JCB has introduced to market a 6.5 tonne reduced tail swing midi excavator, both anticipating the growing global demand for compact excavators and meeting operator demands for greater durability, efficiency and productivity.
The 65R-1 replaces the 8065 RTS in the JCB line-up. It offers a number of innovations not seen on its predecessor, including a 30-degree tilting cab to enable better service access, longer greasing intervals, bodywork made completely from steel for better durability, an undercarriage designed to be cleaned much more easily, and enhanced safety.
According to Tim Burnhope, JCB’s chief innovation and growth officer, the company has “undertaken the biggest benchmarking and customer evaluation exercise” in the company's history. The result is a product portfolio that offers greater performance, reliability, safety, durability, comfort and serviceability than anything seen from the company before.
The 65R-1 exemplifies JCB’s new standards in design. Like all new ranges of midi excavators, it boasts a revised H-design undercarriage, as well as the robust steel body panels, a spacious operator environment and fuel-efficient engines that deliver increased productivity and a lower operating cost. The 6.5 tonne machine is powered by a proven 48hp (36.9kW) Tier 3 diesel engine.
Supremely safe and sturdy
JCB’s new range of midi excavators incorporate the company's 2Go hydraulic safety system, which has proved successful already on its larger JS excavators. There is the standard hydraulic cut-off, which is activated by lifting the left-hand lever pod, but now the operator is required also to activate the hydraulic system through a button on the right-hand console. This improves safety on site by reducing the likelihood of operators working the hydraulic levers from outside the cab.
This is also a robust digging machine. The 65R-1 features a sturdy kingpost design with widely spaced bearings to prevent wear. It also uses a new graphite-based pin and bush design, which support 500-hour greasing intervals for reduced daily maintenance and lower operating costs. With a 1,900mm dipper arm, the 65R-1 also delivers a maximum digging depth of 3,957mm and a ground level reach of 6,572mm. Bucket tearout is rated at a powerful 47.5kN.
JCB delivers the machine with steel, rubber or GeoGrip tracks on a new H-pattern track frame. It has, also, a completely redesigned dozer blade and arms. Blade edges are angled to prevent damage.
Comfortable, quick and easy-to-clean
The blade profile has been optimised for smooth material flow and there is no requirement for strengthening gusset on the rear, allowing easy cleaning of the machine. The 65R-1 cab structure is new, with flat glazing all round for ease of repair. A revised heating and ventilation system, with optional air conditioning, offers greatly improved airflow throughout the cab, improving operator comfort and rapidly clearing windscreens in colder months. The machine is quick as well as comfortable, however, with tracking speeds increased to 4.6km/h, allowing faster repositioning on site and cutting downtime.
The prospects are good for this new machine, which has been introduced ahead of an expected upturn in demand for machines of this type. As Tim Burnhope said, “The compact excavator market is expected to increase to over 200,000 units by 2017.”
