A conventional Bucket Wheel Excavator (BWE) system with conveyor transport, mobile tripper and spreader was commissioned at the Goonyella Mine in 1982. The system was introduced to prestrip ahead of dragline excavations and was specified to remove 7.5 million cubic metres per annum in ground somewhat harder than that inwhich bucket wheel excavators are normally operated.
This machine has, since 1982, moved more than 77 millionbank cubic metres of material and has been relocated twice. Extensive trials have been undertaken including digging blasted rock.