The 60-tonne crawler excavator is also being lined up for the Brazilian and Russian markets.
The German manufacturer says it offers stability, the highest breakout forces on the market, and higher productivity compared to its predecessor version.
The excavator has a large bucket volume of 3.7 m³ and is suitable for loading dumper trucks in the 30- to 45-tonne weight range in quarrying and mining operations. The machine was developed and produced at Liebherr-France SAS in Colmar, France, the first version launching in 2012.
The R 960 SME also offers low fuel consumption, which can be monitored online via the fuel calculator. Liebherr’s SME crawler excavators are designed for quarry applications, with four models ranging from 44 to 102 tonnes having been developed for the world market. These variants are equipped with reinforced undercarriages into which components from the larger models of the standard series have been integrated. On the R 960 SME, these are components of the 70-tonne standard model R 966. The same principle applies for the counterweights.
The company says this allows the use of larger buckets without compromising the stability of the machine. Thanks to the special kinematics of the working equipment and specific cylinders, the machine is designed to offer exceptional digging and breakout forces.
As with all Liebherr crawler excavators from 14- to 100-tonnes operating weight, machine operators can choose between four different working modes. The hydraulic and engine power can be adapted to the operating conditions to achieve either maximum performance and productivity during difficult applications or a highly economical mode of operation.
The R 960 SME has a spacious driver’s cab equipped with a range of features to guarantee operator comfort and safety. These include continuous automatic air conditioning and heating and a large 9” (228.6mm) display as standard. The machines are available with bullet-proof windscreen and roof window.
