I’m trying to get an understanding about the two partnerships - Liebherr and Epiroc and how or whether there's an opportunity to integrate within each others platforms.
Partnership 1 – Liebherr/Fortescue
Part One - In 2022, Fortescue and Liebherr announced a partnership for the development and supply of green mining haul trucks. What was highlighted was that Liebherr would integrate the zero emission power system technologies being developed by now (Fortescue Zero) into its T 264 haul truck. Fast forward to 2024, and they now have a battery electric T 264 haul truck prototype (Roadrunner) and now a hydrogen-powered T 264 haul truck prototype (Europa) on Fortescue’s mine site. This is bringing them closer and closer to having a fleet of zero emission trucks at their sites by the end of this decade. They also have an operational Liebherr R 9400 electric excavator on site which reached a one million tonne milestone. Two additional electric excavators were meant to be commissioned by the end of April, but we haven’t heard anything on this front yet.
Ok, what else do we know? Fortescue Zero emission drive trains will power 350 new Liebherr trucks.
We know that of those 350 new trucks, approximately 200 are autonomous diesel powered haul trucks with the remaining 150 to be either run by battery electric or hydrogen. Testing continues, to understand which option they will choose.
Part two – 2024 - Fortescue/Liebherr are now looking at the opportunity to convert Fortescue’s 200 autonomous diesel powered haul trucks to a zero emission powered option with a first of a kind integrated AHS and FMS. Note, this integrated AHS and FMS isn’t just limited to trucks, but for a wide range of mining equipment. An OEM agnostic solution, which can be integrated with any autonomous platform. Here’s what Liebherr had to say…
“The AHS – including the Fleet Management System and Machine Guidance Solution – will also be made available to customers worldwide as part of Liebherr’s expanding technology portfolio.”
But is the partnership limited to just this zero emission mining equipment above? No. Read below.
“This project provides an excellent opportunity for us to accelerate the integration of clean energy battery and fuel cell power systems into our mining equipment, which supports our vision and defined strategy to offer future zero emission equipment with the best suitable power train technologies,” said Oliver Weiss, CTO of Liebherr Mining. “As a leader in green technologies for the international heavy industry and a world class mining owner-operator, Fortescue is an ideal partner for decarbonized mining equipment and technology initiatives, sharing the same vision as us.”
The partnership will also assist the future evolution of the Liebherr business. “A mining product that will be developed through a close partnership of two tier one companies, including access to the latest zero emission technology, will create an immense industry opportunity and demand,” said Dr. Jörg Lukowski, Executive Vice President for Sales and Marketing of Liebherr Mining. “It also supports our future investment as we expand Liebherr’s already extensive manufacturing capability including at our truck facility in Newport News Virginia USA, and of course into our service and support network in Australia.”
Make no mistake these two companies are looking to become a total solution provider for the mining industry.
Partnership2 – Fortescue/Epiroc
So where does the Fortescue/Epiroc partnership fit into all of this? "Autonomous solutions" were the key words for me in this news piece below. Right up Fortescue's alley. Here's my question...Do you think there could be a "home" for Fortescue/Liebherr's AHS and FMS solution here? Think about it.
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