Haulpak

The WABCO Haulpak off highway truck line was a very successful range of mining trucks that were the predecessors to the current Komatsu off highway trucks. The origins of the Haulpak line began with the purchase of R.G. Letourneau's construction machinery business in 1953. WABCO had traditionally been a manufacturer of railway air-brake systems, but ventured into construction machinery with the purchase of LeRoi air tools and industrial drills in 1952. The subsequent purchase of R.G. Letourneau's construction machinery line gave Wabco a comprehensive range of machinery including Scrapers, Rubber tyred dozers and other attachments. WABCO subsequently added motor graders to their product line by purchasing J.D. Adams in 1955 and thereafter front end loaders, with the purchase of Scoopmobile. WABCO recognised the importance of the off-highway Truck market and hired Mr Ralph Kress to design a line of haultrucks in-house. Kress incorporated many new design features which were trend setting and eventually Caterpillar was to offer him a position designing their range of Haulers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_H._Kress

The Haulpak line of mining and quarry trucks was the best performing sector for WABCO for the entire time they owned it and eventually the scrapers, wheel dozers, graders and front end loaders would be discontinued from the WABCO catalogue. In 1968 WABCO had become part of American Standard Company (known for bathroom fittings) and then again it would become part of Dresser Industries in 1984. After a Dresser Komatsu joint venture (KDC) in 1988 was formed, the Haulpak truck line was again (partly) under new ownership, although by 1994 Komatsu had purchase all remaining shares of KDC making it a wholly owned subsidiary. The Haulpak name was quietly discontinued around 1998-9 and the new trucks were then known as Komatsu machines.

While the smaller Komatsu Haul Trucks are distinctly Japanese in design, the current line of larger trucks can trace their heritage back to American Haulpak design roots.

Truck Models

• 35, 35C
• 45, 50, 50B
• 60, 60B
• 65, 65B
• 65E
• 75A, 75B, 75C
• 85C, 85D—Became 325M
• 100—Became 385M
• 120A, 120B, 120C, 120D—Became 445E
• 140CM, 140DM—Became 510E, 530M, 1500-5, 1500-7
• 150B, 150C
• 170C, 170D
• 190—Became 630E (Not a direct replacement)
• 3200, 3200B
• 685E—Became 730E (Not a direct replacement)
• 780 (Concept) --Became 830E (The best selling 240 tonne class truck ever)
• 860E
• 930E
• 960E

See also

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haul_truck
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westinghouse_Air_Brake_Company
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Standard_Brands

References

Orlemann, Eric. C, "Haulpak and Lectra Haul" The World's Greatest Off-Highway Earthmoving Trucks", Iconografic, Winsconsin, USA, 2012 http://www.amazon.ca/Haulpak-Lectra-Haul-Mining-Quarry/dp/1583882928