Imagine breaking a world record within your full first month of work. Well, our R 9600 did just that for Thiess at Mount Pleasant Operation in New South Wales, Australia. The 600-tonne excavator went to work on 17 June 2025 and during the next month it moved an incredible 1.71 million bank cubic metres of material!

This remarkable achievement broke the site’s previous record of 1.64 mbcm (million bank cubic metres), which was set in May 2023 by another R 9600 in the Mount Pleasant Operation fleet, and is a powerful demonstration of what’s possible when people, processes and technology work together.

‘The team’s ability to move that kind of volume with this class of machine shows that everyone was really taking our motto, “manage the minutes, because minutes matter and seconds count”, to heart,’ says Ryan Fox, project manager, Mount Pleasant Operation. ‘We all work to get the absolute maximum performance out of our machines and so this outcome showcases what both this machine and our people are capable of.’

According to Liebherr-Australia Pty. Ltd.’s application engineering team, this accomplishment far exceeds the amount of material 600-tonne excavators usually move in these kinds of operations.

‘Achieving 1.71 mbcm in a single month is a testament to what’s possible when the R 9600 and onsite teams are operating at their best,’ explains Harvey Konya, application engineer, Liebherr-Australia. ‘For context, moving around 1 mbcm in a month already exceeds what’s considered an exceptional result for this excavator class. This performance sets a new target for the 600-tonne-class units in mining, demonstrating the R 9600’s productivity potential and what can be achieved with correct work area setup, excellent truck match and complete alignment across operational teams.’

Teamwork drives results

This remarkable figure was celebrated as a full team success across Mount Pleasant Operation. From operators and maintenance crews to drill and blast, planning and dispatch, every link in the chain contributed to the record-breaking month. Engineers from the planning and drill and blast teams designed consistent dig benches and dump areas to optimise cycle times, while supervisors and support crews ensured the operation ran smoothly.

‘Every part of the operation affects the others. The systems we’ve built behind the scenes are what keep us consistent and productive,’ continues Fox.

Liebherr-Australia’s dedicated customer support teams have also played an important role in achieving these impressive results.

‘Our talented customer support teams visit Mount Pleasant Operation regularly and make the most of every opportunity to get hands on with the machines, solving technical issues when required.
Their commitment and proactive approach have been incredibly valuable to Thiess for obtaining these milestones,’ says Anthony Sharpe, customer support manager, Liebherr-Australia.

In the same month, Mount Pleasant Operation also marked 12 months without a lost-time injury – an achievement Fox says goes hand in hand with production success.

‘Safety and performance aren’t separate,’ he explains. ‘They’re part of the same conversation. Our crews operate within our procedures and expectations every day. That’s how we deliver safely, consistently and effectively.’

The R 9600 itself, Liebherr’s flagship 600-tonne mining excavator, also contributed to the incredible safety performance at Mount Pleasant Operation. Its advanced onboard assistance technology, camera visibility systems and safety and serviceability enhancements all help operators to work productively while maintaining safe practices.

‘Our machines are designed to deliver a balance of safety, efficiency and performance and these standout productivity and safety figures at Mount Pleasant Operation are a true reflection of that,’ says Sharpe.

The machine behind the milestone

This R 9600 has quickly proven itself a powerhouse in Thiess’ fleet. In total, it has moved 9 mbcm from the date it hit dirt in June 2025 to 1 January 2026; a remarkable result that puts the machine in a great position to achieve truly incredible productivity in its first 12 months on the job. But both Thiess and Liebherr-Australia know that it will take hard work and dedication to keep the momentum going.

Luke Crowther, an experienced R 9600 operator at Mount Pleasant Operation, isn’t worried. He describes the
R 9600 as balanced, powerful, beautiful and the best excavator he’s used in 25 years.

‘It’s a beautiful cab, spacious and comfortable, with everything right at your fingertips,’ Crowther says. ‘When you’re in a big production push, efficiency comes easy in the R 9600.’

Reliability also played a major role in moving the 1.71 mbcm, with availability maintained at an impressive 97% throughout June 2025. Maintenance team members on site, Hannah and Cody Legg, attribute that performance to preventative maintenance, open communication with operators and careful alignment between maintenance and production.

‘Every site does maintenance, but we do it better,’ says Hannah Legg. ‘Our maintenance windows are short but efficient, and we’re constantly monitoring data from the machine to prevent issues before they happen.’

‘Plus, we have extensive experience with Liebherr’s 600-tonne excavators,’ adds Cody Legg. ‘Before the R 9600s arrived, we had R 996s on site. Our previous experience, combined with the R 9600’s easy-to-maintain design and our team’s attitude of treating each machine as their own, really helped to keep this machine running at its full potential.’

In addition to Liebherr-Australia’s ongoing customer support, the sales and service company’s ability to provide timely parts deliveries when required also contributed to the success of this R 9600.

‘Back in 2023, our parts department transitioned to a 24/7 service model that has greatly contributed to our efficiency, allowing us to improve turnaround times on parts supply and better meet the needs of our customers,’ says Sharpe. ‘In fact, our DIFOT [delivered in full on time] rate achieved on average across all customers in 2025 was 93%, which ensured that downtime events last year were kept to a minimum.’

Looking ahead

For the Mount Pleasant team, this 1.71 mbcm is both a celebration and a benchmark for what’s next.

‘We’re proud of what the team and this particular R 9600 have accomplished, but we know there’s still more potential to unlock,’ says Fox. ‘Today’s record is tomorrow’s target. We know 1.8 mbcm in a month is possible – and that’s what we’re aiming for next.’

Milestones like this reflect more than a single month of incredible productivity. They highlight a culture built on teamwork, innovation and passion for mining excellence, as well as the impact of a productive machine.

‘At the end of the day, we just want to deliver for our client and have fun doing it,’ says Fox. ‘This was a remarkable result from Thiess and from our R 9600,’ says Sharpe. ‘We’re excited to work alongside Thiess and support them in achieving more results like this with our machines in the future.’

Published April 2026