Komatsu Australia caps off major year in style

Komatsu Australia has wrapped up its year with new machines, partnerships and milestones.

Komatsu has officially launched the PC950-11 excavator, which promises to enhance productivity and efficiency in quarrying and mining operations.

The new release from Komatsu comes after the global manufacturer heard feedback from customers searching for a machine that could move more material while using less fuel.

It’s a tough balance but as Komatsu national business manager for construction excavators Mark Boyes told Quarry, the PC950-11 excavator has managed to deliver it.

“Our development teams took this customer feedback on board and delivered more power, increased dig forces, greater drawbar pull, superior durability, easy safe access and surround visibility systems, all while maintaining ultra-low fuel consumption,” he said.

“It’s designed to handle Australia and New Zealand’s toughest conditions, while helping our customers run more efficient, sustainable operations, whether that be on mine sites or in quarry operations.”

The PC950-11 excavator is packed with technology and safety features including a series of standard features like the KomVision 360-degree camera system, hydraulic access stairway and wide catwalks. The cabin features improved seating, climate controls and intuitive controls for quieter operation throughout daily tasks. Boyes said each feature was built with the aim of withstanding the tough quarrying and mining environments Komatsu’s customers work in.

“Maintenance is simple and safe with ground-level refuelling, extended service intervals and long-life filters,” he said.

“This excavator is not just about power. Every feature has been designed with the operator in mind, from safety and comfort through to lower total cost of ownership. We believe the PC950-11 will quickly become the new benchmark for large-scale earthmoving in Australia.”

Major milestone

Beyond its latest machinery, Komatsu’s tried and trusted automated haulage system, AHS, trucks have reached a key milestone in Australia’s mining sector.

In the heart of the country’s mining hub in Western Australia, Komatsu’s 500th AHS truck entered operation. Since Komatsu launched the AHS truck in 2008, it has gone from being used in small-scale trials to being central to one of the world’s largest autonomous mining fleets.

“Having 500 AHS truck in operation across Australia is a proud achievement for Komatsu and a reflection of how strongly the industry has embraced autonomous haulage,” Komatsu general manager of mining automation Garry Povah said.

“This milestone not only demonstrates what autonomy has already achieved but also signals the role it will play in building safer, more sustainable mining operations into the future.”

Autonomous hauling has become a key part of many mining operations in Australia and worldwide. Part of the appeal is how the AHS truck removes workers from potentially dangerous workplace situations while enabling a strong level of performance on-site.

Fundamental to this is Komatsu’s FrontRunner system. This system, developed by Komatsu, can coordinate entire fleets while also navigating the site, controlling speed, loading and dumping cycles all without the needing operators in the cabin.

“Komatsu’s FrontRunner platform is no longer a pilot project but a mature, proven system with hundreds of trucks working at sites across Australia. Collectively, these trucks contribute to billions of tonnes hauled worldwide each year, demonstrating the efficiency gains and reliability of autonomous mining,” Povah said.

“Autonomy is also becoming a pathway to decarbonisation. Komatsu is investing in battery-electric haul truck technology, with Australian sites expected to play a leading role in trials of zero-emission fleets.

“The integration of electrification with autonomy promises not only safer and more productive operations, but also a significant step toward meeting the mining sector’s long-term sustainability goals.”

New partnerships 

Komatsu has also been busy away from the job site by investing in its capabilities to deliver enhanced technologies into its next-generation equipment.

Komatsu has signed a strategic partnership with Applied Intuition. The agreement will see the two companies collaborate on a software-defined vehicle (SDV) and autonomy platform. This will become the “central brain” that will be integrated into Komatsu’s mining equipment that will help Komatsu’s customers enhance their productivity and reduce downtime. The jointly developed platform will feature software-defined vehicle architecture, flexible autonomy capabilities and embedded machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI).

“Komatsu is committed to creating value together with our customers, and this collaboration represents a step change in how we bring innovative, high-performance technology to their operations,” Komatsu mining business division president Peter Salditt said.

“By combining Komatsu’s deep mining expertise with Applied Intuition’s cutting-edge AI and SDV solutions, we’re enabling a future where our equipment continuously evolves to meet customers’ unique mine site needs.”

Applied Intuition co-founder and chief executive officer Qasar Younis said the collaboration would help customers around the world unlock more value from their operations.

“In a world where autonomy is becoming the norm, our goal is to ensure our customers don’t just keep up—they lead,” he said.

“The mining industry is one of the most regulated in the world, and as the bar keeps rising around emissions, human safety and geopolitics, Applied Intuition and Komatsu plan to build the next generation of mining products and redefine modern software product development. The team is looking forward to breaking new ground and digging into the future.”•

For more information, visit komatsu.com.au

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