What started as a simple question of refreshing a fleet of trucks turned into a next-generation rollout of Caterpillar 793 trucks by Hastings Deering at the South Walker Creek mine.
A multi-million-tonne coal operation requires the best-of-the-best machinery to ensure operators are firing on all cylinders.
Stanmore Resources’ South Walker Creek mine in Queensland’s Bowen Basin produces more than six million tonnes per annum of high-quality low-volatile pulverised injection coal for steelmaking using truck-and-shovel methods.
Having the right trucks for the job, for Stanmore, was non-negotiable. What started as a strategy review resulted in a rollout of 31 Caterpillar (Cat) 793 trucks across central Queensland – the largest fleet on the east coast of Australia.
In addition, superior fuel efficiency can be achieved because the truck’s low empty weight and high efficiency from the mechanical drivetrain results in a low-cost-per-tonne option. A redesigned cab also allows for 34 per cent increased space, enhancing comfort and boosting operator productivity.
Add to that cutting-edge connectivity through optimised electronics architecture, dual mode product link radio and faster data transfers specific for an operator-focus environment.
A culture of open dialogue between parties is behind the success of the rollout.
“We’ve got constant communication between Stanmore and Hastings Deering representatives, and the product delivery team has all but joined the Stanmore team in terms of project execution,” project manager at South Walker Creek Brendan Paton said.
“We’re lucky enough to have 31 of them here at Stanmore,” Hastings Deering resource industries account manager Sean Ryan said. “It really is a step change, upgrading the 793 to make the best better.”
This sentiment is echoed by the wider team at South Walker Creek.
“It’s a world-leading truck in terms of its technology,” South Walker Creek general manager Jason Greig said. “There’s an uplift in payload, performance, bank cubic metres per hour, and the ABS braking technology increases safety performance.”
“The feedback we got from the operators was almost instantaneously positive,” Greig said. “It was, ‘Wow, we absolutely love them’.
“They’re comfortable, they’re productive, they’re quiet, and you see operators driving round in the cabin with a smile on their face.
For Stanmore, the upgrades represent a clear step in the direction towards greater improvements. Not only are the trucks class-leading in terms of payload capacity, but with the support of Hastings Deering and Cat, they also represent a low‑risk operational option.
“This is an integral part of South Walker Creek’s growth strategy,” Greig said. We’re trying to get bigger; we want to do more with less and being able to increase our payload, increase our speeds and increase our safety performance fits extremely nicely with Stanmore’s overall business objectives.”