Komatsu Unveils The PC390LCi-11 Hydraulic Excavator

    Posted On: March 27, 2018

    The Komatsu PC390LCi-11 is easy to control, stable, and features a number of assistive technologies that operators will love. (Photo courtesy of Komatsu.)

    Komatsu Ltd. is the second largest global manufacturer and supplier of earth-moving equipment for the construction, surface and underground mining, and forestry industries, and its Rolling Meadows, Illinois-based subsidiary, Komatsu America Corp., just launched the new PC390LCi-11 hydraulic excavator. The new machine is a 3D semi-automatic excavator that was designed to be as fast and nimble as Komatsu’s 36-ton (32.6-tonne) machines, but with the stability of a much bigger excavator.

    An Atypical Excavator

    Komatsu designed the PC390LCi-11 to tackle a variety of applications that call for greater over-the-side lift capacity, from production excavating to utility trenching, site prep, and more. Komatsu knows how appreciated the PC210LCi-11’s factory-standard machine-control-enhanced joysticks are, and as a result they have included them on the new model to enhance operator comfort, control, and convenience.

    Other standout features that are sure to make the PC390LCi-11 popular at the jobsite include an 8.85 liter, 257-horsepower, Tier 4 Final-complaint SAA6D114E-6 engine. To assist the operator, the excavator supports KOMTRAX level 5 technology, which reports fuel and diesel exhaust fluid levels, Komatsu Diesel Particulate Filter regeneration status, machine location, as well as cautions and maintenance alerts.


    This 3D semi-automatic excavator offers 36-ton-machine speed, next-size-class-up stability, and an operator joystick that delivers impressive machine control. (Photo courtesy of Komatsu.)

    Fully Tech’ed Out

    The Komatsu PC390LCi-11 also supports a number of assistive technologies, including Auto Grade Assist for automatically adjusting the bucket height, Auto Stop Control for preventing the bucket edge from encroaching on the design surface, Minimum Distance Control for minimizing digging below the target surface, and Facing Angle Compass to ensure the bucket edge is always square with the target surface. The Realistic 3D Display allows for rendering the machine and design surface in realistic detail, which helps the operator visualize the machine’s orientation relative to the features of the jobsite. And finally there’s Control Box, which consists of a 12.1-inch (307-millimeter) touchscreen with an icon-based interface for ease of use.

    The PC390LCi-11 excavator includes a 3-year or 2,000-hour (whichever comes first) Komatsu CARE maintenance program. This covers scheduled factory maintenance, a 50-point inspection at each service, up to two complimentary Komatsu diesel particulate filter (DPF) exchanges, and up to two diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tank flushes in the first five years.

    Source: Komatsu

    Questions? Comments? Visit the RentalYard Forums to ask questions, get answers, and share your thoughts.

      Blog Archive
    What's New At Sandhills Global
    Posted 7/17/2026
    Find out about the latest Sandhills news, including AI to write your asset descriptions, the new UCC Search app, a new e-commerce solution, and more. ...
    Read the full blog post
    Sandhills Market Reports Show Continued Inventory Declines Across Used Equipment and Truck Markets
    Posted 7/6/2026
    New Sandhills Global market reports show ongoing inventory declines across several key used equipment and truck markets in June. ...
    Read the full blog post
    Submit Free Equipment Rental Quote Requests Easier Than Ever On RentalYard.com
    Posted 6/24/2026
    Finding the right construction equipment, farm machinery, trucks, trailers, or attachments to rent or lease just got simpler on RentalYard.com, thanks to the new dedicated Request A Quote page. ...
    Read the full blog post
    What's New At Sandhills Global
    Posted 6/4/2026
    Find out about the latest Sandhills features and news, including the new Bloomberg/Sandhills dealer survey, the new parts hub, Hot Lists, and more. ...
    Read the full blog post
    Used Construction Equipment Rentals Remain Strong as Sales Cool
    Posted 6/4/2026
    Used construction equipment inventory levels continued to decline in May, led by crawler excavators and wheel loaders, according to the latest Sandhills Global market reports. ...
    Read the full blog post
    Liebherr Debuts Generation 8 Material Handlers At IFAT 2026
    Posted 5/14/2026
    Liebherr recently debuted its Generation 8 material handler prototypes, the LH 18 M Industry and electric LH 22 M Industry E, with the new emCAB cabin and Mobility Kit battery options supporting magnets and recharging during use. ...
    Read the full blog post
    Bobcat Introduces Rental-Ready PA375V Portable Air Compressor
    Posted 5/14/2026
    Bobcat’s new PA375V portable air compressor combines reliable air output, simplified service access, and long runtime for rental environments, contractors, and utility customers. ...
    Read the full blog post
    Used Truck Fleets Continue to Age Amidst Ongoing Inventory Decline
    Posted 5/7/2026
    According to the latest Sandhills Global market reports, inventory levels of used trucks on TruckPaper.com and other Sandhills platforms are down over 20% compared to last year and is continuing a downward trend. ...
    Read the full blog post
    New Vermeer TR6500TX Trommel Screen With Tracks For Enhanced Jobsite Mobility & Efficiency
    Posted 5/1/2026
    The TR6500TX features a tracked undercarriage, a large hopper, a digital drum angle readout and a full-function remote control to help optimize jobsite productivity and efficiency. ...
    Read the full blog post
    What's New At Sandhills Global
    Posted 4/30/2026
    Find out about the latest additions to Sandhills platforms, including TruckPaper.com’s new trailer model names and BoatHarbor.com’s new mobile app. ...
    Read the full blog post