HM460-6 – more power and performance in all terrains
An unprecedented lineup of Komatsu’s new-generation dump trucks gleamed alongside the spring snow at Suomen Rakennuskone Oy’s Kempele facility situated in northern Finland.
Arctic Infra Oy, based in Sodankylä, acquired 12 HM460-6 dump trucks in a single purchase. Ten of the trucks were presented for a group photo at the handover event in early March. These brand-new models will be equipped and then deployed to northern mines, with all 12 units being operational by April 2026.
Among the 12 machines is, for example, the very first new dump truck manufactured in Japan with serial number two. Komatsu does not assign number one to serial production machines. The other units also feature early production series numbers.
“We had the opportunity to test Komatsu’s previous HM400-5 model at our worksites on a couple of occasions. We noticed a few shortcomings for our purposes, for example in the drivetrain and differential lock systems. At last year’s Bauma trade fair, Komatsu presented the preliminary features of the new model at their stand, which immediately caught our interest. The exact improvements we had been looking for were implemented in the new model,” says Petri Alatalo, CEO of Arctic Infra.
The deal was initially agreed upon for eight machines based on preliminary information about the new model, and later expanded by four more.
“Mutual trust was a key factor in concluding the deal, even though the machine had not yet been seen in its final form,” says Key Account Director Jari Salomäki from Finnish dealer Suomen Rakennuskone.
The novelty of the HM460-6 is further highlighted by the fact that its world premiere took place in early March 2026 at the ConExpo trade fair in Las Vegas.
(CEO Petri Alatalo (left), Chairman Jussi Tuohino and Maintenance Manager Matias Ylisaukko-oja, other worksites in Northern Finland. Juuso Ahola, Product Manager at Komatsu Europe, along with Tero Ala-Tala, Product Manager at Suomen Rakennuskone, Aftermarket Manager Jarno Oikarinen, Operator Trainer Timo Siironen, and Key Account Director Jari Salomäki)
Arctic expertise
Arctic Infra, owned by Petri Alatalo, Jonne Ruopsa, and Jussi Tuohino, specializes in contracting work in northern conditions and was founded in 2019. Its launch included the acquisition of Kantmark Oy.
“At that time, Kantmark’s owner Jarmo Laitamaa wanted his life’s work to continue in younger hands, so we acquired the business along with its machinery, personnel, and contracts. From the very beginning, our goal has been to contribute to modernizing earthworks construction in northern Finland,” says Alatalo.
The average age of the machinery acquired in the deal was over 20 years, so it could hardly be described as a modern fleet.
“We have systematically renewed our machinery, and after around 50 equipment purchases, the average age of our fleet is now just under four years. These new Komatsu machines ensure that we can serve our customers more efficiently, safely, and with environmental responsibility in mind.”
Suomen Rakennuskone has a workforce of around 50–60 people in Kevitsa, Sodankylä, some of whom serve contractors exclusively. Alatalo notes that the proximity of aftermarket services and maintenance to the company’s home location further strengthened their confidence in Komatsu. The Kempele branch, responsible for equipping the dump trucks, also has strong expertise in heavy machinery.
Arctic Infra carries out a wide range of infrastructure construction and mining support operations, including waste rock hauling, dam construction, dust control, and maintenance of mining infrastructure. Two of the delivered dump trucks will be equipped for dust suppression with 40-cubic-meter water tanks.
“In addition to dump trucks and rock trucks, our fleet includes excavators, bulldozers, and wheel loaders. Last year, we employed an average of about 80 people. We have our own skilled, committed, and contractor-oriented workforce. Ninety percent of our employees come from Lapland, and most of our worksites are located north of Oulu,” Alatalo explains.
Arctic Infra’s revenue has been growing strongly. In 2020, it was around five million euros, and the steady upward trend indicates revenue exceeding 18 million euros for 2025.
Alatalo estimates that the company has accumulated around 150,000 operating hours of experience with dump trucks during its first years of operation.
More power
Komatsu’s dump truck manufacturing dates back to 2001, when the first 36-ton capacity HM400-1 was introduced. The new HM460-6 represents a comprehensive upgrade compared to the HM400-5.
In short, the new-generation dump truck features a completely redesigned engine, transmission, drivetrain, frame, cab and body.
The output of Komatsu’s Stage V engine has increased by nine percent to 386 kW, raising payload capacity to 42 tonnes. Exhaust gas recirculation has been eliminated, and the variable geometry turbo has been replaced with twin conventional turbochargers. Emissions are controlled with a particulate filter and AdBlue injection system. According to Komatsu, fuel consumption has decreased with the new engine.
A new planetary transmission with nine forward gears and two reverse gears also contributes to efficiency. Gear shifting logic has been improved, delivering high torque even at low speeds. Compared to the previous model, torque has increased by 23 percent to 2 803 Nm.
“In tests, the new model achieved 22% better fuel efficiency and about 7% higher productivity in tons per hour. Fuel consumption was reduced by over 10%, and off-road mobility has been further enhanced,” says Juuso Ahola, Product Manager for heavy dump trucks and rigid haulers at Komatsu Europe.
Experience from rigid dump trucks has also been incorporated, including full suspension to improve ride comfort, especially on uneven terrain. Bidirectional axle locks further enhance mobility.
Safe operation
Safety has been a key focus in the design of the new model.
“The HM460-6 includes a comprehensive range of standard safety technologies, such as roll-over protection, front and rear frame inclination indicators, optional dump height limitation and a seatbelt reminder system,” says Ahola.
The operator can now see the tilt angles of both frames at a glance on the display, helping prevent rollover during dumping. If the rear frame tilts excessively, for example when cornering, speed is automatically reduced.
Additional safety features include cruise control, hill assist and an automatically activated waiting brake.
More visibility and comfort
The cab has also been completely redesigned. Visibility has improved both forward and backward thanks to slimmer pillars and increased glass surfaces, reducing blind spots.
Behind the steering wheel is now a single eight-inch display controlling key functions, with 27 language options. Controls are operated via a rotary dial on the right side of the seat. Functions like speed limiter and retarder are located on the steering column for ease of use.
The new air-suspended leather seat includes heating and cooling. There is also a passenger or trainer seat. A separate 10-inch touchscreen is dedicated to cameras.
Ample storage space, Bluetooth connectivity and USB ports are included as standard.
Outfitting and training
The new dump trucks were equipped according to customer requirements at the Kempele facility, which has extensive experience in heavy equipment outfitting.
“Planning took a significant amount of time since this is a completely new machine model,” says Aftermarket Manager Jarno Oikarinen.
The equipment includes centralized lubrication, fire suppression systems, fuel-powered auxiliary heaters, additional lighting, communication systems, cab pressurization and improved underbody protection.
Each machine requires over 100 hours of outfitting work.
Operator training is provided by trainer Timo Siironen:
“Training starts immediately when the first machine arrives at the mine. We go through the technology in detail, especially focusing on efficient and safe operation. This is a multi-week project.”
Komatsu’s Komtrax remote monitoring system also helps ensure optimal usage.
