Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/531852
I DA U N I V E R S A L M ay -J u n e 2 0 1 5 23 NUTS AND BOLTS NEWS Nuts & Bolts continued on page 33 Komatsu has once again expanded its lineup of "intel- ligent" earthmoving equip- ment. With the launch of the D155AXi-8, the heavy equip- ment manufacturer now off ers six machines with its intelligent machine control tech onboard. iMC is built right into the body of these machines and on dozers off ers the ability to run in automatic mode throughout a job – from rough dozing all the way through to fi nish grading. e D155AXi-8 is the largest iMC crawler dozer Komatsu has released and its fi rst in the 261-500 horsepower size class. As such, the machine is designed to handle a range of highway construction, large residential or commercial site prep projects. e dozer is powered by a 354-horse- power Komatsu SAA6D140E-7 Tier 4 Final 15.24-liter diesel engine that enables the machine to emit 80 percent less NOx than the Tier 4 unit the D155AXi-8 replaces. anks to iMC's Inertial Measuring Unit and stroke-sensing hydraulic cylin- ders, the machine has the ability to sense and control blade load. Komatsu says the technology delivers an 8-percent effi ciency boost in moving material compared to third-party a ermarket machine control Komatsu Unveils the D155AXi-8, Its Largest Semi-automatic Dozer Yet systems during a grading test. And unlike a ermarket solutions, there are no compo- nents mounted to the machine blade, only a small GNSS antenna atop the cab, eliminating the need to climb on the blade to install or remove GNSS antennas or deal with snagged cables. For maximum effi ciency, Komatsu has included an automatic gearshi transmission and lock-up torque converter that enables the operator to select the best gear range depending upon both the jobsite conditions and the load. By transferring engine power directly to the transmis- sion, horsepower loss is elimi- nated, and fuel consumption is reduced by up to 10 percent. e addition of Komatsu's Sigmadozer blade, which is designed to roll up soil at the center of the blade, ensures reduced digging resistance. e blade dozes up to 15 percent more soil compared to semi-u blades, while using less power, according to the company. To enhance operator comfort, Komatsu had included an ROPS pressurized cab with damper mounts that isolate the cab from the machine frame, which so ens the shocks and vibrations. e cab also has large windows to provide visibility and is sealed to reduce dust and noise inside the cab. Komatsu CARE is provided for the fi rst three years or 2,000 hours, and includes scheduled factory maintenance, a 50-point inspection at each service, and two DPF exchanges and DEF tank fl ushes in the fi rst fi ve years. Komatsu's fi rst iMC machine was the D61i-23 crawler dozer and was followed by the D51i-22, D37-23 and D39i-23 just before ConExpo 2014. In November, the company released the PC210LCi- 10, its fi rst iMC excavator which the company says cuts production time by 63 percent. ● www.equipmentworld.com, April 6, 2015