Aproductivity in mining operations
WORLD PROSPECTS
Schlam launches the Hercul les Ultr ra
As the demand for greater efficiency and
escalates, Schlam says it continues to lead the charge in designing and delivering innovative solutions for the mining industry. Its latest move is the introduction of the Hercules Ultra, an advanced truck bed designed for ultraclass mining trucks – which is already operating across the globe in large-scale mines.
Schlam’ s commitment to innovation, customer collaboration and strong engineering principles has resulted in a product that it believes is set to redefine industry standards. A legacy of innovation, Schlam’ s Hercules range has built a strong reputation for delivering performance improvements across the mining industry.
Schlam states:“ Mining operators across the world have seen payload productivity improvements of up to 22 %, significant maintenance cost reductions, and enhanced fatigue life and asset longevity.”
The introduction of the Hercules Ultra is“ the latest step in Schlam’ s commitment to evolving and enhancing mining truck solutions, bringing these same benefits to the next generation of ultra-class mining trucks.”
The Hercules range has seen continuous improvements since its inception, driven by Schlam’ s focus on innovation and listening to the needs of its clients. Schlam works closely with its clients to understand their challenges and uses strong engineering principles to develop products that provide lasting solutions. This customer-centric approach has made Schlam a leading supplier of mining truck beds in Australia and also a key supplier to autonomous mining truck fleets worldwide.
Schlam’ s Hercules mining truck dump beds, it adds, consistently outperform all alternatives“ offering increased payload capacity, reduced maintenance, and lower overall operating costs.”
Schlam introduced the Hercules EXO in 2022, a product designed specifically for the iron ore sector. This product has offered a single-use truck bed with reduced weight and longer service life, resulting in over 10 % increased payload capacity, making it a preferred dump bed for iron ore miners worldwide.
The backbone of large-scale mining operations ultra-class mining trucks are the largest and most powerful haulage vehicles serving the global mining industry including models such as the Caterpillar 797F, Komatsu 980E-5 and Liebherr T 284, all designed to carry payloads up to 400 tons.
Used predominantly in large-scale mining
operations like coal, iron ore, gold and copper mines, ultra-class haul trucks are essential to maximising productivity and reducing haulage costs, including fuel, per tonne. Ultra-class mining trucks are the workhorses of mining, so the demand for solutions that can further optimise their performance is critical.
The introduction of the Hercules Ultra comes at a time when mining companies are pushing for more efficient, higher-performing solutions to meet the demands of modern mining operations. With the mining industry’ s growing adoption of automation and fleet management technologies, ultra-class trucks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, making the need for equally advanced accessories like truck beds even more important.
The development of the Hercules Ultra was driven by an increasing need for stronger, lighter and more efficient dump beds for ultra-class trucks. Schlam understood that as payloads increase and larger truck models are introduced to the market, the need for stronger, lighter and more efficient truck beds was essential.
Combined with Schlam’ s extensive experience in developing solutions for large-scale mining operations, the Hercules Ultra builds on the DNA of the Hercules EXO.“ The Hercules Ultra demonstrates our commitment to continuous improvement,” Schlam Global Product Manager, Tom Smith, said.“ We utilised our extensive product knowledge and engineering capability to solve the unique challenges these high-payload trucks face.”
The Hercules Ultra maintains all of the lightweight product benefits of the Hercules bed, but with structural upgrades to withstand the fatigue challenges associated with the increased payloads of ultra-class trucks. Engineered to operate for 25,000 h maintenance free, with the goal of extending that to 30,000 h, mining
Schlam Ultra Class dump body design for a gold mine application on a Komatsu 930E truck fleet in Americas
operators, Schlam says, can rely on the Hercules Ultra for long-term performance.
One of the defining features of the Hercules Ultra is its ability to combine strength and weight reduction. Schlam achieved this balance by reinforcing high-stress areas as to maintain structural integrity while eliminatinginating unnecessary components to reduce weight, resulting in a stronger and lighter truck bed that offers increased payload capacity acity without compromising durability.
Glencore partnership
The development of the Hercules Ultra was supported by Schlam’ s ongoing relationship with Glencore Coal. Extensive field trials were conducted at Glencore’ s Ravensworth operation in New South Wales, providing valuable insights that helped refine the final product.
“ We are truly grateful to Glencore Coal for assisting with our trial,” Smith said.“ Their input was invaluable in helping us refine a product that meets the specific needs of the ultra-class truck market.”
A spokesperson for Glencore Coal’ s Ravensworth open cut mine, said the Hercules Ultra has already proven its worth in increasing production capabilities.
“ We wanted a Hercules product that delivered increased production capabilities, whilst maintaining the same features and benefits as the original range,” he said.“ The trial showed that this product could deliver on that requirement. We’ ve recommended expanding its use across our other operations and regard it as a product that contributes to our commitment of sustainable and responsible resource extraction.” https:// schlam. com /
6 International Mining | APRIL 2025