Designed to Dig: Doosan Excavators
The excavator has become a staple in the utility construction industry. From digging and backfilling to moving and placing pipe, it’s the go-to machine to get the job done. To pay homage to these hard-working pieces of iron and the companies that construct them, we’ve gathered the histories, product offerings and specs for the biggest names in the marketplace.
Over the next 11 pages, learn all about the most popular excavator manufacturers in North America from Case and Caterpillar to Komatsu and Volvo. Compare specs of different models or simply discover the beginnings of a brand you love. There are even insights and advice from industry insiders to aid in purchasing decisions and maintenance matters. So grab a drink, sit back and dig in.
Pam Kleineke is Managing Editor of Utility Contractor.
Doosan
A Combination of Wheeled and Crawler Excavators Designed to Tackle Tough Jobs
Founded in 1896, Doosan is a strong, stable and global company with a long legacy in infrastructure support. Its history in equipment manufacturing began in 1937. Since 2005, Doosan has grown to become the fifth largest construction equipment manufacturer in the world. Many may be surprised to know that Doosan — while a relatively young brand in the North American construction market — has roots in construction and industrial products that go back more than 75 years. Today, Doosan Infracore Construction Equipment is the world’s fourth-largest manufacturer of mid- to large-sized crawler excavators: Its brand presence in North America continues to grow.
Doosan and its heavy equipment dealers provide customers with a full line of dependable and durable excavators to choose from, including 13 crawler excavator models (three are available with super-long reach) and three wheeled excavator models. Each excavator model has optimal fuel efficiency without compromising performance, reliability or durability. Two Doosan models, the DX140LCR-5 and DX235LCR-5, are designed with reduced tail swing for operation on confined jobsites. This is particularly helpful when operators are working on repairing or replacing infrastructure projects and there is limited room to operate. Wheeled excavators are popular for road and bridge construction projects where they are capable of quickly driving on finished surfaces without disrupting them. Doosan crawler and wheeled excavators are packed with power, boasting four unique power modes to help operators adapt to their work.
Product Spotlight: The Dash-5 Series
The newest Doosan crawler excavators (indicated by a dash-5 in the model name), including the DX140LC-5 through DX530LC-5 models, have been improved to increase performance, operator comfort, fuel efficiency, reliability and durability. An auto-shutdown feature was added to the excavators to help owners and operators save fuel during non-working conditions. Also included on the new models are: improved anti-skid plates; auto belt tensioner; fan and air cooling; battery upgrades; emergency engine stop; upgraded alternator; and a new front window design.
Advice
Doosan offers five tips to follow when maintaining an excavator:
At the end of each workday, clean out dirt and other debris that may lead to undercarriage buildup.
Routinely inspect the undercarriage for excessive or uneven wear, as well as look for damaged or missing components.
Follow the excavator manufacturer’s recommended operating procedures. For example, make wide turns rather than sharp turns to minimize wear on the tracks.
Maintain proper track tension to avoid unnecessary track wear.
Dig over the front idlers to properly transfer the load. Digging over the sprocket can cause the bushing to crack or even break.
Tags: Doosan, January 2016 Print Issue
