Terex TA400 Trucks Work -49°F Siberian Coal Mine

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Four 41.9-ton Terex TA400 articulated haulers have logged around 48,000 hours at the Arpatsky coal mine in eastern Siberia. (Photo courtesy of Terex Trucks.)

For the past eight years, four TA400 articulated haulers from Terex Trucks have been stolidly braving sub-zero temperatures at a remote coal mine in eastern Siberia. The 41.9-ton (38-metric-ton) TA400s have logged nearly 50,000 hours at the Arpatsky coal mine, hauling coal and overburden with a heaped capacity of 30.3 cubic yards (23.3 cubic meters). Remarkably, the quartet of Terex trucks have worked up to 22 hours a day, where the long Russian winter can drop down to temperatures of 49 degrees below zero Fahrenheit (-45 degrees Celsius).

“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, the chief engineer at the mine. “Since 2012, our haulers have already clocked up around 48,000 hours and they’re still going strong.”

Steep, Icy Slopes

Besides the bitter cold, the Terex off-highway dump trucks have to contend with steep grades and slippery snow for much of the year. The all-wheel-drive TA400 employs oil-cooled multi-disc brakes, a modulating transmission retarder, and an exhaust brake in its efforts to provide controllable traction in extreme conditions.

“The hauler handles the downhill slopes smoothly and safely,” says Oleg Likhodumov, director of mining operations at the Arpatsky mine. “With the exhaust brake, we don’t even need to use the brakes when going down steep hills.”

The TA400’s six-cylinder Scania DC13 engine peaks at 444 horsepower (331 kilowatts). In its Tier 4 Final configuration, the engine uses diesel exhaust fluid to meet emissions standards. The drivetrain features a smooth-shifting, planetary gear transmission.

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Despite steep, slippery slopes and temperatures as low as 49 degrees below zero, the Terex TA400 trucks have worked up to 22 hours a day for the past eight years. (Photo courtesy of Terex Trucks.)

Reliability & Support

“The TA400 offers the complete package,” says Arpatsky Deputy Director Dmitry Glazunov. “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.” The TA400 features a fully tilting hydraulic cab, ground level test points, and an electronically raised hood for ease of service.

Terex Trucks offers dedicated on-site maintenance and support services to the Arpatsky mine through dealer Mining Eurasia. “There’s a workshop with spare parts at the coal mine, so we can get round-the-clock servicing,” Glazunov said.

Source: Terex Trucks