Three Cat 777G dumptrucks for Brenkley Lane

Banks Mining make multi-million pound plant investment at Northumberland surface coal mine

BANKS Mining have made a multi-million pound investment in three new state-of-the-art Caterpillar 777G off-highway dumptrucks for overburden removal duties at their Brenkley Lane surface mine, near Cramlington, in south-east Northumberland.

With a capacity of 100 tonnes, the CAT 777G is widely acknowledged as one of the ‘best in class’ for the surface mining industry, and provides a range of fuel efficiency and operational improvements over previous models, as well as lower noise emissions, improved durability, and easier control systems for operatives.

The new trucks have been procured through the Boldon branch of plant and equipment supplier Finning, and Banks have also agreed a repair and maintenance contract for the trucks with the local Finning team for the next five years.

Simon Moody, customer account manager at Finning’s Boldon office, said: ‘The off-highway trucks that Banks Mining have taken from us are the best available in their field, and the feedback we’re getting from the plant operators that are now working in them has been extremely positive.’

Gavin Styles, executive director at Banks Mining, added: ‘It’s important for us to regularly refresh our plant fleet, so that we know we’re working our surface mining sites in a safe, responsible and efficient way, with sensitivity for the communities that host our operations. The benefits we’re getting from these new machines in terms of reduced noise emissions, improved fuel efficiency and greater operational efficiencies are already very clear.’