25 / 72
COVER STORY
August 2015
MODERN MINING
23
Top:
A panoramic view
of a section of the mining
operation.
Above:
Cat 966H units
are utilised for general
pre- and post-crushed
materials handling stockpile
management.
around 490 to 510 tonnes per hour. Crushed
material is loaded onto SPH’s articulated dump
truck haulage units for transfer to Pilanesberg
Platinum Mines’ process plant.
The operating track record of the current
Cat 340D L unit supported SPH’s decision to
add the Cat 340D2 L as part of its ongoing plant
modernisation programme. The same principle
applies to other original equipment manufac-
turers (OEMs) that make up SPH’s diversified
fleet purchasing mix.
For contractors, the Cat 340D2 L upgrade
responds to customer requirements for a
machine that delivers the same power and pro-
ductivity, but with less fuel consumption and
lower owning and operating costs. This is a
common characteristic on new model upgrades
across Caterpillar’s earthmoving range.
Manufactured for the global market at
Caterpillar’s Xuzhou factory in China, the
340D2 L retains the previous model’s Tier II
Cat C9 engine. However, there are various
technological improvements that pass on key
efficiency gains. These include an advanced
three stage fuel filtration system, which makes
the machine less sensitive to low-quality
diesel.
“The C9 engine burns up to 7 % less fuel
than the previous D series power plant, due
primarily to automatic engine speed control,”
explains Barloworld Equipment Cat sales pro-
fessional, Piet Smith. (Barloworld Equipment is
the Cat dealer for Southern Africa.)
The factory default power setting is ECO
mode, with the option of selecting High
Hydraulic Power (HHP) where the application
demands it. Net power remains the same at
200 kW.
On the Cat 340D2 L, hydraulic system
pressure remains at 35 000 kPa: the efficiency
gain here is due to a new electric pressure
sensor that reduces pump flow when there is
no load or a light load to improve fuel con-
sumption. The flow rate from each of the
two hydraulic pumps on the Cat 340D2 L is
265 litres/min compared to 280 litres/min on
the Cat 340D L.
Along with key ‘under the skin’ improve-
ments, some features have been retained. For
example, the Cat 340D L and Cat 340D2 L share
common linkages, which means the same
buckets and work tools can be utilised on both
machines.
In terms of ground engaging tools, two new
Heavy Duty (HD) bucket sizes are available on
the Cat 340D2 L, namely a 2,60 m³ and 2,69 m³.
The Cat 340D2 L sold into the Southern African
market also comes standard with the optional
and heavier 8 450 kg counterweight, which
brings the machine’s weight up from around
38 080 kg to 40 270 kg.
“We expect our investments in technology to
keep pace with SPH’s expanding business model
as we seek to pass on the best cost production
model for our clients,” adds Fourie. “This will
be a strong motivator when making current and
future machine purchase decisions.”