Designing, building and launching the next generation of the world’s largest mining equipment represents huge commitment, cost and risk. Komatsu Mining took that step in 2013 when it launched the P&H 4800XPC AC – then and now the world’s largest electric mining rope shovel with a 135 ton payload, designed to three pass load 400 ton ultra-class haul trucks. The design leveraged new Adaptive Controls technology with ultra-class machine structures to enable the larger payload and increase efficiencies.

The shovel is capable of up to 9,000 t/h with other attributes including very robust machine structures and systems such as a wider boom and handle, a new dipper with a higher weight to payload ratio and a new modular counterweight system. The first unit was deployed to Teck’s Fording River coal operation in British Columbia, Canada in 2019 following detailed analysis to understand the potential ripple effect that increased production might have across the mine site.

Specifically, data was collected and assessed to determine how significant gains in shovel productivity might affect the truck allocation, life-of-mine planning and ongoing maintenance. And it has performed very well there working with the 400 ton 980E, displaying high productivity with high availability.