Kobelco introduces heaviest short radius excavator

Kobelco Construction Machinery Australia has announced the arrival of the SK380SRLC-7 excavator which follows Kobelco’s Performance x Design concept.

The new model is Kobelco’s heaviest short radius excavator to date, designed to provide large conventional capability in a compact design.

“Increased requirements for urban infrastructure, utilities and roadbuilding means an increased demand for compact machinery,” said Kobelco Australia’s General Manager of Product & Distribution, Mark Johnson.

“The SK380SR provides the same powerful performance and lifting capacity as our large conventional machines, but with a smaller working footprint. The newly redesigned Series 7 cabin is also something that operators will certainly appreciate.”

Some of the new features on the SK380SRLC-7 include an all-new modern operator station and a five per cent increase in engine output compared to the outgoing model, Kobelco said.

With a base operating weight of 37 tonnes and only 305mm of tail overhang, the SK380SRLC-7 is suitable for tackling heavy-duty tasks up-close such as highway projects and applications requiring a larger machine in a restricted work area.

The SK380SRLC-7 is equipped with an Isuzu Tier IV Final compliant engine, which provides 210kW of output and six per cent higher torque than previous models for a more efficient performance, all while minimising fuel consumption, Kobelco said.

In addition, the modern engine does not feature DPF, further reducing operating costs.

The machine has a longer undercarriage to ensure excellent stability, even when lifting heavy loads. The combination of high hydraulic pressure and balanced chassis layout delivers exceptional lifting capacity, Kobelco added, which is ideal for heavier tools and attachments.

When extra lift capacity is required, a heavy lift mode can be activated, while power boost mode provides an instant 10 per cent power increase for enhanced digging capability with no time restrictions, delivering 208kN of bucket digging force and 139kN of arm crowding force.

Independent travel, a unique feature of Kobelco, ensures a steady and consistent travel speed even during swinging and lifting operations, and when using the front attachment.

With digging depths of up to 6.9m, class leading swing torque and swift swing speeds, the SK380SRLC-7 offers short cycle times and increased productivity, Kobelco said.

The bucket cylinder has also been reinforced and the rod side pin diameter has been increased from 80 to 95 mm for durability and controllability.  

As part of Kobelco’s Performance x Design concept, the SK380SRLC-7 also features an enhanced cabin design, ergonomics, and safety features.

The Kobelco-branded Grammer heated and air-cushioned suspension seat moves together with the armrests and hydraulic controls, reducing operator fatigue and providing excellent shock absorption and superior ride comfort.

The spacious cabin is equipped with a standard 12V charging receptacle alongside an audio auxiliary jack, while the standard Bluetooth integrated stereo system allows the operator to stream audio.

LED back-lit jog-type dial controls multiple functions on the 10-inch colour screen, including operating history, maintenance cycle, fuel consumption, and water temperature gauges as well as hydraulic oil flow and pressure adjustment.

The exclusive Kobelco intelligent total control system (ITCS) allows for pre-setting of attachment work modes from the cabin, with pre-sets to select multiple saved tools, and operability adjustment that automatically provides optimal controllability for the specific attachment type in use.

To improve visibility on the jobsite, particularly when operating at night, the SK380SRLC-7 has also been equipped with two bright LED work lights.

Like all Kobelco heavy excavators in Australia and New Zealand, the SK380SRLC comes standard with a 2-year/3000-hour full machine warranty and a 4-year/6000-hour major component extended warranty, backed by Kobelco’s extensive parts network.

All Kobelco heavy excavators also come with Kobelco’s GEOSCAN telematics system, provided free of charge to allow for remote access to a comprehensive set of machine operational and maintenance data from any web enabled device.

Find out more about the new SK380SRLC-7 on Kobelco Construction Machinery Australia’s website.