Sandvik Mining says its newest underground trucks—the recently released TH550 and TH540—are the first in the underground mining market to offer EPA Tier 4i/Euro Stage IIIB compliant diesel engines. The two new haulers, which Sandvik describes as “compact and agile,” also offer the highest payload per envelope size and empty vehicle weight, according to the company.
The new models are based on the company’s well-known T50 and T40 haulers, but benefit from improvements resulting from comprehensive research, customer feedback and modern thinking, according to Sandvik. For example, the optional Tier 4i/IIIB engine consumes less fuel, produces fewer emissions and has better torque characteristics for trucks than its predecessors. Currently, said Sandvik, the TH550 and TH540 are the only trucks in the market available with these engines.
“If these engines were left running in the center of some large city, the exhaust fumes coming out of the engines would be cleaner than the air they took in from the city. These trucks can provide a healthier environment for all personnel working underground,” said Tomi Pikala, marketing support manager at Sandvik Mining.
Other new features offer enhanced safety and usability, such as the capability to conduct all daily maintenance at centralized, ground-level stations. Operator comfort and overall productivity are enhanced with a remodeled cabin featuring a new ergonomically designed vibration-reducing seat, dashboard and control system screen, along with automatic gear shifting and adjustable climate control. Sandvik notes the trucks’ productivity benefits from practical, time-saving features such as larger fuel tank capacity, easily cleanable radiators, a new cooling system, safer electrical wiring, new steering cylinders and durable tires—all intended to increase operating hours per year and extend the overall service life of the trucks. www.sandvik.com
