Çelikler Holding has purchased a Hitachi EX2600-6 electric mining excavator supplied by ENKA Marketing for use in its thermal power plant in Kahramanmaraş. The company's preference for this choice stems from ENKA Marketing's post-sales support and the efficiency, low cost, low maintenance periods, minimal breakdowns, and high performance features offered by Hitachi machines. Ferit Çelik, the Operations Manager of Afşin Elbistan Lignite Operation of Çelikler Holding, responded to our questions regarding both the machines and coal production.
Firstly, could you share the responsibilities and roles you undertake at Çelikler Holding?
For 22 years, I have been serving as a mining engineer and manager within Çelikler Holding. Since 2020, I have been serving as the Mining Operations Manager at Afşin-Elbistan Lignite Operation. My responsibilities include the organization, management, efficiency, economy, sustainability, and adaptation to evolving technology of the open-pit mining field.
Why did you choose electric construction machinery, especially the Hitachi EX2600-6 electric mining excavator, for your production site?
As you know, due to the advancement in technological opportunities and industrialization, the carbon emissions of vehicles using fossil fuels have increased, leading to air pollution and depletion of natural resources to a degree harmful to the world's vital cycle. Fossil fuels, which fall into the category of depleting energy sources, are both more expensive and harmful to the environment. Therefore, the use of vehicles with electric motors, rather than those powered by fossil fuels, has started to be preferred. Within Çelikler Holding, we are carrying out our plans to transition our machinery fleet from fossil fuel vehicles to electric vehicles due to reasons such as adaptation to technological innovations, our environmental sensitivity, low cost, and short maintenance periods. As part of this plan, we examined the most suitable and experienced global firms and ultimately decided on Hitachi electric construction machinery. The Hitachi EX2600-6 electric excavator was chosen to adapt to technological developments, sustain the efficiency, economy, and technological advancements of our mining site, and increase our production volumes.
Could you evaluate the EX2600-6 model in terms of power, performance, and operational capacity?
We can cite many reasons, such as the comfort of the operator cabin, the wide field of vision, the confidence it gives to operators by facilitating the workplace through its powerful hydraulic motors, and its high maneuverability. We have already received extremely positive feedback from our operators, stating that the cabin is comfortable, the machine instills confidence in them through its powerful hydraulics and motors, facilitates their work, and has high maneuverability. Similarly, our maintenance team has provided positive feedback due to the machines having fewer breakdowns and shorter maintenance periods, as they do not have internal combustion engines.
Do you have any specific reasons for choosing Hitachi?
Being free from the disadvantages of internal combustion engines, the absence of air-oil filters, minimizing overheating (heat) issues, their short and easy maintenance periods, their economy, and the proven performance of Hitachi construction machinery in the mining sector.
Could you share your views on ENKA Marketing's sales and after-sales service process? Are you considering working with ENKA Marketing and Hitachi in your future investments?
ENKA Marketing employees accelerated our on-site adaptation with the new electric excavators through their technical support, ease of communication, accuracy of information provided, and reassuring approach in both pre-sales and after-sales processes. ENKA Marketing's approach during the Hitachi EX2600 purchase process has always been solution-oriented. Due to both the company's approach and the compatibility of Hitachi products with our mining sites, in the future, our first choice for revising/expanding our machinery fleet will be ENKA Marketing and Hitachi.
What is your view on the future of coal mining?
The International Energy Agency predicts that coal will maintain its decisive position in the world's energy composition for at least the next 20 years. Accordingly, in the International Energy Agency's "Current Policies Scenario," the increase rates for energy sources during the period of 2018-2040 will be; coal by 17.2%; natural gas by 48.1%; oil by 25%; nuclear by 32.2%; and others by 63.5%.
What are the reasons for choosing the Hitachi brand?
– Being a global brand
– Ease of finding spare parts
– Low breakdown/maintenance time. High operating time
– Instilling confidence
– Economy
– All Hitachi products are known for reliability, performance, and cost efficiency in their own special applications and carry international quality assurance.
Anything else you would like to add?
We would like to thank the ENKA Marketing employees of Çelikler Holding for their support during the purchase, installation, and adaptation of electric excavators to our mining site, both in pre-sales and after-sales. We hope to collaborate again on future projects.
Hitachi EX2600-6
Operating Weight: 249,000 kg
Bucket Capacity: 16.50 m³
Engine: Cummins QSKTA50-CE
Engine Power: 1,400 HP/1800 rpm
Hydraulic Capacity: 2,350 L/min
Arm Breakout Force: 84,100 kgf
Bucket Breakout Force: 84,800 kgf
