Global mining services provider Thiess says it has set a new world record for the most material moved in a 12-month period by a Liebherr R 9600 excavator, clocking 17 million bank cubic meters in 6,840 operating hours.
The feat was completed at Mach Energy’s Mount Pleasant Operation in Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia from July 2025 to June 2026.
The results build on an ambitious monthly production mark established for the 600-metric-ton excavator, with Thiess Group Executive Australia East Rae O’Brien commenting: “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.”
To watch the excavator in action at the mining site, check out the video from Thiess below:
The R 9600 has a bucket capacity of 49.1 cubic yards and a shovel capacity of 48.4 cubic yards. The massive digger is powered by two Cummins diesel engines totaling 3,350-horsepower. An e-drive alternative is also available, using electric motors for an emissions-free and low-noise jobsite.
Powered byLiebherr’s proprietary engine and hydraulic management system uses only the power and hydraulic flow necessary for the task, resulting in up to 20% less fuel consumption and increased component life, the company says.
The R 9600 can load Liebherr’s 240-metric-ton T 264 mining truck in 4-5 passes.
Thiess says the record was driven by high utilization, sustained machine hours and a strong focus on productivity, with teams working to maintain consistent high-volume production over the 12-month period. 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.
In addition, the team also achieved a notable safety milestone during the project, recording 745 days lost-time-injury-free.
Thiess Mount Pleasant Operation Project Manager Ryan Fox added: “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.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.”
