An air-conditioned, insulated cab with extra leg room and a cool box for lunch and drinks sounds like a dream come true for any heavy equipment operator.
Add a comfortable seat and you’ve got a piece of machinery the user will be grateful for.
For construction equipment giant Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia (HCA), this level of operator comfort and ease of use is a key consideration in its design processes.
The company engaged more than 1000 customers in the preliminary design stages of its latest wheel loader range to find out exactly what they wanted. Hiroyuki Mitsuyoshi, National Product Manager Hitachi Wheel Loaders & Excavators, says that everyone from operators to owners to mechanics were brought into the equation.
The result is the new ZW-5 wheel loader range – efficient and reliable machines designed with the user in mind.
The new loaders have significantly larger capacity than their predecessors. Comfort and ease of access was taken into account to ensure operator safety, productivity and efficiency.
The biggest model in the range is the 397kW ZW550-5, which has an operating weight of more than 47 tonnes and bucket capacity of up to 7.2 cubic metres. The other two new models in the range are the ZW370-5 (289 kW, 34T, with a bucket capacity of up to 6.2 cubic metres) and ZW330-5 (213 kW, 27T, with a bucket capacity of up to 5.0 cubic metres). Six previous Hitachi models have been updated and comprise the remainder of the ZW-5 range.
Mr. Mitsuyoshi says key design considerations include a sloped ladder with wide steps for ease of access, double-filtered air conditioning and a high level of sound insulation. “These features ensure a quiet, comfortable working environment for the operator,” he says.
The cabs include lots of storage space, a cool box and even an air suspension seat with adjustable lumbar support. The front window is also pillar-less to provide an unobstructed view. Despite their size, the new ZW-5 wheel loaders are also designed for ground level access and easy maintenance for mechanics.
Mr. Mitsuyoshi says that the models have been designed with two work modes to balance efficiency with productivity. “In standard mode, engine revs are controlled for smooth efficient operation in normal conditions, while power mode offers extra traction for heavy digging or travelling uphill,” he says.
Electronic sensors on the loader’s engine enable a new hydraulic circuit to combine lift arm and bucket operation during loading. This prioritises bucket use for dumping while an anti-drift valve prevents circuit pressure loss. “The result is a precise, economical machine,” says Mr. Mitsuyoshi.
The loaders use an automatic transmission which enables smooth shifting, while the 370 and 550 models have a standard lock-up torque converter, resulting in improved fuel economy and performance. “The auto-style transmission makes these wheel loaders simpler to operate,” says Mr. Mitsuyoshi. Ride control with an automatic mode also makes for a less fatiguing ride for the operator and reduces bucket spill during travel, he adds.
Frank Gili, National Sales Manager, Construction & Forestry from HCA says that when you look at tangible factors such as comfort, you’re maximising the use of a product and therefore productivity. He says that a heavy machine operator working long hours, often in extreme weather environments, will be more productive if their working space is comfortable and more accommodating.
The larger capacity ZW-5 designs enable the wheel loaders to operate in various environments. Mr. Gili says the new range of loaders are now ideal both in the large quarries and lower end of the mining market, as well as on varying road construction projects.
“Like the rest of the models in the range, those at the big end are all about getting the job done in a way that is as quick and cost-effective as possible,” he says. “We have listened to our customers and the new ZW-5 wheel loaders provide industry leading improvement in comfort, safety, productivity and cost-effectiveness.”