Extreme Earthmovers at Work

Extreme Earthmovers at Work is a compilation of footage filmed by Eric Orlemann in 2005-2008 at surface mines in America, focusing on some of the largest and most impressive machines of their classes. 'Silver Spade', a Bucyrus-Erie 1950-B, was one of the largest walking draglines ever constructed, weighing in at 7,000 tons. Eric captured its 200ft boom and 80 cu m bucket at work before it was stood down in 2006. His programme includes examples of the world's largest production bulldozer, the Komatsu 575-A as well as the LeTourneau L-2350, the world's largest wheel loader. Truly big machines from Caterpillar, Hitachi and Liebherr add to the excitement. The footage is edited by Jonathan Theobald, director of many Old Pond programmes, to allow enthusiasts plenty of time to see the machines working through full cycles. Keith Haddock, whose work on massive machines is well known to readers of Earthmovers magazine in the UK, scripted the voiceover. Keith's accurate text gives the full context of the machines and the surface mining operation in which they are involved.