Kobelco’s Generation 10 series delivers a set of values which take performance to the next level.

E. Moses, Executive Vice President, Division Head, Kobelco Construction Equipment India

What are the different sizes and specifications available for each type of excavator manufactured by your company?

Considering customers expectation for increased reliability, versatility, performance, and comfort, combined with lower owning and operating costs, Kobelco range of excavators include 3T to 80T hydraulic excavators. Our excavator line in the Mini segment includes 3-ton and 3.5-ton (SK30SR and SK35Sr respectively). We offer 14-ton and 20-ton excavators (SK140, SK145, SK220 and SK220XDLC) for the infrastructure industry, and it goes all the way up to 38-ton (SK380) for projects like roads, infrastructure, sand, etc. We have 52-ton (SK520XDLC) and 85-ton (SK850LC) excavators for mining. For mining we have 52-ton and 85-ton excavators. We encourage and assist our customers in making the best decision based on the nature of the work being done in order to achieve the best results. For a variety of applications, Kobelco excavators are equipped with a wide selection of attachment options. Amphibious, Clamshell, Electromagnet, Telescopic dipper, and other attachments are special, specialised solutions created on demand for certain uses.  Be it Infra, Mining, Demolition or Quarrying & Crushing, there are various attachments to choose from. This makes Kobelco’s most reliable and efficient excavators also the most versatile.

What innovative features set your excavators apart from competitors? Are there any unique technologies or patents used in your excavators’ design?

India’s excavator market is experiencing increased competition as manufacturers work to meet their customer’s demands by developing more advanced excavator models and enhancing their current line of excavators to increase productivity and efficiency. Kobelco has been known for continuous innovations in its product lines. Our focus is giving the best in class fuel efficient excavators without sacrificing machine’s stability, strength, or durability. Our excavators have been trendsetters in terms of technology and quality of material. Kobelco’s Generation 10 series delivers a set of values which take performance to the next level. Best-in-class fuel efficiency, faster operating cycles, highly durable structures, enhanced filtration systems, lower carbon footprint, longer service life of all major components, etc are collectively delivering tremendous value to our customers. The new arm regeneration flow system more efficiently controls hydraulic fluid flow, and significant reduction of in-line resistance and pressure loss boosts fuel efficiency by about 19%. Our improved hydraulic piping is an effective means of reducing pressure loss. We have made effort to enhance fuel efficiency by minimizing hydraulic pressure resistance, improving the hydraulic line layout to control friction resistance loss and minimizing value resistance. The latest trend in construction equipment is telematics. Our excavators have features like Geoscan, App-enabled aftermarket assistance, Globally communicative platforms, etc. Additionally, the self-diagnostic features in our telematics (Geoscan) alert the support team via error codes so that they can address them even remotely. IoT is also a regular component in most of the new-age excavators, allowing various components to connect with one another and maximise productivity as a whole. The generated data from each machine is then correctly handled and analysed into a sizable collection. Working on the insights, summaries and trends, the owners of the machines can improve the efficiency, usability, and maintenance of their equipment.

How does your company handle after-sales support, spare parts, and servicing?

After-sales support is the most important pillar for CE industry. We believe the OEM providing the best service support gets an edge over its competitors. Kobelco as a brand is always a step ahead in terms of service and spare parts support. There are projects where timeline is more critical and Lack of service support in such projects can impact the productivity severely. To cater our customers at any point of the time, we have more than 34 channel partners with 140+ outlets and over 600+ service engineers across India. Along with this we have 4 parts warehouse, 6 depots and 2 state of the art training centres to give support to our customers as well as operators. Apart from that we have a centralized toll-free customer care number where one can call in for after-sales services, thus minimize downtime and maintain production schedules.

What steps has your company taken to ensure your excavators are environmentally friendly? Are there any future plans to improve the eco-friendliness of your excavator line?

Technology and innovation are at the core of Kobelco’s philosophy. Kobelco was one of the first companies to use CRI engines in industrial applications and offers AIS (Auto Idle Stop) capabilities to save fuel and reduce environmental effects. Kobelco is also emphasising on reducing the amount of metal used and slowly shifting to other materials like high-quality fibre and alloys. Our excavators were developed after thorough investigation and analysis of on-site conditions and applications. Kobelco’s iNDr (Integrated Noise and Dust Reduction Cooling System), equipped in short rear tail swing and ultra-short swing excavators, are the quietest in the industry, reducing noise during operation. Customers are getting advanced day by day and so are we. The company will meet customer needs by providing stand-out products, exclusive services, and innovative solutions, with successfully incorporating new technologies such as ICT and IoT into the existing environmental technologies for low fuel consumption and noise or manufacturing know-how. As an innovative and forward-thinking manufacturer, we are always looking for new ways to make our construction machinery as powerful and efficient as possible, while reducing our carbon footprint.

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