In a series of dealer meetings and a media presentation, Komatsu America Co. introduced a range of upgraded and new products. Three of the products-WA600-3 wheel loader, HD465 haul truck and GD750A grader-should find application in the aggregates industry.

Komatsu's WA600-3 is powered by an electronically controlled, six-cylinder, direct-injection turbo-charged Cummins QSK19 diesel. It delivers 450 hp and meets current Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards, according to the company.

The loader has an 8-cu-yd bucket and will load Komatsu's 40-ton HD325 haul truck in three passes. Equipped with high-lift arms, the WA600-3 can load the 60-ton HD465, Komatsu said.

New to the WA600-3 is a dual-stage hydraulic system designed to improve cycle times. When penetrating a pile, most of the engine power is applied to the wheels by turning off the switch pump. When raising the boom to load a truck or hopper, flow from both the switch and loader pumps provides faster hydraulic speed, Komatsu said. The system makes the bucket a little slower in the pile but increases its digging force.

The WA600-3 has an automatic, electronically controlled transmission. The boom lever has a transmission kick-down switch to shift from second to first gear when penetrating a pile and a hold button to keep the machine in any gear, allowing engine braking on a downgrade without turning off the automatic transmission.

The cab is the largest ever installed on a Komatsu wheel loader, the company said. An air-suspension seat and tiltable steering wheel add to operator comfort . Because the new cab is so wide, Komatsu offers electric side window lifts..

Also available is an electrically controlled suspension system that improves steering stability and ride by reducing machine pitching and bouncing by as much as 50%, according to Komatsu. A stick-steer system also can be added. It does not, however, replace the steering wheel, which retains full priority in any application.

Additional features on the WA600-3 include a fully hydraulic, sealed brake system; an auto-lubrication system; and a larger counterweight to increase machine stability.

Komatsu's new HD465-5 haul truck is rated to carry a 60-ton payload, 55 tons with bed liners. It is powered by a 715-flywheel-hp Komatsu SAA6D170E diesel that the company said complies with EPA and CARB emission standards. To allow for common parts and servicing, the same engine is used in Komatsu's WA700-1 wheel loader, which can load the HD465-5 in three passes.

The HD465-5 has an electronically controlled, automatic, seven-speed transmission that provides direct drive in every range and improves fuel economy, according to Komatsu. Top rated speed is 43.5 mph fully loaded.

A MacPherson strut suspension connected to a lower A-frame allows a sharp tire-cut angle and a turning radius of 27 ft 11 in. Steering is fully hydraulic. If the truck's engine quits, a battery-powered backup system automatically activates to allow the truck to be steered until it can be stopped.

Front brakes are air-over-hydraulic dry caliper discs; rear-axle brakes are oil-cooled, wet multiple discs. Separate front and rear brake circuits keep the rear axle totally functional if the front axle becomes damaged, the company said.

The operator's cab has two doors, a full-width trainer's seat, tiltable steering wheel, tinted glass, intermittent wipers, electronically controlled heater and air conditioner. An optional automatic retarder allows the operator to select the maximum safe speed on downhill, loaded hauls.

Suitable for haul road maintenance, Komatsu's GD750A-1 motor grader combines Komatsu and Galion technology, the company said. The grader has an articulated frame and a moldboard geometry that allows the blade to be positioned 90 degrees to the right or left. It has a maximum cutting depth of 30.5 in., a maximum lift above the ground of 18.6 in. and blade tip range of 40 degrees forward and 5 degrees backward.

Powered by a 225-hp, turbocharged, Cummins M11-C diesel engine, the grader has a top speed of 27.9 mph with eight forward and four reverse gears. A torque converter with lock-up direct drive allows starts under heavy load without stalling the engine, the company said. In upper gear ranges, the transmission automatically shifts into direct drive.