The previous article (Brand Collection 1) described the relevant brands of open-pit mining electric shovel excavators. The mining dump truck, also known as non highway mining dump truck, is closely matched with the electric shovel operation. Due to its advantages of high efficiency, large transportation volume, and strong flexibility, it has become the standard equipment for large-scale open-pit mining transportation. Similar to the development model of other mining equipment in China, mining dump trucks have also gone through a development stage from import and domestic substitution to independent research and development.

Mining dump trucks can be divided into electric wheel mining dump trucks and mechanical transmission mining dump trucks. The light rated payload of electric wheel mining dump trucks is generally below 108 tons, and the heavy load is generally between 108 and 360 tons; Mechanical transmission mining dump trucks are generally below 85 tons, and heavy-duty trucks are generally between 85 and 318 tons. Around 1970, due to the lack of large hydraulic torque converters, mining dump trucks of over 100 tons were completely dominated by electric transmission. With the maturity of large hydraulic torque converters, the United States has launched a 360 ton hydraulic transmission mining dump truck; After 1990, AC-AC direct electric transmission technology began to be applied to 300-ton mining dump trucks.

International Brand 

The main international brands include Unit Rig from the United States, CAT from the United States, Terex from the United States, Euclid from the United States, Komatsu from Japan, Liebherr from Germany, and BELAZ from Belarus.

In 1963, the world's first electric wheel mining dump truck with a loading capacity of 77 tons was developed in collaboration with Unit Rig and G.E Company in the United States. After decades of development, a production enterprise represented by Komatsu, Euclid, and others for electric wheel mining dump trucks was formed.

Regarding Komatsu's mining dump trucks, around 1988, Komatsu USA and Dreiser jointly established Komatsu Dreiser Company (KDC). KDC's product range includes Dreiser construction and mining equipment, as well as Komatsu's equipment. However, due to cooperation system issues and Dreiser's continuous losses, Komatsu had to continuously sell its shares to Komatsu. In 1994, Komatsu purchased all of KDC's shares, and in 1996, KDC was renamed Komatsu American International Company.

Komatsu has the highest market share in the 240-360 ton range, and has established a factory in Changzhou, China to produce 30 to 50 tons of motor wheel mining vehicles.

Liebherr also has strong production and research and development capabilities in electric wheels, while other manufacturers such as General Electric and Siemens produce electric motors and control systems for electric wheel mining vehicles.

CAT has the largest market share in the motor wheel mining vehicle market. Due to its own engine, Caterpillar has strong production and research and development capabilities in motor wheel mining vehicles. Generally, the load capacity of motor wheels is below 150 tons, but Caterpillar can achieve the same load capacity as electric wheels, up to 372 tons.

Terex's motorized mining vehicles occupy the second largest market share, while its acquisition of Unitreg electric wheels has strong strength.

The Belaz-75211 launched by BELAZ in 1982 had a payload of 170 tons. In 1990, Belaz-75501, a prototype engineering vehicle with a payload of 280 tons, was launched in collaboration with Komatsu. China is the second largest market for Belas mining dump trucks. Between 1950 and 1970, China imported over 3000 20-40 ton mining trucks from Belas, and Belas has become the largest brand in China's mining trucks. In 2009, AVIC Technology and Belas jointly established AVIC Belas Mining Machinery Co., Ltd. and established AVIC Belas Industrial Park in Shunyi, Beijing. Prior to 2017, sales of Belas dump trucks in China reached their peak. With the rapid development of domestically produced mining dump trucks, Belas' market share is decreasing. In addition, due to many issues with spare parts supply, BELAZ's market share in China is decreasing.

Chinese Brand

The Chinese mining vehicle industry originated in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with various types of mining dump trucks produced in Tianjin, including 15 tons (TJ360), 20 tons (8J370) in Beijing, 28 tons (CQ370) in Chongqing, 32 tons (SH380) in Shanghai, and 60 tons (CA390) in Changchun. However, due to various reasons, only 15 tons, 20 tons, and 32 tons of mining dump trucks have entered mass production.

In the mid-1970s, Benxi Heavy Duty Truck Manufacturing Factory began developing electric wheel dump trucks with a capacity of 68 tons and 108 tons, and Xiangtan Electric Factory also began developing 108 tons of electric wheel dump trucks and put them into mass production.

In the 1980s, with the implementation of the reform and opening up policy, many enterprises attempted to introduce advanced products and technologies from abroad through various means such as joint ventures and technology trade cooperation with foreign enterprises, greatly promoting a new round of development of China's mining dump truck technology.

After more than 20 years of development, China has also given birth to a group of powerful brand enterprises, such as Inner Mongolia North Group, Xiangdian Group, Sany Heavy Industry, XCMG Group, Shaanxi Tongli, etc. These brands have their own characteristics in the Chinese foreign market, but we still have a lot to go in the research and development and manufacturing of large tonnage dump trucks.

In 2023, the 300 ton domestically produced mining dump truck of Northern Group was successfully delivered at the Harsu open-pit coal mine in Inner Mongolia. Prior to this, the engines and electric drive systems of large tonnage mining trucks were mainly imported from foreign technologies. However, the delivery of the 300 ton dump truck means that China has overcome many core "bottleneck" technologies such as high-power diesel engines and electric drive systems for mining heavy-duty trucks.

We also welcome peer experts to discuss the current situation and future development of mining dump truck brands.BUTTRESS ROOTS will provide the latest brand collection and supply to global mining users.

www.brt-link.com