SURFACE LOADING
in personal injury. As part of the project, the assigned operators completed the theoretical training provided by Komatsu and will continue with the practical phase integrated into production, in addition to having access to a specialised simulator for their training. The commissioning of this shovel is part of a progressive rollout that includes putting a second piece of equipment into operation in October and a third in 2027, consolidating an increasingly safe operation aligned with the highest technological standards in large-scale mining.
With this milestone, Antamina says it continues to strengthen its operational leadership and reputation as a world-class mining operation, setting a precedent for Peruvian and regional mining by incorporating state-of-the-art technology and developing its talent.
The model is already operating in Chile with BHP Escondida, which in May 2025 set a new global benchmark by successfully assembling its second electric 4800XPC shovel in just 77 days. Other units are operating at Valterra Platinum’ s Mogalakwena and Glencore’ s Fording River Operations.
Caterpillar’ s new 6040 plus rope shovels in Peru
Mining operations today face increasing pressure to move more material efficiently while managing fuel costs, workforce challenges and machine uptime. Building on a legacy of trusted performance, the new 400 t-class Caterpillar 6040 next generation hydraulic mining shovel the leading OEM says is designed to help customers address these challenges through productivity enhancing features, durability upgrades and system improvements that increase efficiency.
The new design integrates more standard technologies such as Cat Payload, which measures every bucket load to help customers consistently achieve target truck payloads without overloading or underloading, boosting load-haul cycle efficiency.
“ Customers are looking for ways to move more material without increasing fuel consumption or downtime. With the new 6040 design, we focused on delivering high breakout forces and fast swing cycles while at the same time increasing fuel efficiency through hydraulic optimisation. Similar to the next generation 6060, the new 6040 integrates proven Cat electronics infrastructure to help enhance performance and reliability, while a common design helps streamline maintenance and reduce downtime,” said Nils Feddern, Senior Product Consultant, Hydraulic Mining Shovels at Caterpillar.
To help customers reduce fuel consumption and extend component life, Hydraulic Optimisation for the new 6040 features variable, on-demand hydraulic oil flow to reduce excess heat, conserve energy and prolong component life.“ Conventional systems operate at the maximum required cylinder flow and pressure, regardless of demand from individual circuits. Conversely, the 6040’ s optimised hydraulic system dynamically assigns individual pumps or groups of pumps to deliver the exact flow and pressure that each hydraulic function requires. This makes the new 6040 up to 15 % more efficient than shovels without it.”
For greater performance and reliability without sacrificing fuel efficiency, the 6040 is powered by twin new Cat C32B engines with 1550 kW( 2,079 hp) output that enable shovel operation or the ability to move the shovel off the face under the power of one engine. A true global machine, multiple engine configurations are available to meet US EPA Tier 4 Final / Stage V emissions regulations without the need of DEF or China Nonroad Stage III emissions standards, equivalent to US EPA Tier 2. When equipped with the optional oil change interval extension attachment, maintenance downtime is reduced through engine oil exchange intervals increasing from 500 to 1,000 hours.
The new 6040 features high breakout forces – 1,201 kN( 269,996 lbf) in face shovel configuration and 1,123 kN( 252,460 lbf) with backhoe – to prevent bucket stall when encountering tough materials, improving productivity. Its closed-loop swing system delivers fast cycle times and improves energy efficiency.“ One of the first things our field-follow machine operators comment on is the shovel’ s power and swing speed,” mentions Feddern.
Standard Operator Assist – Enhanced Motion Control incorporates angle sensors on the linkage to calculate boom and stick positioning, preventing hard stops and metal-to-metal contacts. By reducing pressure spikes and shock feedback, the system improves operator performance, reduces fatigue and increases component life.
The shovel delivers efficient pass-match loading for a range of Cat mining trucks. It loads the 147 t( 162-ton) Cat 785 in four
The new Cat 6040 features variable, on-demand hydraulic oil flow to reduce excess heat, conserve energy and prolong component life
passes and offers 8-pass loading capabilities of the 327 t( 360-ton) Cat 796 AC.
To support safer, more comfortable operation and faster operator training, the new state-of-the-art cab includes a floor window to provide clear views of the tracks and 40 % overall greater visibility of digging and loading areas. Offering low, 68 dBA interior operating sound levels, the new cab design features a new air conditioning system, ergonomic joystick controls and left-side-mounted monitoring and diagnostic tower complete with large, 254-mm( 10- in) touchscreen, live sensor monitoring, and visual and acoustic fault warnings. Caterpillar’ s patented three-seat design – fully adjustable next gen comfort seat, an elevated full-size trainer seat and laptop work desk, and fold-away auxiliary seat – facilitates in-cab training.
Standard Vision 360 integrates four camera views on the in-cab touchscreen display to give the operator a 360˚ surround view of the shovel, reducing blind spots and repositioning and increasing safe operation. A new 45˚ hydraulically operated access stairway provides safe ingress and egress to the cab and features emergency lowering to ensure operation even when the engines are shut off.
Outside the cab, the 6040’ s new hydraulic system helps to enhance operator productivity. Its unique five-circuit hydraulics allow for two cylinder motions, two travel motions and swing.
To help customers adapt to evolving technologies and future power options, the shovel’ s new cab riser features integrated Cat electronics and an optimised electronic architecture. Standard ProductLink™ Elite boosts connectivity and increases the availability of machine reporting data. Plus, the design opens retrofit capability of Cat MineStar suite of technology solutions, including Fleet, Terrain, Detect and Health.
22 International Mining | MAY 2026