Heavy equipment manufacturer John Deere’s South African branch, having been in the country for 140 years, launched its redesigned 41.8 t, 460 series articulated dump truck (ADT) to the domestic market on July 26.

Aimed primarily at the mining industry, the 460E-II series has been redesigned to incorporate a wider dump body, improved electrical and hydraulic systems, and new drive modes to help operators get the job done in various conditions.

“John Deere can proudly say that this machine is built for the long haul,” the company states.

The redesigned dump body has a lowered and levelled rail height to improve material retention and enable it to be easily loaded. while the bin rail features an angled top, helping to reduce material spillage while travelling.

The 460E-II model is also available with a new ejector body solution, enabling operators to spread a load over a specific area, such as those with overhead powerline concerns or where the risk of rollover is high as a result of steep gradient unloading.

With a payload volume of 25.2 m³ and a maximum speed of 55 km/h, the 460E-II has an eight forward speed gearbox with four reverse gears, managed through three drive modes to assist operators in tackling challenging and different types of terrain and driving skills levels.

For everyday operation, normal drive mode reduces fuel consumption by up to 7% compared with existing models, while eco mode conserves fuel by managing engine power delivery and enhancing transmission response for applicable conditions. Eco mode serves to improve fuel consumption by up to 12% compared with normal mode.

Traction mode makes use of the 460E-II’s differential locks to increase traction in soft and slippery ground conditions.

In addition, new wheel-speed sensors also provide a more accurate reading than the ground-speed radar to confirm the traction-boosting auto-differential lock engages when needed.

Other improvements on the 460E-II include new heavier-duty axles, which are lubricated, filtered and cooled to extend their service life, while the spring-applied, hydraulic-released park brake improves reliability.

The inboard wet-disc brakes improve cooling, operate cleaner and are unexposed to the elements, while the braked axles are each force-cooled and filtered separately to prevent cross-contamination.

In terms of reliability, John Deere has simplified hose and wire routing on the 460E-II to reduce rubbing and improve reliability, while the factory-installed automatic lubricator further boosts uptime and reliability.

According to John Deere, the 460E-II’s redesigned electrical and hydraulic systems improve uptime with a 10% reduction of electric and hydraulic routings, further reducing leak points and improving reliability.

Servicing and maintenance of the 460E-II can be performed at ground level, thereby enabling service personnel easier, quicker and safer access to the engine and equipment bay.

The 460E-II also comes with safety features such as remote park-brake release, rollover protection and an automatic horn. With rollover protection, operators can set limits for the rear-chassis level when unloading.

If the limit is exceeded, the dump body will not raise and an alert message will appear on the monitor.

John Deere has also worked on improving operator comfort, introducing what it calls a single-switch solution, reducing the number of switches by 25% compared with previous models, while the quieter, pressurised cabin features a new easy-to-read monitor and rear-camera display, along with options such as premium heated/ventilated seat and automatic temperature control system.