Terex Goes Big in the Iron



Part of Fortescue Minerals Group’s new fleet of Terex Unit Rig M3700AC haul trucks (top) stand ready
to be matched to the company’s array of excavators, including this Terex O&K RH430 (bottom)
Terex Mining Australia, awarded the initial fleet of mining equipment for the Sino Iron Project in Western Australia, said this contract is of particular significance as it includes the first MT6300AC ultra-class trucks and RH400 face shovels, the world’s largest hydraulic excavator, to be commissioned outside of North America. The comprehensive fleet covers drilling, loading, haulage and ancillary functions with six Terex Reedrill SKF-15 rotary drill rigs, one Terex O&K RH340B excavator and two Terex O&K RH400 face shovels, 10 Terex Unit Rig MT6300AC haul trucks and five MT4400AC haul trucks, plus two Terex Unit Rig MT3300AC service trucks and four MT3300AC water trucks. Commissioning of the equipment started in November 2007 and will conclude in October 2008.

Furthermore, Citic Pacific Mining has appointed Central Mining and Contracting (CMC) to operate at the Sino Project and, as a result, CMC has itself purchased five MT3300AC Terex Unit Rig haul trucks and one Terex O&K RH170 excavator.

Terex said the service truck fleet is in the first in the world to be designed and manufactured using the MT3300AC haul truck. The MT3300AC service truck is fitted with a 90,000-liter service module designed and manufactured by Austin Engineering Ltd. The main tank module is divided internally with 10 separate compartments. The largest of the compartments is a 45,000-liter diesel tank with a variety of lubricants and waste oil making up the balance. The rear roof area of the tank module accommodates two large potable water tanks, two removable grease pods and the main compressor unit. This area is easily accessible via the hydraulically actuated access stairway from the front deck of the truck. The walkways and access areas have grated floors and full height hands for safety.

The Terex Unit Rig MT3300AC water truck is fitted with a 120,000-liter water tank module also designed and manufactured by Austin Engineering Ltd. The tank module is equipped with three electric- over-hydraulic controlled spray heads and one rear-mounted remote water cannon. The spray heads are controlled from a cabin-mounted console panel with a joystick control for the water cannon. A pulse spray system has been fitted which allows for on/off intervals to be set to the desired spray sequences. The truck has two cameras mounted at the top of the tank, one for a rear view of the spray heads and the other mounted to the water cannon, providing a view of where the cannon is aimed. These cameras are connected to an LCD screen mounted in the cab. Full height handrails, flashing beacons, hydraulic hoisting tank access ladder, safety signage and other safety features are standard.

Meanwhile, Terex Mining Australia is completing commissioning of another iron ore mining fleet for Fortescue Metals Group. The initial fleet consisted of 20 Terex Unit-Rig MT3700AC haul trucks, four Terex O&K RH340 excavators and three Terex O&K RH170 excavators, which will be used for overburden removal at Fortescue’s Cloudbreak Project. To date all the trucks of this initial fleet have been commissioned, as well as all the Terex O&K RH170 machines and two of the four Terex O&K RH340 machines have been commissioned.

As featured in Womp 08 Vol 7 - www.womp-int.com