We’re used to numbers—some of them in the double digits—when manufacturers talk about fuel efficiency gains in new equipment. But Komatsu America on Friday talked about a huge number, and it wasn’t about fuel efficiency, but rather production time.
Komatsu says the semi-automatic Intelligent Machine Control on its PC210LCi-10 excavator will help make over-excavation a thing of the past. Compared with using a standard excavator, the company says in field tests the excavator showed up to a 63-percent reduction in production times. That’s a number that will make most contractors pause.
The machine is semi-automatically limited from digging beyond the target surface, as defined by project files downloaded either through a thumb drive inserted into the bottom of the in-cab control box or remotely through project partner Topcon’s Sitelink 3D Enterprise program.
Previewed at ConExpo in March, the excavator will be available in North America starting next month, the culmination of a project that’s obviously got those involved buzzing. “I’ve been at Komatsu since 1988 and this is the most exciting project I’ve worked on,” says Peter Robson, director, intelligent machine controls. “This is no longer machine guidance, but machine control. We’re confident customers will start to unearth the potential of this system.”
In fact, Robson says, the first PC210LCi-10 has already been sold to a customer in the Northeast.
Komatsu wants to make clear the machine control takes over only when an operator nears the target surface as defined by downloaded project files. In all other areas, operators are in complete control. “Productivity gains depend on the operator, who still controls the speed of the operation,” says Jason Anetsberger, project marketing manager, intelligent machine controls. “This will raise an operator’s efficiencies, whatever his experience.”
