Today we look at some of the biggest excavators used in mining. Giant pieces of earth moving equipment, we start our countdown at the ‘smallest’ of the lot and work our way up to the biggest excavator for sale as of December 2015.
Countdown to the Biggest Excavator in the Mining Industry
10. The Bucyrus RH 340 / RH 340-B
The smallest excavator of the bunch, the Bucyrus RH 340 / RH 340-B has an undercarriage length of 7 000 millimetres and a crawler length of 9 230 millimetres. Weighing in at over 490 tonnes, the RH 340 / RH 340-B, this excavator is equipped with either two QSK45 diesel engines or two Cummins K 1500E engines.
The Cummins engines deliver an output of 2 520 horsepower (1 880 kW) at 1 800 rpm while the QSK45 engines delivers an output of 3 000 horsepower (2 240 kW) at 1 800 rpm. Note that this monster of a machine can be used for Backhoe operations or Shovel loading operations.
9. Komatsu’s PC5500-6
Equipped with two Komatsu SDA 12V 159E-2 engines, this beast delivers a rated power of 2 x 940 kW at 1 800rpm and comes in as the ninth biggest excavator. The electric version is equipped with two Squirrel-Cage Induction Motors, deliver a power output of 2 x 900 kW.
Able to accommodate both shovel fronts and backhoes, The PC5500-6 has an operating weight of between 531 and 549 tonnes, a backhoe and shovel capacity of 29m3. The shovel of this excavator boasts a reach of 16 500 millimetres, and has a breakout force (SAE) of 1 865 kN and a crowd force (SAE) of 1 870 kN.
The maximum digging depth of the backhoe bucket comes in at 19 800 millimetres, and has a breakout force (SAE) of 1 450 kN and a tear-out force (SAE) of 1 290kN.
8. The EX5500-6 from Hitachi
Taking eighth place in our top ten list, the EX5500-6 from Hitachi. Launched back in 2008, this excavator for sale has a loading shovel and a backhoe operating weight of 522 tonnes. While the backhoe bucket has a capacity of 29m3, the shovel bucket has a capacity of 27m3.
Quipped with two Cummins QSKTA50-CE diesel engines, this beast produces a gross rated power of 2 x 1 044 kW at 1 800 rpm. The loading shovel features a maximum digging reach of 16 000 millimetres and has a breakout force and arm crowding force of 1 570 kN.
The backhoe in turn has a maximum digging depth of 8 900 millimetres, an arm crowd force of 1 240 kN and a bucket digging force of 1 370 kN.
7. A look at the EX5600-6 from Hitachi
Taking the seventh place on the list, the EX5600-6 is equipped with two Cummins QSKTA50-CE diesel engines that delivers a gross rated power of 2 x 1 19 kW at 1 800 rpm. This piece of earth moving equipment has a Shovel operating weight of 533 tonnes and a Backhoe operating weight of 537 tonnes.
The Shovel loading capacity is between 27 cm3 and 29cm3, while the Backhoe capacity is up to 34m3. This excavator for sale from Hitachi has a maximum Shovel digging depth of up to 4 800 millimetres, an arm crowding force of 1 520 kN and a bucket digging force of 1 590 kN. The Backhoe has a maximum digging depth of 8 700 millimetres, an arm crow force of 1 300 kN and a bucket digging force of 1 480 kN.
Though this might not be the biggest excavator on our list, it is still pretty impressive, having an undercarriage length of 9 350 millimetres and an undercarriage width of 7 400 millimetres.
6. The Liebherr R 966 B
A mining excavator by Liebherr, the R 996 B has an operating weight of between 672 tonnes (with a Backhoe attachment) and 676 tonnes (with a Shovel attachment). Developed for large scale mining applications, this monster is fitted with two 16 V Cummins K 1800 E diesel engines that delivers an output of 2 240 kW at 1 800 rpm.
The Backhoe attachment capacity for the R 966 B comes in at 36m3 with its maximum digging depth measured at 8.11 metres. The Backhoe has a maximum digging force of 1 535 kN and a maximum breakout force of 1 640 kN.
The Shovel attachment capacity for this excavator is 34m3 with a maximum reach at ground level of 15.60 metres, a maximum crowd force of 2 340 kN and a maximum breakout force of 1 905 kN.
5. The PC8000-6 from Komatsu
Taking fifth place on our list of large mining and earth moving equipment, the PC8000-6 is fitted with two Komatsu SDA16V160E-2 engines flaunting 16 cylinders and a rated power of 2 x 1 500 kW at 1 800 rpm. With a Shovel capacity and Backhoe capacity of 42m3, the PC8000-6 has a maximum digging depth of 8 000 millimetres, a breakout force of 2 000kN and a tear out force of 1 800 kN with the Backhoe attachment.
With the Shovel attachment, this excavator for sale has a maximum digging reach of 17 800 millimetres, a tear-out force of 2 320 kN and a breakout force of 2 320 kN. Note that this hydraulic excavator is also available with electric motors in the form of two 1 450 kW Squirrel-Cage Induction Motors that delivers a power output of 2 x 1 450 kW.
4. The Demag H740 OS
Fitted with two Cat 3516B DI-TA engines, this front shovel excavator was designed for KMC Mining (in Canada) to work with abrasive oil sands. With a Shovel loading capacity of 40m3, it has a breakout force of 2 320 kN.
A truly huge piece of equipment, the Demag H740 OS is the fourth biggest excavator on our list and has been used in the industry since 1999.
3. The R9800 from Liebherr
Taking third place on our list today is the R9800 from Liebherr. With an operating weight of 800 000 kilograms (with a Backhoe attachment) and an operating weight of 810 000 kilograms (with a Shovel attachment), the R9800 delivers 2 x 1 492 kW of power at 1 800 rpm.
Equipped with two Cummins QSK60 diesel engines flaunting 16 cylinders, the Liebherr R9800 has a Backhoe bucket and Shovel capacity of 42 m3. The Backhoe has a maximum digging depth of 9 metres, a maximum digging force of 1 760 kN and a maximum breakout force of 1 980 kN.
The Shovel attachment for the R9800 has a maximum reach at ground level of 15.90 metres, a breakout force of 2 395 kN and a maximum crowd force of 3 090 kN.
Note that these excavators can also be fitted with two MTU diesel engines featuring 12 cylinders and delivering a rating of 2 x 1 425 kW at 1 800 rpm.
2. Hitachi’s EX8000-6
In second place, the Hitachi EX8000-6 is truly a large piece of earth moving equipment. Equipped with two Cummins QSKTA60-CE diesel engines, it delivers a rated power of 2 x 1 450 kW at 1 800 rpm. The loading Shovel has a bucket digging force of 2 230 kN and an arm crowding force of 2 870 kN.
The EX8000-6 has a Backhoe bucket capacity of 43.0m3 and a loading shovel bucket capacity of 40m3. Its undercarriage measures in at 8.65 meters and it delivers a maximum torque of 2 x 8 364 Nm at 1 500 rpm.
1. The Bucyrus RH400
This biggest excavator on this list, the Bucyrus RH400 was originally launched in Germany by Terex in 1997. Bucyrus then moved on to acquire the mining equipment division of Terex back in 2010, with Caterpillar acquiring Bucyrus in 2011.
This excavator has a width (over tracks) of 8 600 millimetres, a height (to the top of the cab) of 10 175 millimetres and a ground clearance of 1 135 millimetres. It has a bucket load capacity of 45 m3 and a maximum digging reach (with loading Shovel) of 19 000 millimetres.
The Bucyrus RH400 is equipped with two Cummins QSK 60-C engines that delivers a gross power of 3 355.6 kW at 1 800 rpm, or two Cat 3516B engines flaunting 16 cylinders.
There you have it – some of the world’s largest earth moving equipment used in the mining industry. Did we miss an excavator you feel should be added to the list? Add it in the comment section below!
Find the best Excavator for Sale South Africa has to offer
Featuring a range of high quality excavators, Truck and Trailer can help you find the very best excavator for sale South Africa has to offer. Browse below some of the excavators advertised on Truck and Trailer to find the best deals in town:
Bell HD820E
Priced at R 635 000 (excluding VAT), this 20 ton excavator has completed 10 042 hours of work and is for sale in Gauteng from Gigantic Earthmoving.
Hitachi ZX 270
Carrying a price tag of R 410 000 (excluding VAT) this excavator is a 2005 year model and is for sale from Dunquip in KwaZulu-Natal.
Caterpillar 325CLME
With a total of 9 790 hours of work, this 2005 year model Caterpillar is priced at R 875 000 (excluding VAT) and is for sale in Gauteng at Gigantic Earthmoving.
Though Truck and Trailer might not feature the biggest excavator in the world, www.TruckAndTrailer.co.za does boast a range of the high quality excavators. Browse through our amazing collection of and find an excavator for sale that will get the job done, right, the first time.
Bruce Ungersbock
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