What’s New A New Air Track

Ingersoll-Rand has introduced a new self-contained pneumatic drill for holes 2 1/2 to 4 inches in diameter.

The ecm-360 Crawlair cents features an on-board 580-cu-ft-per-min, 120-lb- per-sq-inch air compressor. The unit also comes equipped with Ingersoll- Rand’s evl-130hr drifter, which offers improved drilling speed and efficiency and consumes 20% less air than other drills in the same class, the company says.

The unit can go up slopes with a 30 degrees maximum grade. And with a ground clearance of 18 inches, the rig is well-suited for rugged jobs over rough terrain. It is 20% lighter than typical air track drills and is easily transported.

Other features include a 5-ft extendable boom; automatic engine throttle for maximum fuel efficiency; cold start system; and automatic engine monitoring and protective shutdown system. New Hydraulic Excavator

Caterpillar has replaced its 45-ton 235B hydraulic excavator with a more productive, efficient 235C, the company says.

A direct-injected Cat 3306 engine delivers 186 kw of power, up 16% over the 235B.

Seven new buckets, ranging in size from 0.96 cu m to 2.29 cu m, are available for digging in loose ground. Buckets feature transverse wear strips for extended service life, improved strength and rigidity.

Other features include larger- diameter boom cylinders, and increased hydraulic system pressures provide 12% more lift capacity.

Automatic engine speed reduction is another feature. This is activated when controls are left in neutral for more than two seconds. If the machine is in the active digging mode only 50% of the time, this feature can reduce fuel consumption by 15% to 20%, Caterpillar says.