Shovelman-
There are NO EX8000-6 backhoe units YET.... but if you read my earlier post,that should give you advance insight into what is imminent in the next 12 months.

Komatsu has had a backhoe attachment, for their PC 8000,utilized on 3 units at Cerrejon in Columbia(all-white,electric drive units)a few years back. The buckets fitted were 42 cu m and were the largest at the time(only the RH 400 shovel was slightly larger then)All 3 excavators were converted to shovels due to a change in mine plan and load and haul operations.

As far as I am aware there are currently no PC 8000 units in backhoe config, but with Liebherr's R9800 hoe selling and performing above expectations, I am very certain that we will soon see competition from the likes of Komatsu and Hitachi(possibly Cat too at a later stage)with backhoe versions of their flagship mining excavators making an appearance on large mine sites.

Brian C

There have been 10 PC8000 backhoes. I think Columbia still have a few. I know someone who would know and there's a small chance I may see him next week so I'll ask the question.

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Sure I can, but it is is Swedish.

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//Niklas Eriksson

I think it would be an over zealous journo that did not do all his research and just threw it in the article.

Australia is the biggest market for large HEX in backhoe guise and if there was demand for it you will see it down under first. That said i am surprised Hitachi have not a backhoe attachement for the 8000 and also the former RH400 in backhoe, some may say that is too much weight to have up on a bench etc but the footprint will have a big impact on PSI so there eefectively could almost be the same psi between an 800 tonner or a 1000 tonner depending on track width etc.

Cat will look to expand there line into a model between the 6060 & 6090 i would think as the 700-800 ton class is becoming very popular.

The article is written by Steven Vale.

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//Niklas Eriksson

Here you go, the EX8000 article.

Due to the size of the files, I incert them as links instead of pictures.

Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5

If you have any troubles translating, just ask and I will help.

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//Niklas Eriksson

Thanks for the update on current EX 8000 numbers Greasemonkey.If you manage to get hold of any images of the most recent units, please can we see them?

Chris5500-
Did you get any info on the "10 PC 8000 backhoes" yet? Very curious to find out more on these if they exist.
Images would be nice too.

Just read the article Paul,which states that there are currently 14 units in the field{9 in the oilsands and 4 in Australia}I do also know that there is a dash 6 at Western Coal Corporation's Brule Mine in BC,which totals 14.The latest unit #15 has just been assembled/commissioned at a new coal mine operated by Vale,in Mozambique.

#16 and #17 are currently being manufactured and these units will be unusual. One will be the backhoe with a std. 45m3 bucket going to either a QLD or NSW mine at the end of this year or beginning of 2013.The other is an electric drive shovel which may be delivered to Russia but information on it {like the backhoe] is not freely available yet!!

Niklas,

Thanks for posting the link!

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Please use this before clicking "post"??? You may be surprised with what you see!

Alright, the cat is out of the bag:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLYyhAw2V6I

I especially like the black smoke from the exhausts

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My videos of construction and mining machines at work on Youtube