IM March 2025 March 2025 | Page 35

SURFACE LOADING does mine life come into the equation and the choice in terms of TCO ? “ From a purely

qualitative standpoint , CAPEX is indeed lower for a hydraulic mining excavator . However , OPEX tends to be slightly higher . When evaluating both factors together and considering a specific mine ’ s lifecycle , there is a point where the cost dynamics intersect . This is precisely where our expertise comes in - we assist customers in making the most informed decision based on their specific operational and financial considerations .”

Of course , it is not all about the largest model and Jordan also mentioned some impressive stats on its smaller machines – towards the end of 2024 it had shipped its 400th PC3000 , its 300th PC4000 and its 200th PC5500 .

Electric Komatsu PC7000-11 backhoe bound for bauma

Moving on to another topic and bauma 2025 is coming up in Munich in April – Jordan confirmed that the excavator there will be an electric backhoe PC7000-11 – the very first one in this configuration . “ What is special about this machine is that it doesn ’ t have the standard 38 m 3 attachment – instead its backhoe bucket has a 44 m 3 payload along with improved kinematics in the form of a modified digging curve – to offer more flexibility as well as ability to handle lower specific gravity material . For example , if you are loading a 320 ton 930E truck or larger , the required passes can be reduced by one , and it brings more than 500 t / h additional production . At KGM we already have a lot of experience with electric backhoes , so our recommendation there is to go with our automated cable drum to bring greater mobility and less required focus on cable management . In Sweden , we have an electric backhoe already with over 60,000 operating hours using the cable drum – so it is a well proven configuration , and we really want to present that at Bauma to the global mining audience .”

Komatsu gives a teleoperation update

And what is the latest with Komatsu ’ s remote control excavator project , which was in focus in MINExpo 2021 when teleremote operation of the PC7000 was demonstrated ? Jordan : “ The program is still ongoing , and we are actively engaging with customers to explore potential pilot projects . At our own proving grounds , we have rigorously tested the technology and can confidently say it is a safe , functional solution ready for pilot deployment in an operational mining environment . Piloting tele-remote operations requires significant investment from both the OEM and customer , along with dedicated working hours to navigate the learning curve . Close collaboration is essential to ensure a smooth transition . That said , we are confident this will happen because the benefits are clear :

lower operational costs , enhanced safety , and improved overall profitability .”

Second life – going electric

Finally – with all of the focus on reducing Scope 1 emissions , what about relative interest in electric versus diesel in mining excavators – plus interest in conversions of existing machines to electric ? Jordan explains : “ We are seeing a rising interest from both markets and customers in transitioning to electric solutions , particularly as interim 2030 emissions targets draw closer . However , in terms of new machine sales , the ratio of electric to diesel remains relatively consistent . The key difference is that when a customer opts for a diesel machine today , there is often a discussion about the potential for converting it to electric operation later in its lifecycle . Komatsu fully supports this transition by offering the capability to retrofit diesel-powered machines with electric drives during a major overhaul , effectively giving the equipment a second life . This is an option many mining companies are now requesting us to consider as part of their long-term fleet planning .”

In its whitepaper on electrification ‘ Digging beyond the buzz word .’ which was released during MINExpo 2024 , Komatsu discusses in the section ‘ Second life – going electric ’ how several

Scan and go to epiroc . com for more information

�������������������������������������

LinkOA ( Link Open Autonomy ) is the automation platform that enables haul trucks , drills , and other mining equipment ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� LinkOA makes automation seamless — regardless of OEM .

������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ full autonomy .