Innovative Iron Award: Kobelco’s New SK25 and Enhanced SK17 Mini Excavators
Exploration is the engine that drives innovation, so let’s go exploring. Let’s search through a year’s worth of creative ideas in the off-highway equipment industry and see if we can benchmark the innovative exploration of the American machine market. Over the last 12 months, global manufacturers from Caterpillar to Kubota have released compact machines that have set new standards for power, versatility, efficiency and design. Our editors have traveled across the globe to meet these manufacturers, operate their new products and give detailed reports and opinions both in print and on our website (compactequip.com). We sifted through the hundreds of models and brands released in 2015 and picked 19 units that set the bar for innovation. With this article, we salute those companies (from Komatsu to Case) that have changed the commercial equipment market over the last year with their unique, interesting and innovative machines, engines and technologies.
Kobelco Introduces New SK25 and Enhanced SK17 Models
Kobelco aims to offer the ultimate compact excavators with the full-size benefits of its bigger diggers. The company succeeds with its new SK25 compact excavator model, as well as its enhanced SK17 model. The SK25 and SK17 feature top-class digging depths of 9 ft, 2 in. and 7 ft, 3 in. as well as powerful swing speeds of 10 and 9.5 rpm to deliver shorter cycle times. The front minimum swing radius of the SK25 and SK17 are a short 5 ft, 5 in. and 4 ft, 6 in., giving each model the ability to dig, swing and load in the tightest of spots while at full boom swing. Furthermore, a zero tail swing radius allows both machines to work in confined areas safely and efficiently. Packed with powerful performance capabilities, the SK25 boasts a digging force of 4,546 lbs and a maximum digging reach of 15 ft, 7 in.
To see the rest of Compact Equipment’s Innovative Iron Awards, click this link.
