Komatsu unveils 25 new machines at largest ever launch event

It was one for the history books when Komatsu Australia launched a record-breaking 25 new machines for 2018 including dump trucks, wheeled loaders, compact excavators, mid-size excavators and more.

While each new model offers different upgrades, all of them share a number of common improvements including new Tier-4 Final compliant engines equipped with innovative technology that the company claim can reduce engine emission levels by a whopping 90 per cent compared with their previous-generation Tier-3 equivalent machines.

Tier-4 compliant engines

“We’ve actually taken the Tier-4 to a whole new level,” said Komatsu Australia’s Executive General Manager for Construction, Dean Gaedtke.

“It’s not just about putting things on an engine to meet an emission standard, but we’ve actually improved our fuel economy and the performance of those engines through some incredible technology and design.”

Some of the technology include a heavy-duty after-treatment system, an advanced Electronic Control System, a heavy-duty cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system, a Komatsu Variable Geometry Turbocharger (KVGT) system and a heavy-duty High-Pressure Common Rail (HPCR) fuel injection system.

All these systems work together to reduce harmful engine emissions while at the same time reduce fuel consumption without compromise on power and productivity, according to Komatsu.

Gaedtke added the new engines are offering fuel consumption savings of between five and 15 per cent – depending on models and applications.

Biggest release in history

The machine launches announced at the event include:

Excavators

Wheel loaders

Grader

Dump trucks

The full suite of machines will be released gradually over the course of the year.

Smart telematics

KOMTRAX

Komatsu’s new machines feature its latest KOMTRAX remote monitoring system which offers operators “unprecedented visibility” as well as up-to-date operating data.

It reports on everything operators need to know; from machine hours to maximum speed, and from servicing alerts to machine efficiency.

It also helps ensure key operational criteria of the Tier 4 Final engines are all working correctly, delivering data reporting on Komatsu Diesel Particulates Filter (KDPF) soot count, active KDPF soot removal regeneration time and fuel used, any KDPF cautions and Diesel Exhaust Fluid (AdBlue) levels.

“KOMTRAX is there to help our customers manage risk with their assets, and we can help by monitoring the performance of the machines and any fault codes that come up,” Gaedtke said.

“We help our customers improve the performance, productivity and fuel economy of their machines, because we need to ultimately help them reduce their operating costs.”

Another new feature of the latest KOMTRAX is an operator ID system, which can be set for each operator.

This allows data sent from KOMTRAX to be used to analyse operating status by operator as well as by machine.

Intelligent Machine Control (iMC)

Originally launched in 2016 on five machines – four dozers and one excavator, Komatsu has since expanded the iMC range to include one more excavator model – the 40-tonne PC360LCi-11.

Comprising a set of highly advanced inertial measurement sensors, antennas and stroke sensing hydraulic cylinders, the iMC system makes earthmoving operations semi-autonomous, which greatly slashes the time it takes to carry out a task such as grading or digging.

To put it simply, operators only need to feed 3D design data into the machine and set a target digging depth or grade, and the machine is smart enough to know when to stop and will not allow operators to proceed further once the target grade is achieved, hence minimising over excavation.

With the auto grade assist function on the iMC equipped excavator, the operator need only to move the arm and the boom adjusts the bucket height automatically, tracing the target surface and minimising digging too deep.

“The idea of this technology is that a skilled operator can become even more productive and efficient, with the machine helping them cut to grade a lot quicker and help control the machine,” Gaedtke said.

“But more importantly, it expands the labour available to our customers because lesser skilled operators can now operate these machines to very high productivity and efficiency.

“There is a skill shortage in our country and we feel that this will help our customers meet the demands that they have.

“We need to attract more younger people into our workforce, and the technology that we have with our telematics, is quite the attraction point.”

SMARTCONSTRUCTION

Last year, Komatsu launched its SMARTCONSTRUCTION offering which utilises a range of technology and services to offer a one-stop shop experience for customers.

Essentially, through SMARTCONSTRUCTION, Komatsu is providing integrated product, service and support solutions across all phases of a project from initial site survey and design, through to final completion.

That includes utilising drones to survey the site, loading data into customers’ machines, ensure machine connectivity, helping to review project progress during the construction phase, and culminating in development of detailed as-built information for future construction and infrastructure maintenance.

“It isn’t just about us selling a machine and walking away from that customer and the commitments they have,” Gaedtke said.

“We’re actually heading to be part of the total solution and help our customers with the pressure they’re on.”