Komatsu adds 2 excavators to product line

Construction equipment maker Komatsu has released two new excavator models it says feature a cab and controls designed for operator comfort, efficiency and productivity.

The new PC220LC-12 and PC220LCi-12 models are 21-to-24-ton class hydraulic excavators featuring Komatsu’s latest intelligent machine control technology, incorporating automation enhancements designed to enhance operator productivity throughout each shift, according to the firm.

The company says the excavators are ideal for residential and commercial contractors and for tasks such as land clearing, general earthwork and design-driven site development.

Compared with the predecessor model PC210LC-1, both excavators feature a cab that is 28 percent larger, with 30 percent more legroom and 50 percent improved visibility.

The Japanese equipment maker, whose United States office is in Milwaukee, says the new excavators also offer an up 20 percent fuel efficiency increase and up to a 20 percent reduction in maintenance costs compared with the previous model. The company cites longer replacement intervals for hydraulic oil and oil filters and longer cleaning intervals for the particulate filter.

The PC220LC-12 and PC220LCi-12 models also feature increases of up to 7 percent in lifting capacity and up to 8 percent in bucket digging force compared with the predecessor.

New and enhanced features provided as standard equipment include air-suspension seat and ergonomic controls, a new operator ID system, rollover avoidance alerts, a KomVision 360 camera for “enhanced bird’s-eye views,” and people and object detection alert modes.

“We’ve built these excavators for the ones who need to get it done on every shift,” says Peter Robson, senior director at Komatsu. “That was the thinking behind the design of these next-generation machines: to empower operators to perform at their very best, which translates into greater productivity on the jobsite. With the most advanced working environment we’ve ever created, these are excavators your operators will love to run.”