The first Hitachi 120-t EX1200-7 excavator, a new addition to the EX-7 Series, recently arrived in South Africa, following its launch earlier this year at Bauma 2019 in Germany.
The smallest machine in the EX-7 Series, the EX1200-7, comes in two configurations – backhoe or shovel – and features a 4,5 % increase in bucket capacity, optimised swing control and an upgraded hydraulic system, including a flow-regeneration valve, which means lower power requirements, lower fuel consumption and increased pump life.
The Hitachi EX1200-7 excavator.
“Fuel efficiency was a major factor in the design of the EX-7 Series because we recognised the importance of caring for the environment while remaining profitable. These machines make this easier than ever before,” says Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM) Africa’s Marketing & Business Development Manager, Marius Weber.
The electric-controlled main pump and a hydraulic regeneration circuit added to this latest line of machines have reduced fuel consumption by up to 10 % in some models.
Different engine options are available, in particular the FCO (Fuel Consumption Optimisation) configuration chosen for the African market.
Improvements have been made in terms of fuel economy, with functions such as Shutdown Control which, when activated, prompts the machine to switch to ‘soft key off’ status to prevent unnecessary fuel burn.
“Customers now have the option to choose between various power supplies, allowing for regional regulatory compliance and/or preferential satisfaction,” says Weber.
HCM provides a choice between an MTU internal combustion engine or a Cummins gas engine for all models from the EX2600 upwards, in response to the findings from customer research.
The EX1200-7 offers some structural improvements on its predecessor, the EX1200-6, with the track frame’s swing circle having been upgraded from a cast structure to a forged structure, and the top plate thickness increased from 50 mm to 55 mm for greater durability. The EX1200-7 also has an improved grease system that enables automatic lubrication to grease all points in the superstructure, including the bucket pins.
The EX-7 excavators include a number of Hitachi’s technologies for digital integration.
Global E-service and ConSite are remote machine management systems that monitor and report on machine health, allowing users to ensure that the EX-7 machines consistently deliver at maximum efficiency. ConSite also allows users to access status information on their machines from a personal computer on a daily basis.
Contamination sensors on all main hydraulic pumps, centre joints and swing motors of the new EX-7 Series can detect contaminants that may cause damage to any of these components and alert the operator of potential contaminants and record the fault in the DLU (Data Logging Unit), even remotely advising maintenance control.
Among several new features added to the EX-7 Series is the Aerial Angle, which is a 360º peripheral vision display system that feeds live footage from cameras mounted on the excavator, improving overall safety for both operator and mine.
In terms of safety, the EX-7 now also has an MDG 15 regulation standard dual isolator switch for both the engine starter and the battery, which aids in safely troubleshooting and downloading machine information.
The EX-7 Series of machines will include the following models: EX1200-7; EX2600-7; EX3600-7; EX5600-7; and EX8000-7.
