Local distribution and mainte- nance company High Power Equipment (HPE) Africa, says its new -9 range of excavators offers tier-two engines, making them suitable for local conditions.

HPE Africa last month launched the new range of excavators into the African market on behalf of earthmoving manu- facturer Hyundai.

The -9 range, a follow-up to Hyundai’s -7 range, is suitable for the construction, mining, quarrying, plant hire and demolition industries, and offers greater operator comfort and increased fuel efficiency.

Although the range is origin- ally manufactured using tier-three engines, most models are modified to accommodate local client requests for tier-one and tier-two engines that are able to process the lower-quality diesel available in Southern Africa.

HPE Africa national service manager Hein Stander explains that tier-three engines meet all European and US emissions standards, but the low-grade fuel available in Southern Africa makes these engines vulnerable in local conditions.

“The tolerance of the diesel injection components of the tier-three engine is too high for Africa, as the fuel quality is much lower than that available abroad. There are simply too many contaminants in local diesel, and injection pressures are three to four times higher on the tier-three machines,” he says.

Stander states that the mech- anical in-line injection component of the tier-two engine is far hardier and more reliable in local conditions than that of the tier-three engine, which is unsuitable for the high sulphur content of local diesel.

The -9 range offers lower fuel consumption than the -7 range, owing to an improved hydraulic and control system that gives the driver greater control in selecting operating modes, providing improved control of the hydraulic pump flow rate and resulting in lower fuel use.

In addition, the hydraulic system can reduce the engine working speed by between 50 rpm and 100 rpm, while maintaining the same working speed of the -7 models.

HPE Africa marketing manager Kirsty Denholm adds that Hyundai excavators have been used on a number of local projects, including a large State-owned freight rail and pipeline company’s new 544 km multiproduct pipeline project between Johannesburg and Durban. A significant portion of the project entails the installation of underground pipes.

Further, the company has machines involved in several major demolition projects, including the demolition of three N1 highway bridges in Gauteng.

To subscribe to Engineering News's print magazine email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or buy now.