JCB to show Ecomax-powered machines
Fuel-saving Ecomax-powered mobile plant to be shown for the first time at this year’s show
JCB’s innovative solution to EU Stage IIIB/US Tier 4 emissions legislation will be on show for the first time at Bauma as machines powered by the JCB Ecomax engine make their debut.
JCB, with their award-winning Ecomax engine, are the only leading equipment manufacturer in the world to have met the Stage IIIB/Tier 4 interim emissions legislation without the use of diesel particulate filter (DPF) or after-treatment. Instead, JCB have met the legislation through the use of innovative patent pending in-cylinder technologies, resulting in a cleaner, more efficient combustion process.
The JCB Ecomax builds on the success of the original Dieselmax engine and retains the same key characteristics such as high torque at low engine revs, robustness and reliability as well as low noise and vibration. It has been developed following an £80 million investment programme and has undergone over 110,000h of testing across a range of diverse applications, machines and environments.
As well as the obvious environmental benefit with the reduction in emissions, the JCB Ecomax engine will also offer customers improved torque throughout the rev range coupled with noticeably reduced fuel consumption. Moreover, JCB Ecomax engines can run on standard engine oils, unlike engines with after-treatment which require a more expensive CJ4 oil to function correctly.
The Ecomax’s new electronic ECU has been fully integrated with JCB LiveLink advanced telematics system, to further enhance its capability. As well as location information, routine service notifications and critical machine health alerts, JCB LiveLink will give customers remote access to full Ecomax engine diagnostics and fuel-economy data via the internet or through their mobile phones.
The JCB Ecomax engine range has been extended, both up and down in terms of power output, and will be fitted into machines spanning the 74hp to173hp range, including JCB backhoe loaders, Loadall telescopic handlers, wheeled loading shovels, the TM range of telescopic boom wheel loaders, JS excavators, rough-terrain forklifts and skid-steer loaders.
On JCB’s 3CX and 4CX backhoe loader platform, the Ecomax will be available with a 74hp (55kW), 91hp (68kW) or a 109hp (81kW) power rating, giving customers a broad choice of engines to meet their application and sector requirements. All the engines offer increased, usable torque over their Stage IIIA/Tier 3 predecessors as well as fuel savings of 5%, 4% and 2% respectively.
On JCB’s Loadall telescopic handler platform, the JCB Ecomax engine will be available in three power ratings dependant on machine model and target customer, 74hp (55kW), 108hp (81kW) or 125hp (93kW).
The 91hp (68kW) Ecomax engine will initially be installed on three of JCB’s mid-range JS excavators, the JS115, JS130 and JS145. The new engine installation has been coupled with the optimization of the machine’s hydraulic circuit and pump configuration which, when combined, has resulted in fuel savings of up to 10% and a 3dB(A) reduction in in-cab noise.
The introduction of the 125hp (93kW) Ecomax engine on JCB’s largest telescopic boom wheel loader has also provided the opportunity to further improve its productivity with a 100kg increased lift capacity. This has been achieved by repositioning the machine's front axle, thereby mitigating the need to add any additional counterweight.
