The Caterpillar MINExpo 2024 experience will immerse visitors into the mine site of the future; featuring industry leading technologies, groundbreaking advancements in the energy transition and first-of-a-kind customized solutions designed to increase customers’ efficiency, safety and profitability. The planned 2024 exhibit reinforces Caterpillar’s position as the global industry leader in mining technology with proven results in autonomy and automation and demonstrated progress in greenhouse gas reduction technologies.

“Caterpillar’s legacy is to deliver an exceptional experience at every job site through customer focused solutions and services,” says Denise Johnson, Caterpillar Resource Industries’ group president. “As our exhibit shows, together with our customers, we are mining better, smarter and safer. And this is just the beginning of our closer-than-ever before collaborations with customers.”

The Caterpillar MINExpo experience will showcase the company’s latest innovations to support the energy transition. The towering, 372-tonne (410-ton) Cat® 798 AC mining truck has the highest standard payload in its class. The 798 AC is configured for autonomous haulage with Cat MineStar™ Command for hauling.

“We believe systems, such as Command for hauling, are essential to optimize mine site performance, both with our current product line and as we introduce new offerings like our battery electric solutions,” comments Marc Cameron, senior vice president, Caterpillar Resource Industries. “Autonomous technology will help monitor and orchestrate the complex balance of onboard energy, available charging assets and production targets to achieve the lowest operating costs.”

Caterpillar’s underground Cat R1700 XE load-haul-dump (LHD) loader features battery-electric propulsion that produces zero exhaust emissions and generates less heat than a reciprocating engine powered model. The Cat R2900 XE LHD provides a high efficiency switch reluctance electric drive system that meets the mining industry’s needs for bigger payloads, faster loading and lower emissions. The 12.2-m-long (40-ft-long) PGS 1260 HD Energy Storage System (ESS) module offers energy storage for charging battery electric machines, and the MEC500 provides mobile equipment charging for the underground mining industry.

“Since MINExpo 2021, our teams have made incredible progress with the development of our electric technology and supporting solutions,” comments Brian Weller, vice president of electrification, Caterpillar Resource Industries. “We have been working side-by-side with select customers to accelerate the deployment of Caterpillar’s first battery-electric haul trucks. These machines will soon be operating at our customers’ sites where they will be tested and validated across a variety of applications.”

The 798 AC features a refreshed cab for operating at high altitudes plus a three-piece window design to improve visibility. Truck messaging will convey the number of ways mines can lower GHG emissions today through alternative fuel options and electric drive systems. Additionally, video stories will show how customer rebuild efforts are driving sustainability at mines, while scale truck bodies will cover the range of options Cat trucks offer for maximizing payload and hauling program efficiency.

The latest next generation loader, the recently introduced Cat 995 will anchor the “loading better” display, equipped with a 27.5 m3 (36 yd3) and Cat Advansys™ 230 GET system to move more material with less downtime. Built to the same size as the 994K, the 995 features a higher rated payload and:
• Demonstrates 21 percent higher efficiency and 24 percent more production than the 994K in equal operating mode.
• In Enhance Eco Mode, demonstrates up to a 30 percent increase in efficiency and 11 percent reduction in hourly fuel consumption versus the 944K in throttle lock mode

For the underground space, the displayed diesel electric R2900 XE LHD features optimized lift arm and component geometry plus load-sensing hydraulics to improve breakout force. Compared to its predecessor, the R2900 XE LHD also delivers:
• 52 percent quicker acceleration
• 7 percent higher speed on grade
• Up to a 20 percent increase in productivity

Beyond zero-exhaust emissions and fast charging, the battery electric R1700 XE LHD boasts a 15-tonne (33,069-lb) payload, 18 kph (11.2 mph) fully loaded top speed and up to 2.5 hours of aggressive run time between charges. Five bucket size options offer capacities ranging from 5.7 to 7.5 m3 (7.5 to 9.8 yd3).

The Cat 24 motor grader will represent the range of haul road maintenance machines that includes the 14, 16 and 18 models. The C24’s High-Performance Circle (HPC) provides a 16,000-hour service life and eliminates frequent inspection, wear strip replacement and circle shoe adjustments. It will be displayed with Caterpillar’s 8.5-m (28-ft) moldboard option – 16 percent longer than the standard blade – to enhance safety at larger mines by reducing the amount of time spent in the middle lane to clear the windrow.

The largest of the Cat drill rig offering, the exhibited MD6310 rotary drill shares a common platform, parts, components and technologies across the product line. Ideal for high-production drilling on 12- and 15-m (39.4- and 49.2-ft) bench heights, it is capable of drilling up to 311-mm (12.25-in) hole diameters and offers up to 30? angle hole drilling for cast blasting. With building-block technologies through semi-autonomous operation, the MD6310 was one key contributing factor to global mining services provider, Thiess, surpassing 1 million meters autonomously drilled milestone using Cat drills.