Cat mining trucks close to production

CATERPILLAR are making rapid progress with the development of their latest F-Series mining trucks – the 793F, 797F and 795F AC – which were introduced at MINExpo 2008.

The 793F and the 797F have now accumulated more than 75,000 hours of field testing and have proven their performance capabilities and durability. As a result of the successful test programmes, Caterpillar say the 793F will go into full production within the next few months and the 797F later in the year.

Meanwhile, Caterpillar engineers have also been testing two 795F AC prototypes, including the truck shown at MINExpo, at the Tucson Proving Grounds in Arizona. The development programme has provided input for the construction of a new 795F AC, which was recently delivered to a copper mine in North America where it will serve as the first field-follow 795F AC.

‘It’s fitting that soon after producing the 50,000th Cat off-highway truck, we are now shipping out our first ultra-class AC electric drive truck to a mine,’ said Chris Curfman, president of Caterpillar Global Mining.

The 313-tonne 795F AC will enter a new size class for the company and has been the primary focus of the Caterpillar AC electric programme.

All three machines will be powered by the new Cat C175 engine that has undergone around 130,000 hours of field testing in mining trucks and over 120,000 hours in power systems. This latest diesel engine – which replaces the outgoing 3500 Series – is said to offer lower sound levels, improved altitude capability and reduced fuel consumption.

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