The market for wide body trucks in mining is growing rapidly around the world, but especially in markets like Brazil, South Africa, Central Asia and Indonesia where they can outcompete smaller rigid trucks or ADTs on price – but also deliver solid performance with ease of maintenance plus options for already well proven new energy variants including battery electric, hybrid and even alternative fuels like methanol.
In addition, the market is completely dominated by Chinese OEMs like Tonly, LGMG, SANY, XCMG, Sinotruk, LiuGong, Zoomlion and others who also have established relationships with the leading suppliers of OEM-agnostic autonomous haulage systems in China – including EACON and CiDi. There are coal mines in China’s Xinjiang Province with over 500 autonomous wide body trucks running at just one operation.
Caterpillar was already in the market through its ownership of SEM Machinery, based in Qingzhou City, Shandong which produces the 60 t 3090F and 75 t class 3110F models for the Chinese market – but also now the 707 for the global market which has a 60 t payload and is rebuilt to have a second life, bringing the rebuild concept into the wide body truck space. The 707 recently saw deliveries via dealer Barloworld to a mining customer in the Northern Cape in South Africa.
Now Komatsu has joined the wide body truck movement – but taking a slightly different track in initially focusing on the Indonesian market working with PT United Tractors Tbk, its long time distributor. Komatsu has already had manufacturing in Indonesia for decades – it recently opened a new 15,000 m2 factory in Cibitung, Bekasi, West Java. The facility will focus on larger hydraulic excavators, complementing Komatsu’s existing operations in Cibitung, Cilincing, and Cikarang.
The new Komatsu HW70 has a 70 t payload. The first five HW70 units were delivered this month to mining contractor PT Riung Mitra Lestari, to the Borneo Prima project site in Central Kalimantan. IM understands that the HW70 is being produced by Komatsu Indonesia in Cilincing, where rigid HD465 and HD785 rigid trucks are also produced. United Tractors is the distributor for all these trucks, but also offers Scania and Quester heavy duty tipper trucks plus a range of other equipment including Komatsu excavators, graders, dozers and wheel loaders.
In more detail, the HW70 has an automatic transmission, 6 x 4 wheel configuration and electronically controlled engine, which Komatsu says makes it easy to operate and highly efficient. Integrated automation and information technology further enhance mining equipment management efficiency and overall operational performance, it says.
It combines “a reliable yet lightweight design, offering longer service life, lower transportation costs and reduced operating expenses.” A reinforced truck body structure provides strong impact resistance, while specially designed 16.00R25 sized tyres use longitudinal and transverse grooves to improve traction, operational viability and achieve optimal load distribution during mining use.
The suspension has multi stage damping to improve driving comfort, complemented by a reliable rear leaf spring system. It has a three stage air filtration system plus full hydraulic steering. A protective frame design combines an anti collision beam, bumper and strong structure to enhance operator protection. It has a full air brake system with hydraulic retarder. The HW70 has a max speed of 43 km/h and ground clearance of 400 mm with an overall length of 10 m and width of 3.75 m. The key components are Chinese – a Weichai 6 cylinder engine and FAST transmission, with Allison available as an option.
The HW70 rollout comes at an interesting time for mining trucks in Indonesia – a mandatory B50 biodiesel program was introduced in July 2026 as part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions and strengthen national energy security. This is a 50% palm oil/50% diesel fuel blend that all trucks now have to be able to use. A 3% to 5% increase in mine operating costs has been anticipated due to necessary equipment modifications for existing equipment though all new Komatsu equipment sold by United Tractors can use B50.
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