The E550 was introduced last year for moving excavators in the 550tonne class and the first set has been sold to an un-named company in Africa.
It is essentially a dolly system consisting of two sets of large-wheeled dollies with low-slung ramps and drop axles. One end of the excavator tracks is lifted off the ground by driving on to the ramps.
The excavator then slews 180° and pushes its bucket on to the bed of a dump truck to lift the other end of tracks off the ground. As the excavator is now off the ground, it can be towed by the truck to the desired location at up to 15km/h.
According to Sleipner, loading a machine takes only a few minutes and the system reduces the transportation time up to 80%. There is also fuel and emissions savings, while track life is said to be extended by a factor of two or three, meaning payback can be achieved in a matter of days.
Key account manager Sanna Salmio said, “As Sleipner permits easier movement of heavy excavators, it can allow quarries to be designed and worked in different ways.”
Sleipner manufactures kits to suit individual excavators from 20tonnes to 550tonnes.
Stand: B3 112
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