New trends in demolition excavators
Published 18/4 at 13:33Productivity, multitasking capabilities and high safety standards are the key features that owners of demolition excavators are expecting to find in their machines. PDi’s Andrei Bushmarin reviews the latest trends in the excavator industry.
Sennebogen 830 E performs selective demolition of a car showroom in Germany
A large multi brand car centre in the city of Regensburg, Germany, was earmarked for renovation to make room for a new series of brands. The plan called for controlled demolition of the front part of the building. To tackle this task, contractor Metz Erdbau GmbH from nearby Schwandorf chose a Sennebogen 830 E demolition excavator. The machine’s innovative construction, featuring a two section boom, is designed for precise handling of the attachments at height which can be changed within a matter of minutes thanks to a quick coupler. The elevated 30° tiltable cab provides a perfect view of the building’s upper structures. The excavator’s stability is ensured by the telescopic crawler tracks that are up to 4.5m expandable. The location of the service points permits easy introduction of Sennebogen’s patented lubricants ‘SENlube’ and ‘SENprotect’. The manufacturer’s vast equipment fleet makes it possible to rent machines out to customers on a medium or long term basis.
Develon launches new multi boom series
Develon has launched a new three model series of demolition excavators ranging in weight from 31t to 61t. In addition to the 30° tiltable cab - said to be particularly suited to high reach demolition applications - all three models feature a modular boom design and hydraulic lock mechanism. This provides customers with a complete, flexible solution that allows them to use the same machines for other applications apart from demolition. The newest in the range is the 31t DX245DM-7 high reach demolition model. Powered by the DL06P Stage V diesel engine, the DX245DM-7 is now available alongside the heavier 47t DX380DM-7 and 61t DX530DM-7 excavators. The innovative design ensures a smooth changeover between the demolition and earthmoving booms, with a special stand provided to facilitate the boom changing operation, which is based on quick change hydraulic and mechanical coupler connections. A cylinder based system is used to push the locking pins into place to help complete the procedure.
The DX245DM-7, equipped with a 18m boom, allows the operator to use a demolition attachment at a maximum height of 16m. The recommended maximum combined weight for the attachment and quick coupler in this mode is 2.5t. When equipped with a digging boom in the straight configuration, the DX245DM-7 can work at a maximum height of 9.8m. In this format, the recommended maximum weight for the attachment and quick coupler is 3.3t. Using the digging boom in the alternative bent configuration, the DX245DM-7 can work with an attachment at a maximum height of 8m. In this mode, the recommended maximum weight for the attachment and quick coupler is 3.3t. The DX245DM-7 has a hydraulically adjustable undercarriage, which extends to a maximum width of 3.74m for optimal stability onsite. Like all Develon demolition excavators, standard safety features include a FOGS cab guard, safety valves for the boom, intermediate boom and arm cylinders and a stability warning system.
Echle Hartstahl: excavator modifier from Germany
Established in 1994 in Wolfach, Germany, Echle Hartstahl GmbH is a renowned excavator modifier with a staff of 70 employees. Its expertise, in particular, extends to cabin protection superstructures (FOPS) and cylinder guards, special designs for construction machinery and innovative electrification. On any demolition project, safety of the excavator’s driver is paramount. One example of Echle’s approach to the safety issue involves a Liebherr R926 excavator featuring a FOPS cab guard and a hydraulic tilting cab. With the cab tilting up to 30°, the driver can sit in a comfortable and non-strenuous position during demolition. The emergency lowering can be controlled from the cab and the upper carriage. The patented FOPS retractable cab guard is subject to approval in accordance with ISO10262 and is said to guarantee the best possible protection with nearly unrestricted visibility. Thanks to the ‘slide in’ option, the safety guard is flexible and can be easily removed from the field of vision when performing non-hazardous work.
Another customisation project involved a CASE CX300E excavator. The machine underwent an extensive modification programme involving the monoblock being extended by 500mm, a tiltable cab installed to optimise visibility and an additional counterweight being welded in for extra stability. Furthermore, a 2.5m long additional stick was manufactured with quick couplers attached for rapid installation and removal of attachments. For increased safety, the cab was fitted with a laminated safety glass roof window with a wiper system and a new retractable FOPS cabin guard.
JCB expands ‘X Series’ with biggest model so far
UK based heavyweight JCB has expanded its popular X Series of tracked excavators with the unveiling of the biggest and most powerful model so far – the 370X. Paul Swallow, business head of excavators, says of the new model: “With more power, increased strength and durability, reduced fuel consumption and lower ownership costs, the JCB 370X is a major step forward for customers in the 35t-40t class. With fantastic operator comfort and control, the 370X delivers a heavy duty excavator solution for markets around the world.” The JCB 370X is powered by the latest Cummins L9 diesel engine, which is certified as EU Stage V and EPA Tier 4 Final compliant. This 8.9l, six cylinder, engine is said to boast a 14% power increase over the outgoing JS370, with 240kW available at just 1,700rpm. According to the manufacturer, the 370X is capable of moving up to 4.5t more material per/l of fuel and up to 86t/h more than competitors in testing.
A heavier counterweight contributes to added stability, while larger structures cope with the additional forces. The 370X is supplied with a 6.45m monoboom, with a choice of 2.63m, 3.23m and 4.03m dippers. Bucket pin diameter has been increased and the machine can be fitted with a new JCB dual pin quick hitch to pick up 90mm or 100mm attachments. The JCB ‘Command Plus’ ROPS cab has been further improved with a new touchscreen monitor. The machine boasts three work modes to optimise digging, lifting or economy. ‘Auto-Stop’ and ‘Auto-Idle’ engine functions also come as standard to reduce fuel consumption during idling. The 370X is available with a range of options to tailor the machine to an individual customer’s requirements. These include auxiliary hydraulic circuits with up to 15 attachment settings and a premium heated and cooled operator’s seat. The machine can also be offered with the JCB 2D and 3D ready ‘Intelligrade’ system for enhanced productivity, accuracy and safety. A bird’s eye 360° camera can also be supplied, along with high visibility, all-round handrails.
Hitachi to unveil new ‘Zaxis-7’ excavator at Intermat
Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME) will use Intermat to unveil the ZX225USLC-7 medium excavator. The new machine comes equipped with the ‘Xwatch’ Leica Geosystems 3D avoidance system. This pioneering solution is designed to enhance safety and efficiency onsite, providing additional protection for personnel, infrastructure, and environment. “By offering solutions such as these to our customers, we can combine the unrivalled control, precision and reliability of Hitachi excavators with the accuracy of 3D technology, helping them to further improve safety and efficiency onsite,” says Bill Drougkas, HCME manager product management & solution linkage. The Zaxis-7 has also been designed to improve operator comfort, with noise and vibration levels significantly reduced compared to the previous generation. The cab has a 15cm wider door opening, more legroom and an ergonomically designed console. Hitachi’s ‘Trias III’ hydraulic system has been designed for high performance on every job. With the single and two piece boom options, along with the long (‘LC’) undercarriage for stability, and the short tail design for manoeuvrability in confined spaces, the new excavator is said to provide good performance across a wide range of applications. “We look forward to exhibiting the ZX225USLC-7 excavator at Intermat this year with the additional collision avoidance system developed by Xwatch and Leica Geosystems,” concludes Bill Drougkas.
