"It's a very compact and user-friendly machine"
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Komatsu Australia has released the WA70-7 compact wheel loader, featuring a low-emission engine, safety and productivity enhancements, and reduced operating costs.
It replaces Komatsu's popular and successful WA65-6.
Powered by a Tier 3-compliant Komatsu ecot3 4D95LWE-5 diesel rated at 36.9 kW and driving a hydrostatic transmission, the new WA70-7 has an operating weight of 5-5.4 tonnes (depending on configuration) and a bucket capacity range of 0.75 to 1.25 cu m.
According to Carl Grundy, Komatsu Australia's National Sales Manager, Utility, the new loader offers improved safety levels, complies with the latest emission requirements, and delivers lower operating costs.
"The design focus with the WA70-7 really has been all about providing a better operating performance, and better meeting customers' needs," he said.
"It's a very compact and user-friendly machine even an inexperienced operator will find it easy to operate equally at home across a variety of applications: working in confined spaces, moving material on building and excavation sites, or out on road construction and maintenance projects.
"The quiet ecot3 Tier 3-compliant Komatsu engine provides top class performances and guarantees fuel efficiency, while keeping exhaust and noise emissions well below Australian limits," said Carl.
As with its Dash 6 predecessor, the WA70-7 is fitted with Komatsu's "Easy Fork" bucket linkage system, which combines parallel lifting movement of heavy payloads using forklift attachments with the high breakout forces of Z-bar type systems for digging and material shifting.
"We have designed the WA70-7 to be able to perform an unrivalled variety of tasks with the highest levels of productivity and reliability," he said.
"It comes as standard with a Komatsu quick coupler and third auxiliary hydraulic line for the quick and easy changeover of attachments, such as a 4:1 bucket, sweeper unit, or pallet forks."
Carl said that safety and operator comfort and ergonomics had been significantly improved on the WA70-7.
"Standard safety features include an engine shutdown secondary switch, seatbelt caution indicator, backup alarm and reversing light.
"And as with all Komatsu compact wheel loaders, it's been designed for maximum comfort and ease of operation, for increased productivity," he said.
"The roomy cabin is the largest available for this class of loader, with standard features including an adjustable steering column and seat, a heated rear window, 360 visibility and ample storage room for personal belongings.
"We've also improved maintenance and serviceability, particularly with our unique tilting cab that gives quick and easy access to all major components allowing service to be performed safely, easily and quickly."
Electrical equipment and components are protected behind a maintenance cover inside the cabin, while a wide-core radiator for additional cooling capacity is available as an option.
Another standard element of the WA70-7 loader is KOMTRAX, Komatsu's exclusive remote monitoring system.
KOMTRAX constantly monitors critical operating parameters, and alerts Komatsu service personnel and the machine owner's management team of any potential issues before they can result in expensive downtime.
"In addition, our KOMTRAX system transmits data via GPRS for a more stable communication, especially in urban areas or when working inside buildings," said Carl.
"At the same time, the machine's location is still be detected using GPS, with all data generated by a customer's KOMTRAX-equipped Komatsu machines available on a secure web interface.
Brief specs of the WA70-7 wheel loader are: Operating weight, 5.035-5.38 tonnes; engine, Komatsu ecot3 4D95LWE-5 diesel rated at 36.9 kW through two-speed hydrostatic transmission; bucket capacities, 0.75-1.25 cu m; bucket breakout, 4100 kgf (0.85 cu m universal bucket); static tipping load, full turn, 3650 kg; maximum speed, 20 km/h.