Metso introduce new hybrid truck body
Company’s latest innovation said to offer mines and quarries unmatched payload capacity and wear life
AT bauma 2019, Metso are showcasing the expansion of their product portfolio into new territory with the launch of the Metso Truck Body – a groundbreaking innovation that combines the benefits of rubber and high structural strength steel, allowing mines and quarries to haul more with less.
‘Hauling is one of the most cost-intensive components of a typical mining or quarrying operation. In addition to fuel and labour, there’s plenty of maintenance involved too,’ said Lars Skoog, vice-president of Mining Wear Lining & Screening at Metso.
‘To ensure cost efficiency, a haul truck should carry as much payload as possible on every round. At Metso, we set out to tackle this challenge and designed a truck body that requires minimal maintenance while maximizing payload. The result is a lower operating cost per hauled tonne’
The Metso Truck Body is a lightweight, rubber-lined tray designed for off-highway trucks. The elastic rubber absorbs the energy of every impact, preventing it from reaching the frame and thus allowing for a lighter-than-usual, high structural strength steel frame beneath the rubber. Thanks to this, the body can absorb maximum shock at the lowest possible weight.
Metso have been supplying their tried-and-tested rubber lining for haul trucks for several decades with outstanding results both in reducing the need for maintenance and improving the working environment for truck drivers. The proven benefits include up to six times more wear life compared to traditional steel lining, half the noise, and 97% less vibration.
The latest innovation, the Metso Truck Body, takes this concept to another level by combining the wear protection and working environment benefits of rubber with the payload-maximizing abilities of a lightweight body.
‘Many mines prefer lightweight truck bodies because they enable the carrying of more payload. However, the problem with these traditional lightweight bodies is their lack of durability – they often have to be replaced every one or two years, or repaired, which gets expensive,’ said Mr Skoog.
‘The Metso Truck Body provides an unprecedented solution that is both light and durable. The rubber lining and high structural strength steel frame have been engineered in a seamless process, utilizing the best qualities of both materials,’ he continued.
A typical Metso Truck Body weighs 20–30% less than a traditional steel-lined truck body. Depending on the application, this translates into a payload increase of several tonnes.
The Metso Truck Body is available globally for all major off-highway truck models used in mining and quarrying. Several lining options ensure an application-specific fit, even in operations that struggle with problems such as carryback.
