Rolling off its production line today was the 400 t (metric) class diesel-electric AC drive XDE440 mining truck, claimed as the world’s largest by Xuzhou-headquartered Chinese construction and mining equipment giant XCMG. XCMG stated: “The XDE440, the world’s largest rear-drive rigid mining car, has rolled off the production line. This is not only an important milestone in the development of XCMG’s mining equipment industry, but also an important breakthrough in high-end mining equipment in China and the world.” It added that the truck is aimed at the “global high-end mining market” such as operations in South America, North America and Australia, citing a potential availability of over 95% and annual working hours of 7,300 hours.
The title of largest mining truck has already been claimed several years back by BELAZ with its 450 t 75710 but this is undoubtedly a new addition to the super ultra class mining truck world.
The company says the XDE440 is being delivered in batches to Chinese mining major Zijin Mining for its Serbia Zijin copper mines in Serbia (which includes three open pits), furthering the long-term strategic cooperation between the two companies. “We will keep pursuing an intelligent, high-end, green mining solution to level up our customer experience and maximise our customer value,” said Lu Chuan, President of XCMG at the launch event. XCMG’s mining equipment offer now includes 70-700 t mining excavators, 30-440 t mining dump trucks, 100-6,000 t/h crushing and screening machinery and 350 hp to 550 hp graders.
Zijin owns some of the world’s most important mines, particularly in copper and gold, from Julong Copper in Tibet, China, to a 39.6% interest in Kamoa-Kakula in DRC (45.04% including indirect holdings in Ivanhoe), Kolwezi copper mine, also in DRC, Buritica gold mine in Colombia, Cukari Peki copper mine in Serbia, plus numerous other operations in China. It has already applied a Chinese mining truck fleet in Serbia in the form of NHL NTE240 electric drive units.
XCMG said that the truck had also been developed for a second major mining customer, China Minmetals, the owner of MMG, which operates some of the world’s largest mines including Las Bambas copper mine in Peru, Dugald River zinc mine in Australia, Kinsevere copper mine in DRC and Rosebery base metals mine in Tasmania, Australia. “Minmetals and XCMG have a very deep and long-standing friendship. XCMG has strong engineering capabilities, reliable product quality and ultimate service throughout the lifecycle,” said Zhang Liang, Director of Resources Supply Chain at Minmetals Group, adding that the development of mines at home and abroad “is fully integrated with the advantages of XCMG’s advanced technology and equipment, and a new cooperation model has been established to help the high-quality development of the mines.”
“The XDE440 has a load capacity of 400 t, and is nearly three stories high, creating the world’s rear-drive rigid mining truck load record,” said XCMG Mining Machinery Project R&D Head Xie Heping, adding “in order to meet the demand of 400 t of load, we independently developed the world’s largest output torque and wheel reducer plus the world’s strongest wet disk brake.” XCMG also cited intelligent variable frequency traction, high torque hub drive, cab rollover protection and anti-fatigue design of large bearing components.
XCMG added that with the implementation of China’s national ‘3060 dual carbon’ strategy, “the mining and utilisation of China’s mineral resources is quietly undergoing a new round of adjustment. The green, high-end, large-scale and intelligent upgrading of mining construction equipment has become an inevitable trend.” The 3060 decarbonisation strategy is China’s commitment to hit peak emissions by 2030 at the latest and then achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.