TAIYUAN, Aug. 27 -- A Chinese-made 55-cubic-meter mining excavator, the world's largest, has passed a long-term wear-resistant trial operation in a mine owned by Cerro Colorado Ltd. Mining Co. (CMCC), a Chilean subsidiary of Australian mining giant BHP Billiton.

Taiyuan Heavy Machinery Group Co., Ltd. (TZ), which produced the excavator, said on Wednesday that the equipment has finished its one-and-a-half-year trial in Chile and was accepted by BHP for its competitiveness compared to other brands.

Cao Keshun, spokesman for TZ, said BHP's appraisal of the excavator has given TZ an "international pass" for the product on the world market, as the Australian company's equipment standards are among the world's highest.

Founded in 1950 in north China's Shanxi Province, TZ is the first heavy-duty machinery manufacturing firm established in China. Its products have been exported to countries around the world.