Komatsu wheel loaders work round-the-clock
13/08/2003

A trio of Komatsu WA470-5 wheel loaders are each clocking-up an amazing 143.5 hours per 7 day working week at a Cornish quarry.

Imerys Minerals, part of the global Paris based Imerys Group, is using the Komatsu machines at its St. Austell operation where kaolin is hydraulically mined and processed prior to being used in the manufacture of everything from paper to washbasins throughout the world.

The WA470’s, supplied by Marubeni-Komatsu of Redditch, are being used to transfer waste material to stockpile at the extraction point and have to work virtually non-stop because both the mining and processing tasks operate on a round-the-clock basis.

Weighing 23.2 tonne, the WA470 is powered by an economical Komatsu 6-cylinder, turbocharged engine developing 195 kW (261 hp) @2000 rpm. In addition to an impressive level of tractive effort provided by a large capacity torque converter incorporating a lock-up feature in 3rd and 4th gears, the machine also boasts a spacious and comfortable operators cab and 500 hour service intervals.

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