The levers of power

Someday, the joystick controls will replace the levers in executing the functions of most of the construction equipment but for the time being, Volvo CE, at the forefront of technology controls, has opted to maintain the traditional controls in its new series of motor graders, G900.

The scrapers are some of the more difficult to handle machines and operators who work with them tend to be more prepared and respected of the construction sector. During the design and development of the family of motor graders, G900, Volvo CE engineers were used to fund to consult and engage in the process operators with extensive experience.

The epicenter of these debates revolved around the possibility of withdrawing from the new G900 series levers of control used for decades in the bulldozers and replace them with joysticks of latest technology. Volvo CE has incorporated this type of controls with success in other products but soon became apparent that the operators of motor graders had serious reservations about whether the joystick supposed an adequate solution to handle this type of machinery.

"Over time, the positions of the traditional levers have become a benchmark for the industry – says Brian Lowe, director of product of the range of motor graders Volvo EC-." "Operators are familiar with the pattern and the position traditional controls, a key factor we consider when deciding which distribution is the more manageable for the people who actually work with these machines".

During the consultations operators also expressed some concern for the great sensitivity of the joystick, it could cause involuntary movements in certain functions of the motor graders. This hypersensitivity is an advantage to other construction machines more stationary, such as, the backhoe loaders and excavators, but in the case of the motor graders, could lead to problems. "Operating a bulldozer with multifunctional joysticks instead of traditional levers, operators tended to appreciate that, inadvertently, they varied the elevation of the road while driving, as well by land leveling in the process - throwing says Brian-". "So it was better to retain the normal steering wheel and continue to keep it independent of the rest of the commands".

The latest range of motor graders has an eleven-speed transmission, something completely new in the sector. HTE new transmissions are currently the most advanced in the market although they remain very easy to handle. Meanwhile, the optional transmission HTE1160 has 11 marches forward and six marches back that offer the possibility of further reducing the speed by land in applications of leveled for precision and get faster journey with the higher gears, thus decreasing the time of completion of the work. Fuel consumption has been reduced to add an economic progress for each application that does not prevent the machine to function at optimal speed and torque. With a greater ability to control, can be more work in a single pass, which translates into a reduction in the time of leveled per covered meter and, therefore, in a lowering of costs.

Another advantage of the transmission is the function of automatic transmission that allows the operator to work in a straight line, with changes of March forward and back without previously using the clutch pedal or brake. In addition to reducing the tiredness of the operator, this feature increases productivity.

The G900 scrapers are robust enough to withstand the rigors of the tasks of cutting and leveling of heavy equipment, flexible enough to move on land abrupt and difficult; all of this without losing that sensitivity of always guaranteeing the correct placement even in the most precise and sensitive applications. Therefore, if more experienced operators in the world prefer that their motor graders have levers rather than joysticks, who is Volvo CE to rebut it?

Volvo CE is used in its motor graders levers instead of joysticks