One leading global dump truck manufacturer has big plans to expand its production capacity, while others are attracting strong interest in their latest models. Guy Woodford reports.
Ambitious Chinese firm
The firm’s Kunshan factory has seen its truck production rise from just two in 2009, following a manufacturing relocation from Shanghai, to 200 last year. Now SANY is looking to increase that number again, starting in 2014, after last year’s introduction of a second production line at the Kunshan facility. The factory also boasts a state-of-the-art truck testing platform, which SANY claim is the biggest of its kind in China.
Speaking during a recent Aggregates Business visit to the Kunshan factory Zhichun Cao, SANY Group deputy general manager and SANY Mining Equipment’s general manager, said: “We’ve increased our workshop space from 15,000m² to 60,000m². We learn from
Cao believes that SANY’s advantage over their competitor truck manufacturers is in the quality of their haulers’ suspensions, which reduces pressure on components.
Of SANY’s in-house testing platform, Cao adds: “We can use this to test the [truck] frames and do extensive overload testing.”
Cao says SANY is keen to attract more customers by focusing on providing excellent aftermarket service, including rapid response engineers and a wide network of localised spare parts warehouses, while, at the same time, offering high quality trucks at the best price.
SANY has had some strong single customer sales in recent months, with one Chinese mining customer purchasing 40 of its RDTs for its different sites. Export-wise, there has been an order for 17 of its SRT 95 models from a mining customer in Tunisia.
Cao says the firm’s smaller rigid dump trucks were attracting strong interest from those involved in concrete production within the quarrying market. “Our trucks are aimed at the high-end market because we can provide high quality,” he adds.
SANY has high hopes for the SAT40, its new 40tonne ADT, a prototype of which has been manufactured at the Kunshan factory and due to be unveiled at
An enhanced cab now includes a 10-inch LCD monitor – similar to the one found on large
New safety features include the cab’s redesigned ROPS structure – said to meet the requirements for using the EH1100-5 as a water truck – and three-point seatbelts have been built into each type of seat. The operator’s exposure to noise is said by Hitachi to have been significantly reduced by the use of soundproof material in the cab and exhaust system modifications.
Access to service points is said to be easier on the EH1100-5 due to the relocation of several components. Steering and brake system valves and test ports moved from the truck’s mid-frame to the service deck is an example of this. A number of parts can now be reached from ground level, such as the steering filter, two high-capacity 12V batteries, and the 24V relay box and circuit disconnect.
A choice of two high-performance Stage II-compliant engines is available to European customers. Both the MTU Series 2000 and
The new dump truck has been designed with a capacity of 41.5m³ and has a flat floor plate for greater control of the material shed while dumping. The nominal payload recommendation for the standard model is 63.5tonnes.
Examples of the new dump truck’s advanced technology include a refined active traction control system for greater control of wheelspin in wet and muddy conditions. This is said by Hitachi to create improved haul cycle times and increased productivity. The company’s engineers have also developed a transmission Optimum Shift Range to automatically alter the transmission range according to payload results provided by an onboard payload weighing system.
The latest purchases are said to reinforce Chepstow Plant International’s longstanding relationship with Bell, most recently ordering 11 ADTs during 2013.
“We have been using Bell D-series trucks for over 10 years and they have always delivered in terms of performance, reliability and fuel efficiency, backed by exceptional customer service and support,” explains John Corcoran, managing director of Chepstow Plant International.
“After seeing what Bell has delivered with its new E-series, we are confident that we now have a solution that will maintain and even exceed the current high standards,” he adds.
With over 25 Bell ADTs in its fleet, Chepstow Plant International operates various machines ranging from 25 to 50tonne capacity. For the current fleet expansion, the company opted to focus on the B30E 30tonne machine, which the firm says offers the most versatile solution for the wide range of projects in the Chepstow portfolio.
Eight B30E machines have been ordered, primarily for use in long-term contracts where cost efficiency and reliability are essential. Applications are likely to include sand and gravel, clay mill and open cast projects.
Bell says the B30E has been developed to deliver increased production payloads, and can now handle 28tonnes/load – an increase of 1tonne over its predecessor. Additionally, Chepstow will benefit from lower daily operating costs, superior ride quality and uncompromised safety standards, as well as the lowest fuel cost/tonne on the market.
Chepstow Plant International is a long-term user of Fleetm@tic, the advanced fleet management system that is incorporated into all Bell machines. By using the system, the company is said by Bell to be discovering the performance advantages of its E-series machines.
“Such ongoing performance data is invaluable, and we’re already seeing the advantages of the B30Es, as well as helping our operators get the best out of our new ADTs,” says Corcoran.
Four new
The new haulers add to a fleet of some 450 items of mobile plant in the Hather Plant Hire arsenal, including around 30 existing Volvo trucks. “We recognise the Volvo articulated hauler has one of the highest residual values on the market and offers good performance with impressive longevity,” says Hather Plant Hire MD Gary Hather. “For example we have an A25C that’s clocked up 35,000 hours and is still going strong! Coupled to that the Volvo trucks find favour with both our own operators and our customers’ operators.”
The A25F hauler from Volvo Construction Equipment meets the requirements of Stage IIIB emissions legislation being powered by an electronically controlled, six-cylinder 172kW turbo charged Volvo V-ACT diesel engine. It features high torque at low engine speeds, resulting in good fuel efficiency, high performance, quicker engine response and long service life through less wear.
With a carrying capacity of 24tonnes and heaped capacity of 15m³, the Volvo A25F has a maximum speed of 53kph. They are also fitted with Volvo’s CareTrack telematics system, enabling remote monitoring of a wide range of machine functions, such as location, fuel consumption, and service reminders, thus optimising customer operations. This will prove beneficial to Hather Plant Hire’s customers as the trucks can be deployed on short, mid- or long-term hires over a large geographical area.
