EARTHMOVERS & EXCAVATORS
KOBELCO:
WHERE PERFORMANCE MEETS DESIGN THE NEW SHORT RADIUS ‘DASH SEVEN’ SERIES EXCAVATOR RANGE FROM KOBELCO HAS MANAGED TO IMPRESS SOME OF THE INDUSTRY’S MOST SEASONED OPERATORS. CHRIS WOLF FROM KOBELCO AUSTRALIA DISCUSSES THE SERIES’ KEY DIFFERENTIATORS.
A
s a seasoned operator, Dale Haycock has sat behind the controls of almost every excavator brand in Australia. For the past three years, he has exclusively operated Kobelco machines, and yet when his company, Carmark, acquired a new 14 tonne short radius Kobelco SK135SR-7 recently, he was impressed with the upgraded features. One key improvement he has noticed in the new ‘dash seven’ model from Kobelco, he notes, is the enhanced operational power. “Cycle times in the new Kobelco machine are shorter compared to its predecessor,” he observes. “Bucket movements are quicker
when you do a full slew, and the machine has more power.” Fuel efficiency is another key differentiator from Haycock’s perspective, where he has noticed significant savings on fuel costs compared to the machine’s predecessor. But, perhaps most notable for Haycock, are the improvements in the operator station. As an earthmoving equipment operator for Carmark, a Queensland-based civil construction and equipment hire company, he spends an average of eight to 12 hours per day on various infrastructure projects, from road and residential subdivision to
bulk earthworks in ports and airports. “The new cabin design has more leg room, it’s a good cabin size and the seats are really comfortable. I also like the Bluetooth radio and hands-free system. The reversing cameras are a big step change in the new model. They can show different views around the machine, not just the rear view. Also, the air conditioning is quite powerful, which helps when we work in hot regions in central Queensland,” Haycock shares. A DELIBERATE IMPROVEMENT For Chris Wolf, General Manager of Marketing and Direct Sales for Kobelco Australia, Haycock’s comments echo with
The new 14 tonne short radius Kobelco SK135SR-7 excavator is a prized addition to Carmark’s fleet of Kobelco machines.
roadsonline.com.au
17
