Belarusian heavy vehicle specialist Belaz has won this year’s Swedish Steel Prize for the innovative use of high strength steel in the world’s largest dump truck.
Using high-strength steel, the mining vehicle can achieve 20 per cent more payload than a conventional truck while still minimising fuel consumption. Reportedly, the material was especially useful in the design of the axle suspension and slewing bearings.
“The new construction takes full advantage of the properties of high-strength steel,” said Gregoire Parenty, Chairman of the jury and Executive Vice President and Head of Market Development SSAB.
“Belaz has boldly gone beyond the boundaries of what has earlier been considered possible using available technology.”
Traditionally awarded in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, the Swedish Steel Prize was established by local steel company SSAB in 1999 to inspire and disseminate knowledge about high strength steel and how it can be used to develop stronger, lighter and more sustainable products.