Capital Equipment News October 2020

daily lubrication of elements and reduction of machine downtime. The optional automatic lubrication system provides only the required amount of grease to the various components and increases their lifetime while avoiding spillage and waste. A rear- view monitoring camera option provides visibility and improved operating safety. “Maximum digging and break-out forces can be reached thanks to the level of hydraulic pressure without applying temporary overpressure. Maximum forces are therefore guaranteed continuously during the whole working phase to achieve a high level of production,” says Kudumba. He says equipment speed is optimised through an integrated regeneration circuit and the hydraulic cylinders are equipped with a special seal system and shock protection. Bottom protections for stick and boom are optional and safety check valves and an overload warning device are available for lifting operations. Hydraulics When asked about new developments in terms of hydraulics, Boyers says that, in principle, JCB’s 205NXT has carried over the proven hydraulic system of the JS205, with enhancements to improve productivity and ease of use. “The new 7-inch display now uses a multi-colour breaker symbol to indicate breaker operation abuse, with green indicating appropriate use and red indicating attachment abuse. This new feature helps to increase the attachment and machine life by mitigating the risks associated with excessive breaker usage.” Barloworld Equipment’s Van der Walt says some of the biggest changes that have been made on the next-generation CAT excavators are in the hydraulic system. “The electro-hydraulic system not only assists with less piping and hoses which are wearable parts, but also assists with accuracy. This system allows the operator to use various attachments with precision while reducing fuel consumption without sacrificing the performance of the machine.” The CAT 320, 320GC and 323 come standard with a hammer return filter and a combined hydraulic system which allows for two-way, high pressure flow – a requirement for the use of most attachments. The hydraulic system, which can be set up specifically with each CAT attachment, provides various functions. “For example,” says Van der Walt, “when using a hammer on our excavators the system will warn the operator on-screen after 15 seconds of hammer activation and will stop automatically when exceeding 30 seconds. This ensures best operating practices and will maximise uptime while preventing the

Liebherr’s R920 crawler excavator.

A key aspect of hydraulic excavators in the 20 to 25 t range is their ability to be deployed across applications

While reduced or zero tail-swing can assist customers working in urban areas or operators working in tight spaces, this design approach will only play an increasing role as urbanisation continues apace

The operator plays a huge role when it comes to the total cost of owning an excavator

Any business running large machinery must trust its operators to maximise productivity and minimise fuel consumption where appropriate

QUICK TAKE

proposes a range of tools suitable for every type of application. These tools, says Liebherr-Africa GM for Earthmoving Technology Tendayi Kudumba, are designed for maximum productivity and durability. “The modular quick-change system by Liebherr is a digging tool suitable for every application. It pays for itself very quickly and

your machine becomes a multifunctional tool carrier,” he says. “We also adapt our machines to the application with a large range of sticks, buckets and different pad widths adapted to the ground.” The models feature as standard a 3-point manual lubrication system which allows for

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