Volvo Construction Equipment (CE) claims its new PL3005D pipelayer could be “revolutionary” in its market.
Said to offer an unbeatable combination of superior stability with a 50tonne lifting capacity, the 35tonne 151kWDue to its claimed ability to swing its superstructure through 360° the PL3005D can easily handle large, heavy pipes and place them anywhere around the machine, said to be unthinkable with traditional side boom pipelayers. The machine can also swap booms and convert into deployment as a standard excavator.
Operable on slopes of up to 30° and rugged terrain, the PL3005D’s heavy-duty mechanical slew lock firmly fixes the superstructure at any angle in relation to the undercarriage, protecting the transmission and beneficial when fixing the load in a static position or during tie-in operations. The undercarriage’s high ground clearance is said to allow use in rugged conditions.
The pipelayer’s Load Management System (LMS) is said by Volvo CE to enable the operator to see what weight can be safely lifted at any position relative to the slope. Using inputs from the hook, boom and base machine-mounted sensors allows the system to monitor boom angle, machine orientation and inclination. The computer uses this information to continuously calculate and display real-time actual loads and related work loads. The operator receives relevant information, and accompanying graphic displays, on an in-cab monitor. Visible and audio warning signals notify when the safe load limit is reached, including green, yellow, and red light bars on both sides of the boom.
Another standout feature on the PL3004D is the innovative CareTrack telematics system. CareTrack manages a machine’s output and maximises its availability for work. Using a GPRS mobile network or satellite technology, the system reads information on a wide range of machine data, including fuel consumption, location, and service reminders. The data is then made available securely to any remote online connection.
With up to 80% of parts shared with its sibling excavator, the servicing, wear parts and replacement and maintenance requirements of having a PL3005D in the fleet is said to be considerably eased.
Speaking at July’s media launch of the PL3005D pipelayer Tomas Kuta, sales president for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), said: “We have had a lot of positive reviews from customers. We think this could be revolutionary in the pipelayer machine market.”
