Komatsu recently offered journalists a peek at its new motor grader for haul roads used by truck fleets 100 tons and higher.
The Komatsu 426-horsepower GD955-7 grader features an 18-foot moldboard (with 20 feet as an option) and a new circle bearing that eliminates the need for circle guide and wear plate adjustments, reducing downtime for maintenance.
It also has a long wheelbase and high operating weight of 104,323 pounds, increasing its blade-down force pressure for penetrating hard-packed road surfaces by up to 20%, the company says.
"The grader can execute tight U-turns on a standard 100-ton-class haul road without the need to fully cut the wheels or course correct," says Sebastian Witkowski, product manager, Komatsu mining support equipment.
Performance-wise, the GD955-7 has notable increases over its predecessor, including 32% higher engine output for up to 19% higher working travel speeds; a 33% increase in productivity with the 18-foot moldboard; and a 21% reduction in total maintenance time with the circle bearing system.
The grader is scheduled to be available this quarter, according to Witkowski.
