Doosan Quarry Days Re-Visited

Sadly this year, visits to events like Doosan's Quarry Days have had to be put on hold, which is a real shame, as there really is no alternative to getting out there and spending time on the machines in the dirt, or in this case in the rock!

Hopefully next year such opportunities will begin to return for us all, but in the meantime, lets take a look back at the the 2019 Doosan Quarry days event.

For many, myself included, the highlight of the event was a first chance to try out the latest Dash-7 Stage V emissions compliant excavators. There were 3 models available to get “hands on” with including the 30-tonne class DX300LC-7, the 35-tonne class DX350LC-7 and the DX380LC-7 which competes in the 38-40-tonne class sector. These new excavators feature a host of improvements while retaining and building on many of the best features of the outgoing Stage IV models. The machines feature many major enhancements in operator comfort, machine controllability, productivity, uptime and return on investment, with a strong focus on low fuel consumption, increased power, robustness and versatility.

I spent time in all 3 new machines on display and I will be reporting on the DX380LC-7 in more detail in a future edition of Earthmovers. For now, I will just say, I was extremely impressed with the performance of the machines overall in terms of speed and power and the feel of the controls seems greatly improved. The cab has also received a lot of attention, with an all new improved interior design and features a new 8-inch touch screen colour monitor, this screen is 30% larger than on previous models. A new standard fit 360-degree camera system offers the operator great views around his machine from various angles viewable from a totally dedicated separate screen. As an optional extra this system can also give an audible warning when personnel accidentally enter the working zone of the machine.

The DX300LC-7 is powered by the latest generation Doosan DL08 diesel engine, providing 202 kW of power at 1800 RPM. The DL08 engine offers a new solution to exceed Stage V regulations without exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), that boosts the quantity of air available during combustion, increasing the temperature of the process and greatly reducing the amount of particulates produced. This is combined with super-efficient DOC/DPF+SCR after-treatment technology to ensure minimal emissions.

Another highlight for visitors was the all new DA30-7 articulated hauler which is now powered by Stage V emissions compliant Scania DC09 9 litre diesel engine capable of providing a power output rating of 276kw (375hp). The larger DA45-7 which was not available during the event is driven by the new Scania Stage V DC13 13 litre diesel engine with an output rating of 368 kW (500 HP).

In 2018, the DA30-5 ADT was upgraded with a range of features including a new cab, a new self-levelling front suspension and a new tandem bogie system which are all incorporated in the new DA30-7 Stage V model. A similar process has been applied in the new DA45-7 Stage V machine, with a new cab and a semi-levelling front suspension that adjusts itself independently depending on the operating conditions to ensure a comfortable working environment for the operator. The cabs on the ADTs have new comfortable hand grips and foot rests and an improved layout for the display which is easier to use even for tired eyes.

As well as these changes, the new Stage V models offer many more features - one of the most eye-catching is a new design for the front frame and bonnet components on the trucks, created by the Doosan Design Team in accordance with the latest trends in the market. 

Another new machine on display was the DX250WMH-5 a 25-tonne class wheeled material handler aimed at the scrap metal, solid waste, recycling, demolition and forestry industry sectors. This is an area Doosan are keen to take a share of the market in, as we all know, recycling is a big business these days!

The new model is based on Doosan’s popular DX210W-5 21 tonne wheeled excavator, and features front and rear stabilizers, and a boom and arm specifically designed for material handling tasks. A standard feature is the hydraulic cab riser, which gives the operator better all-around visibility of the attachment and work area. When combined with the rear-view camera display in the cab, the operator has excellent visibility of the job site.  

Power comes from a 6-cylinder, turbocharged Doosan DL06PA water-cooled diesel engine, providing an output (SAE J1995) of 129.4 kW (173.5 HP). The DL06PA engine offers convenience and lower costs by meeting Stage IV emission regulations without the need for a diesel particulate filter (DPF), through the use of cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and selective catalyst reduction (SCR) after-treatment technologies. Some of the latest Doosan mini excavators were also showcased at Quarry Days. The DX27z and DX35z are Bobcat inspired zero tailswing (ZTS) models which are Stage V compliant.

Marketed as a true ZTS machine (even with the optional heavy counterweight), the DX27z offers the highest flexibility of movements when working close to walls, coupled with what Doosan describe as best-in-class 360-degree stability and a low weight for easy transportation. The DX27z combines excellent performance characteristics with the largest cab for this size of machine on the market. With the optional long arm and a premium cab, the DX27z offers the digging output and operator comfort of much larger excavators, making it the machine of choice for work in busy urban areas.

The DX35z is a new generation model in the popular 3.5 tonne machine class offering the additional benefits of ZTS design. I have spent time on the white models of these machines and I have to say I was impressed with them. No Doosan Quarry Days event is complete without a comprehensive line up of wheeled loaders including the impressive DL580 seen here shifting rock across to the DX380LC-7 that I was about to test drive, which we featured in the December 2019 issue of Earthmovers Magazine. 

One day is never really enough at Quarry Days and it was soon time to head for the airport, having enjoyed a great day with top class hospitality.