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Kobelco’s new SK380SRLC 37-tonne short radius excavator
in the mix
A new rotary mixer to join Caterpillar’s earthmoving range comes with 19 per cent more power and many new features
Above: Cat’s new RM400 rotary mixer is powered by a 417hp (311kW) Cat engine that meets EU Stage 5 emission standards
The RM400 rotary mixer will replace the RM300 in Cat’s range, with a raft of improvements to help contractors work in both soil stabilisation and full-depth reclamations.
Powered by a Cat C9.3 engine, the RM400 provides 417 horsepower (311kW) and, despite offering nearly 20 per cent more power to the driver, is surprisingly efficient, meeting EU Stage 5 emission standards.
The machine comes standard as an all-wheel drive with four individual drive pumps providing more overall traction and speed, and at 9.56m, is 44cm shorter than its predecessor to improve manoeuvrability in tight situations.
Perhaps the biggest difference in the RM400 is the functionality offered in the operational environment.
Manoeuvring the machine is simple and performed through hand-wheel steering, while a joystick controls the rear wheels in modes requiring more precise control.
A sliding cab, which can move across the upper structure from left to right, allows the operator to view the tyre edges and rotor cut lines, while standard front and rear facing cameras offer additional visibility.
Optional cameras can be mounted either in front of or behind the rotor chamber to aid with vision of external obstacles and the discharge material, however these do require an additional touchscreen if installed.
The RM400 has an electronic controller keeping the rotor at the proper depth and at a consistent speed, with three speed options available.
The rotor chamber can be fitted with four different rotor options, all capable of performing differently and achieving certain gradation. A universal rotor is equipped with 200 pointattack carbide-tipped tools and can be used for either full depth reclamation or soil stabilisation.
A soil rotor, furnished with a 238 point-attack carbide-tipped tools, is used for a variety of mixing and stabilisation uses, and blends additives with semi-cohesive or granular materials. The combination rotor, used for soil stabilisation applications in cohesive materials, is equipped with 144 point-attack carbide-tipped tools. A spade rotor, used for soil stabilisation and mixing, is also available.
Cat has ensured maintaining the RM400 is a straightforward process with access to the engine and cooling system achieved easily through a switch. The cooling system itself, too, has also been improved to include a variable speed fan that can reverse direction – effectively becoming a blower – to help shed dust from within the engine.
