Finance an Epiroc Scooptram ST18 underground LHD loader. Strong credit or not, we structure deals on large underground loaders. Get a quote today.
Tonnage from the stope depends entirely on the loader that gets it to the ore pass, and the Scooptram ST18 is Epiroc's largest diesel LHD in that role. With a 18-tonne payload capacity and a 7.5-cubic-meter bucket, the ST18 moves substantial volume per cycle in large underground stopes, development headings, and bulk cave applications. The machine is built to operate in large cross-section drifts, and its articulated frame lets it maneuver through the curves and switchbacks that characterize deep underground haulage routes. For hard rock mining operations running extended shifts in ore bodies where every cycle counts, the ST18's availability directly limits daily tonnage out of the development.
Financing an ST18 is a big-ticket transaction. These machines represent significant capital, and we structure deals that respect the scale of the investment. Our minimum is $50,000, but the ST18 sits well above that threshold. New machines, certified pre-owned units, and fully rebuilt ST18s with documented rebuild histories all qualify. We consider B and C credit on a case-by-case basis, because underground operators with strong contracts and consistent ore production have a revenue story that matters as much as the credit file.
The ST18 in Underground Production: What the Numbers Mean
The ST18's diesel powerpack is sized to provide enough drawbar pull to dig into a full blasted muck pile and extract a loaded bucket in a single pass. In practical terms, this means fewer passes per cycle, which keeps tram distances short and cycle times tight. The machine uses Epiroc's control system with optional telematics integration, giving surface supervisors real-time visibility into location, payload, and fault conditions without requiring radio contact with the operator.
Underground loader programs in large gold, copper, and nickel operations run the ST18 in continuous or near-continuous shift patterns. A machine that experiences unexpected downtime in a deep stope is not just a lost cycle; it may also block the haulage route and idle a shift of development crew. That duty cycle reality is why lenders who understandunderground LHD financinglook at the full operational context rather than just the machine's book value. The ST18's rebuild cycle, typically triggered by major component hours, is a cost that belongs in the total ownership model alongside the financing payment.
Operations pushing large tonnage from deep underground workings often also rely onunderground haulage trucksthat receive material from the loader at the ore pass. Financing both pieces of that underground production chain in a coordinated facility makes budget management cleaner and documentation simpler.
Refinancing and Sale-Leaseback on Underground Loaders
Underground loaders accumulate equity that is easy to overlook when the machine is busy producing. An ST18 that you purchased outright or have substantially paid down holds capital that can be released through acash-out equipment refinance. The new loan pays off any remaining balance and distributes the equity above that payoff as cash to your business. For underground mining companies managing large capital expenditure cycles, that released equity can fund the next rebuild, the next machine acquisition, or mobilization costs on a new decline development.
Sale-leaseback goes further: we purchase the ST18 from you at market value and immediately lease it back for your continued use. Your balance sheet converts machine equity to liquid capital without disrupting production. Operators who need capital for a contract bid but cannot easily wait for traditional financing timelines use this structure regularly. The key variable is equipment condition, because the sale price in a leaseback reflects what the machine will command in the used market. A well-maintained ST18 with documented service history commands stronger leaseback proceeds than a machine with deferred maintenance.
Where ST18s Work: Underground Operations Across North America
Large underground loaders like the ST18 operate in the silver and lead-zinc complexes in the Silver Valley of northern Idaho, the underground gold operations nearElko, NV, and the copper development projects being advanced acrossButte, MT. In Alaska's Interior, underground gold mines nearFairbanks, AKrely on heavy LHDs to move ore from deep workings where surface equipment cannot operate seasonally.
Canadian and international operations also run ST18s extensively in large underground copper and nickel ore bodies. While our financing focuses on North American operators and U.S.-domiciled transactions, we understand the international operational context because many of our customers are U.S. contractors or U.S.-based holding companies operating equipment globally. We work through the right structure for each situation.
Financing forunderground mining equipmentin active producing districts moves on a different timeline than general-purpose equipment lending. Operators in production districts need answers fast, and we build our process around that expectation.