Underground Haulers Designed for Higher Productivity, Lower Emissions
Sandvik Mining says its newest under-ground trucks—the recently released
TH550 and TH540—are the first in the
underground mining market to offer EPA
Tier 4i/Euro Stage IIIB compliant diesel
engines. The two new haulers, which
Sandvik describes as “compact and
agile,” also offer the highest payload per
envelope size and empty vehicle weight,
according to the company.
The new models are based on the
company’s well-known T50 and T40
haulers, but benefit from improvements
resulting from comprehensive research,
customer feedback and modern thinking,
according to Sandvik. For example, the
optional Tier 4i/IIIB engine consumes
less fuel, produces fewer emissions and
has better torque characteristics for
trucks than its predecessors. Currently,
said Sandvik, the TH550 and TH540 are
the only trucks in the market available
with these engines.
“If these engines were left running
in the center of some large city, the
exhaust fumes coming out of the engines
would be cleaner than the air they took
in from the city. These trucks can pro-vide a healthier environment for all per-sonnel working underground,” said Tomi
Pikala, marketing support manager at
Sandvik Mining.
Other new features offer enhanced
safety and usability, such as the capabil-ity to conduct all daily maintenance
at centralized, ground-level stations.
Operator comfort and overall productivity
are enhanced with a remodeled cabin
featuring a new ergonomically designed
vibration-reducing seat, dashboard and
control system screen, along with auto-matic gear shifting and adjustable cli-mate control. Sandvik notes the trucks’
productivity benefits from practical,
time-saving features such as larger fuel
tank capacity, easily cleanable radiators,
a new cooling system, safer electrical
wiring, new steering cylinders and
durable tires—all intended to increase
operating hours per year and extend the
overall service life of the trucks.