Supply Lines
October 2007
Big Machines to Meet Big Production Needs
Here’s a roundup of excavators weighing in at 100,000 pounds or more that can help you tackle that upcoming big job.
Caterpillar
Load-sensing system
The 365C LME Hydraulic Excavator (The “L” stands
for undercarriage and the “ME” configuration is designed specifically
for digging and loading rather than reaching distance.) from
Caterpillar
is equipped with the manufacturer’s C15 15.2-liter, six-cylinder diesel
engine with ACERT technology. The engine meets Tier 3 emission
regulations and features a mechanically actuated electronic fuel
injection and overhead camshaft. The machine has a long undercarriage
operating weight of 145,430 pounds, 404 horsepower, and two types of
booms and six lengths of sticks available. Its load-sensing Proportional
Priority Pressure Compensation (PPPC) system, paired with Cat’s
electronic actuation, helps achieve high efficiency and excellent
controllability, according to the manufacturer. Large, heavy-duty main
pumps and a separate swing pump, reverse swing dampening valves, and an
auxiliary hydraulic valve — which comes standard on this model — help
operators achieve precise control and keep material moving. An extensive
selection of buckets also is available. The company also offers the 385C
Hydraulic Excavator, which has 513-horsepower diesel engine with
ACERT technology and has a long undercarriage operating weight of 87,360 pounds.
Terex
Exceptional breakout force
The TXC TXC480LC-2 heavy hydraulic excavator
from Terex offers “exceptional breakout and digging force” with engines
from 95 to 328 horsepower and capacities from 0.68 to 3.73 cubic yards,
according to the manufacturer. The excavators have dig depths from 18
feet, 6 inches to 27 feet, 8 inches and a reach from 27 feet, 1 inch to
39 feet, 9 inches. The LC-2 lines of models also have all been upgraded
with a pattern change control to better suit a user’s specific operating
style. All of the models feature Tier 3 emission-compliant engines with
a common rail injection system. The units also come standard with
Electronic Power Optimizing System (e-POS), which communicates with the
engine and the hydraulics to help maximize work efficiency and minimize
fuel consumption. A multi-functional color monitor provides operators
with a quick view of performance and maintenance data from within the
cab.
Volvo
Maximum production, minimum fuel consumption
Volvo Construction Equipment’s excavators are
among the fastest and most powerful excavators in the world, according
to the manufacturer. Volvo’s EC460L has a breakout force of 54,900
pounds and an operating weight of 100,500 to 108,090 pounds. The
machines’ maximum reach is 43 feet, 4 inches and has a digging depth of
27 feet, 7 inches. All the company’s excavators feature the
manufacturer’s Advanced Control System (ACS), which balances engine
power with hydraulic pump output to help provide maximum production with
minimal fuel consumption. The machines’ hydraulic quick-coupler system
allows the operator to change attachments from inside the cab.
Hitachi
Revamped hydraulic system
Hitachi’s new Zaxis 850LC-3 not only replaces
the Zaxis 850, but it packages in many engineering characteristics of
the manufacturer’s larger EX1200 into the smaller machine body, making
it well suited for quarries, demolition, and heavy construction jobs,
according to Hitachi. A new Tier 3-certified engine with 532 net peak
horsepower paired with the company’s revamped HIOSIII hydraulic system
both increases the machine’s output and the bucket and arm digging
process. The system uses arm and bucket regenerative systems to boost
front-attachment speed, and, when engaged, the boom-mode switch reduces
vibration and impact shock loads due to less lifting or pulling of the
body, according to the manufacturer.
Weighing in at 185,000 pounds, the Zaxis comes standard with a 14-foot, 5-inch arm, a 29,321-pound counterweight, and 36-inch double grouser shoes. Additional arm lengths — 12 foot, 1 inch and 17 foot, 9 inches — also can be ordered. A mass excavating boom with a 9-foot, 8-inch arm and 30-inch shoes also is available.
LBX
Intelligent control system
The Link-Belt 700 LX from LBX Co. features the
company’s Inte-LX intelligent computer command control system, which
monitors hydraulic output, pressures, and regulates engine performance.
The model also offers four operating modes — Auto-Mode (A), Heavy Mode
(H), Standard Mode (S), and Lift Mode (L) — plus an allied attachment
work mode, which automatically adjusts engine speed and pump output to
match additional attachments. The machine’s on-board diagnostics system
allows for analysis of 148 items in these four categories: machine
status, troubleshooting, history, and systems configuration. Two
hydraulic return lines on the excavator enable a faster system and
reduce back pressure buildup. Equipped with an Isuzu turbo-charged,
intercooled, four-cycle diesel, 6-cylinder in-line diesel engine, the
700 LX has an operating weight of 153,300 pounds, 425 net horsepower,
and a bucket range of 2.12 to 4.89 cubic yards.
Liebherr
Electronic engine system
The R 974 C Litronic Crawler Excavator is
equipped with the company’s new generation of diesel engines that was
designed to meet Tier 3 noise and emissions regulations. A
Liebherr D
9508 8-cylinder V-engine that delivers 543 horsepower drives the crawler
excavator. The machine also features the LIDEC-Electronic (Liebherr
Diesel Engine Control) engine management system, which monitors all
performance parameters and varies the setting based on continuous
desired/actual comparison, according to the company. All crawler
excavators in this series have a newly designed exterior that improves
overall visibility with a larger glass area. The R974 C model has the
ability to handle a backhoe bucket up to 8.11 cubic yards and a front
shovel bucket up to 7.3 cubic yards.
Komatsu
World’s first EGR system
The PC400LC-8 Hydraulic Excavator from Komatsu
American Corp. features a Tier 3 engine and is equipped with Komtrax, a
system which can send location and operation maps to a secure Web site
using wireless technology. It allows the machine to relay error codes,
cautions, maintenance items, and fuel levels, among other things. The
machine has an operating weight of 126,320 to 132,280 pounds, depending
on the machine specification, and the engine, according to the
manufacturer, has the world’s first cooled Heavy-Duty Cooled Exhaust Gas
Recirculation (EGR) system, which further reduces NOx emissions and has
bypass-assist type electronically controlled venturi. Other productivity
features include a hydraulically driven variable-speed cooling fan and
an updated fuel filtration system, which includes a 10-micron pre-filter
with integral water separator and a 2-micron primary filter. The
excavator boasts a flywheel horsepower of 429 horsepower.
