GHH Fahrzeuge GmbH

Addition of people, products and footprint enhances the company’s offerings and support for customers in underground mining

Komatsu has completed the acquisition of GHH Group GmbH (GHH), a manufacturer of underground mining, tunnelling and special civil engineering equipment headquartered in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

GHH’s wide range of equipment, focused on loaders (LHDs) and articulated dump trucks, will enhance Komatsu’s growing underground mining product offerings. This includes aftermarket parts and service support through the entire lifetime of the equipment.

“The talented GHH staff are now part of Komatsu and our new combined team will work together to expand offerings and increase customer access to products in new territories,” said Peter Salditt, president of Komatsu´s Mining Business Division. “We are excited to start collaborating to add value to our customers’ operations.”

Komatsu is committed to expanding its underground mining offering for global customers. By adding GHH’s factories and rebuild facilities in key markets in Europe, Southern Africa, India and Chile, the company will work to strengthen production and service capabilities for customers.

With this strategic investment in leading products, solutions and talent, Komatsu is excited to further strengthen its position in underground mining as it seeks to support new and existing customer operations worldwide.

Further information
GHH Group GmbH
GHHrocks.com

Strategic move for GHH: The German manufacturer of machines for mining and tunnelling industries GHH has agreed a partnership with the Japanese machine and truck distributor Marubeni Dağıtım ve Servis in Türkiye. This opens up growth opportunities for both companies far beyond the country’s borders.

 

In addition to its geopolitical importance, Türkiye has numerous mineral resources, including copper, iron ore, coal and chrome, as well as the world’s largest boron deposits. These resources have helped to make the country an important player and hub in the global commodities market.

As one of the major distributors of heavy machinery in Türkiye, Marubeni Dağıtım ve Servis A.Ş. has already established a network of 6 locations with 270 employees and 50 sales and service centres, reaching as far as Azerbaijan and Georgia. Founded in 1983 and based in Istanbul, the company is part of the Marubeni Corporation of Japan, one of the world’s largest distributors of its kind with 45,000 employees in 463 companies.

This constellation of skills, experience and footprint is highly interesting for the German machine manufacturer. As one of the world’s leading brands in the industry, the company already serves a significant amount of customers in Türkiye. However, the need for a stronger network for consulting, sales and service was identified as a key milestone to support the expansion of its product portfolio in the region. Loaders (LHDs), dump trucks and other vehicles, specifically designed for mining in soft and hard rock, are the domain of the manufacturer who knows how to combine cost-effectiveness with robustness, ease of maintenance and driver ergonomics. The company supplies an almost complete range and operates on all continents.

With the pending Komatsu closure around the corner, GHH, which is preparing to become part of the Komatsu family, is also strengthening its dealer network with this partnership. Marubeni Dağıtım ve Servis is already a strong Komatsu dealer in the Turkish region, having worked with Komatsu in the Turkish market since 1983.

“GHH is very pleased to have reached an agreement with Marubeni Dağıtım ve Servis in Türkiye, we are really looking forward to strengthening our position in the Turkish market together,” says Matthias von Buzay, CEO & CFO of GHH Group. “Marubeni Dağıtım ve Servis has extensive experience in product sales and service and is therefore an ideal partner for us.” Eşref Zeka, Chief Executive Officer of Marubeni Dağıtım ve Servis A.S. and Burçak Birand, Marubeni Dağıtım ve Servis Construction and Mining Machinery COO, agreed: “We are excited about the cooperation with GHH as it is a next step in our strategy to grow and strengthen our business in Türkiye and we look forward to a strong and fruitful partnership.”

The two companies sealed their partnership in February when Mr. Zeka and Mr. Birand travelled to GHH’s headquarters in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, and spent time reviewing the offering and way of working and strategizing on business opportunities going forward. It was a productive session and a great start to a strong working relationship. The first deliveries are due to follow shortly. These might include vehicles such as the new LF-10 NEO, a loader with the highest tipping height in the 10-tonne class, or the world renowned MK-A20 dump truck.

Further information:
GHHrocks.com
Marubeni-TR.com

The race for gold is on: German-based machine manufacturer GHH has significantly expanded its market share in Bulgaria.

A double-digit number of machines were recently sold to Breznik Minerals Ltd., GHH announced. The Bulgarian company is part of the group of companies of Assarel-Medet JSC, which is the first, largest and leading Bulgarian mining company for open pit mining and copper ore processing. They claim to be the first in the industry to have implemented ISO 9001 quality standards.

The acquired machines will be operated in the Breznik gold mining project, which is the first underground greenfield mine in Bulgaria for more than 50 years. The mining site has an area of half a million square meters and is located 35 km west of the Bulgarian capital Sofia. The deposit is said to have JORC (Joint Ore Reserves Committee) indicated resources of approximately 1 million tonnes grading 2 grams per tonne gold and inferred resources of approximately 700.000 tonnes grading 1,8 grams per tonne – plus even more silver resources.

LHD and dumper combo

Breznik Minerals Ltd will take delivery of the first batch in the third quarter of 2024. The remainder is scheduled for the end of the second quarter of 2025. “We are looking forward to the delivery of their first GHH machines”, said Krum Hristov, one of the founders of Strotech Engineering JSC, a construction, industrial and mining equipment specialist based in Sofia, Bulgaria. The GHH dealer looks back on hundreds of heavy construction and mining machine deliveries.  The company runs several fully equipped service centres throughout the country maintaining 2000 units per year. A large open area showroom is located in Sofia.

Best in class performance

The recent order consists of LF-7 diesel load haul dumpers (LHDs), MK-20 and MK-30 diesel dump trucks. The LHDs are designed for a payload of 7000 kg in bucket sizes up to 4 m³. GHH advertises the vehicle as having the best loading performance in its class at only 2200 mm total height fully laden. It is powered by a 164 kW Tier3/4/Stage5 engine, comes with an exceptionally robust design and offers extra safety and comfort for the driver.

The dumpers are designed with 20 and 30 tonnes of payload, up to 18m³ dump box capacities and engines with up to 320 kW power ratings. GHH claims that the low operating costs are made possible by its unique frame and system design. All vehicles can also be monitored remotely to manage maintenance with the “GHH inSiTE” software, making it a big plus when it comes to machine availability and cost savings. Further information at GHHrocks.com on the Internet.

Further information
GHH Group GmbH
GHHrocks.com

Mining and tunnelling equipment manufacturer GHH has unveiled a new load haul dumper (LHD): The LF-10 NEO is a powerful and compact 10 ton loader, an all-around improved version of the LF-10, a well-established product in it’s class (Figure 1). The LF-10 NEO is the latest in a line of new GHH loaders like the LF-14, the LF-7 and the LF-8.

The LF-10 NEO has a z-link design with the maximum tipping height in its class, of 2.5 m, which is perfect for truck loading all 30 ton trucks in the market (Figure 2). “The high break out forces, efficient boom and bucket motion times as well as the strong power to weight ratio makes the LF-10 NEO one of the best in class” says Ingo Rath, Product Line Manager Loaders at GHH in Germany.  With a length of 9,6 m and width of 2,6 m the LF-10 NEO is very compact and versatile for excellent manoeuvrability in a mid-seam underground mining environment.

Best in class in the mid-range segment

The standard bucket holds 4,6 m3 or 10 tons at 2500 mm width, making loading and unloading easier and more cost-effective. “GHH installs the water-cooled Mercedes OM936 diesel engine with 240 kW which is the best in the 10 ton loader size class”, says Rath. “The large fuel tank also allows for full shift operation with no worry for refuelling mid shift and losing valuable production time”. Exhaust gas emissions complies with EPA Tier 3 or EU Stage IIIA on the standard machine, while EU Stage V is also optionally available. The low fuel consumption, ease of maintainability and robust design as well as durability and reliability of the product all add to the low operating costs.

The LF-10 NEO has a great operators’ compartment which boasts excellent ergonomics, which is evident through the way the controls have been laid out and the general arrangement within the cabin. There is also a nice, large footbox giving the operator significantly more space and comfort, while the excellent visibility rounds off an already well designed operators’ compartment. In general, the loader now comes standard with useful safety and maintainability features such as the Proximity Detection System (PDS) interface, which allows the integration of third-party equipment.  And optional wear sensors on the brakes.

Easy operation, seamless integration

Like other GHH vehicles, the articulated LF-10 NEO is designed for underground hardrock mining and can be ordered with many options. Also worth mentioning is the seamless integration with electronic monitoring and digital analytics systems “GHH inSiTE”, which provides for great insight into the machine performance and maintenance requirements and can be tailored to customers specific needs. The LF-10 NEO, with an operating weight of around 28 tons manages up to 32 km/h with four-speed transmission and gradients up to 25%. It tips the 10-ton payload in just 2,6 seconds. The NEO joins the company´s mid-range segment of LHD offering, which is one of the most comprehensive on the market: The range of 18 diesel and electric models with payloads from 1 to 21 tons is a weighty factor in choosing the perfect loader. And by the way, the Germans have the same great selection in dump trucks to complement.

Further information
GHH Group GmbH
GHHrocks.com

After the first delivery of a Tembo 4×4 ELV, the manufacturer of mining machines GHH announces that it has now also shipped the first LF-7 load haul dumper (LHD) to India (Figure 1).

The vehicle was shown at the Mining Expo in Kolkata in April. The exhibition is considered the largest of its kind in the country, with supra-regional importance due to its location in the far east. After the event, GHH arranged the onward transport to the unnamed launch customer, who also ordered further machines.

The previously delivered Tembo 4×4 ELV (Figure 2) is an electric multi-purpose Light duty vehicle based on Toyota. It is available in many versions ranging from a pickup truck to a passenger transporter (10 seats). The launch customer Hindustan Zinc celebrated it´s delivery when honouring India’s 75 years of independence.

According to the manufacturer, the LF-7 currently offers the largest bucket, most powerful engine and best climb performance in its class. The LHD carries 7 tonnes or 3.6 m3. It is 8.900 mm long in driving position, 2.240 mm wide at the bucket and 2.200 mm high at the cab when fully loaded. This makes the LF-7 suitable for narrow vein operations, too. The 18-tonne operating weight loader is powered by a 164 kW Cummins diesel engine and complies with Tier 3 and 4 and EU Stage 5 emissions standards.

The manufacturer praises the robust frame and the well thought-out design, which should lead to low operating costs. One reason is the ease of maintenance. Vehicle data can be called up and evaluated via the “GHH InSiTE” software.

Further information:
GHH Fahrzeuge GmbH
www.ghhrocks.com

In India, a giant in mining and quarrying is setting a good example: Hindustan Zinc Ltd. (HZL), India’s only and the world’s second-largest integrated zinc-lead-silver producer is increasingly electrifying its vehicle fleet. It is the first company in the country to take delivery of a Tembo 4×4 ELV, a light duty full electric vehicle (EV).

The integration of EV into the existing fleet of HZL, a subsidiary of the Vedanta Group, was celebrated in front of a large audience. The date of mid-March 2022 was well chosen. The company’s Zawar Mines under the aegis of Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) hosted the Iconic Week Celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to honour the country’s 75 years of Independence. The CEO of HZL, Arun Misra along with government officials from the mining department, introduced the new Tembo 4×4 ELV for passenger movement in the mines (Figure 5). HZL is the first customer for these electric multi-purpose light duty vehicles in India.

The Tembo 4×4 ELV is based on the proven Toyota Land Cruiser and Hilux models, the most used vehicles in their class in the mines. It comes from the Dutch manufacturer Tembo e-LV, is part of the larger Vivopower Group and is distributed in large parts of the world by GHH Group GmbH, Gelsenkirchen, the German manufacturer of construction and mining equipment. There are versions ranging from the classic pickup to the station wagon. New is a model with an extra-large cabin for up to ten people.

The latest versions of these vehicles are equipped with an electric motor with 65 kW and 250 Nm torque, a 1:3 gearbox and a powerful 72 kWh battery. This is designed for at least ten years or 8,000 charging cycles. The battery is charged from 20 to 80 % in two and a half hours with a single-phase charger. With a three phase charger, this time is reduced to only one hour. No external infrastructure is required for operation, as the charging technology is integrated. The vehicle reaches a top speed of 80 km/h and can climb gradients of up to 45°. Air conditioning and heating are standard. One charge is enough for up to 200 km.

The time of diesel engines with their negative impact on project costs (weathering) and the health of employees is inevitably coming to an end. Tembo has been on the market since 2016. The technology is considered reliable. Other advantages include low direct operating costs and higher reliability. The vehicles also weigh less.

Further information:
GHH Fahrzeuge GmbH
www.ghh-fahrzeuge.de

The manufacturer of heavy duty mining equipment GHH Fahrzeuge GmbH, Gelsenkirchen/Germany, has launched a remarkable LHD. It comes with the biggest bucket and the best power rating, for highest operating slope angles, in the 7 t payload class. All that combined in a low emission, compact package.

The GHH team are specialists for everything on wheels in rock logistics, with a high attention to detail and quality. With the new addition, their range of Load Haul Dumpers (LHDs) is growing to become one of the largest in the world. In the competitive segment of lower medium-sized models for hard rock underground mining, the LF-7 is not only the latest but probably also the best in the segment.

The articulated LF-7 (Figure 1) carries 7,000 kg of payload in its bucket, that is sized at 3.6 m³ (SAE heaped): far more than what others deliver. The vehicle is only 8,900 mm long in driving position, 2,240 mm wide at the bucket and 2,200 mm high at the cab when loaded. This meets demands like large narrow vein and small mass mining operations almost perfectly.

At approximate 18 t operation weight, the LF-7 is powered by a 164 kW Cummings diesel, making it the best in class. It complies with Tier 3 and 4 as well as EU Stage 5 emissions standards, so this is one of the “cleanest” vehicles around. The Dana transmission shifts forward and reverse in four gears each to cope with gradients of up to 28 % and to reach speeds of up to 27 km/h. The ergonomic cab is ROPS/FOPS certified and offers a high level of safety and ergonomics with comfortable t-back seat, low whole body vibration and noise levels, as well as ride control and great visibility.

The manufacturer praises the robust frame and overall well thought design, which is said to result in very low operating costs. This is not least due to its easy, ground level maintenance. All relevant vehicle data can also be accessed and remotely evaluated via analysis software known as “GHH InSiTE”. The LF-7 is also proximity detection interface ready with bucket weighing and tyre pressure monitoring systems optional. The LF-7 has the DNA of its successful predecessors and sister models and can thus be considered very reliable. In line with this, the new LHD is the perfect 3-pass loading partner to the remarkable MK-A20 dump truck.

Further information/Weitere Informationen:
GHH Fahrzeuge GmbH
www.ghh-fahrzeuge.de

The electric off-road vehicle Tembo 4×4 E-LV on Toyota basis becomes a multifunctional platform. Several versions, from the classic pickup to the station wagon, are already available – and another one with an extra large personnel cabin is now being added to the offering (Figure 1).

The Tembos, which are sold in many parts of the world by the manufacturer of construction and mining machines GHH Fahrzeuge GmbH, Gelsenkirchen/Germany, are equipped with an electric motor with 65 kW and 250 Nm torque, a special 1:3 transmission and a powerful battery designed for at least ten years or 8,000 charging cycles.

In 2,5 h the vehicles are charged from 20 to 80 %, with the single phase charger, and with the three phase charger this time decreases to only 1 h. No external infrastructure is required for operation. The vehicles reach a top speed of 80 km/h and can climb gradients of up to 45°. The Tembos correspond largely to the series standard of Toyota, but achieving 80 km with a 28 kwh battery pack and 200 km with a 72 kWh battery pack. With the standard air conditioner and heater as well as smooth acceleration and no gear changing, every drive is a comfortable one.

The first Tembo Electric Cruiser came on the market in 2016. Their approach of turning the Toyota Land Cruiser and Hilux series into a fully-fledged electric multi-purpose vehicle, especially for construction and mining industries, is considered to be correspondingly mature. Although the sales price (still) speaks for the diesel, the disadvantages outweigh the benefits: its error-prone complexity, the noise level, heat generation, extensive maintenance, and above all the emissions that are harmful to health and the environment. Diesel engines also challenge ventilation during underground use, which leads to high operational cost are causing more and more operators to consider alternatives. Electric vehicles undoubtedly offer such alternatives, and the Tembo in particular. The manufacturer has a global presence, can look back on many years of expertise and, above all, can point to numerous vehicles in active use even under the toughest conditions, e. g., in Australian mines.

Further information:
GHH Fahrzeuge GmbH
www.ghh-fahrzeuge.de

Just start up the engine and go was yesterday. Increasingly, mining and tunnel projects, as well as large construction sites, are also being managed digitally. The latest solution for this is the “GHH InSiTE” digital analytics software from GHH, which can be used on any equipment regardless of brand.

Here a dump truck, there a loader – the times in which rock logistics above and below ground consisted solely of man, machine and material are coming to an end. “Smart management is the future,” says product manager Felix Straßburger. “This increases the mining operations’ return on investment”.

Speed is the core benefit. “Today, mining and maintenance processes are often already so well coordinated that the smallest deviations can have undesired, costly consequences”. In view of the high workload and productivity targets, it is clear that costs must be kept under control.

Together with a vast team of external experts, GHH has created a digital analytics platform solution that transparently depicts the expensive on-site operations: “GHH InSiTE” provides for a digital performance and condition monitoring, as well as the baseline for the future of digitally optimized mining operations (Figure 1). Its use is worthwhile due to the gain in operational safety and cost control, without requiring a substantial effort on the part of the user.

The system receives the input directly from the machines on site. Location, payload, distances, consumption, exhaust gas values, temperatures and much more – the measured data have long been available on many machines. According to Straßburger, the only thing lacking so far is comprehensive consolidation, meaningful evaluation and clear presentation.

This is where GHH InSiTE comes into play. The software is regarded as a powerful tool that is adaptable and scalable, and thus designed to be future-proof. The connection to common IT infrastructures is guaranteed. All components are connected to each other via network. The data converge at the control station controller, partly in real time depending on the source. The responsible persons have all information available at any time via PC, tablet or smartphone. If something goes wrong or a change of schedule is required, they can intervene immediately. Networked rock logistics thus stands for more precise process sequences and minimum deviations. Straßburger: “The technology is proven and works reliably.”

Even before the market launch, GHH took a major customer on board in 2019 to put the solution through its paces in practice. The results were so convincing that an order was placed in mid 2020. The contract covers a considerable part of the plant and equipment, around 150 machines. This is understandable, as the customer was able to achieve fuel savings of 7 % and an increase in efficiency of 12 % in the monitored sub-fleet alone.

Market observers agree: smart systems for rock logistics have come to stay. The benefits of central control, the contribution to real-time situation awareness and, in particular, the gain in operational safety and cost optimisation are just great. And the development is progressing rapidly. GHH is preparing to play a committed role in shaping this market: The company is already regarded as one of the world’s leading suppliers of almost everything in the field of rock logistics that drives on wheels.

Further information:
GHH Fahrzeuge GmbH
www.ghh-fahrzeuge.de

The specialist for civil engineering and mining machinery GHH Fahrzeuge GmbH, Gelsenkirchen/Germany, has set its sights on the Australian continent. An experienced partner is supporting the German manufacturer.

With its loaders, dump trucks and utility vehicles for rock logistics above and below ground, GHH has long been represented on many continents. Now the manufacturer, which is part of the Schmidt Kranz Group, is making the leap to the red continent. “We want to shorten the distance to our customers in Australia,” says Global Sales Manager Ken Stapylton. “Contact before, during and after the purchase is important to us – after all, we are happy to supply tailor-made solutions”.

A sales office already exists in Brisbane. But with a strong local partner at your side, you can operate much better in the country. Specialist Tunnel Excavation (STE), based in Sydney, is the partner they have found to cover Eastern Australia. With 25 years experience on the Australian continent and, like GHH, supplies turnkey solutions: for bulk and detail rock excavation using surface mining, tracked trenchers and specialist excavators for applications across tunnel, road, rail, civil, mining and pipeline projects throughout Australia and New Zealand.

“GHH completes our range of high-quality machines for almost everything in the field of rock logistics that drives on wheels”, emphasises Lee McCourt, Director of STE. His business was established to provide target industries with a more efficient and safer method of excavation of rock geo-logy, through use of the latest equipment and technology available anywhere in the world. The German machine technology fits in perfectly as it is characterized by a driver-friendly, ergonomic design, robust and safe construction and high economic efficiency. And when it comes to “going-green” most of the GHH equipment is available in Tier 3, Tier 4 final and Stage V engine emission packages. Only recently, GHH won an international prize for its product design. The partnership is a real added value for both of them, they said in unison.

A first joint project is already being planned. GHH also announced that a whole range of vehicles from other co-operations is being put into position for Eastern Australia. In fact, the Germans have a lot to contribute here and are rightly regarded as a total solution provider, which is also strong in peripheral areas such as financing, rental, maintenance and even refurbished vehicles.

Further information:
GHH Fahrzeuge GmbH
www.ghh-fahrzeuge.de