Mining trucks get local fix-up
TAKING the Hilux to the dealer for a tune up looks easy when you compare it to the logistics undertaken by New Acland Mine recently.
The miner needed a full component change out on five of its huge Caterpillar 793F haul trucks and chose to use the Hastings Deering workshop in Toowoomba for the six month undertaking.
At $2.2 million per truck it sounds an expensive exercise but, with each truck costing almost $5.5 million new, it was worth the expense.
New Acland maintenance supervisor Rob Trapp said it was the first time they had sent an entire fleet to the Toowoomba workshop.
“The guys and Hastings Deering have done work for us before, but this was by far the biggest job they have done for us,” Mr Trapp said.
“It was a huge job, replacing basically every component on the truck.”
Hastings Deering Toowoomba service manager Jus- tin Butcher said his team was honoured to get the contract.
“This was a great win for us,” he said.
“We have around 100 workers at the Toowoomba Service centre and, of that, about 12 worked on this project basically around the clock.
“We did what is known as a certified power train rebuild which means we effectively stripped the trucks bare and replaced all the drive train components including the engine.”