JCB Excavators — 2016 Spec Guide
Eleven Compact Earthmovers from the Global Equipment Giant
For decades, JCB has been producing both full-size and compact excavators. All of JCB’s weight classes of compact excavators are popular in construction applications, but as their weights increase, the machines become more popular for excavation, sewer and pipeline work. Machines in the 2- to 4-ton weight class are most popular in landscaping applications, and rental companies purchase a significant percentage of machines weighing less than 4 tons.
JCB currently offers 11 different compact excavators ranging from the smallest model, the 8018, to the largest, the 100C-1. The range spans from 1.8 to 10 tons. According to JCB, the advantages of its compact excavators include: visibility due to large front, side and top glass areas and a narrow boom and dipper for maximum forward visibility and enhanced productivity.
The machine’s hydraulic system design boasts the latest industry technology “O-Ring Face Seal” (ORFS) hydraulic fittings, providing excellent sealing capabilities. The programmable twin auxiliary lines provide high and optional low hydraulic flows to operate an array of attachments, increasing the machines’ versatility. The excavators feature heavy-duty, fully-welded H-frames for solid, rigid structures and a low center of gravity. This design also minimizes dirt buildup to maximize component life. Track components are sealed for life.
JCB recently added three additional compact excavator models to its lineup, the 48Z-1 zero tail swing excavator, the 55Z-1 zero tail swing excavator and the 57C-1 conventional tail swing excavator. These new machines join the two that JCB introduced in 2015 — the 90Z-1 and the 100C-Z — and the 2014 releases — the 67C-1, 86C-1 and the 85Z-1. All are designed to grab a bigger share of a market expected to grow by at least 16 percent over the next four years, says JCB.
Advice to Buyers
“When looking at purchasing a compact excavator, all buyers should pay close attention to specifications in accordance to what is required of the machine for the application. The specification and overall build of the machine, from horsepower to hydraulics, will influence the performance,” says Jordan Dey, JCB North America’s product specialist of compact excavators.
