Modern Mining September 2017

COVER STORY

New Cat mining truck for smaller

Barloworld Equipment has delivered three of the first Cat AD22 articulated underground trucks in Africa to Glencore’s Mopani Copper Mines in Kitwe, Zambia. At 22-tonne capacity, the AD22 has the distinction of being Caterpillar’s smallest articulated dump truck. The AD22 model was developed in response to global demand for a robust, dependable truck capable of manoeuvring in smaller underground areas.

T his addition to Caterpillar’s hard rock mining product line was launched at MINExpo 2016 in Las Vegas and released commercially to market this year. Hilton Raven, mining sales consultant at Barloworld Equipment Zambia, says three AD22 trucks were delivered to Mopani Copper Mines in Zambia on 25 and 26 July 2017. Two of the units went to Mopani’s Nkana Mine Site and one to the Mufulira Mine Site. “The mine required this size for its smaller operations and development works that require trucks with 3.5x3.5 haulage sizes,” says Raven.

Taking delivery of three Cat AD22 articulated underground trucks (from left): Douglas Bbela, engineering manager, Mopani; Hilton Raven, mining sales consultant, Barloworld Equipment Zambia; Sean Gantley, equipment maintenance supervisor at Mopani’s Nkana Mine Site; and Andrew Phiri, underground manager, Mopani.

“The AD22, like Caterpillar’s other under- ground trucks, is considered more robust than competing machines, with much higher ground clearance and easier operation, maintenance and repair.” Such is the need for this size Cat machine that negotiations are under way to add several more Cat AD22s to the Mopani Copper Mines fleet. Best features built in “The new AD22 articulated truck responds to demand by underground operations like Mopani for a truck suitable for smaller applica- tions than the proven 30-tonne Cat AD30,” says Paul Brandrick, underground product manager at Barloworld Equipment. “The AD30 was launched in 2002 and oper- ates on many Southern African mines including Platinum Goup Metals’ Maseve mine, Hebei Iron’s PMC, South 32’s Wessels, Assmang’s Black Rock, and Rosh Pinah in Namibia, owned by Trevali.” The AD22 delivers industry leading perfor- mance as well as competitive pricing in its size class. It is designed and built on the success of

16  MODERN MINING  September 2017