Gradall says it has come up with a low-cost solution for local and state governments facing emergency cleanup, such as occurred with last year’s string of devastating hurricanes.
The company’s Discovery Series excavators were used during storm recovery on the Gulf Coast and in the Bahamas and Caribbean, a news release says. They can travel up to 55 mph on the road and can reduce the need for additional equipment.
Gradall collaborated with Freightliner engineers to integrate an M2 undercarriage with automatic transmission on the new excavators. They also feature a Cummins 6.7-liter engine with 220 gross horsepower and 520 foot-pounds of torque.
The excavator’s telescopic boom tilts 220 degrees and can handle attachments designed for excavating, pavement removal and grading, debris cleanup, landscaping and road repair. They include grapples, mowers, tree limb shears and buckets.
The triangular boom can extend to nearly 25 feet at grade and can work on low overhead jobs such as under bridges and trees and in tunnels.
It features a two-axle chassis, a reinforced frame and a modified rear suspension. The excavator can be repositioned from the upper cab along a road or over a ditch at speeds up to 7 mph.
With near-zero tailswing, the excavator can work along two-lane roads and not interrupt traffic flow. Front axle lockout cylinders eliminate the need for outriggers.
The company says the Bosch Rexroth hydraulic system conserves fuel and adjusts the amount of hydraulic fluid to the job through pressure-compensated, load-sensing valves with reliefs on all circuits.
The upper-structure cab has heating and air, dual reading lights and a storable front window. Operators can choose Gradall, Deere or SAE joystick patterns.