The largest autonomous mining truck from Komatsu is now in production in Canada.
In April, SMS Equipment deployed the Komatsu 980E-4AT, which is the largest autonomous Komatsu truck in commercial operations worldwide, to the Canadian oil sands.
“SMS Equipment continues to offer leading technology solutions for the mining industry by working closely with its OEM partners to deploy and support these technology programs such as autonomous haulage,” said Mike Brown, executive vice president of innovation and advanced technology for SMS Equipment.
“We have invested heavily in developing an experienced team of autonomous mining specialists capable of supporting our customer’s needs from inception through to implementation and continuous improvement. The rapid increase in proposed autonomous projects will make Canada a global leader in autonomous adoption as Canadian mining companies focus on driving better efficiencies into their operations.”
The 980E-4AT
The Komatsu 980E-4AT is modelled after the company’s 930E series. The 400-ton capacity truck has several of the same attributes, such as a simple and reliable hydraulic system design and proven GE drive system.
Fuel efficiency is maximized due to optimized air handling with two stage turbocharging. As well, the truck features an 18 cylinder, Cummins 3,500 hp SSDA18V170 engine.
Komatsu AHS
Last year, Komatsu celebrated 10 years since its firstautonomous haul trucks (AHS) went into commercial production. Today, there are more than 130 Komatsu AHS trucks in mine operations worldwide, and the machines have collectively hauled more than 2 billion tonnes of material, while recording zero serious injuries.
“The addition of the 980E-4AT 400-ton autonomous truck is a game changer for Komatsu and our customers, delivering even greater value in enhanced mine productivity,” said Scott Schellenberg, senior manager of AHS at SMS Equipment. “The introduction of these 980Es into the AHS environment wouldn’t be possible without our customers and distribution partners,” said Dan Funcannon, general manager of the mining truck division at Komatsu America.
“They’re a big reason why Komatsu has the most autonomous systems, in the most mines, hauling the widest variety of materials, in the world.”
You may also like:
- SMS Equipment celebrates its 10-year anniversary
- Five ways to evaluate your next ADT purchase
- Ford packs Class 6 capability in a Class 5 size
