international
construction
november 2012
EQUIPMENT
64
Komatsu
L
aunched lastmonth in
Europe, Komatsu’s new
HB215LC-2hybrid excavator
is a third generationhybridmodel,
with an increasedoperatingweight
of 22.55 tonnes and a bucket
capacity of 1.68m³.
Komatsu said that since
introducing its first hybrid in2008
it has soldmore than2,500first
and second generationmachines
worldwide.The new third
generation excavator features a
Stage IIIB-compliant engine and
enhancedhybrid components.
YoshihiroKobayashi, product
manager for hybrid excavators at
KomatsuEurope, said, “The new
HB215LC-2will nowprovide
Komatsu customerswith an even
higher fuel economy. Actual savings
will dependon the application, and
fuel efficiency is particularly high
whenoperating the excavatorwith
hydraulic attachments.
“We estimate that the extra
investment into aKomatsuhybrid
machine can typically be recovered
in two years or less.”
slewingmotions are braked, the
swingmotor acts as a generator and
the energy recovered is stored in
capacitors.This is then available as
electricity.
The company said this energy
couldbe thought of as additional
power that is available tomaximise
machine performance by
supporting the engine, or used for
swing power. It added that hybrid
components on theHB215LC-2
are coveredby a five-year/10,000
hour special warranty.
The on-boarddiesel engine is a
104kWKomatsuSAA4D107E-
2-A, whichmeets emissions
legislationwith aDieselOxidation
Catalyst.This does not require any
scheduledmaintenance, and there is
no additional aftertreatment such as
aDiesel Particulate Filter (DPF).
The newmachines also feature an
updated cab, which is quieter for
the operator thanpreviousmodels.
Other comfort features include
mounting of the cabon viscous
dampers to reduce vibration, aswell
as an air suspension seat.
Ahigh resolution7” LCD colour
monitor allows the operator to
select from sixworkingmodes and
the panel provides informationon
economical operation, operational
records, fuel consumptionhistory
andutilisation information. A
standard rear-view camera allows
the operator to viewdirectly behind
themachine.
iC
Third generation
Komatsuwas the
first to themarket
with the launch of its
hybrid excavators in
Japan in 2008. It has
now launched the
third generation of
machines.
TheHB215LC-2 is supportedby
KomatsuCARE, a complimentary
maintenance programme for
Komatsu customers that comes
as standardwith everynew
KomatsuEUStage IIIBmachine.
For the first three years or 2,000
hours, it covers factory-scheduled
maintenance, performedby
Komatsu-trained technicianswith
Komatsuparts.
Telematics
In addition, the latestKomtrax
telematics technology on the
HB215LC-2 sends operating
information to a securewebsite
via awireless link.Data such as
operatinghours, fuel consumption,
location, cautions andmaintenance
alerts are relayed to theweb
application for analysis.
JimVenerus, deputy general
manager for Europeanproduct
marketing atKomatsuEurope, said,
“TheKomtraxmonitoring system,
standardonKomatsumodels,
shows that our customers are
saving, on average, 25% fuel with
theirKomatsuhybridmachine,
alongwith a significant reductionof
CO
2
emissions.”
Komatsu’s hybrid systemworks
by storing and reusing energy that
wouldotherwise be lostwhen
the upper structure swings. As
may 2014
