Mining equipment supplier ELB Equipment recently added a larger- capacity bucket on the 90Z6 wheel loader to increase its offering to coal mining. The bucket is as reliable, but more productive, than its predecessor.

The wheel loader’s larger Z6 is a 6 m3 coal bucket which allows for greater haulage from point of origin to processing plants, and then to train loading points.

The new loader is complemented by the already established range of Kawasaki loaders offered by ELB Equipment – ranging from 8 500 kg to 46 000 kg, or 1.7 m3 to 10 m3 buckets depending on specific gravity of material – all of which are suited to various coal applications.

ELB Equipment divisional sales manager Wakefield Harding points out that the Kawasaki range of wheel loaders offers robust machinery, which continues to meet the requirements to operate in South Africa’s harsh environments.

ELB Group – of which ELB Equipment is a subsidiary – will celebrate its centenary this year. “One of the lessons learned by ELB Equipment over the past 100 years is that diversity is key,” says Harding.

Subsequently, ELB Equipment has integrated telematics to its offerings, which in its first two years has proven to be of great value to clients. The telematics systems enable clients to accurately predict service intervals and machine tracking, subsequently ensuring correct use by operators. ELB Equipment’s dynamic telemetry equipment has been instrumental in aligning its services with the needs of its clients.

ELB Equipment is an integral part of the South African and Southern African distribution of Kawasaki wheel loaders, which are manufactured by Kawasaki, in Japan. ELB Equipment is responsible for the service and maintenance of the wheel loaders through its 21 local outlets.

Harding adds that the Kawasaki wheel loaders have one of the largest lifting capacities in its class, with Japanese technology making it reliable and available on site.

He notes that the Kawasaki wheel loader has three major advantages: it is simple, reliable and cost effective to run.

“South Africa’s local coal consumption, as well as export demand, is very stable, so we will continue to supply South Africa’s mines with heavy industries supplier Kawasaki wheel loaders nationally,” concludes Harding.