Volvo hauler racks up 100000 hours at Indonesian mine

Indonesian coal giant, PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC), operates the Sangatta Coal Mine, which is located in East Kutai Regency in East Kalimantan. The sparsely populated area has a density of just 7.1 people per km2 (Jakarta has 14,440/km2). The region is rich in natural resources, but its poor infrastructure can make it difficult to maintain the equipment that is used on site.

KPC has an impressive fleet of 73 Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) units including 65 articulated haulers and eight crawler excavators. The machines are vital for ripping and transporting overburden, fuel and water across the large site. If a machine is out of action, operations are interrupted and downtime costs money. That's why Volvo CE's dealer in the region – PT Intraco Penta Prima Servis (IPPS) – has deployed a team of highly trained technicians to be stationed on-site for round-the-clock repairs and maintenance.

"Ensuring that our machines are properly maintained so that our customers can attain optimal performance and profits is of utmost importance to us," explains Dede Suheri, Assistant Service Manager at PT Volvo Indonesia. "By having a team of experienced technicians on site, as well as a stockpile of spare parts, we are able to deliver fast and effective support when our customers need it most. One of the oldest machines on site has clocked over 100,000 operational hours – giving testament to the great work they do."

Fleet management made easy

KPC owns mining concession areas that span over 90ha, and between six and 12 open pits can be in operation at any one time. The team of IPPS service technicians are able to monitor the company's fleet remotely using Volvo CE's telematics system, CareTrack. CareTrack allows fleet managers to run reports on fuel consumption, operational hours and geographical location – as well as alerting them to service and maintenance checks. "The IPPS technicians have done a great job of supporting our machines on site and advising us on how to best plan for service and maintenance checks and how to maximize fuel efficiency," explains Untung Tri Hardiayanto, General Manager – Mining Support Division at KPC. "The support and guidance we receive has reduced our operational costs and increased the uptime of our equipment." CareTrack also allows fleet managers to set location and time boundaries, and if the machine leaves the preset proximity, they are alerted immediately. KPC uses eight crawler excavators on site, including five EC210Bs, one EC210BLR and two EC330BLC Primes. Volvo excavators can be fitted with an anti-theft tracking system that demobilized the machine if necessary.

In locations where there are no cell towers, Volvo can fit the machine with a satellite modem that allows data reporting. "It gives us peace of mind to know that we can track our machines across the vast site," Hardiayanto adds.

The right machines for the job

KPC uses seven Volvo CE A35C, 36 A35E and 22 A35F articulated haulers to transport overburden around the large 90ha site, while some have been modified to transport water or fuel. Volvo CE is the undisputed market leader in manufacturing haulers to withstand the toughest of conditions. The Volvo-designed and made drivetrain has been developed to work in harmony with the engine, transmission and axles. The machines also feature self-compensating, hydro-mechanical steering for safer operation and a longer lifespan.  

The eight crawler excavators are used to strip and load the overburden onto awaiting trucks. Volvo CE excavators are designed and built to deliver long-lasting performance, powerful strength and leading fuel efficiency. The dependable Volvo engine delivers high torque at low revs, while the reinforced undercarriage delivers durability on uneven terrain. 

"We are proud to supply and support KPC with our range of heavy equipment and we are even more pleased to see that the great work by our dealer, IPPS, has paid off in terms of achieving 100,000 hours with a single hauler on site," says Suheri.

Thorsten Poszwa
Director, External Communications
Volvo Construction Equipment
Tel: int +32 490 65 96 68
Email: thorsten.poszwa@volvo.com

Brian O’Sullivan
SE10
London
Tel: int + 44 77 333 50307
Email: osullivan@se10.com