Heavy duty excavators with 23 cubic meter buckets, made by the Japanese firm Hitachi, have been brought into service at the open pit mines of Lebedinsky GOK and Mikhailovsky GOK (both part of Metalloinvest). The machinery was acquired as part of Metalloinvest’s investment programme. This is the first time that this type of machinery has been used at Metalloinvest’s mining and processing plants; previously, excavators had a load capacity of 10 cubic meters to 12 cubic meters or less.

The high quality and capacity of the new equipment set it apart. The excavator is fitted with a comfortable cabin that has an ergonomic design and conveniently located controls. This reduces the stress put on the machine operator and facilitates increased efficiency.

The main stage of the program to modernize the mining and transport complexes at Metalloinvest’s enterprises began last year, over the course of which the plants received, in addition to the Hitachi excavators, six 180 tonne Caterpillar dumptrucks, a trial model of the 220 tonne BelAZ and a 160 tonne BelAZ. There are plans to deliver a further five heavy duty 180 tonne Caterpillar dumptrucks to Metalloinvest’s units in the near future. At Lebedinsky GOK, a new 220 tonne BelAZ is being prepared to enter into service.

In addition, as part of the program to upgrade the fleet of mining and transport machinery in 2013 and early 2014, six 130 tonne BelAZ dumptrucks, five excavators with 10 cubic meters to 12 cubic meters buckets, five heavy duty track-type bulldozers, boring machine, dump cars and six towing machines were delivered. A further four towing machines, two excavators with 10 cubic meter to 15 cubic meter buckets and three boring machines are expected to be introduced in the near future.

The implementation of the large scale investment program to upgrade equipment at the mining and transport complex of Lebedinsky GOK and Mikhailovsky GOK is aimed at increasing the productivity and processing efficiency of the two units. Importantly, the use of modern and powerful machinery enables improvements in working conditions at Metalloinvest’s plants.

Mr Andrey Varichev CEO of Management Company Metalloinvest said that “The Company pays a lot of attention on the operational efficiency improvements of mining and transport complex. In the last year, Metalloinvest started to expand its fleet of heavy duty machinery by purchasing 220 tonnes and 160 tonne BelAZ trucks and 180 tonne Caterpillar dumptrucks, which are capable of transporting 50% more rock mass than previously possible. The introduction of the Hitachi excavators with 23 cubic meter buckets enables Metalloinvest to create integrated heavy-duty excavator-transport tandems that significantly increase the operational efficiency of the Company’s mining segment.”