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ETF Mining trucks & Haul Trains
- Thread starter gpap123
- Start date
bobrayner
New Member
For what it's worth, I asked "Have you built anything yet? Started manufacturing? Got any orders?" - by email and on their facebook page on 01 December. No reply to either, 3 months later. No photos of actual trucks, no evidence of tooling or production facilities. Just some photoshop.
bobrayner
New Member
Still haven't heard back. ETF seem to interact with the world primarily through social media (facebook, blogs, &c) but my question on their facebook page seems to have mysteriously disappeared, and comments are disabled on all their youtube videos. So, I tried emailing them again, with a cc to biglorryblog (which has, in the past, given lavish coverage of photoshopped ETF trucks).
I hope no real-world customers paid money upfront for trucks which ETF failed to build. If that happened, it would be much worse than just another bunch of hoax pics on the internet...
Nige
Senior Member
If I was you I wouldn't be holding my breath for a reply .............
I think all the graphics on ETF's web site are being done by some nerdy teenager in his bedroom.
I think all the graphics on ETF's web site are being done by some nerdy teenager in his bedroom.
LuNaTIcFrEAk
Member
There is a prototype 220 Ton truck of this configuration in the dirt now. Using existing tech without all the fancy stuff shown on the website. 16 Wheels on 8 individual wheel stations.
I am unsure if the company building it has any association with ETF, they did show a model at MinExpo (See link)
http://dhtellc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Full-booth-side-view-w-220-model.jpg
I am unsure if the company building it has any association with ETF, they did show a model at MinExpo (See link)
http://dhtellc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Full-booth-side-view-w-220-model.jpg
Yep, though that's not the ETF design. Simply another knock off of someone else's idea by a Chinese company. ETF was constructing a prototype, but nothing has been seen about it since a couple of shots from the factory of a truck that was VERY early in the construction phase.
LuNaTIcFrEAk
Member
Alco,
It was designed in North America by a contract design firm made mostly of ex-engineers from the big guys, they are also overseeing the manufacturing process and build quality in China. I was a little surprised when I saw pictures of it hauling, first I didn't think the project was that far along, second because it was quite a bit more refined than expected. Not holding my breath but I suspect we will see a lot more from this company.
It was designed in North America by a contract design firm made mostly of ex-engineers from the big guys, they are also overseeing the manufacturing process and build quality in China. I was a little surprised when I saw pictures of it hauling, first I didn't think the project was that far along, second because it was quite a bit more refined than expected. Not holding my breath but I suspect we will see a lot more from this company.
What I was trying to get at, is that the trucks are ultimately built by a Chinese consortium, even though the design was done elsewhere. Check out the design company's website, and some of the other work they have done....then look at the similarities between current designs from others major manufacturers, and the trucks they show CGIs of on the site........knock offs, can't really describe them any other way.
So in my books, they are knock offs of someone else's design, by a Chinese manufacturer.
So in my books, they are knock offs of someone else's design, by a Chinese manufacturer.
Everything is a knockoff of something, all products are based on work done by previous inventors or engineers, or combinations of designs or features. Very little real innovation or fresh ideas. We all use items every day that owe their creation to Archimedes or Galileo, what the hell. The Japanese copied US and European automakers but nobody today says they build knockoffs. The Chinese people I deal with are talented, educated, aggressive, and for the most part pretty honest. If you want the cheapest copy of something they can make it for you, but if you're willing to pay for quality and specify a legal product, again that's exactly what they'll deliver. Take a look at CAT and Deere Artics for one thing, anybody want to try to convince me they didn't use a lot of ideas taken from VOLVO? We do need some oversight to cut down on counterfeit products, but lets be fair, if they make a good machine why bash them for it? Cheers.
LuNaTIcFrEAk
Member
I agree they are copying existing designs, though the ETF one has never been built. My point is from what I have seen so far these are not the cheap knocks offs, they are going to be a well built knock offs. They seem to be using a lot of the same Chinese & international suppliers as the big guys.
Nige
Senior Member
I tihnk it's worth pointing out that the "big guys" use Chinese suppliers to manufacture certain parts, not the whole machine. As an example I'm seeing some castings on Cat machines with "China" on them where a few years ago would say "Mexico" and prior to that "USA".
Based on previous experience I would have thought that "well built" and "Chinese" was an oxymoron .............
Based on previous experience I would have thought that "well built" and "Chinese" was an oxymoron .............
rare ss
Senior Member
CAT brought out DJB as a base for their artic trucks some time ago no need to copy volvo, improving/development of ideas is one thing, straight out copy is another thing completely
LuNaTIcFrEAk
Member
That's impressive as hell. I like the coolers tucked up under the box, rather efficient use of space. Of course unless those pods turn at least 180, I'd hate to have to change an inside tire in the middle of the machine! :Banghead
61BG
Well-Known Member
OH MY, Is that in the flesh or I mean Steel ?