Rich Smith, Komatsu America vice president of marketing, told media gathered at Komatsu's CONEXPO press conference that grade control integrated into its D61i-23 dozer is averaging 13 percent more efficient than a D61-23 with an add-on system.
Perhaps that's why the company is showing a prototype of its PC2210 excavator with the integrated grade system. Smith says Komatsu excavators are next in line to get integrated the company's exclusive grade control treatment.
"The difference is due to the fact that Komatsu integrated grade control works on rough-grading passes as well as fine-grading passes, which the add-on systems are limited to," Smith said. "Integrating the system into the machine also allows it to limit track slip, which contributes directly to increased productivity."
Smith wouldn't say exactly when to expect integrated grade control in Komatsu excavators, but he did suggest it would be more than a year from now.
Komatsu worked with Topcon to integrate grade control into its dozers, eliminating the added antenna, wiring and computer boxes. The systems were introduced in North America first, and Smith said customers have purchased about 125 units since the June 2013 launch.
