Kobelco Excavators — 2015 Spec Guide
Six Compact Units from the Long-Time Excavation Expert
Since 1930, Kobelco has built its excavators to be industry leaders, adding innovation to its machines at every turn. This attitude has led Kobelco to develop the first short rear swing excavator, a demolition machine with the longest reach in the world and exclusive features such as no-time-limit power boost, independent travel and an ultra-quiet iNDr cooling system. Kobelco currently offers a full range of crawler excavators in the 3,000- to 245,000-lb classes, including zero tail swing, compact, standard, long-reach, mass excavation and demolition models. Six of these models fall under the 8-metric-ton range.
The smallest of Kobelco’s excavators is the SK17SR model. Popular on jobsites where equipment needs to be moved through tight spaces, the SK17 features hydraulic side frames that retract to a narrow 37 in. for tight areas and extend to a solid 50 in. for stability. This 3,836-lb mini combines its compact design with performance, boasting a maximum digging reach of 12 ft, 2 in. and a digging force of 2,833 lbs. Kobelco’s SK25SR and SK35SR models deliver a bit more muscle for heavier-duty digging and lifting, while providing a zero tail swing radius for jobs where space is limited. These 5,930- and 8,555-lb machines have good stability and come with either steel or rubber track shoes and a ROPS/FOPS cab or canopy. Often used for loading, placing and dozing across a wide range of applications, the SK25 and SK35 feature digging forces of 4,546 and 7,216 lbs, as well as maximum digging reaches of 15 ft, 7 in. and 17 ft, 7 in.
Kobelco’s 11,860-lb, 37-hp SK55SRX is a versatile, compact, short radius excavator that provides full-size performance. Kobelco’s midi excavators — the 17,100-lb SK75SR and the 18,700-lb SK85CS — are short rear swing machines that incorporate all of Kobelco’s fuel-saving technologies. An 11.5-rpm swing speed on both the SK75 and SK85 provides short cycle times for enhanced productivity, and a powerful travel motor makes moving these excavators a breeze around the jobsite.
All Kobelco excavators support a wide range of buckets and attachments and are designed for optimal productivity, comfort and safety on the job, says the company. Kobelco offers superior customer service and product support through its nationwide network of authorized dealers, as well as its North American headquarters in Katy, Texas. The company will also be bringing its manufacturing to the United States in 2016.
Advice to Buyers
“Zero tail swing, tracks that retract and a petite footprint are popular features on compact excavators, particularly for contractors who will work or maneuver them in tight spaces and frequently transport between jobsites,” explains George Lumpkins, national service manager of Kobelco Construction Machinery USA. “For those who move their equipment less frequently and who don’t have concerns about working in confined areas, weight, power and speed may be more critical. Once you’ve defined your needs and identified which brands to consider buying, look a little harder at the company and local dealer. Will they provide you with prompt, personal and professional service? Will they be able to deliver parts and provide timely service to minimize downtime? In today’s competitive marketplace, you’ll want to be sure the equipment you buy is not only reliable and priced competitively, but also purchased from a company you can count on to stand behind it over the entire life cycle of the machine.”
