Excavators are versatile machines suitable for a wide range of operations such as digging, mining, and excavation. These big guys are mainly seen around large mines and quarries in China, Australia, the United States, and Canada. They often work in conjunction with the largest mining dump trucks. Here is a list of the 10 largest hydraulic excavators used in the world, and this ranking is based on their working weight.
- Liebherr R 9600 G8
Operating weight: 633–645 tonnes
Engine power: 2x 1,250 kW / 3,350 hp
Shovel capacity: 37 m
Backhoe capacity: 37.5 m
Explosive force: 1,730 kN
The R 9600 G8 is the latest addition to Liebherr’s mining portfolio, launched at MINExpo International 2021. The crawler excavator was launched in early 2021 after years of development and experience in the mining industry. The model is the successor and next generation of the popular R 996B model, which is not yet in series production. The R 9600 was field-tested in Australia, and the results showed that the new generation excavator is 19.6% more productive and faster than its predecessor, the R 996B. In addition, the R 9600 has a 40% reduction in fuel consumption compared to the R 996B. The white beast is equipped with two QSK50 Cummins engines rated at 2,500 kW and meets US EPA Tier 4f / EU Stage V standards. Liebherr also plans to offer an electric drive version.
- XCMG XE7000
Operating weight (XE7000 / XE7000E): 673 tons / 660 tons
Engine power: 2x 1,193 kW (1,600 hp) / 2x 1,250 kW (1,676 hp)
Maximum digging radius: 21.19 m / 16.7 m
Backhoe capacity: 30-36 m
Explosive force: 1,640 kN / 2,270 kN
The XE7000 is China’s largest excavator. China has thus entered the field of 700-ton mining excavators, becoming the fourth country after the United States, Japan and Germany. The XE7000 weighs 673 metric tons and is powered by two 1,193 kW (1,600 hp) engines. The XE7000 excavator is equipped with a 34 cubic meter bucket, each of which is capable of holding approximately 50 tons of coal. To put this number into context, if this excavator were to work full time, it could load approximately 30,000 tons of coal per day. Therefore, the XE7000 is designed to work in conjunction with the largest dump trucks, which have a loading capacity of 300-400 tons. In addition, XCMG also offers the XE7000E, a version driven by two electro-hydraulic motors.
- Liebherr R 996B
Operating weight: 672–676 tonnes
Engine power: 2x 1,120 kW / 1,500 hp
Shovel capacity: 36 m
Backhoe capacity: 36 m
Explosive force: 1,930 kN
The R 996B is Liebherr’s second largest mining excavator. The machine weighs 676 tonnes and is powered by two Cummins K1800E engines with a total power of 2,240 kW / 3,000 HP. The digging force is 1,535 kN and is provided by the 36 m capacity backhoe. The Liebherr R 996B is designed for the most challenging tasks as it can be equipped with an optional Arctic package for use in areas with temperatures as low as -50 °C / -58 °F.
- Komatsu PC7000-11
Operating weight: 676–694 tonnes
Engine power: 2x 1,250 kW / 1,675 HP
Shovel capacity: 36 m
Backhoe capacity: 36 m
Explosive force: 2,086 kN
The Komatsu PC7000-11 is the newest hydraulic excavator in the Komatsu range and the seventh largest excavator in the world. It is based on the PC 7000-6, however, the newer dash 11 version features the latest electronics and electro-hydraulic controls. The latest technology includes Komtrax Plus 2 and Simplified Systems. This giant is powered by two 16-cylinder Tier 2 diesel engines rated at 2x 1,250 kW/1,675 HP. The first PC7000-11 model was shipped to a gold mine in Argentina in February 2019. The machine was then assembled on site – a process that took more than 4 weeks.
- Demag H740 OS
Operating weight: 744 tonnes
Engine power: 2x 1,640 kW / 2,000 HP
Shovel capacity: 40 m
Explosive force: 2,320 kN
Designed for KMC Mining, this machine has been in operation since 1999 – in the oil sands of Alberta, Canada. The Demag H740 OS is a front-shovel hydraulic crawler excavator with a loading capacity of 40 m3. Operators don’t have to worry about insufficient digging force, as the excavator offers 2,320 kN of digging force. The Demag H740 OS is powered by two 16-cylinder CAT 3516B DITA diesel engines with a total power of 3,280 kW / 4,000 HP.
- Komatsu PC8000-11
Operating weight: 752–773 tonnes
Engine power: 2x 1,640 kW/2,000 hp
Shovel capacity: 42 m
Backhoe capacity: 42 m
Explosive force: 2,331 kN
The fifth largest hydraulic excavator in the world and the largest mining excavator in the Japanese manufacturer’s offering, the Komatsu PC8000 is based on the popular PC 8000-6. Available in both backhoe and front shovel configurations, this giant weighs 773 tonnes. Similar to the PC7000-11, the PC8000-11 is equipped with Komatsu’s latest electronics and telematics. It is capable of digging 8 m deep. The 42 m backhoe/shovel is designed to match 240-400 tonne trucks. The power of this large excavator is provided by two Komatsu Tier 2 (Tier 4 optional) diesel engines with a total power of 3,000 kW/4,020 HP.
- Liebherr R9800 G6
Operating weight: 800–810 tonnes
Engine power: 2x 1,492 kW/2,000 hp
Shovel capacity: 42 m
Backhoe capacity: 47.5 m
Explosive force: 2,395 kN
Developed for large-scale operations, the Liebherr R9800 is the world’s fourth largest hydraulic excavator, weighing 810 tonnes. The R9800 excavator is essentially paired with the T 264 and T 284 Liebherr mining trucks to maximize their productivity. It can be equipped with a diesel engine or an electric drive version with a maximum power of 2,984 kW/4,000 HP. The backhoe has a digging force of 1,760 kN. The R9800 is equipped with the Litronic Plus power management system, which provides electronic control of different machine functions.
- Hitachi EX8000-6
Operating weight: 825–837 tonnes
Engine power: 2x 1,450 kW/1,944 hp
Shovel capacity: 40 m
Backhoe capacity: 43 m
Explosive force: 2,230 kN
Introduced in 2012, the EX8000-6 is Hitachi’s largest mining excavator and the third largest in the world, weighing 837 tonnes. It can be equipped with a 40-cubic-meter loading shovel or a 43-cubic-meter backhoe bucket, which are designed to load Hitachi EH4000AC-3 dump trucks or the largest Hitachi dump truck, the EH5000AC-3. The EX8000-6 is equipped with two Cummins QSK60C engines, each rated at 1,450 kW/1,944 HP, with a maximum digging depth of 13.8 m and a digging force of 2,230 kN.
- Bucyrus RH400/Terex O&K RH 400
Operating weight: 980 tonnes
Engine power: 2x 1,680 kW/2,250 hp
Shovel capacity: 50 m
Explosive force: 2,400 kN
The RH 400 is currently the second largest hydraulic excavator in the world. This behemoth was first launched in Germany in 1997 as the Terex RH 400. Just one year later, Terex acquired O&K Mining and added its company name to the model name. However, Terex sold its mining division to Bucyrus in 2010 and renamed the model the Bucyrus RH 400. The excavator is capable of shoveling around 9,900 tons of material per hour, setting a new world record for hydraulic mining excavators. The 50 m bucket is over 6 m wide and weighs 84 tons, with a single bucket that can hold 85 tons of material, easily filling any mining truck for 3-5 passes. The RH 400 is powered by two engines with a total power of 3,360 kW/4,500 HP, it requires 6 car batteries to start the engines at full power, and has a travel speed of 2.2 km/h.
- Caterpillar 6090 FS
Operating weight: 1,000 tons
Engine power: 2x 1,680 kW/2,250 HP
Shovel capacity: 52 m
Explosive force: 2,400 kN
The largest excavator in the world today is the Caterpillar 6090 FS. The excavator is based on the Bucyrus RH400 design, as Bucyrus was acquired by Caterpillar in 2011, expanding its mining division. The 6090 FS features more durable components, a hardened undercarriage, enhanced oil flow system and hydraulic system, better customer service support, night shift LED work lights, and innovative onboard electronics. It weighs an incredible 1,000 tons. This giant is equipped with two Cummins QSK60 engines with a total rated power of 3,360 kW/4,500 HP. The 52m forklift has a payload of 93.6 tonnes and can load the largest Caterpillar dump truck, the 797F, in just four passes.
