CONEXPO-CON/AGG + IFPE 2023
Las Vegas, United States
* Special mention: Komatsu PC5500-6
* Special mention: Caterpillar 6060/6060 FS
10. Liebherr R 9600 G8
9. XCMG XE7000
8. Liebherr R 996B
7. Komatsu PC7000-11
6. Demag H740 OS
5. Komatsu PC8000-11
4. Liebherr R9800 G6
3. Hitachi EX8000-6
2. Bucyrus RH400/Terex O&K RH 400
1. Caterpillar 6090 FS
FAQ
By Patrik Eder · November 20, 2019
This article sums up 10 biggest hydraulic excavators in the world used in 2022. Excavators are versatile machines suitable for large range of jobs such as excavating, mining and digging, which makes them the core of every heavy machinery fleet. These giants can be seen mostly around large mines and quarries in Australia, the USA, Canada or for example China. They often work in pairs with the biggest mining dump trucks in order to deliver maximum performance. The list of world’s largest excavators is based on the operating weight.
2. Bucyrus RH400/Terex O&K RH 400 - 980 t (1080 US t)
3. Hitachi EX8000-6 - 837 t (923 US t)
4. Liebherr R9800 G6 - 810 t (893 US t)
5. Komatsu PC8000-11 - 773 t (850 US t)
6. Demag H740 OS - 744 t (820 US t)
7. Komatsu PC7000-11 - 692 t (758 US t)
8. Liebherr R 996 B - 676 t (745 US t)
9. XCMG XE7000 - 673 t (742 US t)
10. Liebherr R 9600 G8 - 645 t (711 US t)
The successor and upgraded version of Komatsu PC5500 is the tenth biggest excavator in our list. Komatsu PC5500-6 mining excavator is available in two configurations, as a loading shovel or backhoe. The heavier backhoe version weighs 552 tons and offers tear-out force of 1,326 kN. Hydraulic crawler excavator PC5500-6 is powered by two Komatsu SDA12V159E-2 Tier 2 engines, each rated at 940 kW (1,260 HP). The machine is over 12 m long and 8 m high with backhoe capacity of 29 m³. Komatsu has sold more than 170 units of the PC5500-6 worldwide, making it quite popular model, especially on large jobsites in North America.
Operating weight | 533–552 t |
Engine power | 2x 940 kW / 1,260 HP |
Shovel capacity | 29 m³ / 38 yd³ |
Backhoe capacity | 29 m³ / 38 yd³ |
Breakout force | 1,870 kN |
Operating weight | 569–570 t |
Engine power | 2x 1,120 kW / 1,500 HP |
Shovel capacity | 34 m³ / 44.5 yd³ |
Backhoe capacity | 34 m³ / 44.5 yd³ |
Breakout force | 1,740 kN |
Operating weight | 633–645 t |
Engine power | 2x 1,250 kW / 3,350 HP |
Shovel capacity | 37 m³ / 48.4 yd³ |
Backhoe capacity | 37.5 m³ / 49.1 yd³ |
Breakout force | 1,730 kN |
Operating weight (XE7000 / XE7000E) | 673 t / 660 t |
Engine power | 2x 1,193 kW (1,600 HP) / 2x 1,250 kW (1,676 hp) |
Max digging radius | 21.19 m / 16.7 m |
Backhoe capacity | 30-36 m³ / 39-47 yd³ |
Breakout force | 1,640 kN / 2,270 kN |
Operating weight | 672–676 ton |
Engine power | 2x 1,120 kW / 1,500 HP |
Shovel capacity | 36 m³ / 44.5 yd³ |
Backhoe capacity | 36 m³ / 47.1 yd³ |
Breakout force | 1,930 kN |
Komatsu PC7000-11 is the latest hydraulic excavator in Komatsu’s product range and the seventh biggest excavator in the world. It is based on PC 7000-6, however, the newer dash 11 version features up-to-date electronics and electro-hydraulic controls. The latest technology includes the Komtrax Plus 2 and Simplified System. Komatsu also focuses on operation monitoring and big data analysis, both available for the operator/mine manager. This giant is powered by two 16-cylinder Tier 2 diesel engines that are rated 2x 1,250 kW/1,675 HP. The first ever PC7000-11 model was shipped to a gold mine in Argentina in February 2019. The machine was then assembled on site—the process took over 4 weeks.
Operating weight | 676–694 ton |
Engine power | 2x 1,250 kW / 1,675 HP |
Shovel capacity | 36 m³ / 47 yd³ |
Backhoe capacity | 36 m³ / 47 yd³ |
Breakout force | 2,086 kN |
Operating weight | 744 ton |
Engine power | 2x 1,640 kW / 2,000 HP |
Shovel capacity | 40 m³ / 52.3 yd³ |
Breakout force | 2,320 kN |
Operating weight | 752–773 ton |
Engine power | 2x 1,640 kW / 2,000 HP |
Shovel capacity | 42 m³ / 55 yd³ |
Backhoe capacity | 42 m³ / 55 yd³ |
Breakout force | 2,331 kN |
Operating weight | 800–810 ton |
Engine power | 2x 1,492 kW / 2,000 HP |
Shovel capacity | 42 m³ / 54.9 yd³ |
Backhoe capacity | 47.5 m³ / 62.1 yd³ |
Breakout force | 2,395 kN |
Operating weight | 825–837 ton |
Engine power | 2x 1,450 kW / 1,944 HP |
Shovel capacity | 40 m³ / 55.3 yd³ |
Backhoe capacity | 43 m³ / 56.2 yd³ |
Breakout force | 2,230 kN |
The RH 400 is currently the second largest hydraulic excavator in the world. The behemoth was first launched as Terex RH 400 in Germany in 1997. Just one year later, Terex acquired the O&K Mining and added its company name into the model name. However, Terex sold its mining division to Bucyrus in 2010 and the model was renamed to Bucyrus RH 400. The excavator is able to scoop up around 9,900 tons of material every hour, setting a new world record for a hydraulic mining excavator. The 50 m³ shovel is over 6 m wide, weighs 84 tons and is able to hold 85 tons of material in a single scoop, which can easily fill any mining truck in 3-5 passes. The RH 400 is powered by two engines with total 3,360 kW/4,500 HP and it requires 6 car-batteries just to start the engines that produce max. travel speed of 2.2 km/h.
Operating weight | 980 ton |
Engine power | 2x 1,680 kW / 2,250 HP |
Shovel capacity | 50 m³ / 65.4 yd³ |
Breakout force | 2,400 kN |
The world's largest excavator is currently Caterpillar 6090 FS. The model is based on Bucyrus RH400, because Bucyrus was purchased by Caterpillar in 2011, expanding its mining division. However, the 6090 FS features more durable components, hardened undercarriage, enhanced oil-flow system and hydraulics, better customer service support, LED working lights for night shifts or innovative on-board electronics. The weight of Cat 6090 FS mining excavator reaches an incredible 1,000 tons. The goliath is equipped with two Cummins QSK60 engines, rated at 3,360 kW/4,500 HP in total. The 52 m³ shovel has a payload of 93.6 tons and it takes just 4 passes to load the largest Caterpillar dump truck, the 797.
Operating weight | 1,000 ton |
Engine power | 2x 1,680 kW / 2,250 HP |
Shovel capacity | 52 m³ / 68 yd³ |
Breakout force | 2,400 kN |
Caterpillar 6090 FS is currently the biggest excavator in the world, weighing 1,000 tonnes. The 6090 FS is equipped with two Cummins QSK60 engines, rated at 3360 kW/4500 HP in total.
In 2012, Caterpillar introduced the 1,000-ton heavy CAT 6090 FS, its biggest excavator so far.
The biggest Caterpillar excavator is the 6090 FS weighing 1,000 tonnes, which approximately equals 555 cars.
Caterpillar 6090 FS is currently the largest hydraulic excavator in the world equipped with 52 m³ shovel and operating weight of 1,000 tonnes.
Caterpillar 6090 FS (1,000 tonnes heavy), which is based on Bucyrus RH400, is the biggest excavator in the world.
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