Bauma Report: JCB Unveils 11 New Machines
Assistant Editor Pam Stask here. Another day, another Bauma update from Managing Editor Keith Gribbins, as he boasts… uh, I mean, reports about all the exciting industry happenings going down in Munich. Don’t get me wrong, I have plenty of cool things going on in our Ohio-based office. Plus, it’s almost noon and cookie time at the local Subway is right around the corner. That sounds way better than the adventures Gribbins is getting into, right?
At the show, JCB released 11 new machines during its press conference, including its most efficient backhoe loader to date and the industry’s smallest telehandler.
The 515-40 telehandler can fit through doorways or low building heights that often prove to be obstacles for other machines. The 515-40 gives shovel performance comparable to a skid steer or wheeled loading shovel. Plus, individual hydraulic wheel motors and four-wheel steer equals superb movement in the face of tight corners, pillars and narrow doorways.
Where ground conditions may vary, four-wheel drive and good ground clearance help operators cope with challenging terrain. Add a hydrostatic transmission for easy operation, infinite speed variations and better fuel efficiency, and you have the winning formula for versatile performance and productivity.
The other feature that sets the 515-40 apart from its competitors is comfort. Thanks to the chassis design, there is no compromise on cab size to achieve the 1.8 m height. So the interior is spacious with superb visibility.
The stable-type door allows you to shut out unpleasant conditions, or open up the top half for a little fresh air while still protecting the operator from mud and debris. Optional air conditioning or face level fan further enhance operator comfort. And the cab itself, with side, low-level entry, also means the 515-40 is a safer machine.
The backhoe loader offers customers average fuel savings ranging from six to 16 percent at typical daily work rates. This new feat is largely achieved through the introduction of a new EcoDig system incorporating three hydraulic pumps.
Users will be hit immediately by the striking new design of the machine which exudes ruggedness and strength, thanks to a re-styled counterweight and new vertical grille pressings. The sharper lines on the excavator and loader profiles contribute to the robust look, while the sloping bonnet retains excellent forward visibility.
In addition, the machine benefits from a host of new features including:
• Improved cab for greater comfort.
• New heated front screen — an industry first for backhoe loaders.
• An in-cab hot drinks machine capable of producing tea or coffee.
• Power brakes providing proportional braking and fuel economy improvements.
• Combined hammer and bi-directional circuit for excellent versatility in attachment use.
• A nine metre factory-fitted hose reel for improved productivity and versatility.
“JCB has been at the forefront of backhoe design for almost 60 years and through innovation, we continue to raise the bar and offer our customers machines which have superior performance and are more cost efficient and comfortable to operate,” said Tim Burnhope, JCB group managing director for Product Development and Commercial Operations.
Burnhope continued: “The new generation of the JCB backhoe loader represents a significant investment and the result is JCB’s most efficient backhoe loader ever, which has been designed with fuel economy firmly in mind. Whether loading, roading or digging, JCB’s latest generation of backhoe offers the customer a machine that works harder but uses less fuel.
“We believe the new JCB backhoe will cement our position as the world’s best selling brand in a market which we expect to grow significantly over the next five years.”
