Komatsu announces "largest-ever" haul truck

Komatsu’s 363 tonne capacity 980E-4: its biggest dump truck yet

Komatsu Australia has announced the release of the 980E-4 electric-drive haul truck – its largest-ever – with a payload capacity of 363 tonnes (400 US tons).

Power for the 980E-4 comes from a Komatsu SSDA18V170 Tier 2 engine, rated at 2611kW which in combination with its GE Mining dual IGBT electric drive system provides a top speed of 60km/h.

According to Scott Harrington, Komatsu Australia’s National Product Manager, Mining, this engine provides one of the lowest brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) in this truck class.

Applications for this truck include iron ore, coal and other resources requiring bulk material movement when matched to large loading tools, to deliver the lowest possible cost-per-tonne.

As with other trucks in Komatsu’s ultra class electric drive haul trucks range, the 980E-4 was designed, developed and manufactured by Komatsu America Corp at its Peoria operation in Illinois for customers around the world.

"Komatsu was the first to introduce AC drive systems for ultra-class mining trucks in 1996, and has ever since continued to demonstrate to our customers in Australia and globally the incomparable performance and reliability that Komatsu trucks provide," Harrington said.

“The 980E-4 is based on the proven high quality Komatsu design that will deliver exceptional productivity and outstanding availability over the whole life of the asset, to provide our customers with the lowest cost per tonnage haulage option.”

A number of major components on the 980E-4 are common to Komatsu’s successful and well proven 960E-2 truck. These include the engine, radiator, alternator, retarder and cab. \

Other key components have been developed specifically for the new 980E-4, engineered to meet the demands of its 363 tonne rated payload.

These major component changes include larger wheel motors and hydraulic components.

The new GDY108C wheel motors, based on GE Mining’s proven GDY108B design, are longer to accommodate the 980E-4’s 44 inch rims and incorporate a number of gearing and bearing design changes.

"With the new truck’s hydraulic components, Komatsu’s approach has always been to have a simple and reliable hydraulic system, and the 980E-4 continues that design philosophy," said Harrington.

“Hoist cylinders, steering cylinders and suspension cylinders have all increased in capacity, ensuring that with these trucks we can maintain a known rated hydraulic system pressure and Komatsu component design life targets."

Harrington said that with the 980E-4, Komatsu has continued this maintenance-friendly approach through such design features as:

Removable power modules
Simple hydraulic systems with a single common tank
Removable pump subframe
Oil-cooled multiple disc brakes for reduced brake wear and maintenance requirements compared with dry disc brakes
Less lubricants than similar class trucks
Advanced machine diagnostics including Komatsu’s KOMTRAX Plus remote monitoring satellite communication system.

The 980E-4 can also be fully integrated with management systems such as Modular Mining’s Dispatch and MineCare products.

The new truck’s cab also brings the same comfort features and operator controls used in Komatsu’s other Ultra-Class trucks, including air-ride seats, easy-to-use instrument panel with automatic retard speed control and fully adjustable climate controls.

"The first commercial fleet of the new 980E-4 has now begun delivery at an overseas mining operation with an initial fleet size of 30 plus units to be delivered this year," said Harrington.

"We are also working closely with a number of Australian customers for the introduction of this new model in the near future."

Brief specs of the 980E-4:

Payload: 363 tonnes
Fully loaded weight: 625 tonnes
Engine: Komatsu SSDA18V170 QSK78 rated at 2611 kW
Maximum loaded speed:60km/h
Braking system: 4476kW electric dynamic retarder plus wet disc brakes front and rear
Tyre size: 59/80R63(standard)
Overall height: 8.0m

Komatsu announces "largest-ever" haul truck

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