New Volvo excavators elevate customer productivity

EC230, EC400 and EC500 push the boundaries of productivity, fuel efficiency and total cost of ownership

VOLVO Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) say their new range of excavators ‘have the edge’ with a modern makeover that takes customers into the future – while pushing the boundaries of productivity, fuel efficiency, and total cost of ownership.

The company’s newest models have been revamped to be more spacious and ergonomic than ever before as part of an ambitious design concept to help customers achieve outstanding results. The new range – thanks in large part to a new operator environment with improved human machine interface (HMI) – not only looks the part, but has also been built to robustly respond to the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Kurt Deleu, head of excavator product management, said: ‘We have always been proud to lead the market with our innovative line of excavators, and now with this new range we are helping our customers get even more out of their machines. This modern design significantly improves the operator experience, allowing machine and human to deliver a powerful performance fit for the challenges of today’s worksites.’

First to be introduced in Europe and Turkey are the newest EC230, EC400, and EC500 crawler excavators – all of which benefit from the same range of technologically advanced features.

A stylish new operator environment provides even more space and comfort, with a cool-box to store items and USB and Bluetooth connections to charge mobile phones, play music, and aid on-site communication. Moreover, thanks to an improved HMI, a keyless engine start, and an always-on camera, a productive working day can be carried out with ease and, above all, safety.

Better sealing also ensures less dust enters the cab, while improved heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning ensures superior air circulation and a reduced risk of fatigue. Together with lower noise levels and a built-in sunscreen, the operator experience is now said to be more comfortable than ever.

The intelligent technology behind the new electro-hydraulic system allows sensors to monitor operator movements and send signals to command the enhanced main control valve. The result is smooth and precise movement of the excavator’s boom, bucket, and other attachments, as well as more accurate digging and loading.

Among a host of other efficiency-boosting features are a smart cooling system, engine speed regulation, and engine pump optimization to further minimize energy consumption, as well as an auto power-boost function to ensure an automatic setting of the system pressure.

All of these extra features not only result in improved fuel efficiency, but also deliver a cost-effective boost to total cost of ownership (TCO).

The new excavators are made to help customers achieve more for less, and work with more precision and speed than ever before. Thanks to the new electro-hydraulic system and the automation of boom and bucket movements, operator fatigue is reduced, and efficiency increased, allowing precise digging and shorter cycle times with minimal input.

The advanced electric control joysticks and fully electric travel pedals provide lightning-fast response times, while the swing control, bucket angle control, and a tilt bucket and tiltrotator control all help the operator maintain a precise cutting angle with just the press of a button.

Volvo Smart View with Obstacle Classification gives operators a 360° visibility of the machine’s surroundings, thanks to its camera and new radar detection system. Benefiting from deep learning technology, the feature alerts operators if objects or human beings are detected nearby or even far away. The radar’s reach can be easily pre-set on a high-definition screen, depending on the confinement of the work environment.

Volvo excavators already boast some of the longest service intervals in the industry, with 1,000h engine oil, engine oil filters, and fuel filter changes, but with these recent upgrades, servicing is improved still further with daily maintenance now safer and easier to achieve from ground level.

The engine hood now opens fully, the swing-out condenser makes the radiator and oil cooler easier to inspect, a convenient shut-off valve prevents fuel leakage, and fluid draining has been made simpler and more environmentally friendly.

The new generation state-of-the-art functionality can be enhanced with the addition of Volvo CE’s pioneering range of smart solutions including Volvo Active Control, On-Board Weighing, and Dig Assist 2D and 3D, which provide superior machine guidance and control technology.