13.6-Million-Pound Dragline Lift Using Power Team Hydraulics

A mine operator required a custom-engineered hydraulic system to support maintenance of a six-story-high Marion 8750 dragline weighing 13.6 million pounds. The project demanded precise positioning, stable load control, and reliable performance throughout an extended maintenance operation. 

The dragline maintenance project involved 92 days of round-the-clock work and more than 100 skilled technicians. The team needed to move and position massive components, maintain machining tolerances, protect personnel, and avoid hydraulic system failure under extreme loads. 

Power Team supplied a coordinated heavy-lift system using RD5006 hydraulic cylinders and PE184 electric pumps. Four 500-ton rams provided the initial separation, followed by a distributed 17-cylinder configuration in which each cylinder had its own pump. A centralized control panel with individual pressure gauges allowed one operator to manage the 8,500-ton lifting system. Pilot-operated check valves provided stable, fail-safe load control. 

The dragline was lifted, repositioned, and aligned successfully throughout the maintenance operation. The hydraulic system maintained precise and stable control without a single component failure, supporting safe execution and accurate positioning of the rotating structure.