Five Excavator Features That Save You Time and Money

Want to reduce your operating costs and improve job site efficiency? Take a close look at today’s construction equipment technology. 

For example: Crawler excavators are now designed to be more fuel-efficient than previous iterations, and they are outfitted with new tools for increased performance and efficiency regardless of operator skill.

Heavy equipment fleet management systems further enhance excavator productivity and help to minimize machine downtime. You can remotely monitor your excavator with online access on your computer or smartphone, then perform regular maintenance.

Let’s dive into five excavator features designed to boost your job site efficiency and operator productivity.

D-ECOPOWER System: Boost Fuel Efficiency and Power 

The D-ECOPOWER™ system, designed by DEVELON for midsize to large excavators, improves fuel economy and operator productivity with advanced hydraulic technology.

The key benefits of the D-ECOPOWER system include the following:

• Reduced fuel consumption: This advanced technology optimizes the hydraulic system and engine power using a closed-center hydraulic system with electronic pressure-controlled pump, which delivers the exact hydraulic flow needed for the task versus running at full throttle all the time.
• Increased productivity: Load-sensing and power optimization technology provide precise force for every task, reducing cycle times for repetitive actions like digging and loading. This allows operators to complete more construction projects in less time.
• Enhanced control: The system reduces delays in hydraulic response, making the equipment more responsive to operator inputs. This helps operators complete tasks faster and more precisely, along with reducing operator fatigue and improving accuracy.
• Lowered emissions: Burning less fuel reduces emissions — contributing to a cleaner, more environmentally friendly job site.

Smart Power Control: Operate More Efficiently

Smart Power Control is another construction equipment technology available exclusively for some DEVELON excavators. It enhances the excavator’s fuel efficiency and provides higher productivity, delivering optimized power to the machine’s hydraulic system.

Smart Power Control benefits worksite productivity:

• Fine-tunes power delivery: The technology monitors the excavator’s operating performance and adjusts power output accordingly. This ensures that the machine has the required power for the type of excavation needed.
• Reduces fuel consumption: Smart Power Control optimizes power delivery without compromising performance, leading to less fuel use and lower operating costs for an improved bottom line.
• Boosts productivity: The excavator technology fine-tunes the engine and hydraulic performance to match the workload, allowing operators to work more efficiently and complete tasks faster.
• Improves control: The excavator moves more smoothly and predictably to give operators precise control of the excavator’s movements, especially when working on complex tasks.

Auto Idle and Shutdown: Minimize Machine Downtime

Auto idle and auto shutdown are fuel-saving technologies available for many excavators, improving machine fuel efficiency.

Auto idle automatically reduces the engine speed to idle if the operator stops using the controls for a certain amount of time — usually four or five seconds.

Auto shutdown works similarly to auto idle. This feature will automatically shut down the engine if the excavator remains idle for an extended period.

Key benefits of auto idle and auto shutdown include the following:

• Reducing fuel consumption: Improves the excavator’s fuel economy by lowering or shutting down the engine.
• Extending engine life: Reduces wear and tear on the excavator by lowering the engine rpm.
• Saving warranty hours: Avoids burning through warranty hours by letting your machine idle unnecessarily.
• Preserving cash: Lowers your operating costs by saving fuel and reducing maintenance expenses.  

MY DEVELON Fleet Management: Optimize Maintenance

A telematics system is a powerful tool for asset management. A digital platform like MY DEVELON fleet management incorporates telematics that collects and transmits valuable data about your excavator. This includes the machine’s operation, location, fuel consumption, engine hours, maintenance alerts and more.

Remote operation monitoring allows you to optimize your excavator productivity and minimize maintenance costs by using the following telematics features. 

Here are some benefits of a telematics management system.

• Real-time monitoring and tracking: Telematics provides unparalleled operational visibility. Know where your excavator is located at all times and monitor machine health. Track your excavator’s utilization to see whether it is underutilized or overworked for fleet optimization.
• Preventive maintenance: You and your equipment dealer can remotely monitor data from sensors on your excavator and can identify potential issues before they become critical. Timely alerts inform you when your excavator needs scheduled maintenance or when a component needs to be replaced for smart engine management.
• Remote diagnostics and troubleshooting: When you and your dealer receive a notification about a fault code, you will be better prepared to respond and fix the issue. Your dealer service department has real-time diagnostics and can dispatch a tech with the right parts to fix the problem the first time. 
• Operator trends: Review telematics data and evaluate excavator operator behaviors to be improved; for example, excessive machine idling that is burning fuel and warranty hours. Help operators understand the benefits of the excavator’s work modes for further efficiency.  

Advanced Features Add Precision and Longevity

Features such as intelligent floating boom and fine swing control are commonly found in excavators. Proportional hydraulics is a crucial component for these features. They are designed to enhance operator precision and comfort, particularly when working with sensitive materials.

Intelligent floating boom

An excavator’s intelligent floating boom technology can prioritize flow to other functions. This operator assistance system allows the boom to float freely along the contours of the ground. It provides enhanced flexibility, improved cycle times and easier leveling and finishing.

Fine swing control

This feature provides more precise movements or control of the excavator’s swing motion. It’s ideal for more accurate positioning or placement of materials. It can reduce the time operators spend on adjustments, increasing job site productivity.

Both intelligent floating boom and fine swing control can contribute to a safer job site for operators and other workers.

Advanced excavator technology boosts fuel efficiency and operator productivity, reducing your operating costs and minimizing downtime and machine wear. Learn more about today’s excavators and Top Heavy Equipment Cab Features for Operators.