Epiroc and Cummins have worked together closely to extend the overhaul life of the 760hp QSK19 engines used in underground haul trucks, which have one of the toughest jobs in mining.
High engine load factors are the norm, with trucks operating at full power for long periods on punishingly steep grades at fully loaded weights in excess of 100 tonnes.
When Cummins’ 19-litre QSK19 was approved for underground operations in 2000, it didn’t take long for the engine to start making its mark as a high-productivity powerhouse.
Smaller capacity competitor engines in underground haul trucks were cast aside to make way for the big inline six Cummins with its immense performance and significantly improved reliability and durability.
When Epiroc-Atlas Copco’s 60t payload MT6020 was released in 2008 with the 760 hp QSK19, life-to-overhaul expectation was 16,000 hours.
“That has consistently been exceeded, with some engines achieving higher than 20,000 hours before rebuild,” Cummins’ mining business manager in Western Australia, Dave Abbott, said.
The latest success for Epiroc in Australia is Gold Fields’ order for 11 new MT65 trucks for its Granny Smith mine, 400 km north-east of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.
Boasting a 65-tonne payload capacity, the MT65 was released in 2016 with QSK19 MCRS power to set a new benchmark in terms of tonne/kilometre-per-hour productivity.
One of the world’s largest gold producers, Gold Fields will start taking delivery of the new trucks early in 2023, replacing its existing fleet of MT65s. Gold production at Granny Smith was 279,000 ounces in 2021.
“The engines in the MT65s at Granny Smith have consistently hit 16,000 hours, so the aim with the new trucks is to extend life further,” Abbott said.
“We’re seeing 18,000 hours as the new benchmark with the MT65 in other operations in Australia.”
Epiroc manufactures the MT65 in Sweden. The units for Gold Fields will come equipped with Epiroc’s telematics system Certiq, which allows for intelligent monitoring of machine performance and productivity in real-time. They will also have Epiroc’s Rig Control System (RCS) installed, which makes them ready for automation and remote control.