Komatsu

According to Chris Moroz, Komatsu Australia’s national business manager, construction, ROPS certification is an important addition to Komatsu’s existing factory-installed standard safety package on all its Dash 8 excavators in the 8-45 tonne range. “In addition to fully ROPS-compliant cabs, Komatsu’s Dash 8 excavators include factory-fitted emergency stop buttons, hose-burst protection, and rear-view camera, which ensures complete peace of mind for owners in that these safety features are factory installed and fully warranted,” he said.  “In addition, existing Komatsu Dash 8 excavators are compatible with the new ROPS standard, and appropriate documentation can be supplied following an inspection from customers’ local Komatsu account managers,” said Moroz.

 “This has been made possible because Komatsu has been at the forefront of safety cabin design since we first released our Dash 8 safety cabin back in 2006,” he said.

 “That translates not only into superior operator safety, but also greater resale value, as well as improved site acceptance and contract compliance, with a number of major contractors and clients insisting that all excavators on major construction sites be compatible with the new standard,” Moroz said.

 “And as Komatsu designed the Dash 8 from the ground up to incorporate ROPS-compatible cabs, they are fully integrated into the machine; our ROPS cabs are not late additions developed following the standard’s publication.

“We have also not had to remake or redesign our cabs to ensure they comply with the standard.”

Moroz said that Komatsu’s leadership in cabin development extended to the factory-installed vandal guard provision on Dash 8 cabins, which allows owners to retain their ROPS certification and still use full guarding.

“Without this, ROPS certification can be voided if locally installed vandal guard mounting points are drilled into the frame, potentially affecting the structure’s integrity and ability to offer protection to the operator in the event of a rollover.

According to Moroz, Komatsu’s Dash 8 ROPS cabs include other features unique to these excavators.

“Not only are Komatsu Dash 8 cabs ROPS compliant, but they offer class-leading visibility around the machine, cab volume and working space inside, plus sound-proofing to as low as 68 dBA – the lowest in the industry.

“These are features that have been on all Dash 8 excavators since they arrived on the market,” he said.

“And Komatsu’s commitment to operator safety doesn’t just stop with the ROPS-compatible cabs on our Dash 8 excavators.”

Moroz said that other pioneering safety features standard on the range include:

·         E-stops – emergency stop buttons mounted externally on the machines, so that anyone standing or working close to a Komatsu Dash 8 excavator can quickly and easily shut down the machine in the event of an emergency.

·         Hose-burst protection to prevent the boom or arm dropping rapidly in the event of a hydraulic hose failure.

·         Rear view camera, giving the operator an unmatched view of people and objects at the rear of the machine.

“As with all Komatsu equipment, our Dash 8 machines are designed from the ground up as an integrated whole, with all components and elements – from engine, hydraulics and electronics, through to the boom/arm, track gear, and cab – working together for optimum efficiency, safety and reliability,” he said.

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