% compared to the previous model (the
EX3600-6 with Cummins engine configuration).
Customers can choose from a Cummins or MTU EPA Final Tier 4 engine
option. For non-regulated countries, customers can choose from a Cummins
or MTU engine option that features fuel-calibration optimisation settings that
contribute to improved efficiency.
Caterpillar’s 600 t 6060 proving popular
There have been number of new orders for Caterpillar’s 6060 hydraulic
excavator, which has proven popular on all continents. As an example the
Kinross Tasiast mine in Mauritania is one of the largest users worldwide; with