Hauling vehicle operators at quarries are putting the emphasis on high productivity and fuel efficiency in what they seek from their machines, and are also increasingly asking manufacturers for greater connectivity.
That is the view of Trozell Per, product manager for Volvo CE, who adds that the total cost of ownership (TCO) is also key for quarry customers. “They like to keep control of the cost per tonne,” he adds.
Per says connected machines are attractive to hauling operators as they are able to monitor the payload in real time, for example by using Volvo CE’s LoadAssist system.
LoadAssist works in combination with the Maps app, a traffic management system which enables operators to connect all the machines in a large quarry to check on the exact current location of loaders and excavators. “You can also see where you go to dump a load and with that you can keep track of where you have dumped the different materials by type,” says Per.
He adds that the company is continually working on hauling innovations. From June this year tyre-pressure monitoring, which is already available on Volvo CE wheeled loaders, has now been extended to its rigid dump trucks (RDTs) and articulated dump trucks (ADTs).
The manufacturer is further developing its Automatic Traction Control (ATC) system with a function called Terrain Memory. This learns the quarry locations such as gradients where wheel slips have previously taken place and engages the ATC to get better traction and prevent this happening.
Volvo CE also constantly updates its Site Simulation tool, which inputs the data about a quarry to give operators recommendations on the best fleet configuration and site set-up to reduce cost per tonne and maximise profitability. The tool can perform mixed fleet comparisons, and consider factors including machine size, quantity, fleet configuration and the optimal size of attachments such as buckets.
“The emissions and carbon footprint issue is becoming more and more important,” says Per. “The customers of quarry operators are demanding that they show the carbon footprint of crushed material, for example. They come to us as the OEM and ask us for the carbon footprint produced by our products. That is a big focus for us now.”
Per says that safety is another issue that has a high priority for hauling customers. Volvo CE has linked with Hexagon on the latter’s proximity detection system (PDS) that can be installed on haulers in quarrying and mining applications to detect if there is anyone nearby. This is available as an option on haulers made by Volvo CE, which supplies the interface for the Hexagon system.
Europe and the US are the two largest markets for Volvo CE’s haulers, but Per says that China is growing. He adds that the company has seen no major impact on its hauling business from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We came from a strong position [pre-COVID] where the factories were running at full capacity,” he says. “Demand for rigid dump trucks and articulated dump trucks is still very high.”
Per adds that the major stimulus packages being made for infrastructure in the US, China and EU in the wake of the pandemic are offering more opportunities for sales of hauling and other quarrying and construction equipment. “They are investing in infrastructure to try and avoid going into recession and that’s positive for us,” he adds.
Volvo CE is also focusing on the development of electric autonomous quarrying solutions, having tested the concept in a 2018 trial at the Vikan Kross quarry near Gothenburg with its customer Skanska.
Following this trial, it has now developed the TARA autonomous transport solution featuring the TA15 electric autonomous hauler – which has a 15-tonne hauling capacity – as a critical part of the offering. The TARA system is currently being trialled with an unnamed customer in Sweden.
“We are working on the industrialisation of the TARA/TA15 system,” says Per. “We plan to make it commercially available with the first customer implementation in Europe by the end of 2021. That is the target but it will be on a small scale.”
He adds that it is difficult to predict the potential for autonomous hauling solutions in the quarrying market, but says: “We will see an increase in these systems once we have proved that they are cost-efficient, environmentally-friendly and that they work.
“We have had interest in the system across Europe including from Switzerland and Germany. The initial set-up costs are a bit higher, but once everything is set up it’s really cost-efficient to move material with this system.”
Per says that an increasing number of customers are now asking when they can expect to see electrified haulers. “Quarrying equipment including crushers and conveyors is increasingly electrified and operators expect us to do the same thing with haulers.”
Other recent innovations on Volvo CE haulers include downhill speed control, and the OptiShift feature which lets operators move from forward to reverse without touching any pedals.
Doosan Construction Equipment has launched the new DA30 and DA45 ADTs for markets in the Middle East and Africa (MEA). The DA30 has a payload of 28 tonnes, while the DA45 can carry 41 tonnes.
The previous version of the DA30 ADT was upgraded in 2018 with a range of features including a new cab, a new self-levelling front suspension and a new tandem bogie system, and these are all incorporated in the new DA30 model. A similar process has been applied in the new DA45, with a new cab and a semi-levelling front suspension that adjusts itself independently depending on the operating conditions to ensure a comfortable working environment for the operator. The cabs on the ADTs have new comfortable hand grips and foot rests and an improved layout for the display which is designed to be easier to use even for older eyes.
The new models offer a number of other features including a new design for the front frame and bonnet components on the trucks, which Doosan says has been created by its design team in accordance with the latest market trends. It adds that the new dynamic look given to the ADTs reflects the high performance, power and robustness of the Doosan hauling range.
A number of functional changes on the new ADTs are designed to improve safety, comfort and serviceability. These include a new positioning of the diesel and tank. The latter is now much lower than before, allowing the operator to fill the tank whilst standing next to the machine (‘ground level filling’).
The new haulers are equipped as standard with a real-time payload measuring system with a light indication for excavator operators, which will help them to place optimal loads in the ADTs to ensure excellent productivity and low fuel consumption.
The greasing system has also been relocated to make it easily accessible from ground level. Space has been provided above the automatic lubrication system (which is standard) for additional grease cartridges and a filling pump.
In addition, the transmission filters have been installed close to the greasing system, where they are also very easy to access. All of these systems are protected to ensure that any excess drops of oil/grease are collected and can be removed during service and maintenance. New improved maintenance access will also help operators to perform daily checks faster and more safely.
Both of the new machines are equipped with additional external round hand rails to prevent accidents and hazardous situations. Inside the cab, there is a new additional grip on the right-hand side for increased safety for the operator. The electronic and hydraulic systems in the new trucks have also been upgraded to offer improved performance with extended functionality and new technology.
Doosan says the developments in the new DA30 and DA45 ADTs have resulted from intensive market analysis, customer visits, interviews with operators and additional feedback gathered by the Doosan ADT product and R&D teams at the company’s ADT plant in Elnesvågen, near Molde in Norway.
“With all of these advanced features incorporated, the new Doosan ADTs establish a unique benchmark in load-carrying performance, fuel efficiency, enhanced controllability and high operator comfort, together with improved reliability, durability and reduced maintenance and servicing costs,” the manufacturer says.
German OEM Liebherr’s new TA 230 Litronic articulated dump truck has won the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2021. The judges of the international design awards praised the aesthetics and functionality of the Liebherr machine and the other winning entries.
The TA 230 Litronic ADT is configured for maximum payload in continuous operation, including in difficult terrain.
The machine has a new lighting concept that features LED headlights to enable improved visibility and safety, both for the machine operator and those around the hauler. LED dipped-beam headlamps with integrated high beam illuminate the road and the extra powerful, optional LED headlights on the front of the cab illuminate the entire working area. The L-shaped multifunction light with animated light functions is a homage to the Liebherr brand name.
