SURFACE MINING TRUCKS
Assist System and the performance of the T 284 , leading to an order for six more trolley-capable T 284 trucks at Sentinel mine , along with 30- trolley-capable T 284 trucks for Cobre Panama copper mine in Panama , Liebherr says .
As a mark of success of the partnership between FQML and Liebherr , along with the performance of the T 284 with trolley solution , FQML recently confirmed an order for a further 11 T 284 trucks . These three trucks for Sentinel mine and eight trucks for Cobre Panama mine will join the existing fleets operating with the Trolley Assist System . This soon-to-be fleet of 38 T 284s in Panama will claim the title of the world ’ s largest ultra-class truck fleet on trolley , according to Liebherr .
“ Trolley Assist truck systems have become integral to the development of First Quantum ’ s large scale open-pit truck haulage operations ,” an FQML representative says . “ Over the last decade , First Quantum has emerged as one of the industry leaders in implementation of Trolley Assist systems across mine planning and design , installation , operations , and maintenance . We consider our purpose designed Trolley Assist systems deliver a step change in measurable haulage performance through increased truck productivity , improved maintenance cost , and reduced carbon emissions .
“ During the past five years , Liebherr has proven itself as a proactive partner in the development of Trolley Assist capable truck fleet systems . First Quantum has selected the Liebherr T 284 ultra-class truck for some of our Trolley Assist deployments at our large-scale mining operations in Zambia and , more recently , as the sole deployed truck at our Panama mining operations . With a high degree of co-operation between our organisations , we see this partnership continuing to grow in years to come .”
Oliver Hoelzer , Director of Mining Liebherr- Panamá , says : “ Even before the arrival of the very first truck , Liebherr Panama ’ s relationship with FQML Panama has been more of a mutual partnership than a pure business relationship . Our highly committed team recognises that Liebherr ’ s own success is intrinsically linked to the success of FQML .”
Liebherr has also delivered six trolley-capable 100 t T 236 haul trucks to the Erzberg iron ore mine in Austria , bringing the total number of Liebherr trucks with the Trolley Assist System to 56 once FQML ’ s newest fleet has been commissioned .
High times for HYDRA
Progress is being made in Chile with the CORFOsupported HYDRA Consortium project in Chile which involves the development of a Fuel Cell
Electric Vehicle ( FCEV ) mining truck powered by both hydrogen fuel cells and batteries , which will ultimately be installed at minesite pilot testing locations including Antofagasta Minerals ’ Minera Centinela copper operation . A stationary FCEV powertrain prototype was recently completed and presented at an event at the operations of consortium member Reborn Electric Motors SpA in Rancagua . The new powertrain is now undergoing extensive testing and during the next phase the consortium expect to retrofit it into a mining truck thought the exact model it will be fitted to has yet to be finalised . The prototype is composed of a 60 kW fuel cell and 140 kWh battery . Specifically it has a Ballard FCmove™ HD fuel cell and a Hexagon Purus type IV H2 storage system .
The HYDRA project has four phases – throughout 2021 and 2022 , the engineering and pre-feasibility study for the hydrogen mining truck solution , including the H2 supply chain , is being carried out . In addition , the prototype has been built to evaluate the performance of the fuel cell and battery powertrain under specific mining conditions . Both activities will allow the consortium to validate the business case in more detail . By 2023 , the proof of concept will be carried out by converting a mining truck , replacing the diesel engine with a fully electric 2 MW hybrid propulsion system made up of the
Schlam ' s HERCULES EXO
Looking at the very latest truck body techhnology , Western Australiabased mining product and services supplier , Schlam , recently launched the Hercules EXO , a next-generation mining dump body that , it says , offers iron ore miners both a higher payload potential and longer service life . Following the trial body development and testing , the first few production bodies have only just left the factory and were to be commissioned by end-April 2022 .. The Hercules EXO is a 240-t-class iron ore specific dump body that is 20 % lighter than the company ’ s existing Hercules dump body . The decreased weight gives miners a greater payload potential , while a complete redesign and new material selection have resulted in a 100 % increase in service life , according to the company . Schlam CEO , Matt Thomas , says miners will no longer have to compromise between payload and longer service life with the arrival of the Hercules EXO . “ The Hercules EXO is an ultra-lightweight body that maximises payload without sacrificing body life or requiring the addition of wear packages ,” he said . “ It is the culmination of 20 years of continuous improvement and innovation wrapped into one high performance dump body .” Schlam ’ s engineering department completely redesigned the previous Hercules to reduce weight in all non-wearing components . “ The team looked at the structural componentry individually to reduce weight so we can maximise steel thickness in the wearing areas , where it really matters ,” Thomas said . “ Using hybrid steel thickness , combined with Hardox ® 500 Tuf steel from Swedish steelmaker SSAB in the wearing areas , means that the EXO has a service life more than double other lightweight options .” The extra service life has three added benefits : cost , safety and the environment , Schlam says . Compared with heavy-duty products on the market that use liner packages , the payload potential of the Hercules EXO is far more significant , according to
The new Schlam HERCULES EXO offers huge weight and maintenance savings without compromising on performance
the company . It also does not require the labour-intensive wear plate replacement events needed to achieve target body life . “ When you factor in stored energy , working at heights , craneage , welding and more , liner replacement is high-risk work ,” Thomas said . “ The Hercules EXO removes these risks making it a safer option for miners .” The EXO project was completed in close consultation with Schlam ’ s customers , who revealed carbon impact is increasingly coming to the forefront of their concerns , the company said . “ It ’ s no secret that steel production creates a lot of carbon ,” Thomas said . “ However , having a dump body that uses less steel in the original manufacturing process and only needs to be replaced every eight years rather than every four has a massive net benefit on carbon production .” One factor in HERCULES EXO ' s development was Schlam ' s relationship with BHP , for whom it has been the exclusive tray supplier to its WA iron ore ( WAIO ) and Queensland BMA coal operations for the last three years . BHP was looking for a weight reduction of 400 to 600 kg per truck body . Schlam managed to achieve 4.5 t . This has been a major factor in a new contract with BHP to continue supply all of the bodies for WAIO and BMA for the next four years .
International Mining | MAY 2022