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As we go about our everyday lives, we’re constantly interacting with things made possible by mining – often without realising it. From the phones in our hands to the cars we drive, almost everything relies on core minerals and commodities that begin their journey in the earth. Along the way, there is a chance that leading heavy equipment manufacturer Komatsu has played a role.
This is also true of the Atlassian Williams F1 Team’s FW48 challenger. You may think a modern race car is just made of carbon fibre, but that is only part of the story. Beneath the surface of the machine lies a myriad of advanced materials across the powertrain, electronics, bodywork and chassis, each playing a vital role in the car’s design and performance at the highest level.
Unearthing performance
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In the cockpit, the halo safety structure relies on titanium for its exceptional ability to withstand extreme loads. Magnesium, one of the lightest structural metals, is found in the wheel rims, helping to improve acceleration and overall handling. Nearby, iron, refined into steel, is used in selected fasteners, bolts and drivetrain components, delivering the necessary strength for high-load applications.
At the heart of the FW48’s electrified powertrain is the battery system. Lithium provides the high energy density required to deliver the electrical power that defines the sport’s new generation of power units. Alongside it, copper forms the backbone of the FW48’s electrical systems, carrying power and data between wiring, electronics and sensors.
In the engine and exhaust systems, lightweight and highly machinable aluminium helps reduce overall vehicle mass and efficiently dissipates heat from critical engine components. Meanwhile, nickel alloys retain their strength at temperatures exceeding 1,000°C, ensuring reliability in one of the harshest environments on the car.
From one pit to another
Facilitating the journey of these materials from the first cut into the earth to lights out on race day is a fleet of Komatsu mining machines working around the clock.
From 320XPC drills preparing blast holes, to PC9000 hydraulic excavators and 4100XPC electric rope shovels loading material, to 930E autonomous ultra-class, electric-drive haul trucks moving hundreds of tonnes in every load, Komatsu equipment helps uncover, move and process the resources that the world depends on.
Together with the incredible people behind every operation, Komatsu machines ensure that mining is performed safely and efficiently across the globe, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is just a snapshot of the global mining ecosystem of the advanced materials engineered into the Atlassian Williams F1 Team car. Behind every lap lies a story of innovation that starts deep beneath the earth – all made possible by the people and mining machines of companies like Komatsu.
“As a team, we never stop finding new ways to use materials, exploring different manufacturing methods to extract every last bit of performance. Komatsu is the same, and today they operate at the cutting edge of their industry.”
James Vowles Team Principal, Atlassian Williams F1 Team
FIND OUT MORE: Explore the materials, mining and machines behind the FW48
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