Modern Mining October 2018

COVER STORY

495 kW, the A60H is the biggest true articulated hauler in the world. It is clearly a machine that the market was waiting for given the excellent sales we’ve had, with one of its biggest attrac- tions being its ability to take over from heavy rigid trucks in pits where underfoot conditions are difficult,” says Vaughan. This was confirmed to Modern Mining dur- ing its recent trip to the Schutsekama mine. Schalk Steyn told the magazine that the A60Hs were earning their keep. As he said: “The prime reason we bought them is that it is dif- ficult for our rigid trucks to operate in the pits in the rainy season. In fact, when conditions are really poor, the A60Hs are the only trucks that can go into the pits and get out the material efficiently.” Steyn Diamante’s new 50-ton L350H loader is working in conjunction with the A60Hs and the company has thus far been very impressed by the machine and, in particular, its fuel effi- ciency and high lift capability. The unit is powered by a D16E engine offering a maximum power output of 397 kW and is fitted with a 6,8 m 3 capacity bucket. Launched at ConExpo-Con/Agg 2017 in the US early last year, the L350H – which succeeds the L350F – features load-sensing hydraulics which have been designed to enhance the responsiveness of attachments and reduce cycle times by improving the lifting and lower- ing speed of the boom. It is also equipped with intelligent technology designed to reduce fuel consumption. While the L350H works very well with the A60H, as is the case at the Schutsekama mine, the machine that can be said to be the near- perfect match for the large articulated hauler is the 90-tonne EC950E crawler excavator, which typically loads the A60H in three passes. “The two machines together form a formidable,

expect, it is not an over-complicated machine,” Vaughan notes. “The underlying philosophy during design – based on considerable input from customers – was ‘keep it simple’. It also has one of the best cabs around, offering superb visibility and high levels of comfort. All in all, we believe it is a winner that is going to prove highly popular in the mining industry.” While the R100E is so new that there is no field experience with it in South Africa (unless one counts the protype in use with Trollope Mining Services), the A60H articulated hauler has now been in service for over a year with some customers after having been officially launched locally in May 2017. “We have around 30 units in the field, mostly in South Africa but some in Namibia, and the feedback we’re getting from customers is very positive. Offering a payload of 55 tonnes (60 tons) and a maximum power output of

The L350H loads an A60H hauler at Schutsekama.

The R100E is put through its paces at the launch in Scotland earlier this year.

20  MODERN MINING  October 2018