The SME crawler is adapted to a quarry’s demanding conditions
The German family-run company Pongratz Schotterwerk, in Ensdorf-Wolfsbach/Bavaria, has been using a Liebherr R 980 SME crawler excavator in a limestone quarry since May.
The 100tonne excavator - which replaces an R 954 S-HD - is working at the quarry face loading dumper trucks. Developed and manufactured in Colmar, eastern France, the718 Liebherr crawler excavator has an operating weight of around 100tonnes. The 420kW diesel engine complies with the exhaust emissions standards of Stage IIIB/tier 4i. After blasting, the rock is transported to the crusher in dump trucks. Two Liebherr machines are now used for loading: the new R 980 SME and an L 586 wheeled loader. The timing of vehicle movements in a quarry is everything. The R 980 SME is configured with a 6m³ HD bucket and designed to produce 400tonnes/hour. The new crawler excavator is tailored to the throughput of the crusher in the company.
SME stands for Super Mass Excavation. These crawler excavators are equipped with a reinforced undercarriage featuring suspension components from the next model up in the standard range. In the R 980 SME this is the undercarriage of the R 9100 mining excavator. Combined with a heavy counterweight, the larger undercarriage improves the stability and service life of the machine. Enables the use of large capacity buckets. The equipment such as stick and bucket cylinder has larger dimensions and offers higher digging and breakout forces with the adapted kinematics.
"The new excavator loads a dumper truck with 40tonnes in four cycles and a dumper truck with 50tonnes in five cycles," explains Ulrike Pongratz. "There is time then between the loading cycles for sorting and the drop ball operation."
The further development of the 15hectare limestone quarry in Ensdorf-Wolfsbach requires a crawler excavator with high capacity. The tough geological conditions with uneven excavation beds, as well as a large area of solid rock with soil, can now be developed in the coming years using the R 980 SME.
"The experience and the technical know-how and expertise of Liebherr were also decisive factors for influencing our buying decision. The numerous protective devices available on the machine, together with a product range adapted especially for operation in the quarry, naturally played a huge role", explains Alexander Pongratz, the technical head of the family-run company.
The 100tonne excavator - which replaces an R 954 S-HD - is working at the quarry face loading dumper trucks. Developed and manufactured in Colmar, eastern France, the
SME stands for Super Mass Excavation. These crawler excavators are equipped with a reinforced undercarriage featuring suspension components from the next model up in the standard range. In the R 980 SME this is the undercarriage of the R 9100 mining excavator. Combined with a heavy counterweight, the larger undercarriage improves the stability and service life of the machine. Enables the use of large capacity buckets. The equipment such as stick and bucket cylinder has larger dimensions and offers higher digging and breakout forces with the adapted kinematics.
"The new excavator loads a dumper truck with 40tonnes in four cycles and a dumper truck with 50tonnes in five cycles," explains Ulrike Pongratz. "There is time then between the loading cycles for sorting and the drop ball operation."
The further development of the 15hectare limestone quarry in Ensdorf-Wolfsbach requires a crawler excavator with high capacity. The tough geological conditions with uneven excavation beds, as well as a large area of solid rock with soil, can now be developed in the coming years using the R 980 SME.
"The experience and the technical know-how and expertise of Liebherr were also decisive factors for influencing our buying decision. The numerous protective devices available on the machine, together with a product range adapted especially for operation in the quarry, naturally played a huge role", explains Alexander Pongratz, the technical head of the family-run company.
