Capital Equipment News July 2015

CONSTRUCTION: EXCAVATORS

VOLVO EC140E offers industry-leading efficiency and comfort

E quipped with a powerful Tier 4 Final/ Stage IV- compliant Volvo D4 en- gine, the new Volvo EC140E exca- vator helps customers to minimize their fuel consumption and emissions, while still receiving the consistently high quality and reliability they expect from Volvo Construc- tion Equipment (Volvo CE). The increased engine power, together with the increased pump input power ensures highly respon- sive operation and travel for reduced con- sumption, faster cycle times and improved productivity. Meanwhile, the hydraulics system, combined with the fully electric control system and advanced ECO mode, has been optimised to match engine power, reduce power losses and improve control- lability and response time. The main control valve and software builds on the already superior controllability, improving fuel effi- ciency through smooth and easy operation. A boom float function, allows pump power for boom lowering to be saved or used for other functions, while the auto engine shut- down feature further helps to reduce con- sumption by automatically switching off the engine after a pre-set amount of time (five minutes is the default setting). The EC140E excavator offers an indus- try-leading cab that is spacious, comfort- able and places everything at the operator’s fingertips. This not only increases the oper- ator’s well- being but also their productiv-

age from rock and debris. The robust boom and arm design of the Volvo EC140E includes internal plates positioned to support pressure points ensuring the range of applications. This helps disperse the stress from high-pressure areas of the boom and arm, to ensure max- imum productivity time after time. All these features help to ensure maximum uptime and service life from the machine. For extra peace of mind, real-time service alerts are displayed on the color monitor to enable diagnostic checks. Separate service intervals include the engine oil/filter, fuel filter/water separator, hydraulic oil and hy- draulic oil filter. The uptime of the Volvo EC140E is also enhanced by its sheer versatility. Volvo has listened to customer needs and built a ma- chine in the EC140E that is not only capable of doing a variety of applications but doing them all with consistently unrivalled quality, easily switching between attachments. The excavator can be adjusted to take a wide range of hydraulic lines, which are factory fitted with breaker and shear piping (X1), as well as rotator piping (X3). An attachment management system helps operators keep on top of all the different settings required. It allows the operator to pre-set and adjust the hydraulic flow and pressure for up to 20 different attachments, enabling the excava- tor to get back to work as quickly as possible after an attachment change. b

ity, without them even trying. All machine interfaces – including the joysticks, keypad, panel and LCD monitor – have been ergo- nomically designed for optimum control and efficiency. The number of switches have been simplified and climate control integrat- ed into the keypad for easy adjustments. For added convenience, functions such as the windscreen wipers, cameras, auto-mute or power max can all be assigned a short-cut button on the joystick. This allows the op- erator to select a function during operation without disruption. As well as the rear view camera, the Volvo EC140E also offers an optional side view camera to cover the visual blind spot. Both views can be displayed on the color moni- tor, promoting a safer working environment for both the operator and personnel on the ground. Another important safety feature is the seatbelt warning alarm and continuous visual alerts that trigger if the ignition key is turned while the seatbelt is unbuckled. In the unlikely event of the excavator rolling over, the reinforced steel structure of the ROPS and ISO standards-compliant cab en- sures the operator is protected at all times. The idlers, track links, and upper and bottom rollers on the undercarriage are built to with- stand tough elements and terrain, while the intelligently-designed X-shape lower frame enables even weight distribution, increasing stability and durability, and preventing dam-

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