The purchase price of a vehicle is important, but the impact on higher productivity and savings in fuel, oils and tyres are directly resulting in a lower price per hour or ton. ETF's technical features are generating enormous cost savings. All the economic factors are described below:

1. 12 % higher production without increased capital investment
2. 25 % saving in power costs
3. 47 % saving in tyre costs
4. 95 % technical availability

12 % higher production without increased capital investment:

Under tropical and arctic circumstances the fact that ETF has all-wheel-power generates approx. 8 percent higher production. This is due to the fact that ETF trucks can continue operation when it is slippery. In the tropics approx. 8 % of the working time is lost because of rain. In the artics the lost time for snow is roughly the same. Because each and every mine is different it is very difficult for us to calculate a value on the production gain, but it is by far the most important feature ETF trucks will offer. Besides the increase of revenues of higher production levels also the other equipment costs have to be calculated. The loading equipment is also not producing when it rains or snows with the use of current large haul trucks. This is an important cost factor too.

25 % saving in power costs:

The fuel bill for mine owners is considerably increasing because of the higher crude oil prices worldwide. ETF's creative engine power makes this saving possible. In stead of one large engine, ETF trucks are equipped with four smaller engines. One engine is running when the truck is empty, which is approx. 50 % of the working time. Two or three engines are working when the truck is loaded, the fourth engine comes in when a loaded vehicle have to climb hills. Cost of overhauls are also considerably lower. In the graphic below you'll see the value of these savings in Euros.

47 % saving in tyre costs:

Tyres are with fuel the most important running costs of mining vehicles. Because of the axle configuration and the All-Wheel-Steering feature of ETF, considerable tyre cost savings are achieved. During empty haulage half of the wheels of the vehicle are lifted. This is approx. 50% of the working time of trucks in mining and construction projects. The axle lifting is also contributing to the enormous tyre savings.

In the grapic below you'll see the value of this saving in Euros.

95 % technical availability:

ETF designed its trucks with the eyes of the mechanic who has to work on it. In practice this means that in each and every technical item the engineers have studied the way repair and maintenance have to be carried out. ETF calls this the Formula One Pit Stop approach. A general rule is that when a technical item needs repair or maintenance and this takes longer than 20 minutes, the item will be exchanged. Therefore the four engines are mounted on a separate roll-out frame to enable fast engine exchange. (15 minutes)

All axles are constructed for fast exchange; within 45 minutes a complete axle is changed. A tyre change is done within 15 minutes!

ETF guarantees 95 % Technical Availability !  (and this is including the time for tyre changes)  This means approx. 10 % less trucks needed!

How much money this higher technical availability will save can only be calculated by the mine owners themselves, but we are sure that it is a considerable amount of money.

Lighter road construction

Due to the special axle construction of the ETF trucks, the mine roads can be lighter constructed. The total vehicle weight is equally spread over 20 tyres instead of the 6 tyres of current large haul trucks. This result in a considerable lower ground pressure and this enables the use of lighter constructed roads. A considerable cost reduction for mine owners.

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