Updated straight boom crawler excavators offer 30 percent more reach vs digging models

Volvo CE has introduced two updated straight boom crawler excavators for the demolition sector. The "new and improved" 40-ton EC400 Straight Boom crawler excavator is replacing the EC380E Straight Boom, while the 30-ton EC300 Straight Boom replaces the older EC300E Straight Boom.

They have both been designed to deliver excellent productivity in demolition applications, while retaining the quality and comfort of their standard counterparts. 

"These mighty machines embody the very best in demolition strength," says Martijn Donkersloot, product manager for demolition equipment at Volvo CE. "Starting with a solid foundation of a new modern design that provides operators with best-in-class comfort and visibility, we have also packed in a number of outstanding features to ensure the toughest of demolition jobs can be carried out with greater ease, safety, and performance."

Reaching new heights

The updated machines offer a height advantage with an increase in reach of approximately 30 percent over standard digging-based models. With a heavier counterweight, which can be easily detached using a hydraulic removal feature when moving from site to site, they also ensure stability during tall tasks.

The new generation machine base gives these machines 14 percent improvement in fuel efficiency and a 10 percent increase in engine power for the EC400 Straight Boom over the machine it replaces. The new cab environment is more spacious and packed with new features, including improved controls, an electric joystick, and a travel pedal to give precise controllability to the operator.

Advances in safety

The updated cab is also a safe one. It offers increased protection against falling debris with its robust roll over protection system and frame-mounted falling object guards, which can also be swung out to help clean the front window. Twelve millimetre-thick single-piece high-impact resistant glass windows provide a clear view and robust protection.

The machines offer strength across demolition tasks, and they are versatile enough to be used across a number of other tasks, such as digging, site tidy-up, and truck loading, especially loading high-sided trucks thanks to the extended reach of their longer booms.

Maintenance is improved with hydraulic oil and return filter changes extended to over 1,000 hours.

Technological advantages come standard

New standard features include a bigger auxiliary return line for faster attachment movements and, in an industry first, the case drain line feeds returning oil back into the tank and not to a case drain circuit.

Also included in the upgrade are technological advantages such as the Auto Power Boost, boom-and-arm bounce reduction, the ability to adjust boom-down speed, and boom-swing and boom-travel priority.

A reversible cooling fan helps to protect vital machine components from damage through overheating in dusty demolition environments. In addition, the factory-fit dust suppression system removes the need for a separate truck for pumping water, with its optimized positioning of water spraying nozzles helping to capture dust at the earliest opportunity.

The EC300 Straight Boom and EC400 Straight Boom demolition crawler excavators are the first of the range for Europe and North America to be included in the new generation update. The EC400 Straight boom can be ordered from November of this year and the EC300 Straight boom can be ordered from March 2025.