Member Article

New Komatsu excavation machine unveiled from Birtley manufacturing plant

Komatsu Limited selected Komatsu UK Ltd, its manufacturing plant in Birtley, for the introduction to the European market of the new Komatsu PC210LCi-10, an excavator fitted with the exclusive intelligent Machine Control system, which looks set to revolutionise the construction industry.

Over 100 guests, including UK customers and UK and European trade journalists, recently attended the unveiling of the PC210LCi-10 where they were treated to a live demo of the new machine in action and invited to take it for their very own test drive.

The highly sophisticated PC210LCi-10 excavator features Komatsu’s innovative machine control and guidance system, fully integrated with the other qualities and benefits of the standard Komatsu PC210LC-10.

When compared to using a standard excavator the semi-automatic Intelligent Machine Control on the PC210LCi-10 can help make significant savings for the operators, reducing production times by up to as much as 63-percent.

The PC210LCi-10 is the first excavator in the world to truly feature full machine control functionality where the machine control system can take command of some of the digging movements. The Komatsu developed control system uses established GPS technologies to understand the position of the machine on the ground and revolutionary stroke sensing cylinders to give real time positions of the excavator bucket.

A further benefit of the excavators unique control functions is that even a relatively inexperienced operator can dig surfaces to precisely designed dimensions dispensing with the need for secondary surveying or checking. This ensures that surveyors and checking staff no longer need to work around the PC210LCi-10, contributing to a safer working environment.

All of this ensures that the operator of the Komatsu PC210LCi-10 can focus on moving material safely, efficiently and economically.

“This latest Komatsu technology is a revolution in how hydraulic excavators will be used in the coming years,” said Mal McCoy, product manager for hydraulic excavators and intelligent Machine Control products. “The ability of the PC210LCi-10 to achieve and maintain grade with the minimum effort from the operator is outstanding.”

Commenting on Komatsu’s decision to use its UK base for the introduction of the revolutionary excavator and for its on-going distribution, Komatsu UK’s managing director, Peter Howe, said:

“We are absolutely delighted that the most innovative excavator in the world was launched in the UK - and especially here in the region. Komatsu continually invests in improving and evolving its range of products to ensure we remain at the forefront of the sector, and the new PC210LCi-10 will revolutionise the construction industry. There has never before been a hydraulic excavator which operates with such accuracy and offers such flexible control.”

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