Hitachi 193-tonne excavator breaks surface

Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM) has announced its EX2000-7 ultra-large hydraulic excavator that the company said will be available in October next year. The EX2000-7 is based on the EX1900-6 model but consumes up to 19 per cent less fuel without compromise on productivity, HCM said.

Featuring an operating weight of 193 tonnes, the EX2000-7 is one of the smaller Hitachi EX-7 ultra-large excavators.

It features a brand new hydraulic circuit that controls the right amount of oil flow to each control valve for energy and fuel efficiency.

All hydraulic pumps in the EX2000-7 are equipped with electric regulators to precisely control oil flow, based on operating lever positions and engine load. This way, no energy is wasted in the process and fuel consumption is kept as low as possible.

A new mode selection feature on the EX2000-7 now allows the operator to select one of three working modes – High Power (HP) Mode, Power (PWR) Mode or Economy (ECO) Mode to optimise productivity and promote fuel efficiency for different types of operation.

High Power (HP) Mode is suitable for heavy-duty operations such as bedrock excavation. Power (PWR) Mode is suitable for most general operations while Economy (ECO) Mode is suitable for light operations. Depending on the mode, fuel consumption is reduced by up to 40 per cent compared to the EX1900-6, HCM said.

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The EX2000-7’s boom-arm joint area and main frames have been designed in line with Hitachi’s larger mining machines. The pin connection between the boom and arm has changed from a single pin to a double pin, which is employed for larger excavators (250-tonne and heavier).

This makes the boom and arm stronger and much lighter, allowing for safer and easier pin replacement to help further reduce life-cycle costs, Hitachi explained. The main frame has also been redesigned to disperse stress evenly during operation, increasing durability of the machine.

On the EX-7 series machines, Hitachi has increased the rotating speed of the oil cooler fan to more effectively cool the hydraulic oil and prevent thermal degradation of hydraulic components.

Hitachi’s ConSite Mine technology, scheduled for release in 2021, will be available with the Hitachi EX-7 series excavators. The software helps operators solve problems with their machines through the use of IoT (Internet of Things) and AI (Artificial Intelligence) technologies.

In addition, the EX2000-7 will be ready to support Hitachi’s Remote Operation System, Operation Support System and Autonomous Operation functions, all of which will undergo testing in 2021.

HCM said it plans to roll out autonomous mining operation in the future by coordinating hydraulic excavators and AHS (Autonomous Haulage System), which it said will take safety and productivity to a new level.