JCB Construction Equipment Australia (CEA) has announced the addition of the innovative and versatile Hydradig wheeled excavator to its compact wheeled machine lineup.
The Hydradig is a 10.5-tonne digging, lifting, tool-carrying machine designed for urban construction, highway maintenance and council works.
The first thing you notice about the excavator is that the engine, tanks and ancillaries are mounted in the chassis instead of in the upper structure.
JCB says that this has helped the machine respond to five key challenges in modern construction: visibility, stability, manoeuvrability, mobility and serviceability.
“The Hyrdadig is a machine that will offer the best results on site, and in the safest and most productive manner,” JCB CEA Hydradig national product manager Deon Cope says.
“With jobsites becoming increasingly congested, the Hydradig offers a new solution that rethinks machine design conventions.”
The Hydradig’s design gives the operator panoramic views and a clear line of sight to all four tyres.
“The driveline is mounted in the lower chassis and there are no engine covers or fluid tanks so the Hydradig is built with 360-degree visibility,” Cope says.
“As the engine is no longer mounted in the upper bodywork, there is no requirement for additional handrails, mirrors or a rear-view camera.”
The Hydradig offers increased stability as well, with a reduced overall height giving the machine a lower centre of gravity. Stability is further increased by the Hydradig’s reduced tail swing.
The Hydradig has a top travel speed of 40km/h and has stepless hydrostatic drive to all four wheels. The Hydradig has three standard steering modes: two-wheel, four-wheel and crab steering. There is also an optional reverse-steer function that changes the direction of the steering wheels when rotated at 180 degrees.
“The steering options available on the Hydradig make it a great machine for those confined workspaces in metro jobsites, and the stepless hydrostatic transmission ensures maximum traction and manoeuvrability on tough terrains,” Cope says.
To improve serviceability, the Hydradig’s side-mounted engine has a wide-opening steel canopy that provides complete ground level access to the engine and cooling pack.
“All daily service checks and regular maintenance can be safely carried out from ground level, with a lift-up engine canopy providing excellent access to the engine and filter,” Cope says.
“This reduces downtime and provides on-site safety as there is no working at height requirement.”