“I’ve spent a lot of time in competitor’s machines and the JCB shines in terms of being very quiet and allowing me to easily communicate with other people on site,” Jim says. “The track width control feature is easier and stronger than the competitor allowing quick and easy changes to tight access scenarios.”

He adds,

“The stability of the 18Z is awesome and inspires operator confidence when slewing with a loaded bucket.”

“It’s certainly been a great investment for us and I couldn’t be happier with the performance of the machine,” says Jim.

1.8 Tonne mini excavator

The 18Z will provide customers with a 1.7-tonne Zero Tail Swing excavator designed to meet the multiple applications expected of mini excavators that work in confined areas. The new excavator features are:

ROBUSTNESS 100% steel bodywork for maximum impact protection and ease of repair

WORK FASTER Premium, class-leading, precision hydraulic flow share functionality for maximum output.

TRAVEL SAFER 10 integral easily accessible tie-down points to make the transportation process safer and quicker

SPEND LESS 500-hour dig-end greasing intervals to reduce regular downtime

SERVICE EASY Separate service access doors for daily checks so you get to operating quicker and a swing-out counterweight providing easy access for major services.

Robust design

The excavators share common design DNA, boasting improved durability with robust construction and ease of maintenance, to minimize downtime and boost work output for the customer. They have been engineered from the ground up to deliver reduced total cost of ownership and improved ease of use. All-steel body panels provide maximum protection and are designed specifically for the rental and contractor segments. As well as adding weight in the right places on the excavator, steel panels can be quickly and easily repaired if required which is vitally important in a hire fleet with optimum usage rates. A common heavy undercarriage is used, with machined faces for improved fit and extended component life. All come with the retractable track frame offering widths of 980-1,330mm. A revised idler design delivers improved ride quality and reduces track stalling in loose material. The excavators use a next-generation four-plate boom and dipper design, with machine matched dipper arm lengths of 950mm on the 18Z. The 1,800mm main boom with top-mounted ram provides maximum protection for the hydraulic cylinder.

Work faster

The 18Z hydraulics give operators the capability to simultaneously multi-task any combination of excavator functions smoothly and with full power – which means less time to complete the job. JCB’s ROPS-compliant cab and canopy structures provide up to 24% more interior space, with improved leg and shoulder room, boosting comfort for operators. Redesigned track levers now come with T-bar controls, in line with larger models. Short-pitch rubber tracks come as standard. Sloping track legs reduce material retention, making it easier and quicker to clean the excavator between jobs. The new instrumentation package is clear to interpret and easy to use.

Travel safer

Ten sturdy tie-down points have been built into the frames, making the units easily adaptable to different truck and trailer tie-down configurations. Safe and easy access to the tie-down points means quicker turnaround times between sites. The compact excavators are among the safest on the market, thanks to the designed balance criteria developed by JCB’s engineers. Increased all-round visibility on the 18Z 2-Post canopy ensures clear open views for the operator. JCB’s 2Go risk mitigation hydraulic cut-out system prevents excavator operation through unintended control movement.

Service easy

The 18Z-1 is powered by a 12.2kW (16.3hp) Perkins diesel engine that is equipped to meet upcoming emissions regulations. The engine is mounted across the rear of the excavators for optimum weight distribution that provides the best machine balance and service access. Ease of serviceability was a prime design criterion. The excavators have a rear counterweight that swings away to provide open access to the engine bay for major service intervals. Daily checks can be carried by the operator through a separate swing open steel access door. The right-hand side panel opens giving access to the hydraulic, tank and filter and the radiators. This all-round easy access reduces maintenance time and boosts profitability.

Spend less

All boom and dipper pins have 500-hour greasing intervals for reduced downtime and extended pin and bush life, which means that greasing only needs to be completed as part of 500-hour machine service. The 18Z’s are supported with a 3 year / 3000-hour Premier Warranty package. Australian dealers offer full-service benefits to owners through their experienced aftersales operations. This combination of support attributes has proven to provide low whole of life costs and exceptional machine residual values delivering the most cost-effective solution for mini excavator users worldwide.

Source: JCB