The Wirtgen Group is planning to present its field-tested 220 SM(i) 60 ton (54 t) class surface miner for the first time on the North American continent at next month’s MINExpo 2021 event in Las Vegas.

With a cutting width of 2.2 m and a cutting depth of up to 300 mm, the new 220 SM(i) surface miner (pictured) is an ideal choice for the selective extraction of minerals, routing operations and infrastructure projects, according to Wirtgen. A particular highlight of the 220 SM(i), which offloads extracted minerals in windrows, is its spacious ROPS/FOPS operator’s cabin. It can be heated or air-conditioned and is soundproofed and isolated from vibrations, the company says. An operator-friendly multifunctional joystick controls all key functions of the machine.

In addition to the 220 SM(i), Wirtgen plans to preview the successor to its 2500 SM at the show, which runs from September 13-15.

Sales of the 280 SM(i) surface miner are scheduled to begin at the turn of the year. The highlight features of the new 280 SM(i) include a slewable operator’s cabin, with the machine’s technological innovations working together to ensure high overall productivity and cost-efficiency, Wirtgen says.

Wirtgen will be adding more new models to its range of surface miners. The first of these will be the 260 SX(i), which is not designed primarily for traditional mining applications, but for use in large-scale infrastructure projects such as the construction of railroads, drainage canals, freeways and highways and the enlargement of tunnels.