Bobcat’s new E20 compact excavator, sized to
fit in the 1-to-2 metric ton class and replacing the company’s 324 model, will
be on sale this fall.
“This has been a successful size for us, especially in
rental applications,” says Tom Connor, Bobcat excavator product specialist. The
4,211-pound machine is quickly transportable, capable of being hauled behind a
properly equipped half-ton pickup.
“Although many applications for this machine
require only digging 18 inches down, this machine has an exceptional reach at
14 feet 1 inches, which enables operators to reposition their machines fewer
times, leading to greater efficiency,” Connor says. With an 8-foot 6-inch dig
depth and 8-foot 10 inch dump height, the 13.9-horsepower Tier 4 Final unit
offers 3,620 foot pounds of bucket digging force and 1,778 foot pounds of arm
force. The unit has a 2.5 mph maximum travel speed and can easily load 1-ton
trucks.
Unlike the conventional tail swing 324 model the E20 is replacing, the
new excavator is a zero tail swing unit, which stays within the width of the
fully expanded undercarriage. “This helps operators avoid hitting the tail of
the machine against walls, air conditioning units and other obstacles,” says
Connor. Connor says Bobcat is bringing several features down to the E20 size
from its larger compact excavators, including cylinder cushioning to alleviate
abrupt stops at either end of the arm cylinder and automatic braking on the
slew motor anytime the motor is shut off. The E20 now has auto shift
travel, which shifts the unit out of high range and back automatically without
having to manually downshift. And boom cylinders have been put on the top of
the boom, eliminating the potential of hitting the blade with the cylinder.
Another feature that’s been brought down from larger excavators: integrated
slew brakes, which hold the load still and steady while working on slopes,
aiding accurate placement. And there’s no need to manually engage the slew
brakes during transport, allowing for flexible brake positioning.
The E20 now
shares the the same instrumentation panel as in Bobcat’s loaders and larger
excavators, providing a full range of critical operational information as
opposed to the 324’s more basic gauges. The machine also has a keyless start
option, made possible by its advanced electronics. “This helps owners prevent unauthorized
use, which can help eliminate the notion that sometimes crops up on job sites
that it’s a community machine,” Connor says.
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