Technology dumper - basic information
From traditional construction sites, through difficult off-road terrains, to mining industry areas - wherever there is a need to efficiently transport a significant load, you can notice a technology dumper.
The specificity of this equipment is the transport of materials, tools and other elements at the construction site or in the industrial area. Dumpers vary in size and construction depending on the conditions of the work performed.
Rigid frame dumpers
The main division of dumpers is due to the construction of the machine. We distinguish between articulated and rigid frame dumpers. In this part of the text, we will skip the former for now and focus more on the latter type of construction. The characteristic features of rigid frame dumpers are greater load capacity and durability, which are due to the vehicle's frame, which connects the front and rear parts of the machine.
The frame of a rigid frame dumper is the central element of the construction. It is a rigid structure providing stability and resistance to heavy loads. All these properties of the discussed dumpers make the mining industry the most popular place for their use.
The load capacity of rigid frame dumpers ranges from several dozen to even several hundred tons. Such working parameters are impressive, as the largest models of these vehicles are real giants, worthy of the name of a steel monster.
To not remain unsubstantiated, let's mention a few examples of these machines. This type of dumper can be found in the offer of many respected manufacturers in the industry, such as Volvo, Komatsu, or Liebherr.
The model designation R70D from the Volvo range is a device with a load capacity of 65 tons, and it is not the largest of the available vehicles of this manufacturer. Volvo R100 is a rigid frame dumper with a load capacity of 95 tons, and the height and width of the vehicle are 5 and 10 m respectively.
The machine is powered by a 12-cylinder combustion engine with a power of 1065 HP. The presented data can be impressive, as such vehicles are not encountered every day, and it should be mentioned that these are not yet the largest dumpers we can encounter in the construction industry.
The rigid frame dumper Komatsu 830E-5 is characterized by a maximum load capacity of 226 tons and a 16-cylinder engine with a power of 2500 HP. The most powerful machines can be found in the Liebherr offer. The German manufacturer has a line of machines specially designed for work in the mining industry, which opens the model designation T236 with a load capacity of 100 tons.
The most powerful vehicle Liebherr of this category is the dumper T284, whose load capacity has been determined at 360 tons, and the drive unit of this machine is a 16-cylinder combustion engine achieving a power of over 3600 HP. As you can see, rigid frame dumpers are durable machines used for transporting the heaviest loads in difficult terrain. Their rigid construction and the ability to transport a large amount of materials contribute to the efficiency of construction and industrial work.
Articulated dumpers
Let's move on to another type of dumper, namely articulated dumpers. These machines are commonly found on construction sites or road works. The biggest advantage of these vehicles is their maneuverability and the ability to maneuver on the construction site. They owe these features to the construction, in which an articulated connection between the front and rear part of the dumper was used.
The aforementioned ability to maneuver in confined spaces makes them great for work in mountainous areas, forests or other inaccessible places.
Similarly, as rigid frame dumpers, this type of machines comes in different variants depending on operational needs. The manufacturers we already know have a wide range of models of articulated dumpers.
Let's start again with Volvo and a cross-section of machines under this brand. Series G are articulated dumpers with different technical parameters. The smallest device is the model designation A25G with a load capacity of 25 tons and powered by a 6-cylinder combustion engine.
Volvo boasts advanced technological systems that their machines are equipped with, such as proactive tire management - monitoring pressure and temperature from the operator's cabin.
The model closing this series of vehicles is A45G - 41 tons of load capacity and an engine with a power of 485 HP. However, the manufacturer offers an even larger machine, Volvo A60H, and as it claims, it is the largest articulated dumper in the world, capable of transporting a load reaching 55 tons and an engine with a power of 639 HP.
In the Komatsu range, there are also similar vehicles, namely two models HM300-5 and HM400-5. The first is a machine with a load capacity of 28 tons and an engine reaching a power of 332 HP, and the second model is 40 tons and 473 HP of the power unit. Let's also mention at the end about Liebherr articulated dumpers.
In this segment, the German manufacturer has to offer only the model designation TA 230 Litronic, whose load capacity is 28 tons, and the engine power is 360 HP.
Of course, these are not all the machines available on the market, as we can also meet Terex dumpers, Caterpillar, Doosan, JohnDeere, or Bell. The choice depends of course on the operator's preferences, but also on the budget we have, as well as specific needs and tasks that our machine has to perform.
Compact dumpers
The popularity of dumpers resulting from their efficiency has led to the development of technical thought towards optimizing these vehicles for smaller scale work. The combination of efficiency and minimalism of construction seems to be a common aspiration in various technological fields, so it is not surprising that such solutions have also reached the area of construction machines.
A compact dumper combines the advantages of traditional, large machines, and at the same time the ability to operate in limited spatial conditions, such as urban areas, where it is difficult for a larger vehicle to get to. The load capacity of such devices is usually a maximum of several tons.
The company Wacker Neuson offers compact dumpers with an articulation of different types of chassis - wheeled and tracked. Small machines have been designed to overcome potential obstacles and transport loads from 500 - 2300 kg in the case of tracked dumpers, and wheeled versions are capable of carrying from 1 - 9 tons of overburden, of course depending on the selected model.
An interesting solution is the Dual-View series of this manufacturer. Vehicles under this designation have a movable operator's cabin, which can rotate 180 degrees. In this way, the driver can observe what is happening not only in front, but also behind the vehicle.
The Danish company Hydrema also makes its proposal in terms of compact dumpers. The Series 912F debuted as early as 1983 and since then has undergone various modernizations and has been adapted to various terrain conditions - for example, a version of this machine 912HM with larger tires, specially designed for off-road work, or Rail 912FS with a factory-mounted rail system.
There are of course more offers under other brands on the market, such as compact Kubota dumpers, or a wide range of these vehicles from AUSA. The choice is large and you can certainly find equipment that will meet specific needs.
Dumpers - universal machines
The above examples show how indispensable a machine at the site of all earthworks are dumpers. Great transport capabilities and a rich choice of devices are the main advantages of the discussed machines. Access to places where ordinary dump trucks and other transporters do not cope allows the operator a larger field for maneuver and performing large transports, even up to several dozen tons during a single course.
The operating conditions of construction machines are a challenge even for powerful and complex constructions. Wibako specializes in supplying spare parts for excavators, loaders, bulldozers and dumpers.
We have elements of various subassemblies, as well as complete combustion engines, pumps and hydraulic motors. Finally, it is worth reminding basic practices that reduce the risk of a serious breakdown and downtime of the machine, and they include: regular maintenance, adherence to the manufacturer's recommendations, operator training, not exceeding the maximum load capacity of the dumper, maintaining common sense in difficult terrain, so as not to expose the machine to unnecessary damage.
Of course, these are only general advice and in case of serious signs of malfunction of the vehicle, you should go to a specialized service. Proper operation of construction dumpers improves their efficiency and affects the safety of work and maintenance costs.
