Gulf Construction Online - Atlas puts driver on top of the world

Excavators

The 1805 M has now been revised as the 1905 M.

Atlas puts driver on top of the world

01 March 2004

With an eye on bauma 2004 – the leading construction equipment exhibition to be staged in Germany from March 29 to April 4 – design engineers at Atlas-Terex have been focusing on completing the 05 series generation of mobile excavators – the successor of the extremely popular 04 series.

The result: the four new models 1305 M (13.9 tonnes), 1505 M (14.8 tonnes), 1605 M (15.9 tonnes) and 1705 M (16.8 tonnes), which together with the 1905 M (replaces the 1805 M), 2205 M and 5205 MI, now make up a seven-member group.
Atlas-Terex, the long-established company from northern Germany, has for many years been one of the leading excavator manufacturers.
The 05 series excavators, which will be on display at the Terex stand, have newly-designed cabins to make drivers feel on top of the world. Numerous requirements, which had come up in practise, were implemented in the new design.
Elaborates a spokesman for the company: “For example, the door of the cabin has been made larger so that even the stockiest of drivers can have easy access to the cabin. The steering column can be adjusted to suit the physical measurements of individual drivers. The control panel on the left side can be tilted up, and thanks to a large handle, the door is easy to open and close from the inside.
“The design took into consideration the need to include an air conditioning system, which, thanks to additional nozzles, ensures optimal air distribution. Should they wish to have fresh air, the front windscreen can be pulled up and pushed under the roof of the cabin.
“The panoramic windscreens, fitted with heat-resistant glazing, serve a dual purpose: they prevent the heating of the cabin interiors, while the absence of a bar in the middle of the side window makes it possible to get a clear view of the entire working range of the machine. Design engineers have even made the underbody smoother to facilitate easy cleaning of the floor of the cabin.”
The new mobile excavators are driven by turbo engines, which comply with the stringent requirements of the COM2 emission levels. The 1305 M is driven by a 67 kW (91 hp) engine, while at the heart of the 1505 M is a 80 kW engine. And the six cylinders of the ‘power supplier’ in the 1605 M/1705 M provide 105 kW. The speed range of these units has been reduced to 2000 rev per min to reduce noise emission.
As with the predecessor models, the 05 series excavators have their engines installed laterally (breech position), which ensures an optimal distribution of weight.
He adds: “The new design of the substructure and the booms show just how much care has gone into designing the machines. Atlas-Terex has introduced a modular construction for the chassis so that the substructure can be customised to requirements. The substructure also has a new power-shift gear allowing the machine to sprint from one site to the next at 30 km per hour.
“Designers have optimised the run of the hoses between the lifting and adjusting cylinders of the booms by turning the cylinders around. These jibs can nevertheless still be used for 04 series machines. The mobile excavators of the 05 series can operate with all of the current tools, making them economically viable.
“Another improvement lies in moving the ‘drive’ feeding valve to the control block. The combined valve is another benefit since the sandwich construction allows new consumers to dock in without having to modify the basic machine.
“One of the best responses to the market requirement of easier operation is the modified Atlas excavator management (AEM) system, which controls and regulates the electronic excavator functions. The AEM system monitors virtually all of the control inputs and exits present, looks for errors in the electrical control unit, the critical load control and the electrical motor regulation (EMR). Any errors in function, which are detected, are clearly indicated on the driver’s display.
“The ‘new’ AEM system enables automotive driving, with the accelerator pedal regulating both the speed and the revolutions of the motor. This means that the engine does not permanently run at top speed, so it consumes less fuel, makes less noise and produces fewer exhaust fumes. Another new feature is the Tempomat a device set at top speed as a standard and can be activated on the control panel. Using this (or optionally by means of a potentiometer) the automatic revolution control is activated. “In addition, the standard control panel can be replaced by a simpler, more clearly designed control panel which has fewer functions. These functions, on the other hand, can be recognised far quicker. This alternative is particularly suitable for machines that are to be used in the rental line of business. Since the AEM comprises an automatic stewing brake, the control elements no longer require a foot pedal as hitherto,” he says.
“Terex Atlas is thus presenting genuine innovations which are both customer and market oriented and are sure to attract a great deal of interest and be greatly admired at the show in Munich,” he adds.
“For three years now Atlas, a construction equipment manufacturer located in northern Germany, has been a member of the globally operating Terex Corporation. The American corporate group Terex, with a market share of nine per cent of the world market, is number three among the leading manufacturers of construction equipment.
During the past three years, entirely new production procedures and efficient restructuring measures as well as the positive effect of globally-utilised synergies have been decisive in enhancing the sales volume of Atlas-Terex.