Modern Mining August 2015

COVER STORY

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.” 

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.

August 2015  MODERN MINING  23