My
My name is Aleksandr Goff and I work for SSGPO in northern Kazakhstan. I have worked at the Kachar iron ore mine near Rudniy since 1981. Since June 2009, I have been operating a Hitachi EX3600E-6. The electric excavator is used for removing 400,000m3 of overburden per month in the mine, which is 370m deep.
SSGPO has four iron ore mining fields, a limestone quarry and two large processing plants. The company was founded in 1962 when two mines, Sokolov and Sarbay, merged to create one company. The Kachar mine has approximately 3,000 employees.
Hitachi
The Hitachi EX3600E-6 was delivered in June 2009 and has 1,840 working hours. SSGPO has two additional EX3600E-6 models, and an EX5500E-6. The company has also ordered five Hitachi EH3500ACII dump trucks for the site, which will be delivered in 2010.
The official Hitachi dealer in Kazakhstan, Turkuaz Machinery, supports all the machines with an on-site team of mechanics and spare parts supply. It has fitted each of the excavators with a ‘cold weather package’. This includes machine covers, heating elements for oil tanks, and greasing liquids that can withstand temperatures of -40°C.
Experience
The main advantage of the Hitachi EX3600E-6 is the advanced hydraulics. Compared to Russian rope excavators, it is more powerful, precise, easier to manoeuvre and faster to operate. I had used the older machines for 20 years, but now I have learnt how to use the Hitachi, I wouldn’t want to go back!
The new Hitachi model has a 21m3 bucket, compared to a 10m3 bucket on the Russian excavator. So I can move twice as much material in the same amount of time.
I work a 12-hour shift so I appreciate the comfortable seat in the cab and I like the ergonomic design of controls.
KAZAKHSTAN > EX3600 > MINING