Excavation Options: While rope shovels and hydraulic excavators still form the mainstream when it comes to primary earthmovers, other options continue to nibble away at the market.

The article offers news briefs on engineering in 2017. Topics in the news include the development of rope shovels and other excavation systems for mining, the sale of the R9800 mining excavator of Liebherr to contractor Downer Mining, and the important effect of stringent regulations on productivity in the mining industry.