GE Transportation Helps Mine Efficiency Through Wheel Modernizations

GE Transportation’s Mining division announced today the successful upgrade of more than 40 haul trucks since July for various mines to lower life cycle costs and improve availability and productivity of assets during the current economic downturn.

The trucks have been outfitted with GE’s GDY106 AC electric drive wheel motor as GE was awarded several contracts to supply the aftermarket wheel motors to mine operators in North America and Indonesia.

“As economic stagnation prolongs, mines are looking for ways to more-efficiently utilize existing mining trucks,” said Lori Kieklak, General Manager of GE Transportation’s Mining division. “GE has been able to work very closely with our partner Komatsu, their distributors and the mines to unlock the value of these wheel motor upgrades.”

Added Kieklak: “This upgrade program from GE provides the latest technology for existing mining trucks around the globe while reducing wheel life cycle cost up to 50% over 6 years of operation.”

GE launched the first AC electric drive system in 1995. In 2003, GE introduced the GDY106 wheel for 320-ton haulage applications. Incorporating a more robust design than previous models, the GDY106 delivers lower life cycle cost due to the improved mean time between overhauls (MTBO). With more than 900 wheels operating and driving more than 14 million hours of successful production, the GDY106 has a proven track record of strong field performance.

GE Transportation delivers AC and DC electric drive systems for 120-ton to 360-ton mining trucks manufactured and operated from Alberta to Chile and from Russia to Australia. Currently, more than 4,000 GE electric drive systems for off highway vehicles are in use in more than 35 countries worldwide.

About GE Transportation

Established more than 100 years ago, GE Transportation, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a global technology leader and supplier to the railroad, marine, drilling, mining and wind industries. GE provides freight and passenger locomotives, railway signaling and communications systems, information technology solutions, marine engines, motorized drive systems for mining trucks and drills, high-quality replacement parts and value added services. GE Transportation is headquartered in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA, and employs approximately 10,000 employees worldwide. For more information visit www.getransportation.com.