Largest Kobelco excavator released Down Under

Kobelco Construction Machinery Australia has announced the arrival of the SK850LC-10 - Kobelco’s largest production-class excavator – in Australia.

Since its introduction in 2006, the SK850LC has underwent multiple transformations and improvements over the years to adapt to changing requirements while still providing efficiency and productivity in the 85-tonne market segment.

Kobelco Australia says the latest iteration – the SK850LC-10, has demonstrated that it will be well suited to a variety of work sites across Australia.

“The new SK850LC builds on the impressive reputation Kobelco is building more recently in heavy excavators with the launch of the XD series in the 35 & 50-tonne classes,” said Kobelco Australia’s General Manager of Product & Distribution, Mark Johnson.

“This new SK850LC allows us to participate in quarry, small to medium mine sites and large civil infrastructure applications with a machine that is more productive, more durable and ultimately will make our customers more profitable.”

Powered by a 12.9-litre turbo-charged and intercooled Hino engine, the SK850LC-10 delivers a powerful 380kW for the most demanding jobs and meets the latest international emissions standards.

A new selective catalytic reduction system decreases nitrogen oxide emissions by 80 per cent, Kobelco says.

The enhanced hydraulic system has been designed to reduce energy loss while ensuring speed and precise control. That, combined with the upgraded engine, enables the SK850LC to deliver an average fuel consumption of under 50 litres per hour, Kobelco says.

The company adds the SK850LC’s drawbar force allows the machine to climb stockpiles with ease, ensuring plenty of tractive power for the most extreme site conditions. Three heavy-duty track guides are also installed on each crawler side frame to increase undercarriage durability.

The SK850LC also features Kobelco’s latest cooling system – a hydraulically-driven twin fan engine cooling system. It prevents over-cooling by use of integrated sensors to reduce the speed of the twin-fan unit, helping to improve fuel economy and reduce noise.

There are three work modes available for operators to choose from - H-mode, S-mode and ECO-mode that allows for minimum fuel consumption while optimising digging efficiency.

From the comfort of the cabin, the operator can also pre-set multiple attachment settings. The SK850LC comes factory equipped with bi-directional primary auxiliary hydraulics, along with proportional hand-controlled tilt/rotate piping and quick hitch piping as standard.

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With a 8.25m and 3.6m heavy-duty boom and arm, the SK850LC has an operating capacity exceeding 10.6 tonnes at a reach of 11.6m, according to Kobelco. The SK850LC is also available in a mass excavation (ME) specification, with a shorter boom and arm as well as an optional heavier 3-tonne counterweight.

The operator cabin has also been improved to offer ultimate comfort. An air suspension seat, combined with a 25 per cent reduction in lever control force, reduces operator fatigue during long hours of operation, Kobelco says.

Climate control and a spacious cabin provides a comfortable work environment. The high-level of pressurisation in the sealed cab keeps out dust and ensures a quiet environment for the operator. A standard 12V port and AUX jack is provided, while the standard Bluetooth integrated stereo system allows the operator to stream audio.

The operator-friendly colour multi-display LCD screen uses easily recognisable graphics for quick navigation of important information, including fuel consumption and maintenance intervals. An intuitive one-touch attachment mode switch lets the operator confirm the proper configuration at a glance.

A FOPS top guard along with a front window guard and swing flashers come standard for enhanced jobsite safety. In addition to the rear view camera, an optional right-side camera can be fitted for easy safety checks around the machine.

Maintenance has been kept simple on the SK850LC-10. Maintenance data is easily retrievable from the operation management system for maintenance scheduling purposes, while the cooling unit, engine compartment and electrical components are easily accessible for convenient day-to-day maintenance.

The new and improved hydraulic fluid filter has a new cover that prevents contamination even when changing filters. Pressure sensors at the inlet and outlet of the hydraulic oil filter monitor pressure differences to assess filtration performance, triggering a warning on the cab display screen if the filter needs to be replaced.

A standard onboard grease gun on a retractable reel makes greasing the SK850LC a fast and convenient task. Kobelco has also installed a standard onboard refuelling pump to make the process faster and safer.

The variable gauge crawler allows for the retraction of the crawler to reduce the width for easier transport, with the ability to re-extend when on the jobsite for better stability.

The SK850LC is equipped with Kobelco’s K-Assist system, a remote diagnostic and troubleshooting system that allows the local Kobelco dealer to provide advanced support of the machine without the need for a technician to be present, helping operators reduce downtime.

The Kobelco SK850LC-10 is available now at dealers around Australia and New Zealand.