Mining and tunnelling equipment manufacturer GHH has unveiled a new load haul dumper (LHD), the LF-10 NEO, offering, it says, the highest tipping height in its class.

This 10-t-payload loader is a powerful and compact machine and an improved version of the LF-10, already a well-established product in its class, the company said. It is the latest in a line of new GHH loaders that includes the LF-14, the LF-7 and the LF-8.

The LF-10 NEO has a z-link design and a maximum tipping height of 2.5 m. This makes it an ideal partner for loading all 30-t-payload trucks on the market, according to GHH.

“The high breakout forces, efficient boom and bucket motion times, as well as the strong power to weight ratio, makes the LF-10 NEO one of the best in class,” Ingo Rath, Product Line Manager Loaders at GHH in Germany, said.

With a length of 9.6 m and width of 2.6 m, the LF-10 NEO is compact and versatile for excellent manoeuvrability in mid-seam underground mining environments, according to GHH.

The standard bucket aboard the LF-10 NEO holds 4.6 cu.m, making loading and unloading easier and more cost effective.

With an operating weight of around 28 t, the loader manages speeds of up to 32 km/h with four-speed transmission and gradients up to 25%. It is able to tip the 10-t payload in just 2.6 seconds, GHH says.

“GHH installs the water-cooled Mercedes OM936 diesel engine with 240 kW, which is the best in the 10-t loader-size class,” Rath says. “The large fuel tank also allows for full shift operation with no worry for refuelling mid shift and losing valuable production time.”

Exhaust gas emissions comply with US EPA Tier 3 or EU Stage IIIA on the standard machine, while EU Stage V is also optional. The low fuel consumption, ease of maintainability and robust design as well as durability and reliability of the product all add to the low operating costs, the company said.

The LF-10 NEO has an operator compartment that boasts excellent ergonomics, GHH says. This is evident in the way the controls have been laid out and the general arrangement within the cabin. There is also a large footbox within the cab, providing the operator with significantly more space and comfort. The cab also offers improved visibility compared with other loaders in the class.

It comes as standard with useful safety and maintainability features such as the Proximity Detection System (PDS) interface, which allows the integration of third-party equipment. There are also optional wear sensors fitted on the brakes.

“Like other GHH vehicles, the articulated LF-10 NEO is designed for underground hard-rock mining and can be ordered with many options,” GHH said.

It also seamlessly integrates with the GHH inSiTE electronic monitoring and digital analytics system, which provides insight into the machine performance and maintenance requirements, all tailored to the specific needs of customers.

GHH concluded: “The NEO joins the company’s mid-range segment of LHD offering, which is one of the most comprehensive on the market: the range of 18 diesel and electric models with payloads from one to 21 tonnes is a weighty factor in choosing the perfect loader. And, by the way, the Germans have the same great selection in dump trucks to complement.”