Caterpillar Hydraulic Mining Shovels

By Rob Sinclair

Caterpillar entered the large hydraulic mining shovel market with its first 5000-Series model, the 5130 in 1992. Subsequent models followed and a 430-tonne class 5430 was planned. However, despite the improved 5130B and 5230B, Caterpillar chose to end production of the 5110B to 5230B. Caterpillar's 375 and 385B backhoes, and 5080 and 5090B face shovels, while not true mining class models, did undertake mining applications. Furthermore, the 375/5080 marked a new beginning for the company having replaced its own-designed 245D, which had been their largest model available for mining customers.

After deciding not to build its own designed 5100 to 5800 range, Caterpillar's second entry into the hydraulic mining shovel industry came in 2011, when it completed its acquisition of Bucyrus International. A primary reason was to acquire the RH40-E to RH400 range of O&K mining excavators, branding these models the Caterpillar 6015 to 6090. In addition, the Bucyrus-designed 6120B H FS, the largest hydraulic mining shovel prototype built to date.

Ex-Dortmund employee Rob Sinclair describes in technical detail the 245 to 5230B, and the 6015B and 6020B which replaced the 6015 and 6018. In addition, updates installed on the 6015 to 6090 up until 2021, which saw the end of machine production at the Dortmund factory, are also included. Richly illustrated with many of his own photographs, this book also features other previously unpublished images from the time.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1398127841
• ISBN13: 9781398127845
• Release Date: November 2026
• Publisher: Amberley Publishing
• Length: 96 Pages