Liebherr’s 100-tonne mining excavator receives Generation 8 upgrades

Liebherr just launched the newest machine in its mining excavator portfolio: the R 9100 G8. This 100-tonne excavator has delivered promising results during its pre-series field validation and is set to take over the OEM's previous generation of 100-tonne excavators.

Successful testing in Indonesia

As part of the validation phase, Liebherr Mining partnered with PT Madhani Talatah Nusantara to test the R 9100 G8 under real operating conditions. A pre-series unit has been operating since September 2024 at the Tanjung Enim mine in South Sumatra, removing and loading overburden into 100-tonne trucks.

Between September 2024 and December 2025, the excavator averaged 411 operating hours per month and achieved an average of 92 percent availability, far exceeding site expectations. During an instantaneous production study conducted in September 2025, the R 9100 G8 recorded a fuel efficiency ratio of 9 bank cubic metres (bcm) per litre, based on a production rate of 771.2 bcm (1,589 tonnes) per hour and fuel consumption of 85.7 litres per hour.

Liebherr Power Efficiency delivers massive fuel savings when it matters the most 

Fuel consumption can account for up to 40 percent of operating costs for a 100-tonne excavator. To help keep fuel costs as low as possible, the R 9100 G8 comes with Liebherr Power Efficiency (LPE), Liebherr's proprietary engine and hydraulic management system designed to reduce fuel consumption while maintaining productivity.

Compared to the R 9100 G6, the new excavator consumes 20 percent less fuel and delivers 30 percent higher fuel efficiency, enabling fuel savings of up to 100,000 litres per year.

Generation 8 updates incorporate trusted solutions with a new design

The R 9100 G8 retains key elements of its predecessor, including the proven D9512 engine in fuel-combustion-optimised (FCO) configuration; the same bucket capacities; and a pressurised, FOPS-certified operator cab. Standard heavy-duty bucket sizes range from 7.0-7.5 m³ in backhoe configuration and 7.3 m³ in face shovel configuration (at 1.8 t/m³), ensuring effective pass-matching for trucks with payload capacities from 45 to 100 tonnes.

At the same time, the excavator benefits from several Generation 8 upgrades, such as:

• A fully redesigned electro-hydraulic control system for smoother and more precise operation
• An optimised attachment and hydraulic circuit to reduce pressure losses and improve cycle times
• Integrated IMUs for cylinder dampening, enhancing component protection, and reliability
• A redesigned undercarriage with lifetime-sealed travel drives as standard
• Grease change intervals are extended to a minimum of 250 operating hours, helping reduce downtime

All-new digital integrations and safety enhancements 

Like all Generation 8 excavators, the R 9100 G8 is compatible with a range of products within the IoMine technology suite, such as Assistance Systems, Skyview 360-degree vision system, Bucket Filling Assistant, Data View, and Data Services. These products, along with the rest of IoMine's offerings, support mine operators' transition to integrated, safer, more efficient, and more sustainable operations. Data View and Data Services make it possible to intelligently connect equipment and retrieve machine, operations, and assistance systems data on customers' infrastructure to transform field information into high-value-added operational decisions.

Ready for purchase

Both the backhoe and face shovel configurations of the R 9100 G8 are available for purchase now. Backhoe configuration will enter series production in Q2 this year, with series production of face shovel configuration following shortly after in Q3.

Pre-series field validation of the Tier 4/Stage V version is scheduled to begin in 2027.