This was no ordinary machine moving job. The Komatsu PC 8000 is one of the largest hydraulic shovels, weighing in at 800 tons. The second shovel, a CAT 6060 FS, was a slightly more forgiving 600 tons. Complicating matters even more was the fact that the relocation had to happen within a very small window, during which an obstructing electrical distribution line would briefly be shut down, enabling the massive loads to pass underneath. This shut down procedure is only permitted on one predetermined day per month, meaning we had one day to complete the relocation.
The Vanguard Engineering and Planning Team assembled a 6-file, 14-axle Goldhofer PST combination that would accommodate the girth of the shovels and provide maximum stability of the load along the mine haul roads, which include gradients of up to 10% and some very tight bends.
A week of precise planning and meticulous engineering on Vanguard’s part ultimately enabled the team to make light work of these massive loads, with each shovel reaching its destination, ready to work in less than one day.
In a mine environment where time is money, Vanguard’s quick reaction and carefully planned execution ensured these assets were relocated safely and in record time to the South32 colliery.
This was no ordinary machine moving job. The Komatsu PC 8000 is one of the largest hydraulic shovels, weighing in at 800 tons. The second shovel, a CAT 6060 FS, was a slightly more forgiving 600 tons. Complicating matters even more was the fact that the relocation had to happen within a very small window, during which an obstructing electrical distribution line would briefly be shut down, enabling the massive loads to pass underneath. This shut down procedure is only permitted on one predetermined day per month, meaning we had one day to complete the relocation.
The Vanguard Engineering and Planning Team assembled a 6-file, 14-axle Goldhofer PST combination that would accommodate the girth of the shovels and provide maximum stability of the load along the mine haul roads, which include gradients of up to 10% and some very tight bends.
A week of precise planning and meticulous engineering on Vanguard’s part ultimately enabled the team to make light work of these massive loads, with each shovel reaching its destination, ready to work in less than one day.
In a mine environment where time is money, Vanguard’s quick reaction and carefully planned execution ensured these assets were relocated safely and in record time to the South32 colliery.
