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By Carole Vaporean

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Caterpillar Inc.'s (CAT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) mining division plans to start showing electric trucks to top customers as soon as later this year, and to introduce them commercially in late 2008, the unit's chief said on Wednesday.

Sibas 32 control technology for rail vehicles is based on a modular structure and includes control units, such as the traction control unit or the central control unit, as well as input and output stations, such as driver’s cab terminals and process I/Os.

The devices are connected to the vehicle and train bus and their ability to communicate makes them literally the leader among control systems.

Liebherr Mining Equipment Co. has redesigned its 360 ton T 282 mining truck into what it is calling the largest two axle diesel electric truck in the world. With a 400-ton payload, the new T 282B haul truck has an impressive 3650 hp option which the company said is 35% more powerful than its predecessor. This is in addition to the more than 200 improvements Liebherr said it made to the truck including an increased drive system capacity, larger tires, improved flame strength and greater overall cab size.

Reported by Ikuo Miyazaki, Komatsu Ltd.

Komatsu’s Vehicle Health Monitoring System (VHMS) has two functions for advanced diagnostics to lower machine operating cost. The first is health monitoring that maintains maximum operating conditions through preventive maintenance and repair to correct conditions before they cause extensive damage. It thus functions much like a “general practitioner.” The second function is machine operating management that functions like a “general hospital,” in which accumulated data on the machine and its systems is used to improve machine availability, productivity and machine component life. Komatsu’s VHMS data-supported technologies are available to offer optimum scheduling for inevitable component overhaul that will dramatically reduce repair costs, downtime and risk of catastrophic failure.

Automatic Retarder Control (ARC) modulates the retarding (braking) of the machine while the machine is travelling downgrade. The ARC allows more concentration on steering and shifting of the machine by the operator. The operator does not need to adjust the retarder control lever.