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<\/p>\nThe year was 1867, Queen Victoria and Napoleon III came together to approve the plan for the Channel Tunnel, Charles Dickens put aside his differences with America, Karl Marx published Das Kapital, and Tokyo opened for foreign trade. It was also the year that 15-year-old Erasmus Stephanus Jacobs unearthed the first diamond in South Africa as he played on the south bank of the Orange River, near Hopetown. Weighing 21.25 carats, the stone went on to be called the Eureka Diamond and the discovery subsequently led to the Kimberley Diamond Rush which beckoned the beginning of the Mineral Revolution.<\/p>\n
Diamond and gold production attributed much to the early development of South Africa\u2019s economy, and the country still enjoys a position of leadership in global mining due to its vast production of coal, chrome, and manganese. Helping to keep the \u2018Rainbow Nation\u2019 a key supplier to the worldwide industry, Atlantis Mining (SA) primarily operates as an opencast coal mining subcontractor providing drilling and blasting, bulk earth moving, overburden and coal removal duties, as well as mine rehabilitation.<\/p>\n
A longstanding Terex Trucks customer, Atlantis Mining is currently putting its TR60 rigid dump trucks to work at the Vaalbult Colliery in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The versatile 55-tonne capacity machines, some of which have clocked over 25,000 hours while the newer models are on 500 hours, are being used to remove blasted rocks and hard overburden.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Terex Trucks machines in our fleet have done very well,\u201d says Mark Johnstone, managing director of Atlantis Mining. \u201cThe trucks on 25,000 hours are still going strong and even have their original bins [haul bodies] \u2013 we\u2019ve had health checks done and they\u2019re perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n
Putting in the hours<\/p>\n
Founded by father and son, Jimmy and Mark Johnstone, Atlantis Mining goes the extra mile to deliver service excellence to clients by offering professionalism and optimal productivity, thanks partly to its fleet of construction equipment. Within its impressive inventory of machines, the family-run business is now the proud owner of 16 Terex Trucks, which includes a recent purchase of three TR60 rigid dump trucks.<\/p>\n
Atlantis Mining\u2019s partnership with Terex Trucks began in the mid-1980s and its machine yard now boasts four generations of TR60s. Johnstone explains: \u201cIn the modern era of Atlantis Mining, TR40s were the first rigids we bought, we then upsized to TR45s \u2013 and then subsequently upsized to TR60s.\u201d<\/p>\n
Constructed at the Motherwell factory in Scotland, the TR60 is purposely-built to haul through the toughest environments and carry more materials in less time, with less fuss. Atlantis Mining uses the trucks, which are fitted with Cummins six cylinder 19 litre engines, for two 9.5 hour shifts five days a week, and on Saturdays for a total of 16 hours. Taking this gruelling regime in its stride, the TR60\u2019s drivetrain gear reduction provides excellent rimpull, powering the rigid hauler up the steepest of gradients, while a high capacity body (with exhaust heating) makes for exceptionally high retention and cleaner dumping. Thanks to the large capacity of the TR60\u2019s haul body, the machines at Atlantis Mining are also periodically used for transporting coal from the face to the colliery.<\/p>\n
In addition, the TR60 features a spacious and ergonomic cabin for maximum operator wellbeing, and Johnstone adds: \u201cOperators like Terex Trucks\u2019 haulers as they find the cabs comfortable. The cab is situated over the front axle with very little bouncing, which helps lessen operator fatigue.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe trucks have done well and they are easy to maintain because Terex Trucks has kept things simple, hence our decision to stick with the brand,\u201d he continues. \u201cThe machines can be repaired by a mechanic without having to wait for a specialist technician to come along with a laptop.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aftermarket and allegiance<\/p>\n
Atlantis Mining\u2019s new TR60s were supplied by Babcock International, the official distributor of Terex Trucks in southern Africa. The mining subcontractor\u2019s association with the dealership, which has over 60 years\u2019 experience in the construction equipment market, is now in its 16th year and, like the machines it supports, going strong.<\/p>\n
Babcock\u2019s new Middelburg branch \u2013 which is purpose-built to accommodate the giant TR100s \u2013 is a major advantage for Atlantis Mining. Showing the depth of commitment, this significant investment was established to facilitate the Terex Trucks\u2019 range, helping to guarantee parts are readily available with minimal lead times, and also that qualified service technicians are within easy reach.<\/p>\n
Johnstone emphasises: \u201cThe new facility in Middelburg is world class \u2013 it\u2019s probably the best in this area; the parts facility is enormous and we never have to battle or wait for parts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe sales team sits on your doorstep, so if you want anything they\u2019re right there. They also have a responsive maintenance crew to assist us at the drop of a hat.\u201d<\/p>\n
Atlantis Mining\u2019s interest in Terex Trucks was initially piqued by a shared Scottish heritage, but what really got its attention was the simplicity of the robust machines.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith us being of Scottish heritage, we are loyal to the Terex Trucks brand,\u201d Johnstone says. \u201cWe\u2019re happy with the performance of the trucks, so if we were looking to either expand or replace our fleet we would look again to Terex Trucks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Click here<\/a> to learn more about the TR60.<\/p>\n