Komatsu Ltd (OTCMKTS: KMTUY) has shipped a one-million-pound piece of equipment over 1,500 miles to serve as a monument of mining innovation at its headquarters in Nevada.
Last week, the renowned machinery producer sent a 1979 Pawling & Harnischfeger (P&H) 2100BL electric rope shovel from Wisconsin to Elko.
Komatsu acquired the P&H brand in 2017 through the purchase of its parent company Joy Global. The deal was valued at approximately US$3.5 billion. Going forward, it boosted Komatsu’s mining industry revenue by about 20 per cent and augmented its rope shovel portfolio.
“Its journey from Milwaukee to Elko marks a significant moment in our company’s history,” said United States mining manager Tom Suess.
The bucket loader machine will be visible from the Interstate 80 freeway, the company proudly pointed out.
“This machine will now be prominently displayed in front of our Elko facility, symbolizing the evolution of mining technology, the enduring legacy of P&H Mining Equipment, and Komatsu’s deep connection to and pride in being part of the Elko community,” he added in a Komatsu press release.
Photo credit: Komatsu
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Rebuilt models are still being used to this day
The P&H 2100BL was designed for large-scale surface mining in the late 1970s. It is a successor of Pawling & Harnischfeger’s earlier electric shovels it started producing in the 1920s. This model was superior to previous ones because of its more advanced hoist motors, structural durability and dipper capacity.
The primary use of this piece of equipment was to load material into the backs of haul trucks at open pit mining operations. The rope-driven dipper system it’s equipped with would enable 20 to 30 loads to be dumped per hour. It served as an ideal asset for coal mining and iron ore operations.
Throughout more than four decades, these machines have collectively loaded billions of tonnes of material. Many of them are still operational after being rebuilt. Although valued as an influential staple in the history of the mining sector, Komatsu has been using more advanced equipment to perform the same task in recent years.
The Japanese machinery expert’s P&H 4800XPC is currently the company’s flagship electric rope shovel. It is significantly superior to the 2100BL because of its alternating current drive. This enables smoother torque, regenerative braking and subsequent energy savings compared to direct current.
The 4800XPC also features a larger bucket, semi-autonomous operating system, tele-remote operating capabilities and a lighter boom.
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