Category: Heavy Haulage

OPTIMISING the operation of trucks on mine haulage routes in places as far-flung as the arctic circle is a pressing business need for the global mining industry facing rising cost pressures. Fuel, maintenance and operational costs for mining haulage trucks can squeeze mining company profit margins and companies are looking for ways to control these unpredictable expenses. Queensland-based mining consultancy, Smith Global, has developed a software solution aimed at addressing these haulage issues which can be critical at mine sites in remote locations with challenging weather conditions and difficult terrain. Smith Global managing director, Kerren Smith, said its specialist haulage software, called Optimizer, can unlock savings for miners seeking to trim their haulage costs. The software has delivered extensive savings…

AUTONOMOUS mining is a hot topic in industry circles as mine operators press ahead with adopting new technologies that allow them to achieve increased productivity and safety combined with reduced overheads and time savings. A sometimes overlooked benefit of automation is the opportunity it offers mine workers for job enrichment, as all mine-site staff need to be trained up to operate safely in an environment of autonomous vehicles and excavators. For example, a maintenance operator carrying out scheduled maintenance on autonomous trucks may have to manually drive autonomous vehicles out of the inspection bay and back to the mine. Though not directly involved in the operation of autonomous equipment, these maintenance operators need to be trained in how to work…

SCANIA’S new 650hp and 730hp prime movers add a new dimension to off-road bulk haulage. The New Generation fleet is the product of more than 10m km of testing and development with an increased focus on customer profitability. The R 650 is, in the words of general manager, Robert Taylor, “a pretty cool bit of kit”. Being able to haul a gross combination of up to 360t requires some heavy-duty hardware. Scania began the R 650’s development process by trialling the truck with different loads including gold, coal and iron ore, and assessing the capabilities of the truck at various tonnages, with different driveline combinations. After a two-year trial, the optimal combination of gear ratios, axles, hubs and engine specs…

LIKE a phoenix rising from the ashes, Castings Tasmania (CT) has gone from strength to strength since the purchase of the almost 200-year old foundry in Launceston, in 2016. CT general manager Chris Smart said that while the company purchased land, buildings, plant equipment from Bradken, it started from scratch when building a reputation. “We have the right combination of expertise and customer service to offer technical solutions specific to each customer,” he said. “We’re known as a foundry who can make things others can’t.” CT’s goals are to expand on that record to provide customers with exemplary service in terms of quality and reliability, deliver on time, and maintain compliance to specification. “We went from a loss in our…

WITH more than 40 years’ of proven performance behind the company, the Davey Group offers much more than just heavy haulage solutions. The company is a leading provider of civil, structural and mechanical engineering, tanks, project development, agricultural and forestry equipment, blasting and paint services, and specialist aluminium welding services. Since purchasing Lust Low Loaders in 2007, the Davey Group has transformed the brand into Rhino Low loaders – the benchmark of Australian manufacturing.  The Davey Group’s facilities are unparalleled in their ability to manufacture heavy duty, custom built trailers and dollys, and to provide a full range of spare parts and services to clients. At their specialist facility in Toowoomba, Rhino dollys and trailers are built to the highest…

DT HiLoad specialises in the design and manufacture of dump truck bodies and mining buckets for the resources sector, with a skilled and committed workforce to deliver specific solutions for clients. With catchy product names and slogans including “Hercules, the strongest tray in earth”, “Bullant, toughest underground” and “Barracuda, buckets with bite”, the company says it can provide solutions above and below ground and beyond, with support from parent company Schlam Group. General manager Glenn Brearey said the company had positioned itself as a market leader in the sector by identifying new and innovative ways of solving common problems backed by exceptional customer service across the value cycle. “Innovation is at our core and safety is a priority,” Mr Brearey…