Tony Illia /ENR

Tony Illia /ENR

Tony Illia /ENR Terex haul truck (top) may be biggest at 400-ton capacity, while LeTourneau introduced a new loader platform (middle) and Caterpillar launched new electric-drive trucks.

A financial market meltdown is having little impact on a surging global mining industry, and that is helping launch new lines of super-big equipment for mine operators and contractors alike.

The equipment was unveiled at the MINExpo tradeshow held Sept. 22-24 in Las Vegas. Sponsored by the National Mining Association, the show drew a record 41,000 attendees. “Mining companies are flush with cash and don’t need financing,” noted Brad C. Rogers, vice president and general manager of LeTourneau Technologies, Longview, Texas.

Plano, Texas-based Terex Mining launched a 400-ton haul truck. “We think it’s the biggest in the market,” says Steven Fujan, Terex’s product development leader. The company’s previous largest truck was the 360-ton capacity MT5500.

The new MT6300AC is the result of a complete redesign geared toward oil sands mining in northeastern Alberta, Canada, which has the largest reservoir of crude bitumen in the world. The truck has a 62-in. loaded clearance height, and features a uniquely curved floor, front and canopy for easy dumping. The AC drive system offers maximum oil sands traction, with a triple-reduction wheel motor for 32:1 to 42:1 gear ratios. The truck measures 31.4 ft wide, 25.4 ft high, and 49.6 ft long. It is powered by a 3,750-hp, 20-cylinder Detroit Diesel C3 Series engine. Despite a $6-million price-tag, Terex has already sold a dozen.

Caterpillar, meanwhile, rolled-out four new 240- to 380-ton capacity electric-drive haul trucks. Peoria, Ill.-based CAT is best known for mechanical-drive trucks. The F-Series trucks do not save any fuel over mechanical ones “but they do have 10% to 20% lower costs in labor and maintenance,” says CAT spokesman Joshua D. Wagner. Caterpillar plans to offer both options.

LeTourneau unveiled its L-1150 electric-hybrid drive wheel loader. It has a 25-cu-yd bucket and 18.6-ft loading height designed for 150-ton to 200-ton trucks. It marks the first model of a new platform for LeTourneau loaders, featuring the new LINCS II touch-screen dash system for monitoring hydraulics, electrics, engine and traction drive. It has an electric-drive system with all-wheel drive and automatic slip control. The loader uses up to 40% less fuel than a mechanical drive, the company claims.