HX1000AL

HD Hyundai Construction Equipment launched two heavy earthmoving excavators, weighing 80 and 100 tonnes, at the recent Hillhead 2024 quarry exhibition in the UK. The HX1000A L is the company’s largest Stage V model and it attracted the attention of customers and visitors to the stand.

Before being disassembled and shipped back to the Continent, we had the chance to get behind the controls of this massive earthmover, working the benches of blasted rock within the Tarmac quarry.

ROBUST CONSTRUCTION

The HX1000A L does not disappoint when it comes to build quality and durable construction. Every component is heavy-duty, from the track frames with large rollers and heavy-duty sprockets, through to the sturdy guards that protect the upper structure’s underside.

That upper structure turns on a crossed bearing slew ring design, to deliver a longer working life by distributing weight more evenly. Boom and bucket cylinder guards are offered and the main boom foot has been designed with increased pin strength to reduce the possibility of wear. Track rollers are lubricated for life and the idlers and sprockets have floating seals, to add another layer of protection. The machine is offered with a choice of 650mm, 750mm or 950mm wide track pads.

Customers can also choose from a selection of booms and dippers, depending on use. The main boom is available at 7,250mm or 8,400mm, while there are two dipper arms at 2,900mm and 3,750mm. A 6.8m3 bucket is designed to be used with the shorter mass excavation boom and arm, while a smaller 5.4m3 bucket can be combined with the longer boom and dipper.

In the shorter configuration that was on show at the Hillhead exhibition, the HX1000A L delivered a maximum digging depth of 7,260mm, with a digging reach of 12,430mm. Maximum loading height is 8,100mm.

Those numbers rise to 8,795mm, 14,275mm and 4,210mm with the longer boom and arm.

The machine’s horizontally-mounted counterweight is easily removed for transportation, with the option of a hydraulically-demountable counterweight, for those machines that will be regularly taken between sites.

POWER & PERFORMANCE

The HX1000A L is powered by a Perkins diesel engine, rather than the usual Cummins engines that drive smaller models in the HD Hyundai A-Series line-up. That will cause little concern for customers however, as Perkins, through owner Caterpillar, has an equally comprehensive after-sales support structure around the world.

Perkins’ 2806J is a six-cylinder diesel with an 18.1-litre displacement, high pressure fuel injectors, a twin-scroll wastegate turbocharger and electronic control. The Perkins engine delivers a powerful 629hp (460kW) at just 2,000rpm and 2,952Nm of torque, at 1,300rpm. It is equipped with a combined exhaust after-treatment system, with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) and a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), ensuring that the machine meets the EU Stage V emissions regulations.

The HX1000A L has three variable displacement axial flow hydraulic pumps, each producing 523 litres of flow. An electronic control system incorporates Variable Speed Control and Pump Torque Control, for improved independent or combined use of the various hydraulic functions. The bucket cylinder is supplied by two spools in the main control valve, for faster response and increased tearout force.

Much like a smaller excavator, it is possible to counterrotate the tracks while slewing the upperstructure on the 100-tonne machine, without any single service taking more oil than another. Indeed, once you get past the physical size of the HX1000A L, it is like the smaller models in the range to operate, delivering smooth digging and loading with the power to fill the bucket in tough rock applications.

There are four power modes and four working modes available to the operator, allowing them to tailor the engine and hydraulic system’s output to the task at hand. When digging into rock at Hillhead, the difference in power modes was noticeable, with the Power+ mode ripping through the material to fill the bucket with ease. The machine also offers Boom Priority and Swing Priority modes, allowing the operator to adjust hydraulic flow to each function to suit different working applications.

OPERATOR COMFORT

The HX1000A L has an impressive cab, delivering a comfortable working environment, that sits on suspension mounts that dampen vibration and impacts more effectively than simple block suspension. The heated and air-suspended seat is adjustable in every direction and the travel pedals are nicely angled and come with levers if you prefer. Sitting right at the front of the cab, it is easy to move the seat back when not using the tracking pedals, to provide more foot space.

With automatic climate control, the cab is pressurised and filtered to keep the dust out of the operating environment. There is plenty of storage behind the seat, along with cup holders and charging ports for phones, which can be connected by Bluetooth to the stereo.

“It delivers unmatched performance and incredible fuel efficiency...

An air gun inside the door can be used to blow out loose debris and dirt from the floor.

HD Hyundai’s 8” touchscreen monitor sits on the right-hand A-pillar, with a second, smaller screen below. Functions can be controlled using a rotary button in the main console and fast keys provide access to mode and power settings. The larger monitor provides a clear picture from HD Hyundai’s All-Around View Monitoring (AVM) camera system, which uses four cameras to provide the operator with a 360° view around the working area.

With plenty of glazing to the front and sides, the view is suitably panoramic and the roof hatch gives the cab a spacious feel. A level 2 FOPS guard is available if desired.

SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE

The HX1000A L comes with 520mm non-slip catwalks along both sides, for easy access to the many doors for regular service and maintenance points. There is also a central walkway, with access behind the cab, that provides a way into a centralised filter station, with water separator, fuel pre-filter and main filter grouped together.

The cooling fans are reversible, to blow dust and debris away from the radiator cores in dustier site conditions. The machine also comes with a two-stage air cleaner, to prolong filter life and prevent ingress of contaminants. Automatic greasing is available and an electric fuel refilling pump is standard.

CONCLUSION

For HD Hyundai, the two new heavy excavators provide dealers with a growing range of options, serving a wider group of industry customers. Whether working in a quarry, on a demolition contract, or in a mass excavation earthmoving application, the HX1000A L gives dealers a model that can work with Hyundai’s biggest articulated trucks, or with a customer’s own rigid machines.