Liebherr-Australia delivered a milestone number of PR 776 70-tonne mining dozers to Western Plant Hire (WPH) in 2024.
Western Plant Hire (WPH), a contractor working within Western Australia for a wide range of industries, received a total of five mining dozers from Liebherr.
The machines were delivered and installed at Barrooghumba, one of WPH’s 50–50 joint ventures with local Indigenous businesses and their communities.
Although the delivery represents the start of Liebherr’s relationship with WPH, its ties to the MacKellar Group, which acquired WPH in 2021, trace back further.
MacKellar, a longstanding Liebherr customer, was the first Australian company to purchase PR 776s when they launched in 2016.
Over the years, MacKellar has worked closely with Liebherr-Australia and Liebherr-Werk Telfs in Austria to provide essential feedback that refined the machine’s design.
“Mackellar’s early experience with these dozers and the resulting product improvements (has) helped give us the confidence that the machines would perform to our expectations on site,” WPH executive director of operations Luke Mateljan said.
“The latest version of the PR 776 has incorporated all the early learnings, resulting in a final product that is not only well refined but is reliable and cost-effective compared to its competitors.”
Liebherr-Australia technical support advisor specialist for dozers Tony Di Prima said the PR 776 has evolved significantly over time.
“The redesigned cabin offers exceptional operator comfort with a spacious, ergonomic layout and low sound levels,” he said.
“Plus, its powerful engine, intelligent drive system and hydrostatic travel drive provides excellent productivity and manoeuvrability.”
Liebherr Australia’s Perth team oversaw the dozers’ build and delivery, ensuring timely and safe project completion.
“The team in Perth has seen impressive results, including increased reliability as well as a massive uplift in operator comfort and feedback,” Di Prima said.
WPH’s Luke Mateljan said the Liebherr build team performed exceptionally well in preparing and delivering these units.
“They provided the mine specifications to our customers in a very tight timeline, and communication throughout the build was fantastic,” he said.
“Transport to site, commissioning, familiarisation and handover was also handled by Liebherr, which ensured a seamless process for us and for our client.”