SURFACE LOADING
The new design opens the door for power agnostic operation with retrofit capabilities of an electric power module for the next generation 6040.
Built for demanding mine conditions, the new 6040 is engineered to last with a target design life of at least 60,000 hours. The shovel is 2.25 % heavier than the previous 6040 model and features robust structures and long-lasting heavy-duty fixed-axle rollers and idlers that eliminate grease consumption. A new single line grease injection system paired with fixed pins architecture vastly simplifies the grease distribution system with component count and grease line reduction to all pins. This substantially reduces the risk of line breakage, simplifies diagnostics and allows for more efficient grease distribution and flow control.
A rigorous hose audit for the new shovel’ s design provides better hose organisation and routing for streamlined service and improved field performance that delivers thousands of operating hours without a major hydraulic leak. All service areas are accessible via anti-slip walkways, and its retractable service station offers easy access to coolant, hydraulic oil, slew gearbox oil, grease, diesel and engine oil. Boom mounted, the main hydraulic block gives technicians quick access to the swing drives, rotary joint and travel spool valves, while increasing available space in the superstructure.
The updated electronics infrastructure provides access to the Cat Electronic Technician, helping dealer service personnel to more easily diagnose and prevent issues. Standard remote services include Remote Troubleshoot that allows the Cat dealer to diagnose issues remotely without impacting shovel performance and Remote Flash for updating onboard software at a convenient time without requiring a technician to be present.
Again looking at large rope shovels, this time on the Caterpillar side, Compañía Minera Antapaccay recently won first place nationally in two categories evaluated by Cat dealer Ferreyros, consolidating itself as the operation with the highest physical availability of Cat 7495HR2 electric shovels and Cat 797F HAA large tonnage trucks operating at more than 4,000 m above sea level. It is the first time that the company simultaneously leads both categories.
Every year, Ferreyros carries out a technical assessment of Caterpillar fleets in the country to identify operations with the best indicators of availability and reliability. In the evaluation corresponding to the 2025 performance, Antapaccay reached 93.47 % availability in electric shovels and 89.27 % in large tonnage trucks, outstanding results considering the demanding conditions of altitude, climate and operation.
“ The result achieved in electric shovels is a milestone, considering the atypical and highly demanding conditions in which this equipment operates. Physical availability has been consolidated as a strategic indicator that allows us to guarantee operational continuity in the face of factors such as extreme weather conditions, scheduled shutdowns and the demands of the operation,” said Giancarlo Arca, Mine Maintenance Manager.
In the case of trucks, maintaining availability levels above 89 % operating at height and on rough roads reflects a high technical standard, the result of joint management based on continuous equipment review, permanent prevention and operational discipline, key factors to ensure fleet reliability and continuity of operations.
“ This achievement is the result of a sustained process of strengthening, focused on the standardisation of tasks, specialized training and continuous improvement, which show the benefits of a planned work and, at the same time, pose the challenge of continuing to increase efficiency without compromising quality,” said Karim Batallanos, General Manager of Antapaccay.
Ferreyros ranks as the Cat dealer with the highest number of Cat 7495 rope shovel overhauls worldwide, by November 2025 having carried out 13 of them. These are pieces of equipment of around 1,500 short tons and more than 20 m high, with these overhauled units having acquired new useful life for Southern Copper Corporation, Minera Chinalco Peru, Compañía Minera Antapaccay and Minera Las Bambas.
Ferreyros completed one of these overhauls in just 55 days, it says in doing so setting a new standard in Peru; The equipment had accumulated more than 65,000 hours of use. Ferreyros optimised the reconstruction time by 25 %, through advanced planning strategies, tools developed by its experts and close teamwork with the client.
It says more and more open-pit mines are opting to rebuild their Cat shovels, trucks and other equipment, demonstrating their commitment to the circular economy.“ The experience acquired allows us to add efficiencies in these processes, reducing delivery times by giving a new life to the machines, always with high safety standards,” said Santiago Basualdo, Manager of Ferreyros’ Large Mining Division.
Record Hitachi EX3600-6 shovel hours at Kumtor plus EX2000-7 for Europe
Last October, Hitachi Construction Machinery said an EX3600-6 ultra-large hydraulic excavator at the Kumtor gold mine, operated by mining company Kumtor Gold in Kyrgyzstan, has achieved a milestone of 100,000 hours of operation. To commemorate this achievement, Eurasian Machinery LLP, the Hitachi Construction Machinery affiliate responsible for sales and servicing in the Central Asian region, held a ceremony at the gold mine. Kumtor Gold has a total of five EX3600-6 ultra-large hydraulic excavators, and the excavator that achieved 100,000 hours of operation is a unit that was delivered in 2012.
The Kumtor gold mine is located at an altitude of over 4,000 m in an extremely harsh environment that can reach temperatures as low as-40 ° C during the winter. Achieving 100,000 hours of operation under such conditions is an important demonstration of the robustness, durability and reliability of Hitachi Construction Machinery products as well as the superiority of parts quality and service systems, HCM says. Over the 11-year period since delivery, Eurasian Machinery has continuously stationed service personnel on site and provided maintenance and services around the clock. As a result, Kumtor Gold has accumulated maintenance know-how and currently conducts its own maintenance while Eurasian Machinery service personnel provide prompt support when needed to ensure stable operation, it added.
In December 2025, Hitachi Construction Machinery( Europe) NV( HCME) said that the first EX2000-7 ultra-large excavator had arrived in Europe. The 200 t machine was delivered to a customer in France in September 2025 following assembly and commissioning by Teramat. This landmark machine was the first Hitachi model to be chosen by the customer based in the central-eastern region of the country.
Renowned for its robustness and productivity, the EX2000-7 is designed to withstand the most demanding conditions. The company’ s decision to invest in the excavator was influenced by the site’ s excavation constraints( 0 to 13 m high at the working face) and the machine’ s narrow 9 m 3 Hitachi bucket( enabling increased penetration force). Teramat added additional options to further optimise performance, including a chain scraper for material removal, water mist fire protection system, and auxiliary cab heating.
The EX2000-7 was inaugurated at a special event in October 2025, which was attended by Satoshi Konno, VP Product Support, Parts & Mining at HCME, and Pierre Mailland-Rosset, Managing Director of Teramat. The delivery is testament to the strong partnership between HCME, Teramat and the customer. It reflects more than 20 years of collaboration based on trust, performance, and high-level technical support.
24 International Mining | MAY 2026