New Generation Doosan Excavator Excels on Wind Farm Project in the North of Scotland

M. K. Leslie Ltd, based in Inverness and the Shetland Isles in Scotland, has purchased the first new Doosan DX300LC-3 crawler excavator in the UK from Inverurie-based Balgownie Ltd, the Authorised Doosan dealer for Aberdeenshire, Morayshire, Angus and for much of the Highlands and parts of Perthshire and Kinross-shire. M. K. Leslie is delighted with the all-round performance of the new Stage IIIB compliant machine from Doosan, particularly from the aspects of operator comfort, productivity and fuel saving.

Keith Leslie, Managing Director of M. K. Leslie, said: "Though he really liked driving the previous DX300LC model from Doosan, our operator on the new DX300LC-3 excavator, Murray Peat, says it is like chalk and cheese between the new machine and the old one, in terms of comfort, controls and visibility and the fuel consumption is also better, providing a saving of around 20% compared to other machines of a similar size on the market. Doosan seems to have got the design right on these new generation machines. The support from Balgownie and Doosan has been excellent as it has been for all the Doosan machines we have purchased."

The new ROPS and OPG certified cab on the DX300LC-3 excavator offers more space (+6%) for the operator and a new high-quality, heated air suspension seat further reduces operator fatigue, while a new cab suspension system helps to cut vibration by 20% and reduce the sound level in the cab to 71 dBA. Among the many convenient features in the cab is direct control through the joysticks, which have new proportional thumb wheel switches and integrated buttons to provide precise, proportional control of attachments.

A new 7-inch colour high quality visual control console offers an attractive display and excellent functionality. All functions can be controlled both from the instrument panel as well as via a new jog/shuttle control next to the joystick, a feature exclusive to Doosan excavators. A new function allowing the operator to select and set engine speed, hydraulic flow and pressure for attachments, with several preset positions, is also a standard feature.

Camster Wind Farm Project

The new DX300LC-3 excavator is working on its first project – Phase Two of the Camster Wind Farm Project near Thurso in the North of Scotland, where M. K. Leslie is working on behalf of main contractor, Morrison Construction. The Camster wind farm is situated between Mybster and Watten and features 25 turbines capable of generating up to 50 MW of electricity, enough power for up to 35,000 homes each year. The Camster site is an excellent site for a wind farm and the current stage of construction marks a significant step towards completing the project, which it is hoped will be fully operational by mid 2013.

Keith Leslie commented: "One of the reasons I wanted to purchase another DX300 size model from Doosan was to use the long-reach equipment that we had purchased with the previous DX300LC machine to complement the standard equipment.
"The long reach equipment is very useful on the Camster project because of the saturated peat terrain, allowing us to side cast the foundations without fear of pushing the peat back into the pits we've dug. The new DX300LC-3 excavator is a jack-of-all-trades on site, combining excavating with material handling and landscaping duties."

Another advantage offered by the new DX300LC-3 excavator is the greatly increased drawbar pull, which Keith Leslie says is very useful for manoeuvring and working on the heavy peat surfaces at the wind farm. In the DX300LC-3 model, a new travel device has increased the maximum travel speed to 5.3 km/h, while the drawbar pull is increased by 4% to 29,800 kg and lifting capacities have been increased by 6%.

Excellent Fuel Consumption

The DX300LC-3 is powered by the Doosan DL08K 'common rail' 6-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine meeting Stage IIIB emission regulations through the use of Exhaust Gas Recirculation and Diesel Particulate Filter after-treatment technologies. At 159 kW, the Doosan DL08K engine in the DX300LC-3 excavator delivers 2% more power at a lower speed of 1800 rpm than the existing DX300LC Stage IIIA model. Factory tests show a 5 to 10% reduction in fuel consumption, depending on the operating mode selected and the work being done. A new ECO Gauge on the control panel helps the operator to lower fuel consumption by providing real time monitoring of fuel rate and actual engine-percent load. Two new operating modes (P+ mode: Power Plus and L: Lifting) improve controllability and efficiency.

Higher Workload Output

Workload/hour output has increased by an average of 6% across the different power modes of the DX300LC-3 excavator. New hydraulic pumps and valves increase hydraulic flow by up to 11% and pressure (350-370 bar) to boost front, travel and power functions as well as increase lifting capabilities and reduce cycle times. Overall, the new hydraulic system improves the productivity of the machine through highly responsive controls.

Lower Total Cost of Ownership

The DX300LC-3 excavator has a more robust undercarriage with increased durability in the boom and arm, extending mean time before failure by over 30%. The engine bonnet is split into four parts to improve serviceability, whilst components such as filters, valves and batteries are all within easy reach for service work. Cooling capacity has been increased by 10 to 15% compared to the previous generation machine.