Bobcat distributor Clark Equipment has announced the Australian availability of the new E20 zero-tail swing compact excavator, which is capable of working while flush against walls or building surfaces.
The 1.93-tonne digger supersedes the Bobcat 324 and adds features such as a retractable undercarriage, automatic slew brake and improved cab design.
Powered by a 13.9 horsepower (10.4kW) Tier 4 diesel engine, the E20 has a dig depth of 2.6m, a reach at ground level of 4.3m and a dump height of 2.6m.
Its rubber track undercarriage is 14cm longer than the 324 model and is retractable, allowing the width of the excavator to be reduced from 1350cm to 991cm, “making the E20 an ideal choice for traveling through gates or next to property lines”, Bobcat says.
Adding to its versatility is a housing whose rear stays within the width of the tracks through full rotation, allowing operators to work flush against a structure.
Bobcat says that, while it “already provides the largest cabs with the most spacious cab openings in the industry to increase operator comfort”, the E20 excavator has an even roomier optional cab featuring an easy-to-open front window, lower portal window, redesigned heater and updated, easy-to-read instrument panel.
The boom swing control has been moved to the joystick to give more foot room, and an auto-shift travel function provides automatic high- and low-range shifting.
Optional extras include a radio-and-speaker set, and five-digit-code-protected keyless start to deter machine theft and minimise unauthorised use.
Bobcat says another major feature is the excavator’s new blade extension mounting system, which is held in place by pins which can be removed to extend or retract the dozer blade with no tools needed.
The integrated slew brake mentioned before “eliminates the need for an operator to engage the slew brake when transporting a machine, providing infinite brake positioning, easier loading and more options when positioning on the trailer”, Bobcat says.
Like so many other earthmover manufacturers are doing, Bobcat is making service access easier by building in more and bigger service doors.
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