The machines are claimed to offer a 25% boost in fuel efficiency and a range of advanced features to also deliver a 20% boost in productivity.
The manufacturer says the excavators are suited to heavy duty digging, mass excavation and large-scale site preparation.
It adds that they deliver digging and lifting forces normally found in 60-tonne machines, and feature the highest engine power in the class, providing high tractive force and swing torque. When coupled with large buckets, the EC530E and EC550E are suited to filling articulated haulers in the 30-40-tonne class – requiring fewer passes to load them, thereby reducing cycle times.
The machines feature a super-rigid reinforced undercarriage, which is supported by equally sturdy lower and upper frames. The EC550E undercarriage has a long and wide lower frame, giving it extra stability when working with heavier loads. The undercarriage on the EC530E, meanwhile shares the same transportation dimensions (and loading convenience) as Volvo’s 48-tonne EC480E.
The two excavators are powered by a low emission Volvo D13J engine and the manufacturer says that combined fuel efficiency – of up to 25% – is enabled thanks to the machines’ use of the latest electro hydraulics system. It achieves this due to Independent Metering Valve Technology (IMVT) which, due to intelligent electronic control offers both more precise operation and efficiency than a traditional mechanically coupled hydraulic system.
Further efficiency is gained from engine pump optimisation, which lowers engine speed while maintaining power, and improved hydraulic pipework layout. The new system offers a range of smart functions, including creep mode (useful for precise lift-and-carry work) and optional Comfort Drive Control (CDC). CDC helps to reduce operator fatigue by allowing the excavator to be steered using the joystick rollers, instead of the pedals.
Operators can select several functions depending on the task at hand and their preferences. This includes boom/swing and boom/travel priority, which enables one function to take the lead over another. The boom-down speed can also be adjusted, giving optimum control for tasks that require extra precision. New boom-and-arm bouncing reduction technology lessens machine shock – a feature much appreciated by operators.
Volvo CE says the EC530E and EC550E have been designed with a focus on high durability and maximum reliability – even when working in tough applications. Measures include the removal of hydraulic pilot lines, reducing the number of couplings needed. The company adds that the electrical system is also now more robust, thanks to connectors that exceed the tough water ingress protection standards. Time and maintenance costs are further reduced, due to the engine oil and filter change intervals extended to 1,000 hours and ground-level access to grouped filters. A three-point right hand side access to the upper structure provides easy access to the UREA/DEF tank, which also features a splash guard to avoid spillages (and corrosion risk).
