loaders and other equipment like its LX1 with electro mobility.
Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) gave operations a look at the future of wheel loaders when it debuted its LX1 prototype electric hybrid wheel loader.
The company conducted field tests on its LX1 last year to gauge the machine’s fuel-efficiency levels. Based on the results of those tests, the loader achieves a 50 percent improvement in fuel efficiency when compared with its conventional counterparts, according to Volvo CE. The tests also reported a 35 percent reduction in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
The LX1 features a driveline that consists of electric drive motors mounted at the wheels, electric-driven hydraulics, a battery energy storage system and a smaller diesel engine. These features enable gains in fuel efficiency, Volvo CE says.
The prototype also performs the same work as a loader that is up to one size larger. According to Volvo CE, the company has long-term plans to develop more products like the LX1 with electro mobility and similar components.
Other recent advancements in wheel loader technologies include John Deere’s latest production series buckets for its 744K-II, 824K-II and 844K-III wheel loader models.
The company developed 30 configurations of its production series buckets for these three loader models. The updated production series buckets come with features that allow them to provide improved visibility, better access for maintenance and extended bucket life, according to John Deere. Curved profile side cutters enhance material retention, and narrow spill guards boost bucket visibility.
Attachment innovations
horizontal options.
A couple of new mobile equipment attachments debuted to the market, as well. Genesis Attachments released its GHG 125 handling grapple, designed for waste handling, recycling, C&D material handling and primary demolition applications. It contains a single, oversized cylinder with dual drag links that minimize the number of moving parts.
Easy-to-locate grease fittings in the streamlined tine, frame and linkage design also decrease the GHG 125’s downtime, according to Genesis. It is available perforated or heavy-duty ribbed tines that close at a very flat angle to assist in compacting material.
Also, Brokk introduced the C20 rock splitter, which offers contractors a safe, quiet alternative to explosives and hydraulic breakers. The C20 rock splitter enables users to split rock at the same speed as breakers and chippers, but it features less noise and vibration, the company says. It comes in four models – two vertical options ranging from 64 to 72 in. long, as well as two horizontal options from 70 to 83 in. long.
The C20 rock splitter breaks large boulders and solid rock in mining and shaft-sinking applications, as well as cross-passage work in tunneling. Contractors drill a 3-in.-diameter hole into the rock with a separate attachment before inserting the splitter. According to Brokk, the attachment expands with as much as 1,800 tons of force to split the rock.