The 4800XPC model corresponds to the shovel with the highest capacity in the market and arrives at the world's leading copper producer as part of an alliance with Komatsu, the company in charge of its design, manufacture and assembly.
Escondida | BHP announced the start of operations of the first 4800XPC cable power shovel in Chile and Latin America and the third in the world, designed and manufactured by Komatsu.
With a weight of approximately 1,750 tons in operation, it is the world's highest capacity shovel, loading 400-ton mining trucks in just three passes, one less than other equipment currently in the market. This increases efficiency during the truck loading process and generates a significant improvement in costs per ton, as well as increasing the safety and comfort of those who operate it.
Alejandro Tapia, President of Escondida | BHP pointed out that "having the 4800XPC shovel in our equipment fleet is a great contribution to advance in the operational challenges we have in Escondida. We are very pleased that the shovel with the highest capacity has arrived at the world's leading copper producer. I want to congratulate all the teams involved in the assembly and delivery of this shovel, which was achieved without safety incidents and in less time compared to the other two existing equipment in the market."
"For Komatsu, the start of operations of the 4800XPC shovel strengthens a relationship we have had with BHP for decades. In this sense, being able to introduce this model in the industry continues promoting mining in Chile. With this, our intention is to create value together so that both companies continue to position themselves as a world reference in mining innovations," said Carlos Soto, executive vice president of Komatsu Cummins Chile.
Innovation for the national industry
Among its main features are the incorporation of new technologies that allow greater digging power without decreasing the useful life of the equipment, lower impact loads or improper operation, improved payload and digging performance through the "intelligent" control and application of power and, in addition, less operator fatigue due to the reduction of boom jacking.
The delivery of this new shovel is a significant advance in the national industry, since it is the first time that a copper mine in the world will use equipment of these characteristics. Weeks ago, South Africa received the same shovel from Komatsu, to test its operation in demanding conditions, high hardness and abrasiveness in a platinum mine.