Tokyo/Erlangen — The Siemens Group Industrial Solutions and Services (I&S) and Komatsu Ltd.,Tokyo, Japan, announce the formation of an alliance to jointly develop electricdrive systems for mining haul trucks. Komatsu is the worldwide market leader fordiesel-electric haul trucks in open pit mines. Compared to mechanical drive, theadvanced technology in Siemens drive system provides higher productivity,reduced maintenance and lower operating costs. “This allows us to provide atruck to the market with lower operating costs per ton of material moved”,explains Toshitaka Hagiwara, Chairman of the Board and Representative Directorof Komatsu.
“With the use of electric drive systems for mining haul trucks, the weight of the haultruck is reduced”, explains Joergen Ole Haslestad, Chairman of the Board and GroupPresident of Siemens I&S. “Siemens’ AC drive system increases the available powerand performance of the truck. We will be able to handle the payload needs of the ultraclassmining truck market”. Based on the present demand for raw materials and theboom in open pit mining, Haslestad expects continued strong demand for diesel-electrichaul trucks for mining over the next years. “Komatsu and Siemens are providing theright solution at the right time”, says Haslestad.
AC electricity is generated on the truck by an alternator connected to the main dieselengine. This AC voltage is rectified into DC voltage and briefly stored. The SiemensIGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) inverters transform this voltage back into fine-tuned AC power that drives the electric wheel motors at the back of the truck. With theoptimized voltage and frequency control of the AC power, speed is controlled with theaccelerator pedal just like in a normal car.
In addition to low operating costs, the benefits of the Siemens drive system include thecapability to provide very high torque at stand still for acceleration of the truck in thesevere application, high top speed, and high electrical braking capabilities. Using theelectric wheel motors to slow the truck reduces mechanical brake wear and also lowersoperating costs.
Further information under: http://www.siemens.com/mining
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Haslestad (left) and Hagiwara agreed for cooperation for mining haultrucks.
About Siemens
Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. is one of Siemens' operating companies in the U.S. Headquartered in the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta, Ga., Siemens Energy & Automation manufactures and markets one of the world`s broadest ranges of electrical and electronic products, systems and services to industrial and construction market customers. Its technologies range from circuit protection and energy management systems to process control, industrial software and totally integrated automation solutions. The company also has expertise in systems integration, technical services and turnkey industrial systems. For more information: www.sea.siemens.com.
Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) is one of the largest global electronics and engineering companies with reported worldwide sales of $96 billion in fiscal 2005. Founded nearly 160 years ago, the company is a leader in the areas of Medical, Power, Automation and Control, Transportation, Information and Communications, Lighting, Building Technologies, Water Technologies and Services and Home Appliances. With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York City, Siemens in the USA has sales of $18.8 billion and employs 70,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Eleven of Siemens` worldwide businesses are based in the United States. With its global headquarters in Munich, Siemens AG and its subsidiaries employ 460,000 people in 190 countries. For more information on Siemens in the United States: www.usa.siemens.com
The Siemens Industrial Solutions and Services Group (I&S) is the integrator of systems and solutionsfor industrial and infrastructure facilities and global service provider for the plant and projects businesscovering planning, installation, operation and the entire life cycle. I&S uses its own products and systemsand process technologies in order to enhance productivity and improve competitiveness of companies inthe sectors of metallurgy, water treatment, pulp and paper, oil and gas, marine engineering, open-castmining, airport logistics, postal automation, intelligent traffic systems and industrial services. In fiscal 2005(to September 30) I&S employed a total of 31,700 people worldwide and achieved total sales ofEUR 5.390 billion.
Further information and downloads under: http://www.industry.siemens.com
About Komatsu
Komatsu, Ltd., established in 1921, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of construction andmining equipment. In addition to construction and mining equipment, the Company has placed “industrialusemachinery,” such as metal-sheet machines and forging presses, forklift trucks and forestry equipment,as its core business, in which we can demonstrate advantages of our superior manufacturing. In 2005 itsnet sales were USD 14,547 million and it employs nearly 35,000 people. Komatsu's shares are listed onthe Tokyo Stock Exchange.
http://www.komatsu.com/Corporate
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