Komatsu Germany Mining Division (KGM) and SMS Gear unveiled the primary Komatsu PC9000 hydraulic mining excavator at this time throughout an official handover ceremony at Suncor’s Fort Hills oil sands mine in Canada. The machine is presently the biggest hydraulic shovel for floor mining coming to the market, and the biggest hydraulic shovel in Komatsu’s lineup.
The 900 t class PC9000 incorporates a bigger bucket, longer attain and better digging forces in comparison with earlier fashions within the producer’s PC-series. Designed as a five-pass match for Komatsu’s 980E ultra-large haul truck, it permits double-sided loading for Autonomous Haulage Programs (AHS), considerably enhancing cycle-times and decreasing the general cost-per-tonne of fabric moved.
“The PC9000 is about to remodel the way forward for mining,” says Ansgar Thole, President and Managing Director, Komatsu Germany GmbH. “This new class of hydraulic mining excavator raises the bar for productiveness, effectivity and efficiency, whereas enhancing operator consolation and security.”
Thursday’s handover occasion celebrated the industry-leading collaboration that led to the PC9000’s improvement. The brand new mannequin was designed primarily based on suggestions from Komatsu’s worldwide buyer base and refined in partnership with Canadian distributor SMS Gear and Canada’s main built-in vitality firm, Suncor.
“Along with the engineering excellence behind this machine, the PC9000 is a shining instance of what true collaboration can obtain,” mentioned Thole. “It stands because the embodiment of a unprecedented partnership between KGM, SMS Gear and Suncor – three forces united by belief, experience, and a shared imaginative and prescient for operational excellence.”
“At SMS Gear, we are saying we’re ‘Companions in Your Prospects,’” a sentiment dropped at life via this collaboration,” mentioned Dennis Chmielewski, EVP Mining at SMS Gear. “In our function as tools seller, we’ve had the distinctive capacity to carry collectively Komatsu and Suncor to create an unbelievable machine that has the potential to optimise our clients’ operations.”
Komatsu, SMS Gear and Suncor have labored collectively for many years to advance mining operations, introducing improvements to Canada just like the nation’s first Autonomous Haulage System, the 980E haul truck, the primary PC7000 entrance shovel and now, the PC9000.
“Suncor is at all times exploring methods to reinforce our operations by adopting the most recent developments in tools and expertise,” mentioned Peter Zebedee, Suncor’s Government Vice President, Oil Sands. “Our shared ardour for excellence with Komatsu and SMS, together with the tangible worth the shovel gives to our mining operations, made our determination to put money into the PC9000 clear.”
Suncor is about to obtain its second PC9000 in July with extra machines anticipated to reach in 2026.
