Holcim are using Cat® 988K XE loaders at its Gosnell and Petrie quarry. Image: Holcim Australia
Holcim Australia has become the first in the country to test the latest Caterpillar development of advanced high-efficiency electric drive systems.
Under the arrangement, Holcim’s Gosnells quarry in Western Australia and Petrie Quarry in Queensland have received the latest Cat® 988K XE loaders. Holcim’s Pakenham site in Victoria will also receive a Cat 988K XE loaders while the Cat® 972 XE sales loader variant has joined the South East Queensland Aggregates business.
The Cat 972 XE loader will be operational in June 2024 while the 988K XE is expected to arrive at the Pakenham site in the coming weeks.
“Our HME (heavy mining equipment) Replacement Program represents another step towards fulfilling our operational improvement and sustainability objectives,” Holcim Australia performance improvement manager for aggregates division Tim Millis said.
“Across all parts of Holcim’s business, we seek solutions that are both innovative and environmentally responsible, through sound investment and application of impactful technologies.”
Holcim chose the new loaders from Caterpillar for its electric drive train machinery, which will help it reduce fossil fuel consumption and exhaust emissions and support a low-carbon future.
The new loaders in WA and Queensland have already delivered benefits on-site according to Holcim.
Millis said the new technology loaders were not a short-term trial, but part of Holcim’s ongoing operations that are here to stay.
“Compared to the older models that these machines are replacing, there is a 35 per cent reduction in fossil fuel consumption like-for-like being realised in their first 500 hours of operation combined,” he said.
“Additionally, the advanced machinery has a longer maintenance cycle, providing further operating cost benefits over the life of the equipment.
“Optimising our overall fleet with modern HME will also decrease the total number of machines in operation, potentially realising up to 65 per cent reductions in fossil fuel and CO2 emissions by decreasing the total number of machines in operation at the Gosnells quarry.”
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