The DX17Z posed behind Doosan’s smallest mini, the DX10Z.
Smaller Doosans
EHN’s Consultant Plant Editor, Nick Johnson, assesses the latest compact excavator in Doosan’s range of construction equipment.
Think Doosan and the chances are that you will initially picture one of the South Korean manufacturer’s popular standard sized excavators. However, its range also includes wheel loaders, articulated dump trucks and, of particular interest to many EHN readers, a wide range of compact excavators, which have been included in the product portfolio for some considerable time. Indeed, since acquiring the famous Bobcat brand ten years ago, the company has introduced a greater spread of compact diggers to its orange-liveried line-up.
Nick Johnson was impressed with the DX17Z’s precise slew, stability and ‘zero house swing’.
To capitalise on their heritage, Doosan continues to sell the distinctive white and black skid steer and compact tracked
loaders only through the Bobcat brand. However, a common platform/dual branding approach has been adopted for sales of many of the compact excavators to provide greater customer choice.
The orange, Doosan-badged excavator range now embraces no fewer than ten models with operating weights from 1,179kg to 8.6 tonnes. Tracked minis include the DX10Z, DX17Z, DX19, DX27Z, DX30Z and DX35Z, whilst the tracked midis are designated the DX62R-3, DX63-3 and DX85R-3. There is also one wheeled mini, the 5,790kg DX57W-5, which is very popular in its native South Korea.
A good selection of the Doosan machines were recently available for inspection and test drives at a series of demonstration days organised by the manufacturer in a quarry near to its factory and training centre in the Czech Republic. A particular highlight was the recently launched DX17Z, the Doosan equivalent of the Bobcat E17Z which made its first UK appearance as a preview machine at the Executive Hire Show.
The DX17Z has an operating weight of 1,749kg when fitted with a four-post ROPS/FOPS/TOPS canopy. It comes as standard with a retractable undercarriage that allows overall width to be increased from 980mm, for transport and tight area access, to the more stable working width of 1,532mm. The ‘Z’ in the designation indicates zero
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tail swing, but this model has also what Doosan calls ‘zero house swing’. The front corners of the superstructure do not extend beyond the extended undercarriage width, thus providing 320° of damage- free rotation in tight spaces.
Those who like Kubota engines will be pleased to discover that the DX17Z is powered by a three-cylinder unit rated at 9.9kW (13.3hp). Good operating performance is also aided by the provision of a hydraulic system that usefully combines variable piston pumps and a gear pump to maximise engine power. A rear hatch facilitates daily checks, whilst easier service access is obtained by opening other panels. The machine has easy-to-clean, side-by-side coolers and a simple diagnostics system that displays error codes on the control panel.
Also included are auto engine shutdown, auto glow plugs countdown, auto cab lights switch-off, an audible malfunction alarm and automatic slew brake. A battery kill switch helps prevent power drain during storage, and is an effective anti-theft device. An automatic slew brake is incorporated for safe parking and transportation.
Maximum digging depth is 2,249mm and the DX17Z has two-speed travel, providing up to 2.5 and 4.0 km/h. An optional long arm dozer blade allows ‘dust panning’ clear-up and better front stability, and the mini can be fitted with boom and dipper check valves, a hook and an overload handling device.
The machine is produced at the Doosan Group factory at Dobris in the Czech Republic and its development has benefited from the extensive test facilities provided by the well-equipped Innovation Centre situated next door. This site also houses the company’s European training centre and test ground where prospective customers can check out machines for themselves.
• 01443 842273
www.doosanequipment.eu
The rear service door for daily checks reveals the machine’s Kubota engine.
NICK
JOHNSON AT THE CONTROLS
Authorised to test plant & equipment for EHN.
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