Tag Archives: Liebherr

Liebherr crawler excavators proving their worth in South Africa chromium mine

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After more than 1,000 operating hours, three Liebherr R 920 crawler excavators are still exhibiting the fuel efficiency, manoeuvrability and hydraulic performance that convinced mining company KEDASE to buy the equipment, the original equipment manufacturer said.

KEDASE, based in Boshoek, South Africa, purchased three R 920 crawler excavators from Liebherr in 2016. They are used for trenching, pipe laying and the feeding of a screen in a chromium mine in the country.

With an operating weight of 21 t and equipped with a Stage IIIA/Tier 3/CHINA III engine with an output of 110 kW/150 hp, the R 920 crawler excavator was developed specifically for these types of applications, according to Liebherr. For KEDASE, the machines have been configured with a 5.7 m boom, a 2 m stick and a 1.15 m³ bucket.

“The R 920 concept is based on the standard European models with high levels of reliability and increased productivity combined with low fuel consumption,” Liebherr said. “Launched onto the market at Bauma 2016, the R 920 is accompanied by a revamp of the range of 20-25 t crawler excavators.”

In addition to the R 920 are the R 922 and R 924. The R 922 weighs 22 t and has an output of 110 kW/150 hp and the R 924 weighs 24 t with an output of 125 kW/170 hp. “These machines are aimed at less regulated markets like South Africa, South East Asia, Russia, China and India,” Liebherr said.

Since their arrival in 2016, the R 920 crawler excavators have met all expectations, according to the OEM.

“After more than 1,000 operating hours, these machines are currently used for nine to 12 hours every day with an average fuel consumption of only 15 l/h. The manoeuvrability and hydraulic performance, in particular, make the machines efficient on site. From the operator’s point of view, the R 920 is characterised by its speed, comfort, stability and performance: “I feel like I’m in a pickup”, one operator said.

Liebherr said the expectation is that these machines will keep performing over time and reach 15,000 operating hours.

First ore for FQM’s Cobre Panama copper mine

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First Quantum Minerals has introduced first ore to the processing plant at its 74 Mt/y Cobre Panama open-pit copper mine in Panama.

On February 7, ore was introduced through primary crushing and onto the stockpile with initial feed rates between 4,000-5,000 t/h. Then, on February 11, ore was introduced through to the first milling circuit.

Operation on ore continues and will move into all other sections of the processing plant including producing copper concentrate, according to First Quantum. The company is now focused on an efficient phased ramp-up for Cobre Panama continuing through 2019.

At full tilt, Cobre Panama is expected to produce 350,000 t of copper from an in-pit crushing and conveying set up that includes four box cuts with semi-mobile primary crushers – two per conveyor line – feeding two in-pit conveyor lines that feed two overland conveyors after a transfer station to the secondary crushing and the main process plant. The company uses a fleet of Komatsu Mining P&H 4100XPC electric shovels; 363 t Liebherr T 284C trucks, Komatsu Mining Le Tourneau L2350 large wheel loaders (with SR drive), Liebherr R 9350 hydraulic excavators and Cat 777G 100 t trucks at the operation.

Liebherr to showcase wheel loader safety additions at Bauma

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At Bauma 2019, Liebherr will for the first time present a package of multiple intelligent assistance systems for its XPower® large wheel loaders.

These systems include new active rear person recognition and a sensor-supported, integrated tyre pressure monitoring system. All systems have been developed by Liebherr and are fully integrated into the machine control.

Another Liebherr wheel loader world premiere is a new intuitive steering system that will be available for all mid-and large-series models from Bauma 2019 onwards.

From the smallest wheel loader, the L 506 Compact, to the largest model, the L 586 XPower, Liebherr will be displaying a cross section of all wheel loader size classes at the bauma show on April 8-14 in Munich, Germany.

The small wheel loaders, up to the L 509 Stereo, and all large wheel loaders of the XPower generation will be available with Stage V emission standards compliance for the first time from April this year.

Rear person recognition

The company said: “Liebherr’s new assistance systems increase comfort and safety in daily operation in a range of ways. One of their advantages is that they enable machine operators to concentrate more on operating their Liebherr wheel loader by removing additional distractions. For example, the active rear person recognition automatically provides a warning on the machine display and sounds acoustic signals if there is danger in the wheel loader’s rear area. A special feature of this system is that it uses sensors to automatically differentiate between people and objects with the aid of sensors.”

If a person moves in the area behind the machine, the system alerts the machine operator. The active rear person recognition is activated at a greater distance than warning systems for inanimate objects such as walls or columns. The operator therefore receives a more precise warning if there is a risk of personal injury. The active rear person recognition avoids an overload of warning signals, which in turn reduces the burden on the machine operator, while reducing or eliminating serious accidents.

Tyre pressure monitoring system

“Tyres are among the most expensive wearing parts on a wheel loader. Incorrect tyre pressure leads to increased wear and rising fuel consumption and results in high costs. Other negative consequences are stability limitations and reduced manoeuvrability. It is therefore important to address potential tyre pressure problems in good time,” the company said.

Liebherr offers a new integrated tyre pressure monitoring system for this purpose, which detects tyre pressure deficiencies early, ensures good manoeuvrability and increases the lifetime of the tyres, according to the company.

With the aid of sensors, installed on the tyres and protected from damage, the system records the status of the tyres and indicates this on the machine display. If there are deviations from optimal tyre pressure, the machine operator receives a warning notification on the display. This allows the operator to act early if there is insufficient pressure or excessive temperature levels in order to avoid safety risks and high associated costs.

The integrated tyre pressure monitoring system is available as standard for many wheeled earthmovers and container handling machines across the Liebherr group of companies.

National Group brings Hitachi and Liebherr excavators to Bowen Basin coal mines

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The National Group has delivered a pair of new excavators to two coal operations in the Bowen Basin of Queensland, Australia.

The first of these excavators, a Hitachi EX5600 (pictured below), was added to BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance’s Peak Downs site where the National Group previously handed over five Liebherr Ultra-Class T 282C Trucks in September.

The second excavator, a Liebherr R 996B (pictured above), was delivered to its sister mine Poitrel, part of BHP’s other Queensland joint venture, BHP Mitsui Coal. The excavator is the first piece of equipment National Group has at the coal mine.

National Group Founder and Managing Director, Mark Ackroyd, said: “We have been working with BHP for some time now, especially at Peak Downs, so to be adding more equipment there is a testament to the machines we currently have operating for them and speaks volumes of our team on-site who do a great job with maintenance when needed.

“Poitrel, on the other hand, we are very excited to be adding our first piece of equipment there and for it to be the ever reliable Liebherr 996 digger. We’re confident they are going to love this machine and hope it is just the beginning of things to come.”

Bringing such big equipment to this part of Queensland is a complex process. National Group says it has the capabilities to handle all transport, assembly and delivery, giving customers peace of mind when securing these long-term rentals.

Ackroyd said: “We know how difficult it can be to get the bigger gear to Australia first of all, let alone having to worry about everything else once it arrives here. That is why we have worked very hard to build brands that complement each other in the entire journey of port-to-pit.”

National Group is coming off one of its best years to date, it said, however the company has no plans to slow down in 2019 with future plans already to invest in technology and enter the automation space.

Ackroyd said: “The mining industry is now following the technology trend around the world and automation is at the forefront of this. It is all about finding different ways to help your customers succeed and embracing innovation to get that edge over competitors.”

Liebherr to expand hydraulic excavator line with R 1900 B and R 9150 B

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Liebherr Mining Equipment’s Colmar SAS division will launch B-versions of the R 9100 and R 9150 hydraulic excavators on January 1, the company has confirmed.

Both machines have become reliable and productive partners in the mining industry over the years, according to Liebherr, with the newest upgrades set to further boost machine performance and reliability while lowering the cost per tonne.

The first product presentation of the R 9100 B is set for Bauma China at the end of the month, Liebherr says.

“The Liebherr R 9100 (first launched in 2010) and R 9150 (first launched in 2012) are based on 60 years of Liebherr experience in the development and construction of hydraulic excavators,” Liebherr said.

Innovative technologies from the manufacturer’s large hydraulic excavator programme, together with well-proven Liebherr components, make these updated models ideal for the mining and construction industry’s needs, according to the company.

Both excavators are equipped with the long-lasting and proven Liebherr V12 diesel engine specifically designed to withstand extreme outside temperatures and high altitudes with low atmospheric pressure. Integrating the latest engine management system, these machines are built for extreme conditions.

“The Liebherr D9512 diesel engine is the latest generation of Liebherr diesel engines and is now US/EPA Tier 4 Final compliant. It has been upgraded on many levels with an increased engine lifetime (selective mining units target of 15,000 hours) and new features that facilitate and improve the engine maintenance,” Liebherr said.

Furthermore, the new B-versions come with the exclusive EVO Bucket Solution with patented Liebherr design to maximise loading capacity and ensure optimal penetration efficiency.

Thanks to the contoured sidewalls and the augmented depth, the EVO Bucket backhoe bucket has a capacity (for a material density of 1.8 t/m³) of 7.5 m³ (9.8 yd³) for the R 9100 B and 8.8 m³ – 9.6 m³ (11.5 – 12.6 yd³) for the R 9150 B.

Liebherr points out that the R 9150 B comes with an electric drive option, too.

The new buckets also make both excavators the perfect working partners in terms of shovel match for Liebherr’s new 100 t T 236 truck and all other articulated and rigid trucks in the 50 t to 100 t class.

In terms of access, the upper structure of the R 9100 B and R 9150 B is accessible via a robust fixed ladder, or 45° access stair and integrates one large central platform equipped with slip resistant surfaces. This new arrangement with wide catwalks facilitates maintenance and ensures comfort during all the operations, according to the company.

The excavators are fitted with ergonomic access for fast and safe maintenance, with all service points within reach from one side and at machine level.

The modern and large cab provides ideal working conditions and optimal operator comfort, Liebherr says.

Mounted on silent blocks, the optimised cab design reduces vibrations. The new headliner, meanwhile, limits noise pollution to provide a quiet working environment – Liebherr says there is a decrease of 2 dB in the cab compared with the previous version.

The new B-versions are serially equipped with GSM data transmission functionalities to collect operating parameters, error codes and machine faults. The data is accessible through the Liebherr-Mining Data platform on which the user can generate customised reports to track and analyse machine data.

The information collected through the Connectivity Kit is recorded in a worldwide database and enters a systematic assessment and resolution process to continuously improve existing and new products and components.

Liebherr’s vertical integration practice means the company designs and builds components to meet the specific operational requirements of both the customer and mine site, with genuine Liebherr components ensuring the best interaction within the machine to encourage optimal performance.

During the development of the B-series, several of these genuine Liebherr components like the swing pump, went through an upgrade to provide optimal reliability, superior productivity and a longer service life.