6 minute read
Volvo reveals energy-efficient range of excavators
Above: The 257hp (189kW) EC300E comes in at 35 tonnes and is expected to arrive in Australia at the end of the year Above left: The 225hp (168kW) EC250E excavator Left: The EC250E has electric control joystick and full electric travel pedals, which will help improve response times
power saver
An energy-efficient
range of Volvo
excavators has hit the Australian market, with two models in stock locally and a third to come by the end of this year
Currently in stock around Australia, the EC250E and EC300E are part of Volvo Construction Equipment’s (Volvo CE’s) new E series of excavators.
The biggest drawcard for the EC250E and EC300E is their greater fuel efficiency; delivering 10 per cent more range than previous models due to the installation of the latest D8M Volvo engine, says Volvo CE.
The engine, which has 225 gross horsepower (168kW) for the EC250E and 257 gross horsepower (189kW) for the EC300E, benefits from a five per cent increase in power thanks to a slight tweak, which reduces the rpm from 1,800 to 1,600.
The excavators are among the smaller machines available in Volvo CE’s larger crawler range, which also includes a new and improved intelligent electro-hydraulics system.
A new E Series model, the 35-tonne EC350E, has been developed and is expected to arrive Down Under by the end of 2021, according to local distributor CJD Equipment.
Users of both the EC250E and EC300E will be able to prioritise one function – either boom/ swing or boom/travel over boom/down speed control – enhancing controllability and operational functionality and making the excavators ideal for precision tasks, says Volvo CE.
Volvo CE has also taken the necessary steps to improve safety and accessibility with the addition of new three-point right-hand side access for the upper structure, including the ergonomic and lownoise cab.
An electric control joystick and full electric travel pedals will help improve response times, Volvo CE says, while optional new Dig-Assist apps offering on-board weighing, a 2D in-field design and 3D software packages can be controlled using the 10 inch (25cm) Co-Pilot tablet.
Incorporated as standard is the Volvo Active Control system, which improves digging accuracy through automated boom and bucket movements, and the ability to set height and depth limits to avoid obstacles such as power lines, fences and any pipes or cables underground.
The company says its hydraulic attachment cooling capacity has increased by 10 per cent, while fewer hoses reduces the need for couplings and increases reliability.
The EC250E model has an operating weight of up to 29.4 tonnes, while the EC300E model has an operating weight of up to 33 tonnes, including a counterweight 700kg heavier than the previous version.
Both models can carry up to 10 tonnes along the undercarriage.
PRODUCT NEWS versatile addition
A new excavator from
Kobelco Construction Machinery Australia
(KCMA) will harness the performance capabilities of larger machines and the operator-friendly manoeuvrability of smaller excavators.
Above: Kobelco’s new SK380SRLC excavator has been developed for tight access worksites
Kobelco has unveiled the new SK380SRLC excavator – the world’s first short radius excavator in the 35-tonne segment.
The 37-tonne machine will be the heaviest limited tail swing excavator in the market to enter the 35-tonne class, and will offer operators improved lifting and digging functionality in tight access worksites.
KCMA product and distribution general manager Mark Johnson says the SK380SRLC brings large scale excavating into tight spaces and will help the growing needs of large urban infrastructure projects.
“Considering the high level of infrastructure and residential construction projects underway in and around capital cities, there is increasingly a need for heavier machines to work in limited access urban areas,” Johnson says.
“Traditionally, operating a 35-tonne machine has meant sacrificing accessibility for machine capability, but we see the new SK380SRLC as being the best of both worlds — it delivers the digging performance and hydraulic capability that certain applications demand, with an overall machine footprint that is easier to manage.
“With its increased digging performance, high lift capacity and Kobelco’s refined hydraulic control, it’s an ideal machine for everything from trenching, to on-site material handling, to rock breaking.”
The model has been developed following customer-led feedback and has resulted in a range of new additions to the machine, including increased power and digging performance as well as machine functionality and comfort for the operator.
The SK380SRLC is powered by a 236 horsepower (176kW) Hino turbocharged liquid-cooled diesel engine, which is built to meet international emissions standards while also delivering power to the excavator’s refined hydraulic system.
Improvements to the powertrain mean a smooth operation, even across rough terrain, is achieved due to the class-leading drawbar force of 314kN, while the high hydraulic pressure and balanced chassis produce a lifting capability of 12,390kg and a reach of six metres.
A power boost function has also been added to boost power by 10 per cent instantly when the function is engaged.
A swing priority system, which is exclusive to all Kobelco machines, automatically delivers a onepump flow to the swing circuit when the arm-in and swing functions are used instantaneously without needing to switch between the functions. The swing priority system combines with a swing torque of 120kN to enhance trenching and make back-filling a quicker process.
The lifting and digging performance is coupled with an ability to be easily paired with any hydromechanical attachment – like rock breakers or tilt-rotators – and its short tail swing is ideal for urban environments, given its ability to function within a single road lane.
Bio-directional hydraulic piping, as well as secondary auxiliary lines, make the control of any attachment on the SK380SRLC easy to move with the tilt or rotate function.
Inside the cab, the SK380SRLC makes the most of straight lines aimed at making the cab as large as possible and offering the most visibility through expansive windows.
Three standard cameras located on all sides of the machine offer optimised safety and are subsequently displayed onto an additional monitor to allow for a wide view of the jobsite.
The air-conditioning system and air vents have been strategically placed toward the operator’s neck, while the cabin also includes other functionalities such as a 12V charging port, Bluetooth stereo system and auxiliary jack.
A LCD colour multi-display will allow operators to view important information and can program up to 10 pre-set attachment settings from the cabin.
The Kobelco SK380SRLC will be available at dealers in Australia and New Zealand from April.
