by Nick Drew | Fri 06 Nov 2026
Caterpillar Hydraulic Mining Shovels
Our good friend and mining excavator specialist Rob Sinclair is back with yet another book featuring a detailed and technical account of Caterpillar hydraulic mining shovels from 1992 until the closure of the Dortmund factory.
Like so many of us, Rob has had a life long love of excavators, which for him, started at the tender age of 4. He’s had a particular fascination with the old Swedish Åkerman H-Series range and Caterpillar’s 200-Series, in addition to old long gone British manufacturers such as Priestman and Hymac, and JCB who are stronger than ever in the market.
Rob has previously worked for earthmoving specialists C.J Pryor, Volvo Construction Equipment and Caterpillar Global Mining in Dortmund, where he was a service engineer for the RH200/6050. Now retired Rob continues to write books on the mining excavator world, drawing on his many years of “hands-on” experience to offer expert insight on the products.
Caterpillar entered the hydraulic mining shovel market with its first 5000-series model, the 5130, in 1992. Subsequent models followed and a 430-tonne class 5430 was planned, however, despite notable product improvements to in particular the 5130B, Caterpillar decided to end production of the 5110B to 5230B. The 5080 and 5090B were face shovel versions of the 375 and 385B and were therefore 300-series models with 5000-series nomenclature but are included here to represent the full range of 5000-series models.
After deciding not to build its own designed 5100 to 5800 range, Caterpillar’s second entry into the hydraulic mining shovel industry came in July 2011, when it completed its acquisition of Bucyrus.
A primary reason was to acquire the Dortmund-designed and produced RH40-E to RH400 range of legendary O&K mining excavators, subsequently designating these machines the 6015 to 6090. In addition, the Bucyrus-designed 6120B, the largest ever built hydraulic mining shovel prototype, also became a Caterpillar product.
Ex-Dortmund employee Rob Sinclair describes these machines in technical detail, such as Caterpillar’s design changes to the 6015 to 6090, including NPI (New Product Introduction) to the 6020B, 6030, 6040 and 6060, and the Caterpillar-designed 6015B, up until the closure of the Dortmund factory.
Richly illustrated with his own photographs, this book also features other previously unpublished images from the time.
Published by Amberley Publishing, the book contains 96 pages with 100 images, and will be available to purchase from November 15th retailing at £15.99. If you would like to purchase a copy, please contact Philip James Dean via Email p.dean@amberley-books.com