As the Australian mining industry continues to evolve, it is essential to stay ahead of the game with innovative equipment that enhances productivity, safety and operator wellbeing.
CJD Equipment, Volvo Construction Equipment’s national Australian distributor, has introduced the much-anticipated R100E and R60E rigid haulers into the Australian market, along with after-market service, parts and support.
With a focus on helping customers achieve production targets faster – and using less fuel in the process – Volvo’s new rigid haulers are made for surface mining and quarrying applications where operation costs and safety are critical.
Loads of productivity
The E-Series R100E is an entirely new 95-tonne rigid hauler, equipped with a robust 1065-horsepower (hp), 783-kilowatt (kW) Tier 2 engine, ensuring maximum efficiency and productivity in even the most challenging terrains.
Thanks to its V-shaped body, the 60.4m3 capacity hauler ensures optimum load retention and minimal material carry-back. The R100E is designed with a lower centre of gravity and even weight distribution, spreading the load impacts and structural stresses equally across the hauler, reducing tyre wear and significantly reducing operating costs.
“The Volvo R100E is an impressive design that offers a good balance between productivity, fuel efficiency, comfort, ease of maintenance and safety,” CJD Equipment national product manager for Volvo CE Hayden Grant said.
“The Volvo styling and design on these machines shine through; it’s everything you would expect from a Volvo product.”
Similarly, the Volvo R60E is made to effortlessly take on steep gradients and improve cycle times with high-torque capabilities and high-drive-axle multiplication, delivering impressive tractive force and high levels of rim pull.
This 55-tonne machine offers a 36.04m3 capacity, with a 771hp, 567kW Tier 2 engine, making it the perfect match for the EC950E excavator.
“Built for markets with Tier 2-compliant engines and based on the R100E model, the R60E packs a higher payload than the D-generation model it replaces, enabling it to move more for less with every cycle,” Grant said.
“Not only is it productive, but the Volvo R60E is also fuel efficient.”
Thanks to Volvo’s dynamic shift control, gear selection automatically adapts to varying conditions, enabling the hauler to default to the most efficient gear-shifting schedule.
In addition, auto-engine idle shutdown eliminates unnecessary fuel consumption and engine wear.
Operators can take their productivity to the next level with Volvo’s on-board weighing system. This intelligent system uses sensors and advanced technology to measure the weight of the load carried by the rigid in real-time, ensuring that the rigid is not overloaded, in turn maximising productivity and reducing transportation costs.
“Volvo’s payload system is a unique feature that enhances operational efficiency,” Grant said.
“Understanding the tonnes per hour being hauled and fuel consumption per tonne are always crucial factors in reducing costs and boosting productivity on-site.”
This integrated system ensures the machine moves optimum safe payloads and logs all loads for complete production management, providing real-time data on the on-board display.
Safety at the centre
The Volvo rigid haulers have also been designed with the operator in mind.
The R100E and R60E cabs are designed with anti-slip steps and walkways, which allows access from both sides of the machine. The cabs feature a left-side-positioned operator station and adjustable air-suspended seat to keep operators working at their best.
To further optimise operator comfort and safety, the two new rigids feature two standard retardation systems for enhanced downhill machine control. The transmission retarder prevents wheel lock-up, while the modulating rear brake retarder, which features an automatic apply function, helps to maintain a controlled engine speed.
Other protective features include transmission overspeed protection, neutral coast inhibitor, fail-safe braking and secondary steering systems.
In addition, the robust R100E and R60E are equipped with a responsive MacPherson strut with a lower wishbone connection and viscous-mounted cab, minimising the transfer of impact and vibrations from the ground to the operator.
“The MacPherson strut is a type of suspension system that utilises a centrally mounted variable rate suspension strut on each side for support,” Grant said.
“This system is designed to absorb shocks and vibrations, providing superior handling and increased stability in both straight-line and cornering scenarios.
“Volvo has carried over the Terex rear axle design into their rigid haulers, a cornerstone component. These rigid haulers also have the Allison transmission featuring the versatile 9000 series, a robust heavy-duty and all-rounder transmission that excels in various capacities.”
Volvo CE incorporates large windows and advanced camera systems to eliminate blind spots and provide operators with a better view of the working area, increasing on-site safety.
The left-position operator system provides an unobstructed view of the surrounding area. At the same time, Volvo’s Smart View has been integrated into the new rigid haulers to ensure operators have a 360° bird’s eye view of the work zone, ensuring safe operation in confined working areas.
The Volvo rigids also host a range of comfort-enhancing features, including climate control, ergonomically positioned displays, responsive fingertip controls, and a Bluetooth-enabled audio system.
Servicing of the R60E and R100E is required every 500 hours and can be completed swiftly thanks to a straightforward machine design that includes grouped maintenance points located within easy reach either from the ground or the service platform, as well as common-sized bearings throughout.
On-board diagnostics provide insights into system pressures, temperatures, and fault reporting to facilitate and expedite troubleshooting.
New sustainability standards
The R100E and R60E represent a groundbreaking leap in the world of rigid haulers. The power, efficiency, safety and sustainability of the machines sets, according to CJD Equipment, new industry standards, making it a top choice for mining and quarry professionals worldwide.
“This introduction of the new rigid haulers from Volvo CE exemplifies Volvo’s commitment to innovative solutions that promote sustainable operations – decreasing fuel consumption, cycle times and transportation costs,” Grant said.
“Over the last 12 months, Volvo has made significant strides in sustainability, always keeping something up their sleeve.”
Volvo CE rigid haulers are available to order in Australia, showcasing Volvo’s role in steering the heavy machinery industry towards a new era of progress and responsible development.
This feature appeared in the February 2024 issue of Australian Mining.
