by Kerry Clines, Senior Editor

Hybrid excavators come to North America

Komatsu America Corp. says its new hybrid PC200LC-8 excavator is the first to enter the North American market. The 20- to 22-ton machine provides 138 horsepower, has an operating weight of 43,643 to 47,260 pounds, and features a 0.66- to 1.57-cubic yard bucket capacity.

The excavator uses a newly developed electric swing motor, power generator motor, capacitor, and diesel engine. The hybrid system works on the principle of swing energy regeneration and energy storage. The kinetic energy generated during the swing braking phase is converted to electricity, which is sent through an inverter and then captured by the capacitor. The captured energy is then discharged quickly for upper structure rotation and to assist the engine when accelerating under work load conditions.

In tests comparing the hybrid to Komatsu’s standard excavator, the company said the hybrid model reduced fuel consumption by approximately 25 to 40 percent, depending on the application.

Portable, high-output crusher

Eagle Crusher Co. says its new 1200-25 CV portable crushing plant, with the UltraMax II 4747 Impactor, accepts large feed sizes and is suitable for high-volume primary and secondary crushing. The crusher’s impactor includes a solid-steel, three-bar rotor for efficient crushing of limestone, shot rock, concrete, asphalt, and sand and gravel with a reduction ratio up to 24:1. The open-circuit crushing plant is designed to have efficient weight distribution for easy transport. The crusher is equipped with a heavy-duty, steel-reinforced 17-cubic yard feed hopper that accepts material from 5-yard loader buckets or excavators.

High-frequency portable screen with bin