Mining excavators are nothing new to Komatsu. The company has been manufacturing the worlds' first all hydraulic mining excavator in 1954, but has ben manufacturing mining shovels for over a hundred years, short notes.  The undercarriage structures are built to last and designed to withstand the most extreme mining environments - built to last the life of the mine.

"They've proven time and time again to be great machines," he says. "But even the best of machines require the best support to maintain their high-level of availability and reliability. Therefore the equipment dealer is the key to making the machine work and keeping it in optimal condition."

Short says Komatsu is fortunate to have SMS Equipment as the dealer and customer support partner for its hydraulic mining excavators across Canada.

"We are fortunate to have built such a solid relationship with SMS Equipment. They have strong technical support, strong parts inventory, and strong sales in Canada. In the case of these mining excavators, having comprehensive support is particularly critical for operations."
 
"Whether it's a PC2000-11 through to Komatsu's largest model the PC8000-11, this piece of equipment will almost always be the highest priority machine on-site," Short says. "When the machine experiences downtime, the entire mine site is affected, unlike trucks where there is generally a fleet on hand. So having a dealer who understands the importance of uptime is an absolute necessity." 

"We have different bucket options and wear packages, depending on the material you're digging in," says Gord King, Mining Sales Manager at SMS Equipment. "We work with the customer to clarify the true loose density of their material. Then, we consider hardness and abrasiveness to ensure the appropriate bucket to meet their needs.