Capital Equipment News December 2017

L iebherr has demonstrated its contin- ued innovation with the introduction of its T 236 mining truck. Capitalising on decades of proven prowess in off-highway truck technologies, the T 236 benefits from Liebherr’s electric drive system innovations, further demonstrated by the introduction of the vertically integrated Litronic Plus Gener- ation 2 AC drive system. The new rigid dump truck, with a diesel electric drive system, marks Liebherr’s entry into the 100 t class and is said to be the first of its nature in this class with a four-corner, oil immersed braking system. Initially unveiled last year at MineExpo, the T 236 is said to represent a new direction and increased expansion of Liebherr’s mining product range. Dr. Burkhard Richthammer, MD of Design and Engineering at Liebherr-Mining Equipment Colmar SAS, notes that the new truck was developed closely with many of the OEM’s customers in order to meet market requirements that ultimately speak to maximum performance with the lowest possible operating costs. As part of the T 236’s product development process, an intensive product validation phase was finalised this year. The tests were designed to evaluate the product using several different parameters, including specific function and performance tests for the systems and structural evaluations. Extreme driving manoeuvres were also used to evaluate operator safety, load stability and machine performance during trials. “We can proudly share that the T 236 has successfully completed the testing phase and has recently started its field operation trials at the Erzberg iron ore mine in Austria,” says Dr. Richthammer. Capital Equipment News was part of a sizeable group of about 40 journalists who recently witnessed the T 236 being put through its paces at the Erzberg mine. Dr. Richthammer explains that the Erzberg mine was carefully chosen as the testing ground because it offers a varied and interesting set of conditions for field trials, while it also has an existing fleet of mining truck models in the 100 t class for the T 236 to work alongside for direct comparison. “The alpine mine is active for more than 330 days each year and is a continuous 24- hour operation. The climate conditions can vary from snow with temperatures of -20°C to some scorching summer heat with in-pit temperatures that can go as high as 40°C. A particularly interesting climate profile is that in a matter of hours, it will intermittently switch between rain and sunshine,” says Dr. Richthammer. Additionally, Erzberg offers both uphill and downhill haulage cycles, presenting challenging haulage profiles due

a constant variation of grade. In the coming year, Liebherr will roll out further pre-series units to selected operations to further validate the truck’s capabilities before its commercial launch. The various sites are currently planned for South Africa and other selected global locations. A decision for commercial availability will be made after the tests, but Dr. Richthammer predicts it may take a further two to three years before the truck is commercially available. Key value proposition Designed to carry up to 100 t payload, the T 236 can be ideally paired with Liebherr’s R 9100, R 9150, R 92 00 or R 9250 mining excavators. A key talking point on the T 236 is Liebherr’s Litronic Plus Generation 2 drive system, which introduces the advanced Active Front End technology, and is said to be the next big thing in electric drive system design. Making use of electrical energy during retarding events, the drive system is able to deliver controlled engine speed with almost no fuel consumption. “The Active Front End control and electric drive work in harmony to use less fuel and cause less wear on components, translating into greater cost-savings,” says Dr. Richthammer. “As the first diesel electric truck in the 100 t class to incorporate an oil immersed braking system with four-corner braking control, the T 236 is geared to deliver sound reliability and performance, even in tough operating conditions.” With its high take-off torque and continuous power-to-ground capability, the T 236 is less sensitive to grade and payload variations, resulting in greater productivity. Vertical integration of Liebherr designed and manufactured components ensures that the truck’s powertrain achieves optimal system efficiency and performance throughout the full range of applications. The truck’s innovative, variable hydraulic system lowers machine parasitic losses to provide maximum power, while lowering fuel consumption when power is not required. Easy serviceability and safety To ensure the safety of maintenance technicians, the T 236 is equipped with a double pole battery, starter motor and hoist system isolators as standard. In addition, the Liebherr truck provides an innovative drive system inhibit, electrically interlocked to grounding devices for each plug and drive power module. Operating on a voltage level of 690 VAC and 900 VDC enables regular site technicians to carry out system maintenance. Liebherr’s Litronic Plus Isolation system, said to be an industry first, ensures the safety of maintenance personnel through the elimination of hazards by design.

Making use of electrical energy during retarding events, the drive system is able to deliver controlled engine speed with almost no fuel consumption

The T 236 is said to be the first of its nature in the 100 t class with a 4-corner, oil immersed braking system

The T 236 has successfully completed the testing phase and has recently started its field operation trials at the Erzberg iron ore mine in Austria

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS DECEMBER 2017 7