Terex TA300 Artic Hauler Works at Scotland's Barite Mine

Mon September 25, 2017
Aggregate Equipment Guide

With confidence in the investment returns that Terex Trucks' machines offer, mining contractor Barhaul has purchased a new 30.8 ton (28 t) capacity TA300 articulated dump truck, for use in a barite mine near Aberfeldy in Perthshire, Scotland.

Supplied by Terex Trucks' UK distributor, TDL Equipment, the TA300 has consistently impressed Barhaul with its ability to power through the harshest environments.

“Over the years, Barhaul has regularly purchased Terex Trucks' TA300 articulated haulers, as the company has a very good history with both the product and TDL in terms of our ability to support the product when required,” said John Black, sales director at TDL Equipment.

Fitted with a tailgate and reverse color camera, the versatile machine is currently carrying out a number of jobs for Barhaul, one of which involves handling material removed from a barite mine that is owned by the world's largest oilfield services company, Schlumberger.

Heavyweight Mineral

Easily identified due to its high specific gravity and derived from the Greek word “barus”, meaning heavy, barite is the naturally occurring mineral form of barium sulphate. Due to its density, the environmentally-friendly material is suitable for a wide range of industrial, manufacturing and medical uses. More than 75 percent of barite is used as an additive for drilling mud in gas and oil exploration — with the USA, Middle East and China as the largest consumers.

Not classified as hazardous waste, barite is particularly beneficial to drilling muds as it can be applied to deep, high-temperature wells. Here it prevents damage to the tools used during the drilling process, serving as a lubricant to improve mud displacement and stabilizing high-pressure zones by increasing the thickness of the slurry, thereby averting blowouts. The mineral also has the ability to shield x-ray and gamma-ray emissions, acts as a weighted filler for cloth, paper, plastic and rubber, and used as a pigment in paints; barite is truly unique among its contemporaries.

“Barite is an extremely dense material so it requires a robust and reliable vehicle to do the work of moving it around in the mine — it's not an easy life for any truck,” said Black.

Time-Honored Trust

Set to make for the perfect collaboration between machine and mineral, the TA300 is a proven design and has the capability to overcome the most demanding conditions and move material as quickly as possible due to its traction and effective power-to-weight ratios, according to the manufacturer.

Created to work harder for longer, the machine offers minimum cost of operation and maximum productivity. With fully independent front suspension as standard, tyre/ground contact is maintained on tough terrain, increasing tractive effort and reducing cycle times, while also providing operators with a comfortable haul.

Built in Motherwell, Scotland, the TA300 is mastered by a fuel-efficient five cylinder Scania DC9 engine, which develops gross power of 370 hp (276 kW) and maximum torque of 1,880 Nm. In addition, the transmission retardation system in combination with engine exhaust brake support the fully-enclosed oil-cooled multidisc brakes for enhanced protection of the brakes, resulting in less maintenance and a longer life span for the brakes.

Black said: “The Barhaul order for the TA300, which was to replace an existing unit, was delivered straight to the site and is carrying out the work it was purchased for. Alongside the sale coming with a short lead time, Barhaul's decision to remain with the brand was influenced by the level of quick responses received from the manufacturer and dealer no matter the request.

“As is normal business practice, Barhaul was looking at competitor brands but one of the key elements of retaining its business with Terex Trucks and TDL is the excellent working relationship that has been established over the years.”

Patrick Bradley, director of Barhaul, said: “We have purchased Terex Trucks' articulated dump trucks for a number of years and have been very pleased with their performance as well as the excellent aftermarket support provided by TDL — a winning combination.”

For more information, visit www.terextrucks.com.

This story also appears on Construction Equipment Guide.