Part 3 of 3: With Evolution Mining replacing Dozer 501 with a Cat D10T2 dozer and leveraging the MineStar system, Caterpillar specialist Dave Gleissner expects them to see a 10% efficiency improvement.
Dozer 501 in particular has undergone three major Cat Certified rebuilds and numerous midlife rebuilds throughout its operation, including major component change-outs, corrosion and frame repair, repainting and undercarriage change-outs. Technology upgrades, particularly those to enable MineStar compatibility, have kept the dozer at the leading edge of the industry.
All good things must come to an end, however, and Dozer 501 is no different. The machine will still be a part of Evolution; it hasn’t yet reached the end of its productive life, so rather than being stood down entirely, it’s headed for “greener pastures” – that is, completing smaller, easier jobs on the mine site. But the time has come for a newer model, and that’s where the D10T2 dozer comes in.
Continuing the legacy of the D10T, the D10T2 incorporates multiple new features to improve on an already solid machine. As with all Cat dozers, the D10T2 design process incorporated feedback from the brand’s all-important voice-of-customer programs, ensuring the needs of operators and mine sites are met.
“First, we looked at our drivetrain and optimised the performance of the machine by adjusting the engine lug curves. We targeted fuel efficiency and productivity,” Caterpillar's Dave Gleissner explains. “Then we introduced an industry first: High Horsepower Reverse. This increases the horsepower of the machine while in reverse gears, which allows our customers to back up grades faster, which means they get back to work faster.”
Load sense hydraulics, remote control capability, operator comfort improvements and enhanced auto-shift are just some of the other features that make the D10T2 stand out. And it comes entirely ready to join Evolution’s complete MineStar system. While TERRAIN was retrofitted to Dozer 501 as an add-on, the technology is already fully integrated into the new D10T2, which has a TERRAIN screen fitted from the factory. One particularly noteworthy addition is Blade Control, a TERRAIN feature that enables the dozer to work to a mine design while optimising the blade load and managing track slip for improved productivity. It’s also estimated that the dozer could even use COMMAND to run entirely remote control when the site is ready.
So what kinds of overall benefits will Evolution be seeing as they welcome the new dozer to the fleet? “I would expect Evolution Mining to see up to a 10% efficiency improvement,” says Dave Gleissner. “Their operators will still continue to enjoy the ride and feel of a Cat dozer, all while moving more material with less fuel.”
“The D10T2 will bring advances in technology to Cowal, particularly through Blade Control,” adds Ray Miller. “This will enable the dozer to be employed on a wider variety of tasks, including rehabilitation and the construction of the site’s integrated waste landform, which is a critical project for the mine’s future.”
It’s a future that looks bright for Evolution. With the new and improved D10T2 getting to work and the long-term partnership with WesTrac still going strong, the prospect of another long, productive life for the dozer means it’s only onwards and upwards from here.
If you’re interested in learning more about rebuilding to extend the life cycle of machinery, save on costs and increase productivity on site, speak to your on-site WesTrac representative or contact us today.
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