Back in 1995, Assarel-Medet JSC purchased a Cat® 992D wheel loader from local Cat dealer Eltrak Bulgaria. The unit, used to load haul trucks with ore, has only recently ceased active service. During the course of its 18-year productive life, the 992D loaded an estimated 61,800,000 t of ore and worked over 100,000 engine hours, “an outstanding record that few machines in this class ever achieve,” Cat says.
During that time, the unit underwent overhauling of the powertrain, engine, and torque converter. A strict maintenance program was followed to manufacturer recommendations and genuine parts and components were used to ensure high productivity levels were maintained.
Assarel mechanics are supported by the Eltrak service team on call 24/7. In addition, the Eltrak technical team carries out regular audits of the scheduled technical servicing records and the process includes a check on the methods used to ensure best practices are shared. Eltrak also supplied instructor-led training to help operators maximise fuel efficiency whilst getting the best performance out of the machine.
The Assarel-Medet mining and processing complex (IM, August 2012, pp12-18) is Bulgaria’s largest open pit copper miner. It provides around 50% of the national production of copper and processes around 13 Mt/y. The ore also contains molybdenum, nickel, gold and silver. The operation is located near the town of Panagyurishte in Pazardzhik province, east of the capital, Sofia.
Randy Aneloski, Caterpillar Marketing Specialist for large wheel loaders comments: “Wheel loaders are an extremely important tool in the production cycle and often work in demanding conditions. Whether they are loading trucks or loading into a crusher, they are needed to move the material through its processing. If the wheel loader stops working for any reason, the process stops and other equipment becomes idle. When the 992 was first introduced in 1968, it was intended to last through multiple engine lives but we did not envision it delivering 100,000 hours of service. It is testament to a very good maintenance program by both Assarel-Medet, our customer, and Eltrak Bulgaria, the Cat dealer, that this 992D has reached this milestone. It also demonstrates the ability of Cat equipment to help customers reach their sustainability goals.”
The first Cat 992 in the D Series rolled off the production line in 1992. This 10.7 m3 loader D-Series wheel loader was at the time the seventh model in the Caterpillar line of wheel loaders and the largest. It is powered by a 12-cylinder 3412 diesel engine. Since then, the Cat 9 Series wheel loaders have undergone continued research and development upgrades, evolving with the B, C, D,E, F, G Series to the current Cat 993K unit.
The Cat 992D has earned its place in the Assarel Medet museum where it is now displayed. It has been replaced at the mine by the latest Cat model, the 993K. The Assarel Medet team looks forward to another long serving and productive life for the new 134-t 993K wheel loader. It will work three shifts, 365 days a year.
Cat models at Assarel Medet:
• D10R, D8N, and D8T track dozers
• 834G, 834H wheel dozers
• 966F, 992D, 993K and 994D wheel loaders
• M316D wheel excavator
• 16H motor graders