Digging It: MINExpo Tradeshow Draws Record Crowd

“Mining companies are flush with cash and don’t need financing,” says Brad C. Rogers, vice president and general manager of LeTourneau Technologies, Longview, Tex., who reported 20% to 30% more foot traffic during this year’s event. “Most mining growth isn’t in the U.S. It’s in Australia, Asia, and South America.”

By Tony Illia

A U.S. financial market meltdown is having little impact on a surging global mining industry -- a fact that helped draw a record 41,000 attendees to the MINExpo tradeshow held Sept. 22-24 in Las Vegas. The event, which occurs every four years, saw nearly 1,300 exhibitors occupy 600,000-sq-ft worth of space or 30% more than in 2004, reports the National Mining Association, a Washington, D.C.-based trade group and event sponsor. The show seemingly had added significance this year as canceled and postponed construction projects increasingly curtail capital expenditures. Yet mining activity still appears robust with healthy spending activity for existing and developing operations.

“Mining companies are flush with cash and don’t need financing,” says Brad C. Rogers, vice president and general manager of LeTourneau Technologies, Longview, Tex., who reported 20% to 30% more foot traffic during this year’s event. “Most mining growth isn’t in the U.S. It’s in Australia, Asia, and South America.”

MINExpo consequently served as a showcase for companies like Plano, Tx.-based Terex Mining who introduced its new larger capacity 400-ton haul truck. “We think it’s the biggest in the market,” says Steven Fujan, Terex’s product development leader. The MT6300AC is the result of a three-year complete redesign geared toward oil sands. It has a 62-in loaded clearance height, and features a uniquely curved floor, front and canopy for easy dumping. The AC drive system offers maximum oil sands traction, thanks to a triple-reduction wheel motor for 32:1 to 42:1 gear ratios. The truck is powered by a 3,750-hp, 20-cylinder Detroit Diesel C3 Series engine that gives it 100-hp more than its closest competitor. Despite a $6-million price-tag, Terex has already sold a dozen trucks with 10 going to CITIC Pacific Mining, Perth, Australia.

Caterpillar, meanwhile, rolled-out its new electric drive haul trucks during MINExpo. The Peoria, Ill.-based equipment manufacturer, best known for its mechanical machines, is playing catch-up with the rest of the industry, Rogers says. CAT’s F-Series, available in 240-ton to 380-ton load capacities, don't save any additional fuel over their mechanical counterparts, admits Joshua D. Wagner, the company's electric drive development industry spokesman. “But they do have 10% to 20% lower costs in labor and maintenance,” he adds. CAT plans to spend $2.3 billion in capital investments this year, with a 15% to 20% increase for research and development, in order to ramp-up mechanical production while also pursuing a full line of electric drive machines. 

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LeTourneau, however, a hybrid innovator, used MINExpo as an opportunity to unveil its new L-1150 electric-hybrid drive wheel loader -- the first model of a new platform of company loaders. It’s 25-cu.-yd bucket and 18.6-ft loading height is designed specifically for 150-200-ton haul trucks. It features the new LINCS II control touch screen dash system for monitoring of hydraulics, electrics, engine, and traction drive, and a SR electric drive system for all-wheel-drive with automatic slip control. The L-1150 comes with Cummins or Detroit Diesel engines and uses up to 40% less fuel than a mechanical drive equivalent. It saves $5 million in fuel costs over 50,000 service hours versus a traditional mechanical loader, the company claims. LeTourneau is currently up for sale by its parent company, Rowan Cos. Inc., Houston, Tx., confirmed Rogers, noting that the potential buyer will likely be an oil and gas related firm. “Oil and gas makes up 80% of our total business,” he added.

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