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Unit Rig

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Morgan Riley (talk | contribs) at 15:00, 11 March 2013 (removed Category:Dump trucks; added Category:Haul trucks using HotCat). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Lectra Haul (M200) giant mining truck in Asbestos, Quebec

Unit Rig was a manufacturer of haul trucks, sold under the brand name Lectra Haul.

History

Unit Rig was founded in 1935 by Hugh S. Chancey and two partners, Jerry R. Underwood and William C. Guier, who formed a partnership to build a rotary drill rig for oil field work that was more mobile than existing designs. The group based the company in Tulsa, Oklahoma. By 1947, the partnership between the men was beginning to break down when Underwood died, leaving Chancey and Guier as the remaining partners. Guier eventually took control of Unit Rig and in 1951 sold it to Kenneth W. Davis, who already had several oil-field related businesses under the parent company name of Kendavis Industries International.

During the 1950s, Unit Rig began to diversify its products away from the limited oil-field products and looked towards mining products to utilize their manufacturing facilities. R. G. LeTourneau had already adapted compact electric drive wheels to construction machinery with great success, causing Unit Rig to investigate the possibility of building a truck and finding a suitable client to take the finished machine.

By 1960, the M-64 prototype truck was completed using General Electric drive systems and featuring special Goodyear low-pressure tires for the suspension. This truck was not a success; however, Unit Rig went on to be a very successful maker of off-highway dump trucks sold under the brand name of Lectra Haul (due to their electric drive system).

Lectra Haul was eventually sold to Terex then to Bucyrus Erie, who were taken over by Caterpillar Inc. around June 2011. Some Lectra Haul trucks are still sold alongside Caterpillar's own trucks but are branded as Unit Rig.

Products

Early models

  • M64
  • M85
  • M100
  • M120
  • M200 (The first 200 tonne capacity truck with two axles)

Second generation

  • MK24
  • MK30--Became--MT3000
  • MK33--Became--MT3300
  • MK36
  • MT1900--upgraded--MT2050--upgraded-- MT2120--Became MT4000

Third generation (Square appearance)

  • MT3000
  • MT3300
  • MT3600
  • MT3700
  • MT4000

Fourth generation (Rounded appearance)

Sold as Lectra Haul, Terex, Bucyrus and now badged Unit Rig under Caterpillar ownership

  • MT2700
  • MT3000
  • MT3300
  • MT3600
  • MT3700
  • MT4400
  • MT5500
  • Bucyrus MT6300AC(400 TON CLASS TRUCK)

Coal Haulers

  • BD145--Became--BD30 Unitized bottom dump hauler
  • BD160
  • BD180
  • BD240/270

See also

References

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