Scania has commissioned several prime movers and rigid trucks with Australian mine operators to show how well suited they are for the country’s mining conditions.
The first to be demonstrated was the R 620 V8-powered prime mover. The demonstration on Australian mine sites not only had to win over operators and their balance sheet guardians, but also drivers accustomed to American trucks.
But in its first month of operation on a gold mine in Kalgoorlie, the experienced driver who drove the R 620 along a 40km haul road of hard packed clay up to five times a day was an early convert.
Never having driven a cab-over European truck before, the driver fell for the comfort and quietness of the cab.
It is rated at 200-tonnes GCM. This gives a 140-tonne payload potential when pulling four side-tipping trailers.
The V8 engine produces 620 hp and 3,000 Nm of torque. It comes with powerful pulling performance and economical fuel consumption even when running fully loaded.
The first test it went through was quite simple: pulling a water cart along the haul road. Then came the tough part: hauling 140-tonnes of ore.
But the vehicle managed it and the driver had the added benefit of a retarder, which allows the vehicle to be decelerated almost to a standstill without using the service breaks.
This keeps them cold for emergency operation as well as reducing wear and tear, promoting improved uptime.