New -9 Series Heavy Excavators: Top 3 Productivity Boosters

The North American debut of the DEVELON -9 Series crawler excavators at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 marks a new era for heavy earthmoving equipment. 

With the new machines, we’re addressing your most pressing concerns:

• Rising fuel cost
• Job site safety risks
• Operator fatigue

These next-generation DEVELON excavators aren’t just incremental upgrades; they’re “smart” machines designed to move more material with less overhead.

From factory-integrated 2D machine guidance to AI-powered collision avoidance and excavator radar detection, the new -9 Series provides a customizable, high-tech experience designed to help you and your operators work more efficiently than ever before.

Here’s what to know about the new -9 Series lineup, including three productivity boosters on every machine.

What’s New With DEVELON -9 Series Excavators

The first four DEVELON -9 Series crawler excavators are the DX230LC-9, DX260LC-9, DX360LC-9 and DX400LC-9. These models represent the heavy excavator size class, with an operating weight ranging from approximately 23 to 40 metric tons and designed to handle large-scale earthmoving, utility projects and demolition work.

These machines replace the current -7 Series excavators with smarter, more efficient technology. Eventually, all current DEVELON -7 Series models offered in North America will be replaced with -9 Series excavators.

Here are three key productivity features on every -9 excavator model.

Smart Tech for Precision and Job Site Safety

The new DEVELON -9 Series excavators integrate advanced sensors that act as an extra set of eyes and ears in work zones.

At the heart of the excavator safety technology is the new smart around view monitor (SAVM) camera system paired with a sophisticated human detection system to protect both the machine and your crew. By utilizing six strategically placed cameras, radar sensors and AI-powered object detection, the machine provides you with a full 360-degree view to eliminate blind spots.

To further protect crews on busy job sites, the -9 Series excavators include high-tech safeguards designed to prevent accidents before they happen.

• Active E-Stop Safety Technology: This human detection system (HDS) creates a “danger zone” within a 6.5-foot radius of the excavator. If a person enters this area, the collision avoidance technology automatically brings the machine’s movement — including swing and travel — to a complete stop.
• Virtual Walls: To protect utilities and underground lines, you can use e-fencing to set digital boundary limits. You can set the maximum height, depth and reach, and swing angles. These excavator Virtual Walls prevent the machine’s boom or bucket from striking overhead power lines or making contact with known underground obstacles.

The 2D machine guidance and control feature comes with the standard excavator package (US20) from DEVELON. This allows unmatched digging accuracy and grading precision without the guesswork.

• Standard 2D Precision: The factory-integrated features help you precisely achieve target depths and slopes on the first pass. The system reduces the need for the operator or another worker to manually check the trench depth.
• Seamless 3D Compatibility: For job sites requiring even higher levels of complexity, the new excavators are fully compatible with an optional 3D smart control system and machine guidance system. 3D is better for complex contours and large-scale job sites where GPS modeling is required.
• Retrofit-Ready: These systems are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing sensors and calibrations, allowing you to upgrade your technology as your business needs grow.

By making this excavator safety technology standard, we ensure that job site safety and precision go hand-in-hand, keeping your project on track and your team out of harm’s way.

Performance That Increases Output per Hour

Boosting productivity is about more than raw power; it’s about efficiency — the ability to move more material with less overhead. The -9 Series excavators achieve this through a ground-up redesign of their hydraulic and engine systems for less fuel burn.

• Fuel-Efficient Excavator Design: Engineered with a fully electro-hydraulic control (FEH) system, the new excavators replace traditional mechanical pilot controls. The FEH system allows for smarter energy management and improved precision.
• Increased Output: These machines deliver up to 8% greater fuel efficiency and up to 20% increased engine output compared to previous models.
• Advanced Lift Assist: This industry-first feature monitors lift capacity in real time using a lifting force table. A color-coded arrow system on the monitor alerts you to tipping risk, especially important when working on slopes or uneven ground.
• Integrated Weighing System: A new on-board weighing system helps you easily monitor production levels and manage volumes to ensure that dump trucks are loaded to proper and safe capacities every time. It’s best to use a consistent lifting motion and place the excavator on relatively level ground.
• Precision Breaker Assist: For demolition tasks, the breaker assist feature prevents blank firing to protect internal components and reduce your physical strain.
• Auto Breaker Function: This feature eliminates the need for constant button pressing, offering smoother operation and faster cycle times in demanding environments.

With these performance boosters, a DEVELON excavator doesn’t just work harder: It works smarter to maximize uptime and profitability.

Improved Operator Experience and Uptime

The redesigned cabs in the new DEVELON excavators represent a human-centric shift, focusing on refined ergonomics, enhanced operator visibility from ambient lighting and long-term machine longevity. 

By prioritizing the person behind the joysticks, DEVELON ensures that operator cab comfort directly translates into higher productivity and reduced cycle times.

• Customizable Controls: The newly designed joysticks allow you to personalize the settings for maximum comfort and ease. This includes the new stick steer function, which steers the excavator tracks via the joystick. This is a game-changer for navigating busy urban job sites without the constant use of foot pedals.
• Split-Screen Display: You can manage your entire workload through a 12-inch high-resolution monitor. If you’re handling complex tasks, a dual-monitor touch screen option is available, allowing for up to four screen splits to display machine information and camera feeds simultaneously.
• Predictive Maintenance:  To maximize uptime protection and health monitoring through remote monitoring, the -9 Series excavators feature advanced Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) technology. This smart excavator technology continuously monitors critical components like hydraulic oil, engine oil and main pumps. The system monitors maintenance intervals and performs real-time oil diagnostics, predicting the needs of the engine and main pumps to minimize service costs and unplanned downtime. A premium option adds vibration sensors and abnormality detection for the main pump, swing motor and swing reduction gear.
• Digital Key Convenience: Through the MY DEVELON fleet management app, a Bluetooth®-enabled digital key allows you to unlock the excavator cab, start the engine and even adjust the air conditioning from a distance.

Why It All Matters: Job Sites Demand Productivity

The advancements offered in the new DEVELON excavators are critical for your future success in the construction industry. The modern job site is under more pressure than ever, and the -9 Series excavators address these demands by shifting the focus toward smart efficiency.

By standardizing smart excavator technology like 2D machine guidance, our excavators allow even less experienced operators to maintain high digging accuracy. 

This shift from manual checking to automated precision directly reduces cycle times and wasted fuel, ensuring that every hour on the job contributes to the bottom line.

Are you ready to see how the new DEVELON excavators can transform your productivity? Visit your local DEVELON dealer to explore the -9 Series models.