Loading models offering great durability as well as optimum fuel efficiency are always going to be of strong interest to quarry customers. Guy Woodford reports on three of the latest machines demonstrating such traits.
Antonio Matos has more than 10 years’ construction industry experience, but had never worked with a
Slate is first extracted from the walls of the quarry by explosion before 47-year-old Matos uses the Generation 10 machine to load the material on to trucks. Some of the slate blocks can weigh as much as 20tonnes, but the SK350LC-10 is very strong, durable and performs well in the difficult environment. The slate extracted from the quarry is shipped across Switzerland and Italy where it is made into chimneys and roof tiles for houses.
“The SK350LC-10 is a very strong, durable and powerful machine, which is important when working in a difficult quarry environment. The machine is also smooth and precise to operate and the cabin is comfortable when working for long periods of time,” said Matos.
The Kobelco SK350LC-10 is said to lead the way in class thanks to its exceptional low emissions and reduced operating costs. The model offers increased power and greater fuel economy when compared with the previous Series 9 model, all the while still delivering an increase in working performance.
All Kobelco excavators have two digging modes - H mode for heavy duty and higher performance and S mode for normal operations with lower fuel consumption. Compared to its predecessor, the SK350LC-10 offers a 10% fuel reduction in S Mode, and 5% more digging volume in H Mode. Along with the SK180LC-10, SK210LC-10, SK260LC-10, SK300LC-10 and SK500LC-10, the SK350LC-10 represents the ‘Next Generation’ in excavator machinery. The SK350LC-10’s enhanced durability means that it can withstand the toughest terrain and working conditions and is well-suited to applications such as demolition, general excavating, truck loading and quarrying.
In addition, the upper deck has been decluttered and its height has been lowered to provide an increase in overall maintenance space. This new layout also enables easy access to the engine compartment and associated service areas as well as best-in-class visibility on the right side.
Doosan Bobcat EMEA has launched the new Stage IV compliant DX225LC-5 crawler excavator, offering a claimed unmatched combination of high performance, operating features, fuel efficiency, reliability and durability in the 21tonne excavator class.
Presented in the distinctive new machine styling scheme common to all new
The DX225LC-5 combines plenty of power with high torque at a lower number of revolutions, ensuring claimed higher reliability over time than other 21tonne machines, which have four-cylinder engines running at much higher revs. Additionally, the DX225LC-5 offers very good performance levels in terms of speed, force and noise, especially the traction force and slew torque which are said to be much higher than those in other machines. The model is also said to deliver extra lifting capacity compared to other machines in the 21 tonne market. Machine noise (2000/14/EC, ISO 6395) has been reduced by 1dBA.
The DX225LC-5 offers convenience and lower costs by meeting Stage IV emission regulations through the use of cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and selective catalyst reduction (SCR) after-treatment technologies. With the DL06P engine, the DX225LC-5 ensures trouble-free performance as it operates without a DPF, unlike some of the other 21tonne machines on the market.
As well as the DL06P engine, which is one of the most reliable and fuel efficient ever produced by Doosan, new innovative and exclusive features have been introduced providing an overall 9% increase in fuel efficiency. Among these features is the new ‘Trip Meter Setting’ screen which allows operators to check fuel consumption daily (or over a desired period) directly from the control panel. To save even more fuel, there is a special Doosan-developed system, Smart Power Control (SPC), to optimise the balance between the pumps’ output and the diesel engine.
The Auto Shut-Off feature saves on fuel and warranty hours. When the feature is enabled, the engine shuts down after it has been idling for a specified amount of time (3-60 minutes, configurable by the operator).
The DX225LC-5 is factory-installed with the new DoosanConnect state-of-the-art wireless fleet monitoring system, providing comprehensive information about machine performance in a dual mode (satellite, GSM). Also available for retro-fitting in a kit form, the DoosanConnect system is supplied with a free three-year subscription in new LC-5 excavators above 14tonne and customers are provided with their own account so that they can manage the machines in their fleet using the system.
Already said to excel in spaciousness and ergonomics, the new cab in the DX225LC-5 is bigger than that in the previous DX225LC-3 and has been further refined for outstanding operator comfort and ease of operation.
With an operating weight of 20.1tonnes, the new Hyundai wheeled loader is powered by the very latest Stage IV
The HL965 offers improved loading capacity compared to its predecessors. The maximum axle load capacity is 44tonnes at the front and 35tonnes at the rear, with standard 23.5 R25, L3 tyres.
The new HL965 has a 10% larger (compared to -9a series) ROPS/ FOPS cabin. The cabin’s fully adjustable seat is said to ensure a comfortable ergonomic working environment for the operator. Furthermore, the new cabin is fully sound-proofed using state-of-the-art noise reduction technology, a real asset when working in noisy environments such as quarries or waste handling depots. An electro-hydraulic integrated control lever allows operators to operate attachments with ease, aiding productivity and minimising operator fatigue.
The HL965 also has improved visibility thanks to new mirror positioning. There is also the option of LED front lights, LED working lights and LED rear combination lights.
Like all Hyundai HL900 series models, the HL965 includes the Hyundai-branded onboard weighing system as standard equipment. Accurate to +/- 1 percent, the system has automatic and manual settings for monitoring individual and cumulative bucket load weights. System measurements are displayed on the multi-function screen in the cab, providing load-weight monitoring reliable enough to support production management.
Hyundai’s improved bucket design for HL900 models features an innovative wider opening, curved side plates and enhanced spill guard to maximise bucket capacity and minimise material loss when travelling. Durability is also enhanced using high wear-resistant steel in key structural areas of the bucket.
A flick of a switch gives complete access to the engine compartment of Hyundai’s new wheel loader – a new feature not seen before on the previous range of Hyundai wheeled loaders. The fully retractable engine hood allows easy cleaning and maintenance.
The HL Series loaders have a large-volume air cleaner, an automatic dust ejector and a three-stage intake air pre-cleaner, as an option, to improve the replacement cycle and durability of the air filter. The machines also have a fully sealed engine room, designed to prevent the possibility of fire caused by the inflow of ‘foreign materials.’
The new HL950 wheeled loader is also available in XT version (long boom for larger dumping height).
