Caterpillar unveiled its new 6020B hydraulic shovel before customers and the press at its Tinaja Hills proving grounds in November. With a 24-ton payload, the 247-ton unit is well matched with the Cat 777G haul trucks.

“Today is a day I’ve waited for for a very long time,” says Klaus Ukens, product manager, Cat Hydraulic Mining Shovels, adding that the unit boasts class-leading visibility that improves safe operations while allowing for ease of operation and maintenance.

Development on the clean sheet design began in 2010 under Bucyrus and went through two transitions as that product line was acquired first by Terex, then by Caterpillar.

“When we reviewed all of the customer comments, they were looking for three things: safety, simplicity and reliability,” says Anita Russwurm, new product introduction manager for the 6020B. “That’s what we designed and what can be seen throughout the machine.”

As they set out to design a unit in a new class size, Frank Tegtmeier, technical lead for the 6020B, says the team began with virtual prototyping in order to design components. Next, came finite element analysis to ensure the unit met design targets. Finally, test programs were used to ensure the shovel met its design goals.

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