JCB 220X marks the spot for comfort and productivity

JCB’s next generation of excavators, the X series, features significant upgrades all over the machine to provide operators a durable, comfortable, and reliable machine, the company said.

Making an appearance at the Diesel Dirt and Turf show in New South Wales in April this year, the 23-tonne JCB 220X has a larger cab, improved hydraulics, heavier weight and is powered by the latest Tier 4 engine for a fuel- and cost-efficient operation.

“One of the main focus areas has been the cabin, so JCB has done a lot of work in conjunction with existing owner operators to develop the cabin,” said JCB CEA (Construction Equipment Australia) National Excavator Product Manager, Deon Cope.

“It's a very ergonomic, comfortable, quiet and roomy cab. They've done some work on the viscous mounts on the cab so it is really isolated from the machine and is super smooth, super quiet and a nice place to sit in if you're going to do an eight or 10 hour shift in the machine.

“They've also done a lot of work on the user interface in regards to the display. It's JCB's own architecture and is really simple to use, has really simple language and has got a lot of nice details in there.”

JCB said the cab is now 15 per cent larger compared to its previous generation machines and comes with a sturdy ROPS structure for safety.

Noise levels have been reduced to a low 67dB(A) inside the operator’s cab, down from 73dB(A) on the previous generation, JCB said.

The excavator is also wider and heavier than previous models to accommodate certain design changes and to be able to handle loads more efficiently, the company said.

The 220X has an upper structure that is now 2.7m wide, 200mm broader than its predecessor. The additional space has allowed JCB’s designers to mount the main boom in the centre of the machine, rather than at an offset which reduces stress on the slew bearing and provides increased accuracy for the operator when trenching, JCB said. It also permits the use of larger buckets without impacting the tracks.

“It's about 1500kg heavier than the previous generation model, so it's very stable,” Cope added.

“That means you can run slightly larger buckets and pull the material through the ground and still feel nice and stable in the cab. It's a very sure-footed and well-planted machine.”

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The next generation 220X is powered by JCB’s very own EcoMAX engine that complies with US Tier 4 engine emissions standards, so the machine is not only more environmentally friendly but also more fuel efficient, JCB added.

“We were quite surprised and impressed by how much more fuel efficient this machine is compared to not only our previous model, but a lot of our competitors in the market,” Cope said.

“We're getting some really impressive fuel use figures with this latest generation engine from JCB, particularly matched to the Tier 4 final system.”

Another key upgrade on the X series machines, according to JCB, is improved hydraulics to handle larger and more demanding attachments such as tilt rotators or grapples.  

“JCB has gone to larger hydraulic pumps from Kawasaki that's running two 228-litre pumps, one of the largest pumps in class,” Cope said.

“They are a lot more efficient in how they develop their hydraulic performance. Matched to the pumps, JCB has also upgraded the main control valve that’s larger to improve functionality and controllability while still maintaining the speed.

“So it's a very fast, quick and agile excavator, but a lot more controllable than some of the other machines in the market.”

The 220X retails for around $210,000, depending on specifications and attachments to go with the machine.

The 220X is currently the only X series model in the Australian market, but not for long. Cope has confirmed that JCB CEA is bringing the brand new 25-tonne 245XR reduced tail swing model into the country which is expected to arrive by the end of 2021.