Customer focused engineering

INTRODUCING:

JOHN DEERE’S SERIES-II EXCAVATORS

JOHN DEERE INTRODUCED ITS SERIES-II EXCAVATOR RANGE TO THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET OVER 12 MONTHS AGO. THE COMPANY’S EXPERTS REVIEW SOME OF THE CUSTOMERFOCUSED FEATURES INCLUDED IN THE SERIES.

John Deere launched its Series-II Excavator range to the Australian market over 12 months ago in response to the unique Australian climate and conditions.

As Kel Davison, Director for Marketing and Sales, Construction and Forestry Equipment at John Deere explains, the lineup of eight excavators has already received great feedback from customers.

“Our customers enjoy the power and performance offered by Series-II excavators,” he says. “The lineup delivers the quality and performance John Deere customers expect.”

In developing the Series-II Excavator series, Davison says John Deere engineers and developers engaged closely with customers through John Deere’s Customer Advocate Groups and responded to their feedback at key points in the design of the machines.

“Customers also help evaluate John Deere designs by putting equipment through their paces in a series of in-dirt evaluations. By understanding real-world applications, our engineers have the information and insights they need to create a differential edge on John Deere products, and this critical input is the driver behind every comfort, function, and performance feature we produce.”

Senior Vice President Engineering, Manufacturing and Supply Management for the John Deere Construction and Forestry Division, Brian Rauch, says this customerfocused design approach is prioritised and implemented globally across all John Deere products.

“We study customers in our intended markets, apply their feedback to our designs, and define extensive product verification duty cycles based on the requirements they share with us. All Deere engineers, regardless of product responsibility or location of design centre, utilise the same approach, collaborating extensively to ensure we are delivering products worthy of the Deere name,” Rauch says.

ENHANCED COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE The spacious cab for the Series-II Excavator series was designed with convenience in mind, Davison says.

“We made sure there was plenty of storage and controls were easy to use and well placed. Ensuring that operators can be comfortable and productive all day long. The Sealed Switch Module (SSM) is very intuitive, conveniently placed, is water and dust proof and eliminates unsealed connections and moving parts associated with traditional rocker switches. The seven-inch touch screen monitor is easy to navigate, providing quick access to machine features and functions that is easier than some systems. Multiple machine readings and Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC’s) are available for the operator to read via the touch screen,” he explains.

“Easy daily servicing is another thing we are hearing from our customers. The ability to do most tasks from the ground without tools is a time saver for our customers. Grouped service points, single position swing greasing,

John Deere’s Series-II Excavator lineup includes eight models ready to perform in Australian conditions.

Once a build is complete, new products are put through a series of thorough trials to ensure quality and performance.

4000-hour hydraulic oil and filter and 500hour engine oil and filter changes, as well as the oil-sealed and lubricated undercarriage, ensure daily servicing is simple and efficient,” he adds.

MORE UPTIME John Deere excavators also harness the power of heavy-duty booms and arms, a robust electrical system and optimised hydraulic routing, as Davison explains.

“A sealed and lubricated undercarriage and heavy-duty welded X-frame provide a solid, stable platform, while the sloped track frame resists material build-up to decrease cleaning time.

“Full-length track guides and doublegrouser track shoes are optional for rocky terrain and a heavy-duty cooling system keeps the engine and hydraulic system running efficiently, even in tough environments.”

MORE MUSCLE With a strong focus on getting the job done, John Deere Series-II excavators prioritise quality, productivity and operator comfort while incorporating strategic features such as premium hydraulic performance, highly durable and thick boom, arm and buckets to withstand tougher digging conditions, and Auto Pressure Boost to anticipate and deliver power when it’s needed.

“Big tasks demand serious equipment,” says Davison. “Combining substantial power with smooth, low-effort control, John Deere excavators provide the exceptional performance and fast work cycles needed to tackle large jobs quickly. Four power modes and three work modes deliver the right power and response for maximum productivity and strong digging force.”

TOUGH COMPONENTS The components used in the John Deere Series-II Excavator series help take these machines to the next level, Davison notes.

“The highly dependable John Deere PowerTech™ Plus engine with variablegeometry turbocharger (VGT) delivers outstanding fuel efficiency, to move more material on less fuel. Full integration with Deere’s Intelligent Hydraulic (JD-IHC) system combines impressive performance with smooth, low-effort control. Generous flow, arm force, and swing torque help keep things moving, while the 90/180-degree function (available on the E300’s) increases the boomup speed for faster truck loading,” he says.

DESIGN CONTROL There are more advantages when it comes to machine control and diagnosis that are unique to John Deere, Davison points out.

“We design the majority of our components, which means we don’t need to compromise the overall design. This deep vertical integration of products provides a further competitive edge to customers,” he says

“JDLinkTM Telematics system enables dealers to respond to customer needs and diagnose, and even correct many issues, without leaving the dealership.” QUALITY IS EVERYTHING As Davison further asserts, production quality takes centre stage with John Deere construction and forestry machines.

“John Deere Construction and Forestry Equipment has a reputation across the world for outstanding quality, reliability, durability and performance, and our Series-II excavators are no exception. These excavators are built in a purpose-built factory in Tianjin, China to our exacting Deere engineering standards and will help drive production and profitability for local operators through fast cycle times, more muscle, more daily uptime and tough components,” he says.

On maintaining a uniformly high quality of production, Rauch says this is facilitated by using state-of-the-art, high-precision machinery and techniques across all John Deere manufacturing facilities.

“The same parts and components can be produced to identical standards at any of our worldwide manufacturing facilities,” Rauch says. “This is accomplished by using the John Deere Production System at all of our factories. No matter the location, employees follow the same procedures, and use the same tooling, assembly processes and quality assurance checks.”

Rigorous testing is another part of the process.

“Once a build is complete, quality inspections continue, with new products put through a series of thorough trials to ensure quality and performance at dedicated factory test facilities. Equipment is subjected to several thermal cycles, raising and lowering operating temperatures. This is why John Deere machines will often have two to three hours on the clock at time of delivery – so customers can be assured the equipment has been thoroughly tested,” Rauch concludes.

“The purpose of everything we do is to ensure that we’re building products that continue to deliver on the promise our company founder made: ‘I will never put my name on a product that does not have in it the best that is in me’.”

THE SERIES-II EXCAVATORS ARE IN STOCK. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL YOUR LOCAL JOHN DEERE DEALER: [Western Australia] AFGRI Equipment on (08) 6278 7100 [Other States] RDO Equipment on 1300 008 608