Get Financing55-Ton Volvo EC500 Demolition Excavator Has More Reach Than Standard Models
Early last month at the March 2024 Demolition San Antonio show in Texas, Volvo Construction Equipment introduced a new straight-boom demolition version of its 55-ton (50-metric-ton) EC500 crawler excavator. The new 25.5-foot (7.8-meter) straight boom provides a 30% pin height increase over the standard boom.
“The EC500 Straight Boom gives customers a new 50-[metric]-ton option for larger jobs and perfectly complements our three high-reach models as well as our 14- to 95-[metric]-ton standard excavators that offer demolition-specific guarding and hydraulic options,” says Tony den Hoed, director of demolition strategic accounts for Volvo CE.
Volvo EC500 Features
Available for the North American market, the new EC500 Straight Boom has an updated demolition-optimized cab, fuel-efficient power, and improved safety features such as the optional ability to operate as a remote-controlled excavator.
Greater Stability, Quicker Attachment Response
The Volvo EC500 straight-boom excavator has 6,610 pounds (3,000 kilograms) more counterweight for superior stabilization on the job. The ballast is easy to remove for transport using a hydraulic counterweight removal feature. A 4-nozzle dust suppression system can spray up to eight gallons (30 liters) of water per minute to improve visibility while dismantling buildings and other structures.
Volvo claims an industry first for the EC500’s larger auxiliary return line, which returns hydraulic oil directly to the tank instead of a case drain circuit. The manufacturer says the direct return line reduces back pressure on the rotation circuit and speeds up attachment movements. Also, the service intervals for the machine’s hydraulic oil filter have been extended to 1,000 hours to save on service expenses and to reduce downtime.
Demolition-Specific EC500 Cab
Volvo ruggedized the new demolition machine with protective guards around the boom and bucket cylinders, heavy-duty underside shields, full track guards, and tough side doors. The EC500 cabin is fortified to protect itself and the operator from falling debris and other hazards. Its frame-mounted guards can swing out when cleaning the front windscreen, which has wipers and washers like the top window.
Both front and top windows are single pieces of impact-resistant glass about 0.5 inches (12.7 millimeters) thick. The cab also has a rollover protection system (ROPS).
The 55-t excavator's cab also has a new layout and features such as a high-definition Co-Pilot display, keyless engine start, and wired and wireless mobile phone charging. The operator can use its new electric joysticks to control the hydraulic pumps for the boom and the tracks separately for higher performance, a smoother ride, better controllability, and other benefits.
EC500 Safety Features
Volvo equips the EC500 with Volvo Smart View with Obstacle Detection, which uses an improved 360-degree camera system to give the operator a view in all directions. The system also incorporates new radar technology that alerts the driver when the machine nears an obstacle. Volvo says the obstacle detection feature is intelligent enough to distinguish objects from humans.
Source: Volvo