Equipment major Volvo has launched its biggest excavators till date—the EC530E and EC550E. When joined with large buckets, the EC530E and EC550E are pass-matched to fill articulated haulers in the 30- to 40-ton class, demanding fewer passes to load them and decreasing cycle times. The specs are often identical on both machines. The primary difference is in the undercarriage. The EC550E undercarriage has a long, wide lower frame (with an overall width of 12 ft 2 in, removed and 13 ft 9 in, elongated) providing it extra stability when operating with heavier loads. For loading and transportation ease, the EC530E shares the same 10-ft, 10-in width as Volvo’s 48-ton EC480E. The upshot is an EC530E with 22,884 lb of lift capacity, while the broader and bigger EC550E increases that to 29,674 lb at reach height. There is also a minor difference in digging depth, with the more compact EC530E decreasing to 25 ft 8 in and the EC550E reaching 25 feet 3 inches. The 40 foot reach height is the same in both machines. Both machines bring out 1,623 ft lb of torque and 456 horsepower. The high-horsepower engine, rigidly reinforced undercarriage and firm lower and upper frames allow the two machines to break through tough material with 56,450 ft-lb of breakout force in the normal mode, and 60,500 foot-pounds increased. Tear-out force estimates 49,480 ft-lb normal, and 52,850 ft-lb increased. To ensure customers that the excavators’ power-to-weight ratios do not overly stress the iron, both models are supported by a lifetime frame and structure warranty, which covers the frame, arm and boom for the initial ownership period. Volvo indicates a 25% increase in fuel productivity from the excavators’ electro-hydraulic independent metering valve technology (IMVT). It keeps engine speeds low while maintaining hydraulic power, which provides more accurate operation and efficiency than a mechanically coupled hydraulic system. The power is too tempered with high levels of control, involving creep mode for precise lift-and-carry work. Alterable boom-down speeds also improve precision, as does a new boom-and-arm bounce reduction technology to reduce machine shock. An optional feature, comfort drive control (CDC), helps lessen operator fatigue by steering the excavator with joystick rollers rather than pedals. Image Source Also read: Komatsu and Honda to jointly build micro electric excavator