Hitachi Construction Machinery zeroed in on the future with innovative technology on display at MINExpo in Las Vegas, Nevada, last week. Its leading-edge solutions it says help mine owners address their most pressing concerns: operating costs, productivity, the environment and mine safety.
Hitachi Construction Machinery added that it is “forging a path toward Zero Emissions, Zero Downtime and Zero Entry Mines to reduce fuel consumption and interruptions for a lower cost per ton while enhancing safety by removing employees from mining operation danger zones.”
Hitachi Construction Machinery pioneered the hydraulic excavator beginning in 1965. In 1979, the company entered the mining industry in earnest. Today, the company offers a range of EX-7 wired mining electric excavators that complement conventional EX-7 excavators, helping mine operators lower their total cost of ownership (TCO) while slashing greenhouse gas emissions. EX-7 electric excavators require less frequent servicing and experience reduced machine downtime by eliminating the diesel engine. The EX5600-7 Electric Excavator was showcased at the booth for visitors to see the advanced electric machinery first hand.
When paired with reliable EX5600-7 excavators, their next-generation EH4000AC-5 rigid dump trucks make for a sustainable and efficient mine site. EH4000AC-5 dump trucks have been designed to reduce fuel consumption while enhancing productivity, reliability, and safety. Work mode selection allows workers to choose the optimal mode based on the mining site environment and operating conditions. In ECO mode, the engine output is lower than the default setting, resulting in reduced fuel consumption. H/P mode provides higher engine output. This model has also been designed with the potential retrofit expansion to trolley diesel and battery systems, making it next-generation capable for reduced emissions. The 242 ton class EH4000AC-5 was also on display at the booth.
Hitachi mining haul trucks offer a retrofittable trolley configuration that allows drivers to alternate between powering the truck in diesel mode and raising the pantograph to power the truck via overhead catenary lines in Trolley Mode. Trolley trucks simultaneously boost production, reduce operating costs and lower greenhouse gas emissions. They climb uphill slopes at approximately twice the speed of diesel trucks and reduce noise emissions while running in trolley mode. While running in trolley mode, the diesel engine runs less extending the engine life and reducing maintenance costs.
Hitachi Construction Machinery adds that it elevates mine site sustainability to the next level with the development of a zero-emission full battery trolley dump truck. Drawing electric power from a dynamic charging system allows continuous operation with no stops for recharging. This dynamic charging system minimises the weight of the battery solution, maximising the truck’s payload capacity. The all-battery trolley dump truck utilises an ABB-supplied onboard battery system and dynamic charging option via pantograph and overhead trolley lines to simultaneously charge the battery and provide energy to power the truck. Regenerative braking also adds charging capabilities to the battery management system.
The drive towards zero emissions requires a holistic approach that extends beyond the equipment. Mine sites operate 24/7 and they need management solutions to reduce environmental impact while achieving sustainable resource extraction. Fleet management and digital mining solutions from Wenco, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Construction Machinery, and Envirosuite, an environmental intelligence company, provide real-time data to enable responsible mining practices.
Hitachi Construction Machinery it says “offers a full suite of digital solutions to solve environmental and greenhouse gas challenges. Through business partnerships and startups, there is a suite of innovative solutions across the full spectrum of mining operations. One example is analysing driver operation data and machine emissions to calculate optimal operation routes.”
Safety is a primary concern when people work close to mining equipment. Limiting employee exposure is possible through mine site automation, such as driverless automated haul trucks. The Hitachi Automated Haulage System (AHS) combines advanced digital technologies and Wenco International Mining System’s fleet management system (FMS) to enable uncrewed operation of mining trucks at open-cut mining pits. The system optimises route navigation, acceleration and braking for decreased life-cycle costs. “AHS takes automation to the next level by allowing mixed fleet integration with manned fleets while transitioning from conventional to autonomous operations, open interoperability to optimise across your entire truck fleet and the ability to retrofit existing trucks.”
On the path to a Zero Entry Mine Hitachi Construction Machinery is developing a system for semi-autonomous and remote operation of ultra-large hydraulic excavators. Key features of this system are the Digging Assist Function to support the excavation of ore, and the Loading Assist Function to support an optimised loading cycle. Once complete, this system aims to improve operational performance, and mine sites will benefit from reduced operator burden and increased productivity.
Reducing downtime and extending product life helps mine sites maintain production rates while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Mine sites can achieve both goals by closely monitoring mining operations and machine health. With ConSite Mine remote monitoring and remanufacturing services, users can prevent breakdowns and extend the life of their machines. ConSite Mine remotely monitors the condition of large hydraulic shovels and rigid dump trucks, promptly generating alerts when sensors detect abnormalities. One of the features, ConSite Oil, continuously monitors oil conditions to catch issues that occur between oil analysis intervals.
ConSite Mine Plus leverages digital platforms with ecosystem partners to enhance operational efficiency, reduce unexpected downtime and maximise equipment performance. The consolidated digital platform provides customers with a Path to Zero Downtime.
Hitachi Construction Machinery has also established the Technological Centers of Excellence (TCoE) which remotely monitors and supports mine operations 24 hours a day, 365 days a year from Australia, Japan, and Canada. The same information customers get in their mine control room is monitored in real-time. Advanced digital technologies will analyse data to help drive customer solutions.