JCB Hydradig Wastemaster excavator review

It was in 1953 that Joseph Cyril Bamford launched the 'hydra-digga', JCB's first ever backhoe loader that put the company on the map. At the time it was deemed revolutionary, as it combined an excavator and a loader to create an incredibly versatile piece of work-site machinery.

It was this focus on innovation that has kept JCB at the forefront of the global heavy machinery market. Fast forward to a few years ago, JCB decided to flip the compact excavator design on its head to come up with a ground-breaking new concept and thus, the Hydradig wheeled excavator was born.

Launched in 2016, the JCB Hydradig has found favour across myriad construction sites for its ability to carry out such a wide variety of roles.

JCB says it designed the Hydradig to address a number of common challenges on worksites, including operator vision, stability, manoeuvrability, mobility and serviceability.

Last year, JCB Construction Equipment Australia (CEA) decided to import the Wastemaster version of the Hydradig to cater to the needs of Australia's waste industry.

"JCB Construction Equipment Australia is very active in the waste industry here in Australia; we have a range of specialised products dedicated to the waste industry," said JCB CEA excavators product manager, Deon Cope.

The Wastemaster's specifications include semi-solid tyres that eliminate the risk of a puncture, which is especially important in waste sorting areas where sharp objects and steel are prevalent.

It also features rollover and falling object protection structures (ROPS and FOPS) to provide superior protection for the operator. Additional measures such as light guards and exhaust heat shields help to protect machine components from damage in harsh working environments.

Power is provided by JCB's own EcoMAX engine, which meets EU Stage IV engine emissions regulations and produces a maximum output of 109hp.

It doesn't use a diesel particulate filter, which is ideal in the waste industry.

"The issues we have with diesel particulate filters is that they generate a lot of heat, which is not ideal for waste applications," Cope explained.

"None of the JCB EcoMAX engines run diesel particulate filters, making them ideal for applications like this."

Constructionsales recently had the opportunity to inspect a Hydradig Wastemaster in action at the Frankston Regional Recycling and Recovery Centre in Melbourne, where the unit in question was fitted with all of the features listed above along with a dozer blade and outriggers for extra stability.

Perhaps the most prominent feature of the JCB Hydradig is the 360-degree vision from the cab.

Most excavators of this size have their engine and major components mounted in the house, either on the side or at the rear. In the Hydradig, JCB has moved all those components into the lower chassis, away from the revolving upper body.

By doing so, the house now sits higher to give operators a bird's-eye view of their surroundings, thus giving them the confidence to carry out their work safely and efficiently.

"Because of those major components below, JCB has managed to shed the counterweights on the upper part of the chassis to improve its vision," Cope said.

"So when looking out over the rear quarters and behind the machine, you can see right up to about one metre from the machine."

As the components have been moved into the lower chassis, the centre of gravity is also lower which in turn enhances stability.

"In this configuration at just under 12.5 tonnes, operators can handle material up to just over 1000kg at max reach over the side with the grab, which is unheard of for this size of machine," Cope said.

"Traditionally wheeled excavators are not quite as stable as their tracked variants, but you'll find this machine is."

Grouping the major components in the lower chassis also delivers servicing benefits.

Operators or service technicians simply lift the hood to access the components and can easily do their daily checks or servicing from ground level.

The use of wheels rather than tracks also unlocks higher travel speeds. The Hydradig Wastemaster is capable of a travel speed of up to 20km/h, making trips between sites or waste piles quicker. Pneumatic tyres on the construction configuration gives the Hydradig a top speed of 40km/h.

The lower costs involved in maintaining tyres over tracks also give the Hydradig the edge over tracked units.

"The problem with rubber tracks in this application is that if you do run over a sharp piece of material, you can easily split or cut a track, whereas solid tyres are going to stop that from happening," said Cope.

"Steel tracks are the other alternative, but they can be relatively noisy and cause a fair bit of wear and tear on hard surfaces or even to the track plates themselves. So wheels are a better option."

When working in confined spaces, manoeuvrability is of utmost importance. Fortunately JCB has this aspect covered too, with the Hydradig's multiple steering modes.

Front-wheel steer, four-wheel steer and crab steer come standard with the Hydradig, while reverse steer is available as an option.

The unique reverse-steer system allows operators to drive the machine in reverse in the exact direction they are steering, which is the opposite in most other machines.

"So rather than the operator having to reprogram their brain, they can just select reverse steer in the cab and it will steer in the direction that they want the machine to go," Cope explained.

While the Hydradig sits in the compact excavator segment, its cab is surprisingly roomy and comfortable, taking more of the strain out of a long day's work.

The new CommandPlus cab has a sizeable glasshouse that further improves the already excellent vision around the machine.

For added comfort, the JCB Hydradig comes with an air seat with heating as standard.

Controls and buttons are of a durable, rubberised design and are placed within easy reach. An LCD display shows key operating parameters as well as vision from the integrated reverse camera.

The JCB Hydradig uses ISO controls which means seasoned excavator operators will have no issues familiarising themselves with the controls. There are just a few extras to worry about in the Wastemaster model, such as the proportional thumbwheels that control the rotation, opening and closing of the grapple.

And because the engine and major components have been moved below the operator's station, the noise and vibration from the engine has been isolated, further enhancing comfort and reducing fatigue for operators.

The Hydradig Wastemaster is fitted with a triple articulated boom (TAB) that gives it extra reach and height when digging or loading. With the longest dipper option fitted (2250mm), the Hydradig is capable of a maximum height of 8m.

"The TAB gives you the ability to straighten the boom out and that gives you an additional 1.5m reach," Cope said.

"So when you're doing pre-sorting and pulling through piles, you can position the machine in one spot and the extra reach allows you to do all the work from that one spot without you having to move the machine."

For all the above reasons and more, JCB CEA has been inundated by enquiries since the launch of the first construction configuration model in 2016.

"Particularly in the last six months, enquiry has significantly increased," Cope said.

"We've got machines on rail projects, working in waste for local government, running flail mowers doing roadside maintenance, working in the ag sector doing farm maintenance, fence maintenance, irrigation maintenance and land care maintenance.

"We even have a winery that's inquiring on a machine at the moment for a lift-and-shift-type application, so the applications these machines are handling are pretty impressive."

Pricing for the construction configuration Hydradig starts from around $200,000.

"It is a really impressive platform and you do have to take your hat off to JCB for being so innovative with how they've brought this platform about," Cope said.

"There's nothing official yet, but I'm confident we will see different versions coming out in the near future."

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