In the construction machinery industry, few "little brothers" can receive as much attention as small excavators, but mid size and large models are full of innovation. (Excerpt from International Construction report)
The sales of compact excavators far exceed those of large models and have been going on for many years. According to Off Highway Research (OHR), a construction machinery consulting company, 365000 small excavators were sold globally in 2023, with a total value exceeding $12.5 billion.
OHR estimates that sales of small hydraulic excavators in North America increased by 133% from 2014 to 2023, with models ranging from 6 to 12 tons accounting for approximately 33% of the region's market share in 2023, a significant increase from 2.6% a decade ago. Similar growth rates have also emerged in major construction machinery markets such as China and Europe.
This is very impressive data, but why are small excavators favored? Although the sales of medium and large-sized excavators are not as high as those of small-sized machines, excavators with higher tonnage are still keeping pace with the overall modernization process of the industry. In addition, with the increasing number of large-scale projects worldwide, the demand for medium and large-sized excavators will continue to increase.
The bigger the better
Small excavators are mainly active in cities and narrow spaces, and in recent years have been greatly promoted by large cities' investment in housing and infrastructure. However, medium and large (10 tons and above) excavators are more suitable for harsh environments, and their ideal application scenarios include remote construction sites, mines, quarries, and extreme climate and temperature areas.
The British original equipment manufacturer (OEM) JCB took these factors into consideration when developing its 370X excavator, which was released this year. As one of the most well-known excavator manufacturers in the European market, JCB states that this machine is the largest of its X-series tracked excavators. This series was launched in 2018, with a weight of up to 40 tons and equipped with an 8.9-liter, 6-cylinder Cummins L9 diesel engine. It has a maximum power of 240 kilowatts or 322 horsepower and a speed of 1700 revolutions per minute. The hydraulic system adopts Kawasaki pumps and the new generation KYB valve group.
JCB points out that climate conditions are an important consideration in the development of this machine. JCB stated, "The 370X is designed to operate in the harshest environments and has undergone rigorous testing to demonstrate optimal performance in any climate condition
The machine is also equipped with heavier counterweights to increase stability, a larger structure to cope with additional forces, an increased service pipeline diameter, and higher hydraulic pressure to enhance power at the excavation end.
A larger size also means improved production efficiency: according to JCB's testing, the 370X can move an additional 4.5 tons of material per liter of fuel, and can move 86 tons of material per hour more than its competitors. The bucket diameter of the machine has also increased to a maximum of 100 millimeters, making it suitable for larger demolition operations.
Raise productivity
Electric excavators are also expanding in size and entering new markets. Volvo CE, a Swedish construction equipment company, introduced its EC230 electric excavator to the Japanese market in May, having previously been launched in North America and Europe.
Volvo CE believes that the EC230 is now the "largest electric excavator in the Japanese market". Shoji Isamu, the head of the Volvo CE Japan market, pointed out that there is a great demand for zero emission electric construction machinery in the Japanese market, and stated that dealers and end-users need sustainable choices that can meet the needs of the Japanese market.
Two of the five EC230s that have been initially put on the market have been arranged for leasing, and the other one will be used by the main contractor for multiple project constructions.
In the field of ultra large excavators, the PC9000 hydraulic mining excavator jointly developed by KGM and SMS Equipment is suitable for surface applications.
Shengang stated that PC9000 is designed to improve productivity, performance, and efficiency in mining sites, and is suitable for use with its 830E to 980E mining trucks to increase cycle time and reduce overall costs per ton of material.
The first PC9000 has been delivered to the Ford Mountain oil sands mine in Alberta, Canada, which extracts 194000 barrels of material per day and is expected to operate until 2068. The PC9000 is equipped with a larger bucket and higher digging power to improve efficiency and cycle time.
Technology and power upgrade
Automated features such as auxiliary leveling, sensor and camera technology, and remote information processing have become standard configurations for most new machines.
In the next few years, optimizing the electronic hydraulic system, enhancing automation functions, and introducing more remote operation opportunities will become new breakthroughs in the excavator industry.
Caterpillar's Cat Command remote operating system is an example that allows operators to leave the cab and continue working, which is particularly useful when working near pipelines or underground infrastructure.
Caterpillar showcased a demonstration of the Cat Command system operating a Cat 308 excavator at its training and research center in Edwards, Illinois.
It's very simple, "the operator said during the indoor demonstration, hanging a Cat Command controller around his neck to control an excavator about 10 meters away from him. He said, "When switching to mining mode, the operation will be the same as in the cab
Caterpillar has also launched the Cat Grade system that supports 3D, utilizing Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Real Time Kinematic (RTK) technology to enable operators to level complex terrains on multiple machines.
Alternative energy sources
The innovation of fuel technology is also driving the development of the excavator industry, and Liebherr is actively engaged in this field.
Marc Wiedemann from Liebherr Kirchdorf said, "Energy conversion technology includes a complete set of efficient engines and drive devices, including conventional internal combustion engines, hydrogen combustion engines, electric motors, fuel cells, batteries, or hybrid power systems independently developed and produced by Liebherr
He said that each technology has its advantages and disadvantages, and requires specific infrastructure, which means it is suitable for different application scenarios. In the foreseeable future, there will not be a universal driving technology applicable to various application fields such as construction machinery and lifting equipment
On the contrary, the more precise the coordination of driving technology, applications, and usage regions, the greater the contribution to customer value creation and climate neutrality
Some technological advancements can also help meet the needs of machines. China's XCMG stated that the XE690DK hydraulic excavator has additional monitoring functions that can enhance safety and efficiency.
The machine is equipped with an independent intelligent temperature sensing control system, which optimizes liquid temperature control, reduces noise, and improves overall efficiency, "XCMG said. In addition, the intelligent management system of the machine integrates IoT technology and convenient mobile applications to achieve real-time monitoring of machine status, ensuring safe and efficient operation
Comfortable driving cabin
Perhaps the biggest change for excavators in the past decade is the significant improvement in the comfort of their cab.
The electronic hydraulic components reduce the physical demands of operators on the control lever, while luxurious features such as air conditioning and ergonomic seats are gradually becoming standard equipment for big brands.
Caterpillar's global market expert Jason Hurdis pointed out that the comfort of the cab is an important priority for the company. He admitted during a summer outdoor demonstration that the operator was "making fun of me while wearing headphones" in the air-conditioned cab.
He also welcomes the operator's joke, as it marks the result of years of hard work in developing a new cab. Hurdis added that small changes such as improved LED lighting and radio control are crucial for operators.
China's Liugong stated that the 925FCR cab includes seven new factory available features, including parallel wipers (suitable for high dust environments), a tilt console for improved convenience in entering and exiting the cab, a 10.1-inch display screen for 360 degree visibility, USB A and C charging ports, upgraded audio and radio, and improved."
