Ferreyros, the Caterpillar dealer in Peru and a major supplier of mining machinery, recently successfully put into operation at the Antamina copper/zinc mine (BHP 33.75%, Glencore 33.75%, Teck 22.5% and Mitsubishi 10%) the first fleet of electric drive Cat trucks of 410 tons (372 t) class in the country and some of the first globally. The 798 AC trucks have the maximum power available in their class at 4,000 hp. “With this new model, designed to provide productivity, safety and speed, Ferreyros reaffirms its leadership in the range of giant equipment for Peru’s national mining industry.”
“The importance of Peru as a mining country is reflected in the commissioning of the Cat 798 AC trucks, which are already moving ore in our country, at more than 4,300 m above sea level. Our objective is very clear on all our fronts: to offer maximum productivity and safety in challenging mining conditions, with world-class support,” said Fernando Armas Tamayo, Vice President of Large Mines at Ferreyros. To respond to the preferences of each mine, Ferreyros provides two 400 ton class truck models: one with electric traction (798 AC) and the other with mechanical traction (797), both with the highest power rating in their category. There are now 120 797F (401 ton, 364 t) trucks in Peru and Cat has 75% of the truck population of 400 ton class in the country. Even this year new 797F units were also commissioned.
In addition to having the conventional dynamic brakes that characterise electrical equipment, the Cat 798 AC incorporates oil-cooled disc brakes on all four wheels, unique in the market, and complying with the ISO 3450-2011 standard. The trucks are designed for stable operation and fast braking, critical for the snow and rain operations common in Peruvian mining. The Cat 798 AC trucks – eight metres high, equivalent to a three-story building – incorporate characteristics specially adapted to the national geography. They have an engine configured to operate at high altitude: the Cat C175 4×4, with 20 cylinders, successfully tested to achieve 4,000 hp.
The new 410 ton trucks will add to the successful experience of Peruvian operators with the Cat 797F mechanical drive truck, which began operations in Peru in 2011 and brought for the first time in the country the use of machines with the maximum available capacity for ore hauling. “A decade ago, we pioneered truck gigantism in Peru with the Cat 797F. Today we continue to express our commitment to this trend, through the launch of the Cat 798 AC, ” said Armas.
Both the 797F and 798 AC have the option of conventional manned or autonomous use. They can be driven by diesel engines or by a dual LNG and diesel system (Dynamic Gas Blending), in order to meet the requirements of mining customers. With 3,500 employees, Ferreyros is the leading company in the provision of heavy machinery and specialised services in Peru, representing Caterpillar since 1942 as well as other prestigious brands.
