For the last eight years, four Terex Trucks TA400 articulated haulers have been working at the Arpatsky coal mine situated in eastern Siberia, Russia. The dump trucks, offering a maximum payload of 38 tonnes, are transporting coal and overburden, working up to 22 hours a day. During winter, when temperatures can get as low as minus 45˚Celsius, the ground is covered with snow for many months, meaning the haulers have to operate on slippery surfaces and navigate steep, icy slopes.
“The robustness of the TA400 and its ability to deliver a reliable performance in tough conditions was a big part of the reason why we chose Terex Trucks haulers over other brands,” says Dmitry Dulin, Chief Engineer at the Arpatsky coal mine. “Since 2012, our haulers have already clocked up around 48,000 hours and they’re still going strong.”
The TA400, the largest articulated hauler on offer from Terex Trucks, has a heaped capacity of 23.3 m3 and is powered by an engine that develops a gross power of 331 kW. The TA400 is designed to meet the demands of the most extreme operations such as quarries, mines and large-scale construction projects. The TA400’s modulating transmission retarder is coupled with an efficient exhaust brake and fully enclosed oil-cooled multidisc brakes.
“The hauler handles the downhill slopes smoothly and safely. With the exhaust break, we don’t even need to use the brakes when going down steep hills,” says Oleg Likhodumov, Director of Mining Operations at the Arpatsky coal mine.
“The TA400 offers the complete package,” says Dmitry Glazunov, Deputy Director at the Arpatsky coal mine. “It’s simple to operate, reliable and delivers low total cost of ownership. Another benefit is that the machines are easy to service – the axle, gears and engine are all easy to access, so service and maintenance work is straightforward, without needing special diagnostic equipment.”
Terex Trucks offers dedicated on-site maintenance and support services, which is especially important in Russia as the country is so vast – often dealers’ branches are based hundreds of miles away. “Our dealer Mining Eurasia handles all the maintenance of our trucks. There’s a workshop with spare parts at the coal mine, so we can get round-the-clock servicing,” added Dimitry.
