Peoria Archives - International Mining

Komatsu is announcing the enhancement of its Peoria operations in the US by constructing a new office building that will provide a collaborative space for engineering, sales, manufacturing, management and other functions.

Komatsu has ceremonially broken ground on the new building, which is designed for operational efficiency and environmental responsibility. Komatsu is committed to sustainability, and to further these goals, the new office will incorporate innovative features such as solar panels, stormwater reclamation systems and energy-efficient LED lighting.

This project marks a significant investment in Peoria, replacing the existing office, which was built in the 1970s, and securing Komatsu’s presence in the region for generations to come.

“Komatsu’s commitment to Peoria is a partnership we greatly value,” Peoria Mayor, Rita Ali, says. “The new facility represents a step forward in sustainable manufacturing and strengthening Peoria’s economy and community. We’re excited to see Komatsu’s continued investment in our city, creating opportunities for the next generation of workers.”

Komatsu plans to complete the office building by the end of 2025, further cementing its role as a leader in mining technology and a key player in Peoria’s economic future. Primary partners supporting the project include EUA and P.J. Hoerr. In addition to the office upgrades, Komatsu is proud to announce the installation of a 980E-5SE mining truck as a showcase for the community at the entrance to its Peoria operations.

The truck was built in Peoria in January 2020 as an early prototype of the 980E-5SE model, which was commercialized in 2023. This impressive machine was recently crowned the winner of the prestigious 2024 “Makers Madness” contest, earning the title of “Coolest Thing Made in Illinois”. This accolade, presented by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, capped off an eight-week, bracket-style competition that gathered nearly 315,000 votes from the public. The 980E-5SE features a hauling capacity of 400 tons (363 t) and cutting-edge electric drive technology.

Dan Funcannon, Senior Vice President of Surface Haulage for Komatsu, said: “This display truck represents more than just a remarkable engineering achievement. It symbolises our Peoria team’s hard work and innovation and reinforces our manufacturing capabilities. We’re excited for employees, visitors and Peoria residents to see firsthand the scale and ingenuity behind our products.”

Several key partners supported the 980E-5SE truck installation, including Boilermakers Local 158 for assembly, P.J. Hoerr as the general contractor, and Mohr & Kerr for site and foundation design.

In the age of big data, it is refreshing to see OEMs still using in-the-flesh simulations of equipment and components to verify new and improved products.

That is exactly what Caterpillar is doing at its Technical Centre R&D facility in Peoria, Illinois.

IM toured the facility on Monday and discovered a dedication to testing anything from single components to entire drivetrain systems in the harshest of mine site conditions one can imagine.

Cat is making the most of digitalisation and big data throughout the group – its renowned MineStar system is leading the way in fleet management, machine guidance, equipment and personnel tracking, and equipment health – but it is also cognisant of the need to provide the conservative mining industry with in-the-flesh simulations.

At the R&D facility in Peoria, the company is not testing out concepts – of which the company has many (some 15,000 patents and counting).

The company spends some 4% of annual sales and revenue on R&D and, by the time tests are carried out in this facility, analytical models have already identified potential new products or improvements to existing products.

This is where the integration of digitalisation and in-the-flesh simulation align nicely; the latter taking its lead off the former.

The role of the Peoria facility is to verify equipment/components can perform as expected, thereby laying the groundwork for further in-the-field testing at one of the company’s three proving grounds.

One of the simulations IM witnessed on Monday was the testing of an entire drivetrain from the 363 t 797F mining truck.

Here, the company can replicate a 24-hour cycle by modifying certain inputs to give the drivetrain the impression it is, for example, operating on a 30° incline.

The drivetrain can be plugged into more than 100 feedback channels to gain an accurate picture of what impact this operating scenario has on the machine.

This 797F test has been in place for more than 15 years, but the company and its customers are still after still want such feedback before buying one of these expensive machines.

There are also a series of other tests available at the facility where systems and components can be put through their paces at temperatures as low as 40°C and altitudes as high as 12,000 feet (3,658 m).

While there are digital models within the company built to do exactly this, the reality is the results do not yet match up.

Komatsu bolsters Peoria engineering, sales, manufacturing, management functions

Cat finds the right digitalisation and physical simulation balance