The nearly 2-million-pound PC9000 gets the largest bucket capacity, longest reach and highest digging power in the Komatsu PC excavator lineup.
Komatsu
Komatsu’s largest-ever hydraulic excavator, the PC9000-12, has been launched on the worldwide market, including North America, after its first model arrived in Canada last year.
The nearly 2-million-pound behemoth gets the largest bucket capacity, longest reach and highest digging power in the Komatsu PC lineup. With a payload of more than 80 tons per pass, it can load a 400-ton-payload Komatsu 980E rigid-frame dump truck in less than 3 minutes, the company says.
That means it can deliver about 8,000 tons per hour.
(To watch the PC9000 in action, check out the video at the end of this story.)
The first PC9000 was put into use at Suncor’s oil sands mine in Alberta in May 2025. It was built by Komatsu in Germany and shipped to Canadian Komatsu dealer SMS Equipment in 31 sections, taking an 8,700-mile journey over ocean, river and road. It took six weeks to assemble the excavator at the mine.
“Our team has already gained valuable hands-on experience with the PC9000, and we’re looking forward to helping customers successfully integrate the machine into their operations to get the most out of its capabilities,” says Dennis Chmielewski, executive vice president of mining at SMS Equipment.
Komatsu advises customers to check with their Komatsu dealers for details.
Komatsu PC9000-12 Excavator Specs
The PC9000 is based on the PC8000, formerly Komatsu’s largest hydraulic excavator. The PC9000 weighs about 145 tons more than the PC8000.
Here are some more specs on the big digger, which can be configured as front shovel or backhoe:
(Note: The first measurement amount is for shovel and the second for backhoe configuration.)
Operating weight: 974-988 U.S. tons
Bucket capacity: 60 - 64 yd3
Engines: 2 Komatsu 2,250-hp Tier 4 Final diesels
Boom length: 27’ – 38’
Stick length: 19’ – 18’
Breakout force: 538,417 – 476,594 lbf
Max dump height: 43’ 10”
Max dig depth: 10’ 10”
Max dig reach: 61’ 4”
Key Features
Komatsu views the PC9000 as shaping the future of mining by its ability to “move more material while lowering overall cost per ton.”
The company cites the excavator’s ability to be powered by a diesel or electric drive. It can provide double-sided truck loading with its short tail swing and long reach. It can also be integrated with Komatsu’s FrontRunner Autonomous Haulage Systems for its mining trucks.
Other features, according to Komatsu, include:
Redesigned hydraulics and advanced cooling that deliver cycle times of under 30 seconds per pass.
Slew ring with 60,000-hour life span.
Hydraulic filters with 2,000-hour service interval.
Variable swing motors that deliver a higher swing torque, faster swing speeds and shorter cycle times while maintaining fuel economy.
Larger fuel tank enables 25 hours of operation before refill.
New left-side access door for quick and safe evacuation.
Ergonomic seat with adjustable joysticks and armrests.
Side-by-side operator trainer seat.
Dual-zone climate control.
Noise level inside the cabin reduced to 71 dB(A).
Advanced air quality system that reduces dust exposure.
KomVision 360-degree bird’s eye camera views.
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