The Hitachi EX3600-6 excavator, purchased from CablePrice (NZ) Ltd, will be the largest excavator in the Oceana Gold fleet, and one of the largest operating in New Zealand.
Due to its size, the new machine will be shipped from Japan to the Port of Timaru in 20 pieces and will require 16 truckloads to transport its components to the Macraes operation for assembly.
Two 80-tonne cranes will be used to assemble the excavator, CablePrice Otago-Southland regional manager Bruce Forrester said.
The excavator produces a maximum 1944 gross horsepower and a whopping 8346Nm of torque from its 16-cylinder turbocharged direct-injection engine. It is capable of a maximum digging depth of 3.91m and cutting height of 16.33m. The fuel tank holds more than 7400 litres of diesel.
The machine will be able to load a 191-tonne payload haul truck in five to six passes and is expected to move more than 25 million tonnes of overburden a year.
The new excavator will work alongside a 348-tonne Hitachi EX3600-5 purchased in 2005, which has clocked up more than 30,000 hours of operation at Macraes.
