New dozer from Komatsu includes more experience, technology

Komatsu’s European leadership at bauma told the media that the company is at a new stage of incorporating technology into its products – including its latest dozer. “We’re trying to increase the value in our machines,” said Peter Howe, chairman of Komatsu Europe. “We’re connecting all the data we collect from the machines and are making processes easier.” The latest machine to incorporate that technology is the D85EXi/PZi-18 dozer, released at bauma. The technology is installed in the factory and beco
April 15, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
Mas Morishta outlines advances such as the D85EXi
2300 Komatsu’s European leadership at bauma told the media that the company is at a new stage of incorporating technology into its products – including its latest dozer.

“We’re trying to increase the value in our machines,” said Peter Howe, chairman of Komatsu Europe. “We’re connecting all the data we collect from the machines and are making processes easier.”

The latest machine to incorporate that technology is the D85EXi/PZi-18 dozer, released at bauma. The technology is installed in the factory and becoming more efficient as its time in the field grows.

“We have made quite an advancement the last three years,” said Mas Morishita, managing director and CEO of Komatsu Europe. Those improvements have made dozers so responsive that some contractors prefer them to motor graders, he said.

A major Intelligent Machine technology initiative was introduced in 2008, followed by an update in 2011 and the latest product, released this year.

More than 1.7 million hours of the intelligent technology has now been logged. It is in use on 2,500 machines.

“We are gaining confidence,” Morishita said.

The D85EX/PX-18 uses an electronic control powertrain system that significantly improves operations and productivity. Powerful turns under various work conditions are achieved thanks to the Hydrostatic Steering System (HSS). Counter-rotation is available while in neutral for a minimum turning radius and excellent manoeuvrability.

The D85EX-18 is equipped with the SIGMADOZER blade, which gives the machine a high blade capacity and dramatically improves dozing performance. The blade features a frontal design concept adopted for digging and rolling material at the centre of the blade. Soil-holding capacity is increased and digging resistance reduced for a smoother flow of material. Larger amounts of soil can be dozed with less power.
All videos

For more information on companies in this article

Komatsu

Related Content

  • Innovations in concrete paving offering improved surfaces
    July 17, 2017
    Major innovations in concrete paving systems will offer customers improved surface finishes - Mike Woof writes US manufacturers continue to dominate the concrete paving sector, with German firm Wirtgen being the only exception. A number of Chinese manufacturers have attempted to enter the concrete paving market with compact machines but have so far had little success in tempting customers away from proven brands. The expertise in for the niche segment of concrete paving remains the preserve of a handful
    Read More
  • Electric power projects planned
    January 26, 2018
    While diesel engines continue to be developed, there is no mistaking the current plans for electric driveline projects - Mike Woof writes The growing worldwide consensus on the massive threat to humanity posed by climate change means that the need to reduce exhaust emissions from transport and construction is becoming ever more pressing. As a result, industry is changing and new solutions are being found for transport and construction that will help lower environmental impact. Although many solutions are
    Read More
  • Trimble’s latest EarthWorks packages offer additional capabilities
    April 26, 2018
    Trimble is expanding the capabilities of its EarthWorks machine control technologies. The firm introduced the first EarthWorks package for use with excavators in 2017 and is now offering a similar system using many of the same components for the dozer market. According to Martin Wagener, worldwide product implementation manager for Trimble explained: “There are the same sensors for the dozer as on the excavator." The compact and rugged inertial motion sensors (IMUs) are mounted on the dozer and measure
    Read More
  • Upgrades to Komatsu’s wheeled excavators promise multiple benefits
    April 24, 2018
    Komatsu’s upgraded wheeled excavators, the PW180-11 and the PW148-11, have been designed to deliver greater efficiency, versatility and improved operator comfort with a range of updates on previous models. “A lot of work went in to the redesign of these wheeled excavators, with a dramatic increase in versatility for customers,” says Sebastian Zienau, product manager at Komatsu Europe. “Joystick steering, an integrated system for controlling tools and the factory-installed quick couplers also boost
    Read More

Highlighted Content