Volvo Construction Equipment unveils new compact excavators

Volvo Construction Equipment, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, has announced two new compact excavators, the 3.5-ton EC37 and the 4-ton ECR40, with features the company says will provide increased operator comfort, fuel efficiency, better stability and easier maintenance. These models replace the EC35D, ECR35D and ECR40D.

“The 3- to 4-ton size makes up more than a quarter of the compact excavator market in North America, and we’re excited to refresh our offering in that range,” says Darren Ashton, product manager-compact equipment for Volvo CE. “I think our customers will be very happy with the improvements we’ve made based on their feedback.”

While the excavators share the same platform and components, the EC37 has a conventional upper carriage design and the ECR40 has a short swing radius to allow for work in more confined spaces.

The excavators provide operators with a spacious, ergonomic and quiet cab, according to Volvo CE, offering outstanding visibility with slim corner pillars and wide, flat glass areas. Intuitive jog wheel and HMI (human machine interface) functionalities provide controllability and adaptability, while the company says a customizable hydraulics flow setting can accommodate a wide range of attachments and applications.

“The load-sensing hydraulics are definitely a highlight,” Ashton says. “The way the controls are set up and the smooth movements are just outstanding, and it all works together for better fuel efficiency.”

New work modes include an eco mode and automatic engine shutdown in addition to the existing auto engine idle, which the company says will boost fuel efficiency by 10 percent.

Features include a Volvo D1.7A engine and 1.6 to 2.9 mph travel speeds for both models, an 8,344-pound operating weight and 0.149 cubic yard bucket capacity for the EC37, and an 8,785-pound operating weight and 0.193-cubic yard bucket capacity for the ECR40. The machines boast 50-hour greasing intervals and a fuel tank capacity of 18.5 gallons.

The ECR40 will make its North American debut at The ARA Show in New Orleans Feb. 18-21. Both models are available for order now, with deliveries expected to start in Quarter 1. To learn more about the EC37 and ECR40 compact excavators, visit www.volvoce.com.