The first ever PC7000-11 Komatsu Mining hydraulic excavator and the first PC7000 machine in Latin America has been shipped to Barrick’s Veladero gold mine in Argentina. Komatsu says the model provides superior features such as KomtraxPlus 2 version, improved electronics, which results in less maintenance and improved response times. The PC7000-11 has been tested thoroughly in the product development phase at the Komatsu Arizona test site.
The excavator drivers have been enthusiastic. Peter Bills, Komatsu excavator driver at Komatsu, commented: “I’ve never driven such a good excavator before. The productivity of the excavator is incredible. It’s so direct and fast, I only know it from much smaller types.” And that’s exactly where the challenge lay. Although the PC7000 weighs more than 600 t the excavator is as agile and flexible as smaller machines. “The key to success is innovation, led by our engineering and design team. Komatsu has always been a company focused on innovation and technology and combined with the experience in mining, the PC7000 becomes a game changer. Thanks to years of innovation processes, the highest demands on suppliers and extensive testing are the trailblazers for such great innovations in excavators.”
Big Data is a particular concern for the customer and is becoming more and more important. The PC7000-11 is prepared for an optional payload meter (PLM) on board. The PLM provides full visibility in bucket fill weight, measures performance and tracks truckload. “Komatsu is always interested in accompanying its customers in the digital age and offering solutions.”
The trip to South America started on December 13 from the Komatsu Mining factory in Düsseldorf. The first destination was the harbour of Düsseldorf-Reisholz. From there, the excavator left for Antwerp within a few days before the big journey began. The PC7000-11 was then loaded from Antwerp onto the ship to its destination in La Plata, Argentina. After the arrival in La Plata, the excavator was transported in individual parts with over 40 trucks to its destination gold mine Veladero which is operated by Barrick.
A notable point is the height of the operation: The excavator operates at 4,500 m above sea level. This point also poses challenges. An excavator works quite differently at this altitude; the pressure of the oils changes, the temperatures are demanding and the engine also needs a different tuning. “This is not a challenge for the excavators of Komatsu, thanks to decades of experience in the field. The outside temperature rises to over 30° C in summer but drops to as low as -35° C in winter, oil and petrol have to be adjusted accordingly.”
As soon as all parts of the excavator arrived in the mine, the assembly started. The assembly process will take between 4-6 weeks. “After the assembly, the service of Komatsu does not stop. Komatsu sends service personnel and excavator trainers to the customer to optimise the machine and train the excavator drivers on site. Not only the drivers but also the maintenance staff are trained. This is where the concept of continuous improvement comes in, the aim is to support and assist the customer at all times. Thanks to the strong support of our distributor, parts and service support are tailor made. The stock at the mine site provides the most urgent spare parts such as pumps, rollers and tracks. Considering the two PC5500 working at this site already and the satisfaction of the performance, Komatsu appreciates the expansion of the fleet and the trust of the customer.”