With an operating weight range of 128-148 tonnes, depending on the type of wear packages and attachment the customer requires, the new Liebherr R9150 B is a perfect loading tool for 50-tonne up to 135-tonne dump trucks.
Abie Kriel, Technical Manager Mining at Liebherr Africa, says the launch of the new B model is in line with the company’s strategy for the 100-150tonne class excavators, which has been identified as one of the major growth drivers for Libherr’s Mining Division. As part of that strategy, Liebherr Africa also introduced the 100-tonne T 236 rigid hauler late last year, which can be perfectly paired with the new R 9150 B.
Tom Munch, Director Mining at Liebherr Africa, says the contract mining market is a major driver of the 100tonne class. “We are working in a contract mining market. If you look at the type of equipment this group of customers requires currently, it’s mainly 100tonne class excavators and 100tonne dump trucks. This is due to the mobility they require, given that their contracts are limited to 3-5 years at most,” says Munch.
The R 9150 B’s productivity hinges on the machine’s fast cycle times, precise machine motions, high digging forces, power-oriented energy management and an exclusive EVO bucket solution.
With fast cycle times in mind, like all other Liebherr mining excavators, the R 9150 B uses a closed-loop swing circuit. The main hydraulic circuit comprises a combination of three main valves fed by three working pumps, providing flexibility of attachment control and force distribution, while allowing full oil flow integration for fast movement and fast cycle times.
“All Liebherr Mining excavators are equipped with a closed loop swing circuit. Kinematic energy is recovered when the swing motion is used during deceleration, to drive the main and auxiliary pumps, reducing fuel consumption and allowing faster boom lift motion,” explains Kriel.
The R 9150 B integrates the Litronic Plus electronic control system, allowing for easy control even when simultaneous movements are required. The patented Liebherr electronic bucket cylinder damping system provides controlled end-cushioning for smooth attachment motions, thus increasing machine productivity. The integration of the electronic control system also enables maximum machine versatility and the use of various long reach attachments and specific tools.
“The R 9150 B’s attachment is equipped with pressure-less boom-down function to enable fast cylinder retraction without the need for pump energy. Intelligent energy management diverts the pump flow during boom lowering, allowing other cylinder motions to operate unimpeded,” explains Kriel.
Furthermore, the new R 9150 B comes with the exclusive EVO Bucket Solution with patented Liebherr design to maximise the loading capacity and ensure optimal penetration efficiency. Thanks to the contoured sidewalls and the augmented depth, the EVO Bucket backhoe bucket has a capacity of 8,8-9,6m³ for the R 9150 B. The bucket takes about four passes to load a 50-tonne off-highway truck.
“Therefore, the new bucket makes the excavator the perfect working partner, in terms of shovel match, for the Liebherr T 236 truck and all other articulated and rigid trucks in the 50 to 100-tonne class,” says Kriel.
The R 9150’s high-pressure hydraulic oil filtration systems remove contaminations from the fluid to offer a high rate of hydraulic system efficiency. To maintain oil quality, all return hydraulic oil flow goes through a 15/5µm fine filtration system, while the grease and fuel tanks are sized to considerably extend the time between service intervals.
The new B-series is 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 (LMD) on which the user can generate customised reports to track and analyse machine data.
“The accurate 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,” concludes Munch.
