view from the cab
YANMAR
MINI EXCAVATORS RULE AT SB CONTRACTS To say that Dungannon based civil engineers SB Contracts are big fans of the Yanmar brand would be something of an understatement; the company’s mini excavator fleet is essentially all Yanmars, and they’ve just added another three, supplied by dealers Crumlin Plant Sales.
“Other extras included additional 200kg counterweights, Hill Engineering hydraulic hitches, a rear-view camera for added safety, and although there is adequate standard lighting on the machines, we also fitted a 32” light bar as the machines are often engaged in night-time working,” says Sean.
The latest additions include two ViO57s, probably the most compact excavator in its class, and ideal for heavy-duty working in an urban environment where space is limited; the third new machine is a ViO33, which also boasts a very compact turning radius.
And speaking of visibility, the design of the ViO57 cab provides an excellent all-round view and significantly reduces the potential for blind spots; it is also equipped with three mirrors to help the operator control the work area without moving from his seat.
The machines are currently employed on utility contracts for NIE, working in busy built up areas and are proving perfect for the task as they are often operating in restricted areas along roadsides and footpaths.
Cab Comforts
“We’ve always favoured the Yanmar brand,” says Sean McKenna. He and business partner Brian Lanigan head up the company which was formed nearly 10 years ago. “And we have a great working relationship with the team at Crumlin Plant Sales,” adds Sean. The new machines came with a number of ‘extras’ over and above the standard equipment. They included Yanmar’s SmartAssist tracking software, which manages not just location information about the machine, but also provides maintenance alerts and quickly detects potential faults.
Despite being a compact machine, the cab itself is spacious, with plenty of legroom for the operator, as well as an adjustable, air suspension seat for added comfort, while the working environment is further enhanced by the provision of six strategically located air vents to improve circulation. Other cab features that contribute to operator comfort include adjustable wrist support, footrests, wide travel pedals, windshield with 2 fully retractable parts, sliding double rightside window, wipers, windshield washer, automatic ceiling lights and lots of storage areas for documents and personal effects. The ViO57 is also equipped with a digital interface which informs the operator in
real time about the status of his machine. Perfectly integrated into the righthand console, a 3.3” screen provides excellent visibility. The interface provides useful information about important elements like fuel consumption, fuel gauge, and coolant temperature gauge. It also works as a diagnostic tool in case of malfunction by sending an error code and an information icon on the display. Control levers are ideally located for exceptional movement precision, and also included is an “auto-deceleration” feature, whereby the engine drops back to idle if the driver doesn’t touch the operating levers for four seconds, and an “EcoMode” that effectively controls the motor speed which is reduced by 300 rpm, thus allowing for very low fuel consumption.
Hydraulic System The machine also features a ViPPS (ViO Progressive 3 Pumps System) hydraulic system. The machine’s hydraulic circuit has an aggregated power regulation equipped with two variable flow piston pumps and a multiple combination directional control valve. Pumps engage automatically depending on the performed operation, providing greater ease of use for the operator. On one hand, the combination of the pump flows can increase the work speed and on the other hand, the system allows smooth and simultaneous performance of all the operations, even while travelling. Driven by a 48.4 HP TNV engine which is equipped with direct injection and turbo charger for improved power, fuel efficiency and torque, the machine’s excellent level of stability, even on the roughest of terrain, can be attributed to its well thought-out undercarriage design; the X-shaped boxsection structure of the undercarriage provides excellent torsional stiffness. Said to have the best boom and arm protection on the market, the ViO57 benefits, too, from unique and complete protection of all its boom, arm and bucket cylinders. All cylinder tubes and rods are protected by a spring type steel plate.
Service & Support Busy contractors want a machine where daily maintenance can be carried out quickly and easily, and the ViO57 doesn’t disappoint. The engine bonnet and the right-hand side cover are easy to open to
42
PLANT & CIVIL ENGINEER
