Heavy equipment manufacturer SANY has launched its SRT100S off-highway mining truck in a move aimed at helping mining operations reduce operating costs while progressing towards lower-emission equipment.

The 95-t-payload rigid dump truck incorporates hybrid technology, which SANY sales administration and operations manager Houssein Zhu says provides a competitive advantage at a time when the cost of operating diesel-powered equipment is placing increasing pressure on mining companies.

“The future of mining in Africa is definitely going electric,” Zhu says, adding that the mining industry is likely to see accelerating adoption of electric and other green technologies.

The SRT100S is designed around this transition, combining conventional power generation with electric drive technology to improve efficiency and reduce emissions compared with traditional rigid dump trucks.

According to SANY, the 95-t truck has total power of 783 kW and maximum torque of 4 629 Nm. The wider SRT rigid mining truck range spans payloads from 55 t to 95 t, with total power ranging from 565 kW to 783 kW.

One of the truck's distinguishing features is its electric drive system. Zhu says the truck does not use a conventional gearbox, while its electric motor can also act as a braking system, reducing wear on the conventional braking system.

The truck has also been engineered with a focus on operator visibility and manoeuvrability. SANY says its short-locomotive configuration reduces the blind area by 2 m compared with similar products, while the vehicle incorporates a panoramic windscreen and redesigned rear-view mirror arrangement.

A large steering angle is intended to improve mobility and operating efficiency, while a reinforced articulated bearing is used to improve reliability during steering and when the truck is travelling over uneven ground.

The suspension system incorporates SANY-patented technology designed to reduce vibration. The company says the root mean square value of vibration acceleration is 20% lower than that of comparable domestic products. The truck also uses McPherson independent suspension, which is intended to reduce eccentric wear on suspension cylinders and, consequently, tyre wear.

The hydraulic system has also been developed to improve thermal performance, with SANY reporting an oil temperature 5 °C lower than that of similar products under its advanced hydraulic matching technology. Independent hydraulic functional modules are designed to operate without interfering with one another.

Zhu says SANY's focus extends beyond individual machines, with the company positioning itself as a provider of integrated equipment and technology solutions across the mining and industrial value chain.

“We are providing a solution, not just a product,” he says, pointing to SANY's portfolio of cranes, construction and mining machinery, logistics trucks, green-energy technologies, energy storage and energy-generation equipment.

Aftermarket support is another important element of the company's offering, Zhu says, with SANY placing significant emphasis on supporting customers after equipment has been delivered and developing solutions that can help them improve their operations and competitiveness.

As mining companies face simultaneous pressure to contain costs, improve productivity and reduce environmental impacts, SANY expects hybrid and electric technologies to become increasingly important.

Zhu says the shift is already evident across mining, construction, civil engineering and agriculture, as industries respond to changing global demands and increasingly seek technologies that can deliver both operational and environmental benefits.