The first Hitachi 120t EX1200-7
excavator, a new addition to the EX-7 Series, recently arrived in South Africa,
following its launch earlier in the year at Bauma 2019 in Germany.
The smallest machine in the EX-7 Series,
the EX1200-7, comes in two configurations – backhoe or shovel, and packs a
punch with a 4.5% increase in bucket capacity, optimised swing
control and an upgraded hydraulic system, including a flow-regeneration valve,
which means lower power requirements, lower fuel consumption, and increased pump
life.
“Fuel efficiency was a major factor
in the design of the EX-7 Series because we recognised the importance of caring
for the environment while remaining profitable. These machines make this easier
than ever before,” says Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM) Africa’s Marketing
& Business Development Manager, Marius Weber.
The electric-controlled main pump
and a hydraulic regeneration circuit added to this latest line of machinery,
reducing fuel consumption by up to 10% in some models, and also includes a
linear controlled oil cooler and radiator fan clutch throughout the EX-7 Series.
In addition to these, different
engine options are available, in particular the FCO (Fuel Consumption
Optimisation) configuration chosen for the African market, thanks to the
emissions reduction technology employed in their design.
Improvements have been made in terms
of fuel economy, with functions such as Shutdown Control which, when activated,
prompts the machine to switch to “soft key off” status” to prevent unnecessary
fuel burn.
“Customers now have the option to
choose between various power supplies, allowing for regional regulatory
compliance and/or preferential satisfaction,” says Weber.
HCM provides a choice between an MTU
internal combustion engine or a Cummins gas engine for on all models from the
EX2600 upwards, in response to the findings from customer research.
Meanwhile, the EX1200-7 offers some
structural improvements on its predecessor, the EX1200-6, with the track
frame’s swing circle having been upgraded from a cast structure to a forged
structure, and the top plate thickness increased from 50mm to 55mm for greater
durability. The EX1200-7 also has in improved grease system that enables
automatic lubrication to grease all points in the superstructure, including the
bucket pins.
“Customer satisfaction is a core
driver behind the innovations we employ in the design and manufacture of our
machines, and we’re certain that the new EX-7 Series will not disappoint,” says
Weber.
Further to the reduction in
operating costs and increasing of production capacity, EX-7 excavators include
a number of Hitachi’s technologies for digital integration.
Global E-service and ConSite are
remote machine management systems that monitor and report on machine health,
allowing clients to ensure that the EX-7 machines consistently deliver at
maximum efficiency. ConSite also allows clients to access status information on
their machines from a personal computer on a daily basis.
Contamination sensors on all main
hydraulic pumps, centre joints and swing motors of the new EX-7 Series can
detect contaminants that may cause damage to any of these components and alert
the operator of potential contaminants and record the fault in the DLU (Data
Logging Unit), even remotely advising maintenance control.
Among several new features added to
the Series is the Aerial Angle, which is a 360º peripheral vision display
system that feeds live footage from cameras mounted on the excavator, improving
overall safety for both operator and mine.
In terms of safety, the EX-7 now
also has an MDG 15 regulation standard dual isolator switch for both the engine
starter and the battery, which aids in safely troubleshooting and downloading
machine information.
The console switches have also been
upgraded and rearranged for greater convenience, with the more frequently used
controls and switches on the right-hand-side console, and the less frequently
used switches arranged on the left.
The EX-7 Series of machines will
include the following models:
- EX1200-7
- EX2600-7
- EX3600-7
- EX5600-7
- EX8000-7
Ends.
For further information, please contact:
Moeketsi Mokoteli
T: (010) 596 1305
