Hitachi’s most powerful reduced tail swing excavator yet

hitachi reduced tail swing excavator

Hitachi has expanded its ultrashort excavator lineup in North America with the introduction of its most powerful reduced tail swing excavator to date —the ZX345USLC-6.

The new reduced tail swing excavator offers contractors increased reach, dig forces, bucket capacity and lift capacity, while simultaneously making it possible to work in confined spaces.

With generous legroom, the 30-metric-tonne ZX345USLC-6 cab features daylong convenience and comfort and is the only full-size cab on a reduced tail swing machine in the industry.

“As the number of urban renewal projects increase, there is a clear need among contractors for a larger reduced tail swing excavator that will help them tackle larger projects in a reduced amount of time,” said Jonathan Spendlove, product marketing manager for Hitachi Construction Machinery – Americas.

“The new ZX345USLC-6 provides powerful performance in congested areas and keeps lanes open on road projects.”

The ZX345USLC-6 features a three-pump hydraulic system that provides multifunction performance and the fastest cycle times in the industry, according to Hitachi.

It also comes with a standard auxiliary function lever (AFL) and control, designed for precise control of all attachments, including thumbs and grapples. The lever enables the operator to precisely and easily move attachments by the slider on the right hand of the pilot joystick.

Optional auxiliary hydraulic line and proportional reliefs are available, making the machine ready for immediate installation of thumbs or other proportional controlled attachments.

hitachi reduced tail swing excavatorReliability

The new excavator is equipped with a powerful certified Tier 4 Final Isuzu 7.8-litre engine that delivers 249 hp and features integrated, effective engine technologies.

The Isuzu engine employs cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR).

Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) is injected into the exhaust stream of the engine, runs through a catalyst, and turns the nitrogen oxide (NOx) in the exhaust into harmless water vapour and nitrogen gas.

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The EGR is specifically tuned to further reduce NOx — compared to EPA Interim Tier 4 engines — to meet new emission standards with minimal use of DEF. Additionally, an improved piston design allows particulate matter to be burned in cylinder, so there’s no need for a diesel particulate filter.

Durability

The ZX345USLC-6 heavy-duty undercarriage is designed for a 35-metric-tonne machine and provides a low centre of gravity, greater stability and increased lift capacity.

D-channel side frames house and protect the highly efficient coolers and engine.

Maintenance for the ZX345USLC-6 is minimized with features such as side-by-side cooling cores, a standard battery disconnect switch and ground-level access to filters. Extended service intervals help maximize uptime, and scheduled maintenance is easy to track using Hitachi’s ZXLink system, which comes standard on the new excavator. With the support of their dealer, owners can use their ZXLink data to reduce idling time as well as maximize productivity and uptime. Without ever leaving their seat, they have access to fleet location, functions, hours, fuel consumption, alerts and other essential machine data.

Owners may also view location and alert information in the field from iOS or Android devices.

The new ZX345USLC-6 is now available in the United States and Canada.