A new company, European Truck Factory (ETF) is in the process of developing an innovative haul truck solution which it believes represents the most significant change in the approach to mine haulage in 50 years.ETF will offer 80, 125, 155 and 218t payload models, from the MT-88 to the MT-240. The main focus will be on the MT-240, and the company is completing a prototype model of this machine, which will be shipped from Germany in January 2011 to a test site. The advantage of the ETF range, according to CEO Eddy de Jongh, is that in rigid trucks, each truck size has different major components, including engine, frame, axles, drive line and tyres. In ETF’s case, each truck size has the same major components.
The key element of the new concept is the trucks themselves are not repaired the trucks in the workshop but the components, resulting in much higher availability. The major components can be swapped and repairs carried out while the truck is in production. Power-packs, tyres and cabins can be swapped in only 15min and complete axles in 45min. Mining trucks mostly operate 50% of the time empty, this means that their large engine power is not needed or used on empty hauls.
The trucks have an all-wheel-drive system that makes it possible for them to operate on slippery roads, which significantly increases utilisation. Tyre costs are saved through all-wheel-steering; oscillating axles; a unique suspension; central tyre inflation system; automatic axle lift; equal load spread over all wheels; automatic ‘on the fly’ wheel alignment; pressure and temperature sensors and load spillage prevented by design.
The ETF truck is equipped with four MTU/Mercedes OM 502 V8 engines (Tier 3, 480kW). Each of the four engines is attached to a rear mounted pump drive gearbox supporting four variable displacement hydraulic pumps powering one axle line. Each axle line comprises two independent wheel groups supporting two drive wheels. Each individual wheel group incorporates twin variable displacement drive motors powering a planetary reduction gearbox with independent oil circulation cooling and microfiltration. This uniquely configured, electronically managed transmission system provides versatility in terms of performance and retarding capability, offering both high operational performance and low overall energy cost.
The German operating company will conduct world-wide deliveries. ETF intends to rent its trucks with life-cycle contracts and this will also be organised out of Germany. ETF also has a holding in the UAE close to its sources of finance.