Capital Equipment News October 2016

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS

OCTOBER 2016

EXCAVATORS

parameters transmitted has been increased

from 12 to 40, enabling the fleet manager

to monitor a comprehensive range of health

and performance indicators of his equip-

ment. “This makes it easier to maximise the

fleet’s productivity and utilisation, as well as

preventing potential issues and ensure every

machine’s optimum health,” says Strati.

CASE has also recently introduced the

upgraded user interface of its SiteWatch

telematics portal. The portal has been

redesigned using HTML5 and the latest

web development technologies. This de-

velopment means easier and faster navi-

gation. The navigation approach has been

revised; the simpler structure and use of

drop-down menus enables the user to find

and access the desired information more

easily and faster.

Fleet management has also been made

easier. A full-screen map shows the location

of all deployed machines. To visualise the

information about a specific unit, the fleet

manager just needs to click on the machine

and a pop-up box will appear with all the de-

tails. In addition, a floating panel on the map

shows the set geofences, making it easy to

update them as needed.

SiteWatch also now offers a maintenance

forecasting functionality – said to be a first

in the market. “This new feature calculates

the date when the next service is due based

on the daily usage of the vehicle, rather than

just indicate how many hours of work are left

before the maintenance interval ends. This

makes it even easier to plan for each unit’s

maintenance and optimise the deployment of

the fleet,” says Strati.

Digging Korean efficiency

HPE Africa, the exclusive distributor for

Hyundai earthmoving equipment in South

Africa, has launched the new Hyundai Robex

R180LC-9S excavator to the local market,

said to offer greater fuel efficiency.

“This high power machine has been

engineered for optimum performance,

precision control and enhanced operator

safety. This model boasts greater fuel

efficiency in the 20 t class – an increasingly

important feature as fuel prices continue to

rise,” says Alex Ackron, managing director

of HPE Africa, part of the Capital Equipment

Group (CEG) of Invicta Holdings Limited.

“The R180 series, which is fitted with a

specially manufactured bucket for the local

market, has an operating weight of 19,1 t. The

Hyundai Robex R180LC-9S excavator is partic-

ularly suited for plant hire, civil engineering,

construction and agriculture,” adds Ackron.

A computer aided power optimisation

(CAPO) system ensures the optimum level of

engine power and hydraulic flow. The CAPO

system also provides complete diagnostic

features and digital gauges for critical infor-

mation such as fuel levels, hydraulic oil and

water temperatures.

The machine comes with three variable

operating modes. These are: P – Power Max,

which maximises machine speed and power;

S–Standard mode, said to provide a reduced,

fixed rpm for maximum fuel savings and im-

proved control; and E – Economy mode which

provides precise flow and power based on

load demand.

The machine has ground-line access to all

critical service and grease points. The com-

pact size of the engine allows for easy main-

tenance and the low engine height, with a

side-mounted, gear-drive camshaft, ensures

easy access.

German engineering to the fore

To gain more ground in the 20 t excavator

market, Liebherr used Bauma 2016 earlier

this year to showcase its complete renewal

programme of all crawler excavator models

for developing markets between 20 and 25 t.

This included the 22 t R 922, the 21 t R 920

and the 24 t R 924.

The jewel in the crown for this range is

the R 922 crawler excavator. “The concept

of the Liebherr R 922 is based on European

standards and aims to improve reliability,

increase productivity and lower fuel con-

sumption,” says Tendayi Kudumba, divisional

manager of Earthmoving Technology (EMT) at

Liebherr Africa. “The launch of the R 922 is

accompanied by a complete regeneration of

all crawler excavator models for developing

markets between 20 t and 25t.”

The R 922 replaces the R 916. Compared

with its predecessor, the biggest change to

the R 922 is a shift from the Liebherr engine

to a six-cylinder Cummins Tier III motor said

to significantly lower the price of the ma-

chine. The Cummins engine also comes with

an automatic fuel-saving idling system for

greater fuel savings. This is complemented

by its “Wastegate” turbo for enhanced per-

formance at low speed and reduced fuel con-

sumption.

The electronic power control system

allows the engine to be effectively and

optimally converted, from an energy point

of view, into hydraulic power. “This trans-

lates into greater forces, faster working

speeds and lower fuel consumption,” says

Kudumba.

Another key feature is the positive con-

trol hydraulic system. Two working pumps

for maximum excavation, travel or swing,

provide power to the components involved.

Thanks to the positive control system, the

combined movements are optimised for

each different work operation, whether it

Fitted with a 9,5 m boom, the Doosan DX225LCA has a shorter 2,4 m stick, compared with the

previous model’s 2,7 m.

Model

Doosan DX225LCA

Operating weight

21 500 kg

Net power

110 kW (148 hp) @ 1 900 rpm

Bucket capacity

0,81 - 1,17 m³