Modern Mining November 2019

PRODUCT News

Hitachi’s EX1200-7 excavator arrives in South Africa Marketing & Business Development Manager, Marius Weber.

including the bucket pins. The EX-7 excavators include a num- ber of Hitachi’s technologies for digital integration. Global E-service and ConSite are remote machine management systems that moni- tor and report on machine health, allowing users to ensure that the EX-7 machines consistently deliver at maximum efficiency. ConSite also allows users to access status information on their machines from a per- sonal computer on a daily basis. Contamination sensors on all main hydraulic pumps, centre joints and swing motors of the new EX-7 Series can detect contaminants that may cause damage to any of these components and alert the operator of potential contaminants and record the fault in the DLU (Data Logging Unit), even remotely advising maintenance control. Among several new features added to the EX-7 Series is the Aerial Angle, which is a 360º peripheral vision display system that feeds live footage from cameras mounted on the excavator, improving overall safety for both operator and mine. In terms of safety, the EX-7 now also has an MDG 15 regulation standard dual isolator switch for both the engine starter and the battery, which aids in safely troubleshoot- ing and downloading machine information. The EX-7 Series of machines will include the following models: EX1200-7; EX2600-7; EX3600-7; EX5600-7; and EX8000-7. Hitachi Construction Machinery, tel (+27 11) 841-7700, website: www.hitachicm.co.za

The electric-controlled main pump and a hydraulic regeneration circuit added to this latest line of machines have reduced fuel consumption by up to 10 % in some models. Different engine options are available, in particular the FCO (Fuel Consumption Optimisation) configuration chosen for the African market. Improvements have been made in terms of fuel economy, with functions such as Shutdown Control which, when activated, prompts the machine to switch to ‘soft key off’ status to prevent unneces- sary fuel burn. “Customers now have the option to choose between various power supplies, allowing for regional regulatory compli- ance and/or preferential satisfaction,” says Weber. HCM provides a choice between an MTU internal combustion engine or a Cummins gas engine for all models from the EX2600 upwards, in response to the findings from customer research. The EX1200-7 offers some structural improvements on its predecessor, the EX1200-6, with the track frame’s swing circle having been upgraded from a cast structure to a forged structure, and the top plate thickness increased from 50 mm to 55 mm for greater durability. The EX1200-7 also has an improved grease system that enables automatic lubrication to grease all points in the superstructure, each side of the steel frame to steady the racks while the crane carries them to stack- ing areas ready for despatch. Steadying of the racks will allow faster crane movement and increased productivity. The fifth hook, of conventional swivel design, is mounted centrally in the block to execute the crane’s secondary function of loading the plates onto trucks. Routine plant maintenance, the third of the crane’s functions, will also be carried out by this fifth hook. The rubber matting provides electrical insulation for the crane to protect its motors from the charge applied to the acid baths. Condra routinely supplies custom-man-

The Hitachi EX1200-7 excavator.

The first Hitachi 120-t EX1200-7 excava- tor, a new addition to the EX-7 Series, recently arrived in South Africa, following its launch earlier this year at Bauma 2019 in Germany. The smallest machine in the EX-7 Series, the EX1200-7, comes in two configura- tions – backhoe or shovel – and features a 4,5 % increase in bucket capacity, opti- mised swing control and an upgraded hydraulic system, including a flow-regen- eration valve, which means lower power requirements, lower fuel consumption and increased pump life. “Fuel efficiency was a major factor in the design of the EX-7 Series because we recognised the importance of car- ing for the environment while remaining profitable. These machines make this easier than ever before,” says Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM) Africa’s The humble hook-block was recently elevated in status to become the key component of an electric overhead crane completed by Condra for a metal refinery. Custom designed to specification, the block comprised an electrically insulated square steel frame suspended horizontally from four rope pulleys at its corners, and fitted with five hooks to meet the require- ments of three different applications. After installation and commissioning of the crane, four of the five hooks will carry out the primary function of removing racks of cathodic plates from acid baths used in the refining process. These identical hooks are bolted two to

Hook-block a key component of overhead crane

Overhead crane and hook-block undergoing load test prior to shipping. ufactured crane components and complete cranes to customers worldwide. Condra, website: www.condra.co.za

42  MODERN MINING  November 2019