SURFACE LOADING
full-time support to the customer and an inventory of consignment parts and components will be maintained at the North American Lithium site .
“ North American Lithium ’ s operation is six hours away from our closest sales and service centre , which means that organising service for unexpected maintenance or repairs can take days , rather than hours ,” explains Dominic Bergeron , Sales Representative for Liebherr- Canada . “ By having someone on site , we can ensure that Fournier will experience minimal downtime with their R 9150 .”
Escondida deploys 4800XPC from Komatsu
In June 2024 , BHP also announced the start of operations at the Escondida copper mine of the first Komatsu 4800XPC electric cable shovel in Chile and Latin America and the third in the world , designed and manufactured by Komatsu .
With a weight of approximately 1,750 tons in operation , it is the shovel with the highest capacity worldwide , loading 400-ton mining trucks in just three passes , one less than other equipment currently on the market . This allows increasing efficiency during the truck loading process and generating a significant improvement in costs per ton , as well as increasing the safety and comfort of those who operate it .
Alejandro Tapia , President of BHP Escondida noted : “ Having the 4800XPC shovel in our fleet of equipment is a great contribution to advancing the operational challenges we have in Escondida . We are very happy that the shovel with the greatest capacity has arrived at the main copper producer in the world . I want to congratulate all the teams involved in the assembly and delivery of this shovel , which was achieved without safety incidents and in less time compared to the other two teams on the market .”
“ For Komatsu , the start of operations of the 4800XPC shovel strengthens a relationship that we have had with BHP for decades . In this sense , being able to introduce this model in the industry serves to continue promoting mining in Chile . With this , our intention is to create value together so that both companies continue to position themselves as a reference in mining innovations worldwide ,” commented Carlos Soto , Executive Vice President of Komatsu Cummins Chile .
Among its main features , the incorporation of new technologies that allow greater excavation power without reducing the useful life of the equipment , lower loads due to impact or improper operation , improved payload and excavation performance through control and application stand out as does its ‘ intelligent ’ power usage and in addition less operator fatigue due to the reduction of swinging movements ( boom jacking ).
The delivery of this new shovel is a significant advance in the national industry , since it is the first time that a copper mine in the world will use equipment of these characteristics . South Africa received the second 4800XPC shovel from Komatsu , where it went into operation in demanding conditions , high hardness and abrasiveness in Anglo American ’ s Mogalakewna platinum mine early last year . The first unit was put into operation at the Fording River coal mine in 2019 .
Komatsu PC9000 to be in the dirt in 2025
One of the world ’ s largest hydraulic mining excavators , the Komatsu 900 t class PC9000 , is now firmly on the horizon – back in April 2024 , Alberta , Canada oil sands miner Suncor revealed it would be getting the first unit . In May 2024 , Komatsu Germany Mining ( KGM ) and dealer SMS Equipment gave some further information , stating that the PC9000 , which will be the next size step up from the PC8000 , is designed to increase productivity , performance and efficiency on the mine site . It is optimised to suit Komatsu ’ s 830E through 980E mining truck sizes , improving cycle times and lowering the overall cost-per-ton of material moved . Additional features of the PC9000 include a larger bucket , higher digging forces and other features to improve cycle time . Its extended reach is aimed at supporting customers ’ growing Autonomous Haulage Systems ( AHS ) while a redesigned hydraulic system leads to lower emissions .
“ More productive and more efficient while achieving the highest safety standards , the PC9000 marks an exciting evolution of our surface mining lineup ,” said Peter Buhles , Vice President Sales & Service at KGM at the time . “ Komatsu is focused on creating value together . In developing the PC9000 , we gathered input from our global customers and distributors to create a machine that responds to the mining industry ’ s emerging needs and is suitable for any type of surface mining application .”
As it nears the completion and deployment of the first unit later this year , Thomas Jordan , KGM Marketing Manager told IM for the current article : “ Things are in the making and we look forward to sharing more updates as progress continues . At this stage , we can confirm that the development of the PC9000 has focused on four key areas with added value for the customer . The first key driver was the need for increased productivity - designing the PC9000 with a larger payload and a fast swing to maximise mining
The mining world awaits the first Komatsu PC9000 this year
output in less time , particularly in partnership with our 400-short-ton 980E truck . The second was improved efficiency , achieved through an advanced hydraulic and cooling system that enhances operational performance . Combined with other new features , these improvements contribute to lower production costs , with cost per tonne being a major focus .”
He added : “ Lower production cost was the third priority by introducing new features to increase efficiency , productivity and durability to minimise the overall cost per ton . Lastly , the PC9000 will introduce an all-new cabin design , setting a high standard for safety while enhancing operator comfort - ultimately supporting greater efficiency in operation ."
With the launch of this super ultraclass hydraulic mining excavator – does this now mean that it can compete directly with the rope shovel in terms of size and productivity – until now in the largest mines , especially in copper , rope shovels have dominated with hydraulics tended to be reserved for areas of the pit requiring greater mobility and flexibility . Of course Komatsu has both options – and its largest 4800XPC rope shovel is now seeing success in important mining hubs . Jordan : “ The PC9000 certainly expands the choices available to customers and enhances the possibilities for hydraulic mining excavators . However , the decision ultimately depends on the specific conditions of each mine . Some applications will still favour a rope shovel , while others will benefit more from a hydraulic mining excavator . While the overlap between the two has grown , there remains a distinct need for both . Factors like mobility , digging force , static operation , and overall efficiency all play a vital role in determining the best fit . That ’ s why we focus on application engineering - helping customers identify the optimal solution for their unique operational needs .”
Does the hydraulic still represent a lower CAPEX when compared to the equivalent rope shovel with a similar payload ? And how much
32 International Mining | MARCH 2025