Komatsu’s Newest Compact Excavator

It’s always fun to see new equipment — especially after the equipment drought of the last year. The latest machine comes from Komatsu in the form of its the PC78US-8 compact hydraulic excavator, designed for increased production and added operator comfort, when compared to previous models.

The PC78US-8 gets it power from a Komatsu SAA4D95LE-5 engine with a net horsepower of 55 hp.  The direct injection engine is EPA Interim Tier 4 emissions certified and remains fuel efficient without sacrificing power or productivity. The PC78US-8 has an operating weight of 16,240 lbs and features a maximum digging height of 24 ft, 11 in., a maximum digging depth of 15 ft, 5 in., an arm crowd force of 7,760 lbs and a bucket breakout force of 13,780 lbs. 

Five working modes allow the operator to tailor machine operation to the given application, either maximizing power during difficult workloads (Power Mode) or conserving fuel when the job doesn’t require maximum power (Economy Mode). When placing pipe or other objects, Lifting Mode reduces engine RPM, providing fine control.  Breaker and Attachment modes are available to provide single or bi-directional flow depending on the attachment being used. (Breaker, thumb, grapple etc.)

To keep this productive machine on track, the PC78US-8 is equipped with the latest KOMTRAX technology which sends machine operating information to a secure website utilizing wireless technology. Data such as operating hours, machine location, maintenance notifications, out of area notifications, machine utilization and residual fuel levels are just a few of the features that are relayed to the web application for analysis.  The KOMTRAX fleet monitoring system increases machine availability, reduces the risk of machine theft and provides a wealth of other information to drive business efficiency.