Comfort Zone

Construction, demolition and C&D recycling are tough businesses—competitive in nature and full of heavy lifting and some pretty hefty manual labor for those carrying out the day-to-day tasks on the jobsites. With the physical demands of demolition sites and C&D recycling operations, equipment operators are eager to find some comfort wherever they can.

Equipment manufacturers are quick to answer that call by adding a host of features—both standard and as options—to compact excavators and skid-steer loaders to increase operator comfort.

While the main focus might be a machine’s operating capacity or breakout force, enhancing operator comfort can help a manufacturer distinguish itself in a crowded marketplace, according to Doug Snorek, marketing manager for Mustang Manufacturing Co. of Owantonna, Minn.

Snorek says operator comfort is among top considerations for many equipment users when choosing compact excavators and skid steers. "Operator comfort is directly related to productivity," he says. "If the operator is comfortable, it helps reduce fatigue and fosters a safe work environment. Each owner/operator or construction firm is continually searching for ways to maximize their profitability. Operators working in a comfortable environment simply get more done, increasing jobsite efficiency."

Outstanding operator comfort is a key to high levels of productivity because it allows the operator to work longer hours, says Gregg Zupancic, product marketing manager for skid steers and compact track loaders for John Deere Worldwide Construction & Forestry, Moline, Ill. "Today, manufacturers are attempting to move the dial by designing additional comfort features to differentiate themselves from one another in the marketplace."

"Running a skid steer all day can be fatiguing," agrees Kent Pellegrini, skid-steer loader and multi-train loader industry manager for Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, Ill. Operator comfort features revolve around reducing strain and fatigue, as well as keeping the operator safe and comfortable.

Making the operator’s job easier starts with getting him into and out of the cab, Snorek says. He says grab handles should be located within easy reach and footsteps should be positioned where the operator can easily stop up and enter the cab. Similarly, controls, restraint bars, gauges and other elements should be positioned so the operator doesn’t have to maneuver around them to enter or exit the cab.

Once inside, the focus shifts toward the operator’s seat and how adjustments can help make an operator’s work day more comfortable.

First and foremost, seats should be adjustable so that the controls are within easy reach, according to Snorek. Features like high-back adjustable seats and armrests are typically found standard on most equipment, Snorek says.

On its new C-Series of skid-steer loaders, Caterpillar offers an optional air-ride seat, similar to the seats used in larger Cat machines like wheel loaders. "It’s considerably more comfortable," says Pellegrini, adding that the air ride seat reduces the impact the operator feels from the ground.

In addition to the seat itself, another area key to operator comfort is ventilation, particularly in applications like demolition and C&D recycling that have high levels of dust and debris on jobsites. "When operating in an enclosed cab, it should be well sealed to prevent outside dust and debris from entering the cab," says Snorek.

Caterpillar has used a sealed and pressurized cab in its new C-Series with ventilation air that is filtered to keep dust out and clean air in, a critical innovation, according to Pellegrini.

Climate controlled cabs with heat and air conditioning are also popular options that help operators work comfortably year-round, says Snorek.

Visibility is another major factor when considering operator comfort. Improving visibility in the cab of a compact excavator or skid steer helps keep the operator safer in addition to more comfortable. On the C-Series, Caterpillar has increased the visibility on all four models, according to Pellegrini.

Operators are safer with better visibility and more comfortable if they don’t have to turn and strain to see outside the cab, he adds.

The C-Series has a wide, curved-glass cab opening and large frameless doors to provide more visibility looking forward. In addition, the lift arm configuration provides good lines of sight to the tires and the canopy window increases upward visibility to aid in material handling tasks. The unit also has a large rear window, and a convex rear view mirror, which comes standard on the machine, gives the operator a panoramic view to the rear.

Ergonomic features such as well-placed controls, good ventilation and comfortable seats are the main focus of operator comfort features. In addition, manufacturers offer a host of other bells and whistles to help ease an operator’s job.

Noise reduction packages to reduce interior and bystander noise are available to make a day’s work easier on an operator’s ears, according to Zupancic. To make a day inside the cab a bit more pleasant, Cat’s C-Series offers a radio-ready cab as a perk for its operators, according to Pellegrini.

John Deere offers interior lighting, a 12-volt receptacle for cell phones, laptops or small air compressors and cargo storage.

Many units can be equipped with quick change-out hydraulic systems so that operators do not need to leave the cab to remove or connect the loader or excavator to another attachment, adds Snorek. This feature also makes a machine safer, he adds.

While many of these features may seem like "extras," many manufacturers say they have a direct impact on productivity. As demand for increased operator comfort increases, users of equipment like skid steers and compact excavators can expect to see more advanced comfort-enhancing features in the future.

"Operator comfort is in big demand today versus five years ago," says Zupancic. "Today’s [equipment] offers these features not only to increase the customers’ operating comfort, but also to help enhance productivity, uptime and lower daily operating costs over the life of the equipment." C&DR