Details of the JCB Hydradig have been revealed ahead of the machine’s bauma 2016 launch.
The upcoming model is “the first true wheeled excavator designed for purpose, from the ground up”, according to JCB.
The Hydradig will boast a one-tonne capacity at maximum reach, a 4m turning radius, a 3.5-tonne towing capacity, and a 40km/h on-highway speed.
Commenting ahead of the excavator’s launch, JCB chairman Lord Bamford said: “The vision from the outset of the project was to design and engineer the most innovative solution in response to the key challenges facing customers in today’s construction sector.
“The machine had to be first for visibility, stability, manoeuvrability, mobility, and serviceability. The Hydradig really does have innovation running right through the heart of it. In fact, Hydradig will transform the industry and I am certain you will quickly appreciate its benefits,” he added.
The machine has been designed with four core principles in mind: visibility, stability, mobility, and manoeuvrability.
In terms of visibility, the Hydradig’s engine and tanks have been moved to the chassis so that operators can see all four wheels. The machine features reduced counterweight and tail swing to accommodate work against walls.
Stability has also bolstered by the relocation of the engine and tanks to the chassis; a decision that has lowered the excavator’s centre of gravity. In its twin-articulation boom configuration, the Hydradig boasts a capacity of 1,000kg at maximum reach.
To aid mobility, JCB has endowed the Hydradig with a 2.6m wheelbase, which when combined with the unit’s low centre of gravity, allows for 40km/h on-highway road speeds. The excavator features a hydrostatic transmission, an 81kW JCB Ecomax engine, and a 3.5-tonne towing capacity.
When it comes to manoeuvrability, the JCB Hydradig features three steer modes: 2WS, 4WS, and ‘crab steer’. Operators will also be able to constantly face forwards due to the machine’s reverse-steer option. The excavator also boasts a 4m turning radius, meaning it can turn and work within the confines of a single carriageway.
The JCB Hydradig will be launched next month at buama 2016 in Munich, Germany.
