THE massive Liebherr R996 excavator has been reastone and stone equipment in australiassembled in South
Africa for the benefit of the company’s local mining
customers, says Liebherr Africa mining equipment manager George
Dabner.
He says after it had been thoroughly tested at the factory in
France, the Liebherr R996 was stripped down, section-by-section,
before it was transported to South Africa and reassembled on
site.
To prepare for this undertaking, Liebherr Africa training manager
Wilfie Mills worked with Liebherr’s engineers in
France.
“The company certainly produces the world’s most
advanced technology.
“Our mechanics have to be able to do more than ever before.
Now, we have to understand schematic drawings – hydraulic and
electrical,” adds Mills.
All new Liebherr machines now include a pump brain, which enables
the 655t R996 to achieve a 33-second cycle time.
According to Mills, the pump brain comprises a set of pumps that
each deliver 840 l of oil to the valve bank every minute.
Liebherr has carefully synchronised the individual pumps so that
they also monitor the flow of oil in order to speed up the
system.
“The pump brain measures exactly where the oil has to go in
order to give maximum output,” explains Mills.
He says it includes eight pumps – delivering 840 l of oil a
minute – four independent swing pumps – delivering 413
l of oil a minute – and ancillary pumps that drive the
cooling fans.
This pump brain has been combined with two 1 120 kW Cummins diesel
engines so that the R996 is actually driven by two power packs,
reports Mills.
“Hiltricon is taking the first R996 to arrive in South
Africa, which will be used on the Iscor Sishen contract,”
notes Dabner.