Komatsu’s Largest Hydraulic Excavator Arrives In Canada
The PC9000 has been delivered to Suncor’s Fort Hills mine, marking a milestone in ultra-class mining equipment deployment
The Komatsu PC9000 has officially arrived at its final destination. After months of anticipation and a closely followed international journey from Düsseldorf, Germany, the first model of Komatsu’s largest hydraulic mining excavator was unveiled on May 1, 2025, during a handover ceremony at Suncor’s Fort Hills mine in Alberta, Canada.
With a total machine weight of approximately 900 tonnes, the PC9000 now stands as the largest hydraulic excavator in Komatsu’s portfolio and one of the most substantial hydraulic shovels in the 900-tonne class currently available on the global market.
A Machine Built For Large-Scale Efficiency
Designed for high-production environments, the PC9000 is engineered as a five-pass match for Komatsu’s 980E ultra-class haul trucks. This pairing enables efficient double-sided loading to support Autonomous Haulage Systems (AHS), a growing trend in high-volume mining operations. The extended reach, higher digging forces, and oversized bucket accelerate cycle times and reduce cost-per-tonne metrics, critical performance indicators in oil sands mining.
Suncor’s Fort Hills site will be the first operation globally to put the PC9000 to work. A second unit is scheduled to arrive in July, with additional machines expected in 2026.
The Collaboration Behind The Design
The PC9000 was developed by Komatsu Germany Mining Division (KGM) with direct input from distributors and mining operators. SMS Equipment, Komatsu’s Canadian distributor and long-time partner in mining innovation, played a key role in facilitating communication between KGM and field operators. The resulting machine reflects evolving performance demands and operational needs with enhanced digging capabilities and a redesigned operator cab.
“This new class of hydraulic mining excavator raises the bar for productivity, efficiency and performance,” said Ansgar Thole, president and managing director of Komatsu Germany GmbH, at the handover event. “It stands as the embodiment of an extraordinary partnership between KGM, SMS Equipment, and Suncor.”
That collaboration is decades in the making. The three companies previously worked together to introduce several firsts to Canadian mining, including the PC7000 front shovel, the 980E haul truck, and the country’s first AHS.
Fit For The Oil Sands Environment
Defined by abrasive materials, extreme weather, and the sheer volume of material moved each day, the Alberta oil sands are one of the most demanding environments in global mining. The PC9000 has been designed with those factors in mind. In addition to its digging and loading capabilities, it features a redesigned hydraulic system aimed at reducing energy consumption and emissions, aligning with the evolving priorities of sustainability and operational efficiency.
Suncor, one of Canada’s leading integrated energy companies, sees the PC9000 as a strategic investment.
“The tangible value the shovel offers to our mining operations made our decision to invest in the PC9000 clear,” said Peter Zebedee, Suncor’s executive vice-president of oil sands.
What Comes Next?
Now that the handover has taken place, the PC9000 will begin work in one of the largest surface mining operations in North America. The industry will be watching closely to assess its performance in the field.
For heavy equipment enthusiasts and mining professionals, the PC9000 represents more than a new model. It’s a signal of where surface mining technology is headed: toward bigger machines, better integration with autonomous systems, and smarter, more collaborative design processes. As deployment continues and additional units arrive, updates on the PC9000’s real-world performance are expected to follow.
Source: https://www.heavyequipmentguide.ca/article/43222/komatsus-largest-hydraulic-excavator-arrives-in-canada
