The hybrid-electric ultra-class WE1850-3 wheel loader completes performance testing at Komatsu’s
Arizona Proving Grounds in December. It can be used for production as well as cleanup and ramp
building. (Photo: Komatsu)
3 Big Wins for Wheel Loader
Operators
The newest releases help operators hone their performance and hit their
production goals, while working in comfort
By Jesse Morton, Technical Writer
They benefit from all the hard lessons learned by the OEMs about predecessor machines and about the core needs of modern mining operations. They can also benefit from advanced digital solutions that either simplify otherwise complex tasks or that make training easier, faster and more effective. Indeed, the suppliers say the latest advances in the space suggest that, whether the market currently demands it or not, wheel loaders have the features and capabilities needed for them to be more broadly used in the mines of the future.
Hybrid Wheel Loader
Completes Testing
Komatsu reported the new WE1850-3
wheel loader completed performance
testing at the Komatsu Arizona Proving
Grounds in December. “The WE1850-3
has completed a major milestone,” said
Jesse Dubberly, product director, hybrid
wheel loaders, Komatsu.
They hybrid-electric ultra-class wheel
loader, the second largest of its kind in
the world, is designed to work with 218-
to 327-mt (or 830E to 930E) haul trucks.
It is “a versatile loading tool that can be
used for mainline production and shovel
backup as well as cleanup and ramp
building,” Komatsu reported.
With a 268-mt operating weight, the wheel loader is roughly 20 m long and 6 m wide. It comes standard with a 33-m3 bucket, capable of a 59-mt payload. With a 1,500-kW engine, it offers breakout force of roughly 1,300 kN. In standard configuration, it has a “dump clearance” of roughly 6.5 m. In “high lift” configuration, the clearance is 7.6 m. The wheel loader has ground clearance of 0.7 m, and a wheel base of 7.5 m. The frames “are fabricated from highstrength, low-alloy steel with excellent weld characteristics and extreme low temperature properties,” Komatsu reported. “High-strength castings are used in key areas of fabricated structures to reduce stress and improve structural life.”
The solution traces its lineage back to the L1850, introduced two decades ago and considered “Generation 1,” Dubberly said. “Generation 2 was developed and commercially released 11 years ago, which introduced the drive system and digital controls,” he said. “We unveiled our Generation 3 drive system in 2017 with the WE1350-3, and now with our WE1850-3.” Released in September 2021, the WE1850-3 was engineered to help mines get more payload and higher productivity, “while minimizing fuel and maintenance costs,” Dubberly said. “It’s typically 35% to 45% more fuel efficient with commensurately less emissions than comparable mechanical or diesel- powered loading tools.”
WE-series wheel loaders use an SR Hybrid Drive system “that is fully regenerative,” described by Dubberly as a top feature. “During braking or retarding, electrical motors become generators and feed power back into the electrical system,” he said. “This allows for up to 45% less fuel consumption than comparably sized mechanical- drive wheel loaders,” Dubberly said, “as well as a considerable reduction in carbon emissions per ton of material moved.”
With fewer components, “the SR Hybrid Drive system eliminates inefficient mechanical systems, reducing wear and extending operating life for major components,” he said. The drive helps reduce “tire scrubbing when turning and loading, and it provides dynamic braking, which prevents mechanical brake wear and maintenance.” The SR Hybrid Drive is designed with a low center of gravity to increase “the machine’s stability while loading and building ramps, which helps keep projects moving forward, safely,” Dubberly said.
The Kinetic Energy Storage System supports the SR Hybrid Drive, and can store “significant horsepower captured from braking and direct it to supplement peak power demand,” he said. “The result is fast cycle times without a commensurate increase in fuel usage,” Dubberly said. That can increase productivity, while lowering cost per ton. The wheel loader comes standard with the LINCS II microprocessor-based control system “with monitoring and diagnostics, including integrated data logging and storage,” Komatsu reported. “The LINCS II network control system on the WE1850-3 provides real-time feedback and vital statistics, such as bucket height and angle, individual bucket payload, and total tons moved.”
The load-weighing feature on the system “displays real-time load per pass, per truck, and total loads,” Komatsu said. It can store data for months, and can couple to radio dispatch systems “for real-time monitoring.” That can help improve productivity by helping operators quickly adjust to conditions, Komatsu said. The LINCS II system “uses a dashmounted, full-color touchscreen display,” Komatsu reported. “Out-of-range conditions will cause an audible alarm along with a message screen that is color coded to indicate severity.”
One of the key benefits offered by the wheel loader is operator comfort. The cab is spacious and “designed to offer excellent visibility,” Komatsu said. “Digital joysticks offer easy and responsive control, while the highly adjustable, heated/cooled seat helps maximize operator comfort.” The cab is pressurized, and features air filtration and conditioning. It has joystick steering, joystick hoist and bucket control, an adjustable operator seat, a trainer seat, and a 360° camera system. The wheel loader is designed to simplify operator functions, Dubberly said. “The operator can focus on the dig face and less on pedals with dynamic braking as the primary braking mechanism,” he said. “Dynamic braking does not require engaging a pedal; the brake pedal is used for service or spotting braking, not during normal loading operations.”
It also reduces some maintenance tasks, he said. “It is common for wheel motor brakes to go 25,000 and 30,000 hours of operation, whereas they’re typically consumable items in mechanical- drive loaders.” Therefore, training is “a big part of Komatsu’s product introduction to help our customers overcome the change management for successful adoption of the electric-drive wheel loader,” he said. The wheel loader enters the market as Komatsu moves to rebrand “all of its hybrid wheel loader products,” part of an “ongoing process to integrate its legacy brands into One Komatsu,” the supplier reported. “This rebranding transitions legacy brands, such as the P&H L1150, P&H L1350, P&H L1850 and P&H L2350 loaders to Komatsu.”
Those units have a rich history and a bright future, the company said. “Our large hybrid loaders have carried the legendary LeTourneau and P&H names for many years, but we are proud to move the product line to the Komatsu brand,” said Brian Fox, vice president, mining products. “Since the Komatsu acquisition of Joy Global in 2017, we’ve been making significant investments in our factories and new product development with the goal of bringing the Komatsu standard of quality and product support to this unique, highly efficient product line.” It also enters the market as OEMs compete to offer solutions that help miners attain sustainable development goals.
“Driven by the demands of the future, Komatsu is committed to meeting the world’s need for sustainable solutions that reduce CO2 emissions and waste, while increasing the use of renewable energy sources and water conservation,” Dubberly said. “To help support our customers’ sustainability targets while prioritizing safety and productivity, the WE1850-3 provides a robust, flexible loading tool, while reducing fuel and carbon emissions per ton of material moved.”
Operator Assistance
Improves Performance
Caterpillar reported that an internal study
showed that after using an automated
coaching feature available for the new
992 wheel loader, operators loaded a
whopping 14% more mt/hour and used
3% less fuel for efficiency gains of 19%
in mt/L.
“Operator Coaching is a computer
system that detects specific coaching
opportunities and provides corresponding
tips for the operator through an in-cab
display,” Caterpillar said. “Video tutorials
show the issue and then illustrate the
recommended way to perform the task.
Improvement progress is tracked in a performance
summary.”
Users are coached on shortening travel, racking more before lifting, operating in the proper mode, optimal pedal usage, optimal bucket angles, timing of actions and optimizing dump height. Of the 13 tips, 10 speak to digging action, two to travel, and one to dumping. Ten of the 13 are designed to help improve productivity, Cat reported. Nine offer efficiency gains. Eight, if followed, could result in both productivity and effi- ciency gains. And seven of the 13 could help improve component life.
The tool can be used by trainers to reinforce lessons and messages, Marek said. “This is an exciting way to take training to the next level,” he added. Previously, systems were available that could track results by operator, but that could not report on exactly how the operator achieved them, he said. “Now we can measure aspects of the operator’s technique in order to provide feedback,” Marek said. That means that, with Operator Coaching, training can become laser focused, and it can be continuous.
With the tool, the trainer can, at intervals and after initial training is completed, “review the individual results report with each operator until they are fully proficient,” he said. The tool is one of several that Caterpillar recently reported can be used to help increase productivity on the new 992. New optional Autodig system components automate “three of the most difficult parts of the dig cycle in both rehandled and tough digging applications, delivering additional increases in productivity and efficiency while also improving tire life through reduced wear,” Caterpillar said.
Tire Slip Prevention, Tire Set and Lift Stall Prevention can be individually enabled or disabled using one of the in-cab touchscreens. “Tire Slip Prevention reduces rimpull when the tires are not set, and increases rimpull when downward force is applied to the tire,” Caterpillar said. “Tire Set detects pile contact and automatically lifts against the pile to set the tires, increasing available traction,” Cat reported. “It also reduces rack velocity before tires are set.”
Both components help reduce tire slip, increase tire life and improve digging performance. “Lift Stall Prevention enables automatic management of rimpull to prevent hydraulic stall while lifting up through the face,” Caterpillar said. “The result is less time spent in the pile.”
Another component, Payload Overload Prevention, helps prevent “an overloaded bucket from being raised to full truck height,” Cat said. “The system can be configured to either slow down or bring the raise function to a controlled stop when a configurable payload value is exceeded,” it said. “This prevents operators from being able to overload the machine.” The system recommends the payload based on linkage type, machine application and bucket weight. “The maximum payload can be set within the password- protected service mode to any value,” Cat reported.
It allows the operator to use the bucket needed to achieve the target pass match without overloading it, Marek said. “This means you can use a larger bucket to consistently four-pass load the truck, versus using a smaller bucket that varies from four to five passes depending on density.” The components help operators achieve the full efficiency potential of the new 992, he said. The announcement comes after the supplier reported in March the 992 offers up to 32% greater productivity over the predecessor model. The wheel loader can cut maintenance costs by 10% and give a 48% increase in payload/L. The new model “provides 9.5% more rimpull during digging and up to 20% more breakout force, increasing productivity,” Caterpillar said.
It “features an on-demand throttle mode to optimize payload-per-fuel effi- ciency without slowing production,” the supplier said. “New standard automatic retarding controls disable the impeller clutch, enable the lockup clutch, and use the implement and fan pumps retarding to slow the machine on grade,” it said. “The available advanced automatic retarding controls with engine brake feature offers full control of the loader’s speed on grade to maintain a desired hold speed.” The unit features improvements to setback and strike plane angles, a longer bucket floor, and a stronger and larger bottom section, which increases bucket fill factor by 10%. “The taller side plate with level top surface helps to improve visibility beyond the bucket edge to the material pile,” Caterpillar said. Compared to that of the earlier model, the cab gives more visibility, has intuitive controls and a 50% increase in legroom. The controls “feature electrohydraulic speed-sensing steering with force feedback,” Caterpillar reported. “Two 254- mm color LED monitors display machine control and operating functions,” it said. “A separate 203-mm screen provides a dedicated viewing feed of the standard rearview camera, upgradable with optional 270° vision and object detection.”
Compared to the predecessor model, the new 992 has 10% lower maintenance costs. Automatic lubrication, improved hydraulic systems filtration and pump prognostics, and improved access to maintenance items help reduce downtime and facilitate maintenance planning. With a powerful Cat C32B (Tier 4 Final/ Stage V or Tier 2) engine, the wheel loader delivers production numbers while helping mine sites achieve some sustainable development goals, Caterpillar reported. Available in both standard- and high-lift configurations, “the 992 delivers the lowest cost-per-ton when paired with fleets of Cat 775, 777 and 785 trucks.”
Simulator Training Delivers
Results
Immersive Technologies said a mining
customer reported operators trained on
simulators subsequently achieved major
performance improvements.
“Recently, a customer in Latin America
trained 21 wheel loader operators
and saw improvements of 64% reduction
in steering errors, 68% reduction in
tire slip errors, and a 54% reduction in
work equipment protection errors,” said
Glenn Heldberg, product development
manager, Immersive Technologies.
Those results “combine for an overall reduction in unscheduled maintenance
on the machines, and an improvement
in production rates.”
Those results, as well as those from
other customers, also show Immersive
Technologies “has a Wheel Loader solution
for any mine and any application,”
he said.
The realism and quality of the situational events proves the conversion kits and platform is “world-best technology,” complemented by “a global support network offering 24/7 technical and professional services support,” he said. “We appreciate how important it is for our customers to achieve the highest level of operational availability through responsive and high-quality products and services,” Heldberg said. The platform and conversion kits have evolved over roughly three decades and in “close consultation with the mining industry to obtain the most realistic simulation product possible,” he said. “Ongoing development has seen new models regularly released to the market upon customer demand.”
The customers that reap the most benefits are the ones that have identified performance improvement areas prior to adoption. “To maximize training outcomes, ideally customers will need to have a good understanding of their hurt points related to training needs,” Heldberg said. “What are the skills gaps causing their business the most problems, and what areas would they like to see the most improvement from?” he said. “Real-world data from the operation assists us in compiling a thorough training curriculum customized to their operation, operators, machine fleet and environment.”
That data also enables Immersive Technologies track results and customize support to ensure the customer attains their goals, Heldberg said. “By providing the highest fidelity simulators available on the market today, such as our Wheel Loader range, Immersive Technologies continues to provide world-leading training solutions for our global customer base.”