Global mining services provider Thiess has set a world record for the highest material moved over 12 months by a Liebherr R 9600 excavator, achieving 17 million bank cubic metres across 6,840 operating hours at MACH Energy’s Mount Pleasant Operation in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia.
The result builds on a record monthly production benchmark established after the excavator was put to work on July 1, 2025.
Thiess Group Executive Australia East Rae O’Brien said, “The result reflects the capability and collaboration of teams across operations, maintenance, technical services, and planning.
“Achieving a world record of this scale requires consistent execution over time. It highlights the value of strong partnerships, disciplined planning, and a relentless focus on performance, as well as the capability of our people and fleet, in delivering for our client.”
The result was driven by high utilization, sustained machine hours, and a strong focus on productivity. Teams worked together to minimise downtime, optimise fleet performance, and maintain consistent output over 12 months.
A massive amount of planning went into the world record
The maintenance team ensured fleet reliability, the technical services team provided the planning and pathing for the operation, and the operations team optimized dig sequences and haulage, enabling sustained high-volume production.
This performance was delivered alongside a strong safety record, with the team also achieving 745 days LTI-free, reinforcing its commitment to both safe and productive outcomes.
Thiess Mount Pleasant Operation Project Manager Ryan Fox said, “The achievement was built on disciplined execution. We challenged ourselves to have a ‘be better’ mindset every day, looking for ways to work smarter, safer, and more efficiently. The commitment to continuous improvement was key to achieving this result.”
He added that, “the team’s ability to move this volume shows how seriously we take our motto: manage the minutes, because minutes matter and seconds count. We strive for optimal performance every shift, and this result shows what our people and machines can achieve together.”
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