Mineral Resources has sold its 5.4 per cent stake of Pilbara Minerals in an effort to focus on its hard-rock lithium and iron ore assets.
Mineral Resources has been a shareholder in Pilbara Minerals since October 2016 as part of its offtake rights and a royalty held of the Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project in Western Australia.
Its 8 per cent stake in Pilbara Minerals at the time was valued at $50 million, with the $328 million divestment representing strong value.
(“Mineral Resources) is delighted with the share price value delivered by Pilbara Minerals’ development of Pilgangoora but believes it is time to redirect this investment into the company’s own growth projects, including in the hard-rock lithium and iron ore sectors,” Mineral Resources stated.
The $328 million divestment was completed through an underwritten accelerated block trade to institutional investors.
Pilbara Minerals share price on the ASX is $2.26 at the time of writing.
The transaction will support Mineral Resources’ $650 million capital expenditure program for the 2021-22 financial year.
Mineral Resources expects costs to increase by 5 to 10 per cent at its Yilgarn Hub in Western Australia, with exports of 10.5 million to 11 million tonnes of iron ore.
This includes the Koolyanobbing iron ore mine and Carina mine, which is currently under care and maintenance.
The company also operates the Utah Point hub, which is expected to ship 10.5 million to 11 million tonnes of iron ore.
Mineral Resources hard-rock lithium projects include the Mt Marion and Wodgina spodumene projects, owning 50 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively.
The company is expecting to ship 450,000 to 475,000 tonnes of spodumene from Mt Marion in the 2022-23 financial year, while Wodgina remains on care and maintenance.
Wodgina is one of the largest hard rock lithium deposits globally, and is operated under a joint venture with Albemarle who owns the remaining 60 per cent interest.
Mineral Resources is also constructing the Kemerton lithium hydrogxide project in Western Australia with Albermarle, owning a 40 per cent interest.
FLSmidth has agreed to purchase thyssenkrupp’s Mining Technologies business (TK Mining) for €325 million ($522.28 million) to create a pit-to-plant technology solution with a sustainable focus.
The deal was highly amenable as both companies had complementary interests in transforming their businesses.
FLSmidth is a Danish company which serves over 60 countries with engineering, equipment and service solutions for minerals, metals, concrete, electronics and more.
FLSmidth chief executive officer Thomas Schulz said the addition of TK Mining’s prowess in mining systems, materials handling and processing would complement his business.
“TK Mining and FLSmidth are a perfect match and I am proud to announce this agreement to join forces,” Schulz said.
“This is a truly transformational deal allowing us to accelerate our growth ambitions in mining by creating a stronger talent pool, and one of the world’s largest and strongest suppliers to the mining industry.”
The deal will welcome 3400 TK Mining employees to FLSmidth, once regulatory requirements are completed within the next 12 months.
As a multinational group of industrial and technology businesses, thyssenkrupp saw the deal not as a loss, but a shedding, to allow it to strengthen other business areas, according to the company’s chief executive officer Martina Merz.
“The successful sale of the mining business shows that we are pressing ahead at full speed with the transformation of thyssenkrupp and achieving important results step by step,” Merz said.
“But we have not yet reached our goal. The principle ‘performance first’ continues to apply. We need to return to positive cash flow as quickly as possible. The sale of Mining Technologies makes an important contribution to this,”
Merz added how FLSmidth was the perfect partner, with similar ideals and goals for TK Mining.
“At the same time, I am pleased that we have found a very good new owner in FLSmidth. FLSmidth presented a convincing business strategy and a clear vision for the mining business,” she said.
“It will give our employees attractive prospects. That was extremely important to us when negotiating the sale.
“The merged new company will be able to drive innovation and digitalisation even faster and will increasingly focus on sustainability and ways to reduce environmental footprint.”
FLSmidth saw the deal as an opportunity to advance its MissionZero targets, which look to eliminate company carbon emissions by 2030.
“TK Mining’s extensive active installed base, together with FLSmidth’s strong existing service setup, will provide additional aftermarket opportunities, while the joint R&D (research and development) capabilities and combined portfolio will enable accelerated innovation in digitalisation and MissionZero solutions,” FLSmidth stated.
To keep up to date with Australian Mining, subscribe to our free email newsletters delivered straight to your inbox. Click here.
Amid growing concerns over Victoria’s COVID-19 situation, the Federal and State Governments have announced a $525 million joint investment for further infrastructure.
The package will deliver “shovel-ready” infrastructure projects and road safety upgrades across Victoria. A total $320 million investment has been provided by the Federal Government under the package, and the Victorian Government will spend $205.5 million.
The Federal Government recently announced infrastructure joint investments with other states across the country.
“Partnering with State and Territory Governments to invest in more infrastructure projects across Australia is a key part of our JobMaker plan to rebuild our economy and create more jobs,” the Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. “This funding injection means we have brought forward or provided additional funding in excess of $830 million to Victoria in the past eight months.
“This package builds on the fast tracking of $514 million for infrastructure in Victoria which we announced last November, locking in priority upgrades that will bust congestion, increase productivity, improve safety, and boost jobs at a time we need it most.”
Premier Daniel Andrews said the projects will help fortify the state’s construction industry.
“This partnership with the Commonwealth will build the projects regional communities need and help keep our construction industry strong – which is more important than ever right now as we rebuild from the pandemic,” he said.
“This package is on top of our $2.7 billion we’re investing in new projects across the state to get shovels in the ground – and boots in the mud – to kickstart our economy.”
Projects to lift Australia’s economy
The Federal Government has also announced it will fast-track 15 critical infrastructure projects across the country in response to the economic turmoil wreaked by COVID-19.
Projects such as Inland Rail from Melbourne to Brisbane, the Marinus Link between Tasmania and Victoria, the Olympic Dam extension in South Australia, numerous road, rail and iron ore projects in Western Australia, and emergency town water projects in New South Wales and Snowy 2.0 have all been included on the Federal Government’s “priority list”.
The priority projects will form a five-year package worth $1.5 billion.
“Joint assessment teams will work on accelerating these projects worth more than $72 billion in public and private investment,” Morrison said last month. “These are projects that will support over 66,000 direct and indirect jobs.”
The Federal Government has released its second stimulus package, which will see a total of $189 billion injected into the economy to keep businesses in business.
This funding figure includes $66.1 billion of new funding from the latest economic support package.
The package will include assistance for businesses to keep people in a job, regulatory protection and financial support for businesses to stay in business, and support for households including casuals, sole-traders, retirees and people on income support.
Up to $100,000 is available for eligible small and medium sized businesses that employ people, with a minimum payment of $20,000, to help them keep operating, pay the rent and bills, and retain staff.
Under the enhanced scheme from the first package, employers will receive a payment equal to 100 per cent of their salary and wages withheld, up from 50 per cent, with the maximum payment increased from $25,000 to $50,000. Additionally, the minimum payment has been increased from $2000 to $10,000. It will be available from 28 April 2020.
The Federal Government aims to incentivise businesses to hold on to more of their workers by linking the payments to staff wage tax withholdings. The payments are tax free and will flow automatically through the Australian Taxation Office.
It expects to benefit around 690,000 businesses employing around 7.8 million people.
Small and medium business entities with aggregated annual turnover under $50 million and that employ workers are eligible.
An additional payment is also expected to be made from 28 July 2020. Eligible entities will receive an additional payment equal to the total of all of the Boosting Cash Flow for Employers payments received.
This measure is estimated to cost $31.9 billion over the forward estimates period, including the value of the measure around the first package.
In addition, the Federal Government will establish the Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme, which will support small and medium enterprises (SME) to access the working capital needed to get through the impact of the coronavirus.
Under the scheme, the Federal Government will guarantee 50 per cent of new loans issued by eligible lenders to SMEs. It aims to do so by enhancing lenders’ willingness and ability to provide credit to SMES, with the scheme able to provide up to $40 billion of lending to SMEs.
It aims to complement the reduction in red tape to help SMEs get access to credit faster and the announcement made by Australian banks to support small businesses with existing loans.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Federal Government was acting to cushion the blow from the coronavirus for businesses and households to help them get through to the other side of the crisis.
“We want to help businesses keep going as best they can and for as long as they can, or to pause instead of winding up their business. We want to ensure that when this crisis has passed Australian businesses can bounce back,” Morrison said.
“Our focus is on cushioning the blow and providing hope to every Australian that we will get through this and come out the other side together.
“We know this will be temporary. That’s why all our actions are geared towards building a bridge, keeping more people in work, enhancing the safety net for those that aren’t and keeping businesses alive so they can get to the other side and stand up their workforce as quickly as possible.”
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the $189 billion economic support package was the equivalent of 9.7 per cent of GDP.
“The Government is taking unprecedented action to strengthen the safety net available to Australians that are stood down or lose their jobs and increasing support for small businesses that do it tough over the next six months,” Frydenberg said.
“These measures build significantly on what we have already announced.
“These extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures.”
National Manufacturing Week (NMW), held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 14-17, will highlight the continuous growth and change the industry is experiencing.
NMW will feature a theme of ‘Industrial Evolution’ throughout the four days of the conference program and exhibition with a specific focus on driving further innovation in local manufacturing, continuing the evolution of the industry advanced technology solutions, sharing insights to stay ahead of the game, while celebrating Australian manufacturing’s resurgence.
NMW exhibition director Robby Clark said this year’s event promises to support the continuing high-tech and highly integrated evolution of the industry.
“There’s been a resurgence of late in Australian manufacturing, which is being generated by the industry’s collective realisation, active progression and evolution to being technologically advanced, highly integrated, automation and high-level engineering.
“Equally, we’ve also seen Industry 4.0 or the Internet of Things become a reality from technological forecast, which for manufacturing has manifested in operations – for example in smart factories where sensors are providing actionable intelligence or underpinning greater automation.
“Knowledge gathering and solution sourcing are critical steps for manufacturing professionals looking to navigate this industrial evolution that is currently underway. The exhibitors for this year’s event will provide manufacturers with the latest range of products and solutions designed to improve operations and operational performance, increase efficiency and resolve challenges, while the content within the conference program will offer specific advice and visibility into how industry leaders are managing change,” said Clark.
At National Manufacturing Week 2019, the exhibition floor will feature more than 200 leading industrial suppliers of game-changing solutions, new technology, advanced manufacturing products and operational services.
Visitors will be able to take advantage of six designated product zones to navigate through the exhibition floor, which segment the extensive range of products and solutions into key operational categories. The six product zones for 2019’s event are automation and robotics, engineering, Industrial Internet of Things, safety, welding technology, and manufacturing solutions.
Key exhibitors across these six product zones include:
Industrial Internet of Things – Epicor, ECi Solutions, Cadgroup; Safety – Vanguard Wireless, Atom, Axelent;
Welding Technology – BOC, Lincoln Electric and Supagas.
There will also be an extensive conference programme that will feature a line-up of more than 70 industry speakers and panellists, who will share their exclusive insights about current industry challenges and recommendations for operational success. With the program’s sessions segmented across two streams, each with their own dedicated theatre, of “Industry 4.0” and “Connected Manufacturing”.
“This year’s conference program will be our most extensive and in-depth to date, with delegates offered unprecedented access to industry leaders with the expertise, knowledge and understanding to develop the strategies and practices for generating further growth,” said Clark.
Must-see theatre programs
The Industry 4.0 Theatre program will offer attendees the latest opinions, developments and research about the impact of Industry 4.0 on businesses and operations. A key highlight of this program will be the opening keynote, which will be delivered by Australia’s chief scientist, Dr Alan Finkel, followed by an innovation and collaboration stories series run by the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC).
Across days 2-4 of this stream’s conference sessions, other noteworthy speakers include Swinburne University director of Factory of the Future Dr Nico Adams, CSIRO Data61 principal research consultant Dr Elliot Duff, Innovative Manufacturing CRC CEO David Chuter, Siemens head of digital enterprise Christopher Vains, and AMCG managing director Dr Jens Goennemann.
The Connected Manufacturing Theatre program offers expert advice about business management, design and industrial challenges.
Conference sessions within this stream will focus on industry topics, including environment and energy policies, process improvement and optimisation, safety innovation, safety policies, safety management and culture, mental health and well-being, marketing and sales, additive manufacturing and design, and government grants and tariffs.
Industry leaders who will feature in some of these sessions, include Efic Business Development Director Philip Smith, Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation CEO Brooke Donnelly, and Fonterra Cooperative Group HR Systems Owner Toni Kennington.
Clark said this year is NMW’s most extensive program ever, in both speaker volume and industry experience. “We are really looking forward to seeing the best game-changing, innovative and high-tech solutions that our industry-leading exhibitors are planning to demonstrate and display.”
Industry support is key
Strategic partners and industry associations supporting NMW in 2019 include Weld Australia, AMGC, Innovative Manufacturing CRC and Engineers Australia. These respective partnerships strengthen NMW’s depth and relevance of insight sharing and cement the event’s status as a key hub for the manufacturing community to come together.
As a strategic partner of this year’s event, Weld Australia will have an interactive presence on the exhibition floor offering visitors deeper insight into the latest welding skills training available. Weld Australia marketing and communications manager Donna South said Weld Australia will have an advanced welder training hub on the exhibition floor. “[This] will showcase the augmented and virtual reality technology that is revolutionising welder training here in Australia, and around the world.
“Attendees will have the chance to see and try a range of different welding simulators, which are making welder training and upskilling safer, more cost-efficient and engaging for new and experienced welders,” said South.
Improving business by understanding challenges
With NMW featuring a variety of Industry 4.0 applications that are helping lead the way for a strong future for the manufacturing industry, Clark said implementing smart solutions is a must.
“Manufacturing is no different from any other industry, in terms of needing to understand the change and challenges ahead, develop strategies and acquire the knowledge or capabilities to manage these changes or evolutions, while ensuring their customer service and productivity are not detrimentally impacted during this management of change.
“IoT is understandably forcing rapid change across the industry from operational practices and execution, to higher integration, reconsideration of approaches to production or task completion and the requirement to plan for future change, which are typified by the increasing level of ‘smart factories’ or factories with smart solutions.
“Therefore, we know businesses within the industry are actively considering and working to improve their operational practices and refine their approach or strategy for continued success. Because improving a business isn’t a process where ticking a box or achieving that next milestone is the measurement of success.”
To stay ahead of the game, Clark said manufacturers should acquire the latest insights, and collaborate and engage with industry peers.
“Whether your objective is to improve efficiency, productivity or increase quality, it’s crucial to take advantage of opportunities like NMW that support your business in its pursuit of future growth, by providing a forum to engage with industry leading solutions and operational experts.” said Clark.
Registration is now open for the 20th edition of National Manufacturing Week (14-17 May 2019), with free registration available at: www.nationalmanufacturingweek.com.au.
Original equipment manufacturers (OEM) Lincom Group and McLanahan Corporation have signed a contract that will see the former become the official Australian distributor of McLanahan’s sand and aggregates processing range.
This includes the distribution of McLanahan machinery designed for washing and classifying, tailings and water management and dewatering that will benefit both parties.
The collaboration will increase Lincom’s product offering while offering new distribution channels for McLanahan.
Lincom and McLanahan are both family-owned companies with extensive experience in the materials handling and material processing fields in the mining indudstry.
The partnership would bring more McLanahan products and installations in the market, according to Lincom chief executive Stephen Watterson.
“As a leading provider of material processing equipment, we are always looking into the best quality equipment for our customers and to machine plant that complement the range we already successfully provide,” Watterson said.
“McLanahan Corporation is a global provider with a reputation of top quality, with the highest standards for engineering and manufacturing, which is of huge importance to us.”
Fortescue Metals Group subsidiary FMG Magnetite and joint venture partner Formosa Steel have agreed to the development of stage two of the Iron Bridge magnetite project in the Pilbara, Western Australia.
The $US2.6 billion ($3.7 billion) development includes a 22 million wet metric tonnes-per-year ore processing facility (OPF), an airstrip and expanded village, a 195-kilometre Canning Basin water pipeline and a 135-kilometre concentrate pipeline to Fortescue’s Herb Elliot port facility in Port Hedland.
The project will employ around 3000 people during construction and 900 full time positions once operations commence.
The development follows Fortescue’s $US500 million ($703 million) stage one construction of large scale pilot and demonstration plants, which have validated key equipment and magnetite production processes for the full-scale stage two OPF.
“The Iron Bridge project holds Australia’s largest JORC-compliant magnetite resource supporting a long mine life,” Fortescue chief executive Elizabeth Gaines said.
“The project is well progressed and ready for detailed design and execution with the majority of key approvals already in place. The innovative design, including the use of a dry crushing and grinding circuit, will deliver an industry-leading energy efficient operation with globally competitive capital intensity and operating costs.
“Our focus has been to create the most energy and cost-efficient ore processing facility, tailored to the specific ore we will mine.”
The Iron Bridge project is targeted to produce 22 million wet metric tonnes per year once full operational capacity is achieved.
First ore will be delivered in the first half of 2022, with ramp up to full production within 12 months at an all-in sustaining cost of $US45–55 per dry metric tonne.
This project will also deliver a premium product with iron content of 67 per cent, further enhancing the range of products available to Fortescue’s customers, according to Gaines.
When combined with the Eliwana development, the Iron Bridge expansion will increase Fortescue’s average product grade and provide the ability to deliver the majority of the company’s products at greater than 60 per cent iron, consistent with Fortescue’s long-term goal.
Coincidental to news of the approval, Fortescue has also updated the Iron Bridge’s magnetite mineral resource estimate, with ore reserves climbing up to 716 million tonnes on June 2018’s 705 million tonnes.
“This update supports the development of stage two of our Iron Bridge magnetite project announced today which holds Australia’s largest JORC compliant magnetite resource,” Gaines said.
“We are confident in the long-term demand for this premium product, supported by market fundamentals, including global supply conditions, investment in higher efficiency steel-making capacity, as well as the competitive advantage of proximity of the Pilbara to key markets in China and the region.
“We are ready to build this plant and develop this mine, and are confident that our early work will support rapid progress to full production.”
FMG Magnetite is a subsidiary of FMG IB, a Hong Kong registered company owned by Fortescue (88 per cent) and a subsidiary of Baosteel Resources International Company (12 per cent).
Barrick Gold has officially unveiled an offer to merge with Newmont Mining after several days of anticipation it would make a tilt for the gold rival.
The $US17.8 billion ($24.8 billion) all-share transaction would create the world’s largest gold company, with three Australian assets – the Super Pit and Boddington in Western Australia, and Tanami in the Northern Territory.
Barrick’s offer, however, represents a negative premium based on Newmont’s closing price on February 22. It also has the potential to derail Newmont’s $US10 billion plans to merge with Goldcorp, a deal the United States-based company believes offers better value than the Barrick tie-up.
Barrick chief executive officer Mark Bristow said the proposed merger with Newmont would unlock more than $7 billion of real synergies.
“The combination of Barrick and Newmont will create what is clearly the world’s best gold company, with the largest portfolio of Tier 1 gold assets and the highest level of free cash flow to drive future growth and support sustainable shareholder returns, run by a management team with an unparalleled record of delivering growth,” Bristow said.
A major portion of the synergies between the companies would be in Nevada, United States, where the deal would combine Barrick’s mineral endowments with Newmont’s processing plants and infrastructure.
Bristow said the proposed merger would secure Nevada’s position as the world’s most prospective gold region.
“Most important, it will enable us to consider our Nevada assets as one complex, which will result in better mine planning and fully realise the state’s enormous geological potential for all stakeholders,” Bristow said.
“Considered globally, the merger represents a radical and long-overdue restructuring of the gold industry, and a transformative shift from short-term survival tactics to the long-term creation of sustainable value.”
The Canadian company confirmed last Friday that it was reviewing the opportunity to make a takeover bid for Newmont following media speculation about a potential deal.
Newmont responded to the Barrick offer by stating it had a long history of evaluating potential transactions, and undertakes robust analysis and diligence on a continuous basis of acquisition opportunities.
“Newmont has previously reviewed and rejected potential combinations with each of Barrick and Randgold Resources, prior to their merger,” Newmont stated.
“Newmont’s proposed combination with Goldcorp represents the best opportunity to create optimal value for Newmont’s shareholders and other stakeholders.”
The company plans to fully evaluate the Barrick proposal and respond in due course.
Liebherr is ready to strengthen the reputation of the R 9100/R 9150 excavators when its B versions of the machines arrive at Australian mines this year.
As the R 9100 has proved to be a worthy successor to the R 984 C excavators over the past seven years, Liebherr is convinced the B versions will add further benefits.
Liebherr delivered widespread improvements on the R 984 C with the R 9100 and R 9150, and set similar expectations during development of the new models.
The original versions have, however, provided a strong foundation for Liebherr to build on.
Liebherr launched the R 9100 in 2010 and the R 9150 two years later. Since 2012, the OEM has sold machines for operation in 21 countries over six continents.
The excavators have operated for more than one million hours at the mines, with a third of the machines recording more than 15,000 hours each.
They are used across operations for numerous commodities, including gold, coal, iron ore, copper, nickel and manganese.
Australian miners and contractors are amongst the users of the machines, including Blue Cap Mining, which operates two R 9150 excavators at gold sites in Western Australia and Queensland.
Blue Cap general manager Paul Allen says the R 9150 has many notable qualities that have made it suitable for the small hard rock operations where they are in use.
“We have seen both excavators perform well at different sites with different challenges,” Allen tells Australian Mining.
“Part of the reason we went for the 9150 was the specification and capacity of the machine, its hydraulic system and the additional power you are pulling in that unit – it has 565kW.”
Blue Cap pairs the excavators with haul trucks in the 100-tonne class, a match that been a strong fit for the designs of the pits at the gold sites.
Another key factor that helped the R 9150 stand out for Blue Cap was the technology Liebherr included on the machines, Allen continues.
“It was (at the time) more about some of the newer technology that Liebherr embedded around productivity and fuel efficiency,” he says.
“We are seeing around 15-20 per cent more efficiency out of this digger compared to some competition.”
With the success of Blue Cap’s R 9150 excavators, Allen has taken a keen interest in the updates incorporated on Liebherr’s updated models.
The B-version excavators were launched in January and the first machine in Australia will be received this month.
Liebherr senior product manager – mining excavators George Barturen backs the new excavators to drive productivity at mining operations, whatever the environment.
“Such systems are robustly designed and will be very well suited to the Australian mining environment from our extensive experience over the last five decades,” Barturen says.
“The B series machines, as was the R 9100 are suited to all mining and quarrying operators as the machine brings a competitive advantage regardless of the mined commodity with a reduced cost per tonne.”
Blue Cap’s R 9150 at the Red Dog site. image: Blue Cap Mining.
Stepping up operations
Liebherr’s updated hydraulic excavators have been developed to provide a step forward in performance and reliability, while lowering the cost per tonne.
Both models have received upgrades across the machine, including the latest generation of Liebherr’s D9512 engine, which offers an increased lifetime target of 15,000 hours, and other features that support maintenance efficiency.
The B versions include the exclusive EVO Bucket Solution, maximising loading capacity and ensuring optimal penetration efficiency.
With contoured sidewalls and augmented depth, the EVO Bucket has a 7.5m3 capacity on the R 9100 B and 8.8m3 and 9.6m3 on the R 9150 B, the latter being available on machines configured with a shorter boom.
The buckets match the excavators with the Liebherr T 236 truck, as well as other articulated and rigid trucks in the 50–100-tonne class.
Liebherr has positioned the R 9150 B directly between the 100-tonne and 200-tonne class machines with its bucket capacities. The R 9150 B begins to challenge the productivity of larger machines in the 200-tonne class with 12m3 buckets.
Barturen says incorporating the patented EVO Bucket design to the new machines is the most significant advance that increases productivity.
“This has brought about an increase in bucket payload with a reduction in bucket weight, whilst maintaining the same fast cycle time,” Barturen says.
“Additionally, the EVO Bucket for backhoe machines Liebherr is introducing several patented innovations together with machine functional control systems to provide the operator with semi-automatic functions increasing the overall efficiency and productivity of both machines.”
Barturen, a Liebherr employee since 1991, has worked closely with the company’s mining excavator team on the development of the B versions.
Alongside fellow Liebherr product manager Michel Runser, Barturen has guided the excavators through their final stages of development before launch.
“The main drivers in the development process were to improve the machine as a whole, enhancing machine safety, improving reliability and productivity KPIs and introduce operator comfort options, both active and passive.” Barturen says.
“The Australian mining industry drives continuous improvement of the machines through the different standards, guidelines and mining industry associations.
“Additionally, Liebherr has an internal global reporting system, which brings feedback directly into the factory from the field, speeding up the implementation and introduction of suggested improvements to suit the market, which is continuously driving improvement.”
Updated Liebherr engine
This series of Liebherr excavator was the first to introduce the OEM’s own diesel engines, a milestone reflected in the B versions. The R 9100 B and R 9150 B are equipped with Liebherr’s latest D9512 V12 diesel engine, which exists in Tier 2 and USA/EPA Tier 4 final version.
Liebherr Australia executive general manager, customer service, Tony Johnstone says the company’s service team has updated its skillset to support the new engine since its introduction.
Johnstone believes this has led to a new approach for the team, which has previously serviced and maintained engines from other OEMs.
“For us the challenge has been the development of our service technicians to be ready to work on the machines, understand the systems and be able to provide the best services that are required for customers,” Johnstone says.
“We’ve also had the challenge of upskilling our technical trainers so that we could train all of our service technicians in the Liebherr engine.”
Liebherr’s Australian-based technicians completed training on the engines in the company’s Switzerland engine factory certified training centre, with focus on control systems, maintenance and diagnostics.
In addition, customer training will be provided by Liebherr certified trainers at the new technical training centre at the Para Hills West facility in Adelaide.
The company has also ensured it has widespread availability of the unique service and maintenance parts for the engine.
“We had to stock appropriately for parts and for the future which we are working on now; we are enabling our remanufacturing centre to rebuild and run the D95 series engine,” Johnstone says.
“It has been a ground up approach because it was the first Liebherr engine in a Liebherr mining excavator.”
Liebherr’s preparation for the change of engine has the services team well placed to support the B versions once they arrive in Australia.
The R 9150 B will also be available in electric drive.
The updated features of the B version machines. Image: Liebherr.
Comfort and safety first
The B-version machines feature an upper structure that is accessible via a robust fixed ladder or 45-degree access stair in option. It integrates one large central platform equipped with slip resistant surfaces.
Liebherr has designed the new arrangement with wide catwalks to facilitate maintenance and to ensure comfort during operations.
“Included in the upgrade was the integration of hard safety systems – an improved catwalk on the left side of the machine, together with a handrail installation on the counterweight for added safety during machine and engine maintenance tasks,” Barturen says.
“Integration of HEPA filtration of the operator cabin is available should the requirement be needed.”
The cab, updated with improved ergonomics and operator attenuation, provides the ideal working platform and optimal comfort for operators.
Liebherr’s resiliently mounted cabin on ISO mounts reduces vibration, while a new cabin interior liner provides a two decibel decrease in noise levels in the cabin for the operator.
Technology advances
Liebherr has shown its awareness of modern connectivity needs, equipping the B version machines with GSM data transmission, together with the ability to transmit on customer site networks to provide operating parameters, error codes and machine faults.
Machine end users can access the data through the Liebherr Mining Data (LMD) platform, and generate custom reports to track and analyse machine data.
Barturen says the excavator product team focused on Liebherr’s six pillars of mining: safety and environment, productivity, efficiency, reliability, customer service, safety, and environment when enhancing the machines with technology.
“Improvements to the machines’ operating systems provides enhanced machine operational efficiency. Together with the integration of machine data management and analytics, the B series will enable customers to increase the effective utilisation of the machine in lowering the cost per tonne,” Barturen says.
“Customer service is enhanced by on board systems for the management of the machines’ maintenance and reliability interfacing with the Liebherr developed Troubleshoot Advisor.”
The data collected by the connectivity kit is recorded in a worldwide database for processing and assessment by Liebherr.
【更多MND公告和股价走势请点击
