NEWS TECHNOLOGY 16 Sep 2011

HYBRID AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS TECHNOLOGY MEDAL

Komatsu's innovative Hybrid excavator system, released in Australia in May, has been awarded the prestigious JSME Medal for New Technology from the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Medal-a.jpgKomatsu Ltd President and CEO Kunio Noji) received the 2010 JSME Medal for New Technology in April.

Established in 1958 to encourage the growth of Japan's mechanical engineering and industry, the JSME Medal is one of the most prestigious technology awards in Japan and is the second such award given to Komatsu.

It previously won the medal in 1989.

Komatsu's Hybrid excavator system reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions through the use of an Ultra-Capacitor which captures kinetic energy when braking the upperstructure's slew motion, then reuses that energy to assist the next slew cycle, as well as delivering power to the engine.

The end result is fuel savings of 25-40% and CO2 emissions depending on application.

For the JSME Medal for New Technology, the Society evaluates not only the originality and excellence of the concerned technology, but also the social contribution and business result factors, said Sean Taylor, CEO of Komatsu Australia.

"We first introduced our hybrid excavator in June 2008, initially in Japan, then in China and the US,"

he said.

"In December last year, we launched our second generation Hybrid Excavators, the HB205

and HB215LC, offering improved application and productivity compared with our first

generation hybrids.

"These had their global launch at Conexpo in the US in March, and were released in Australia at our BOOTS-ON event in May.

"The awarding of the JSME Medal reflects not only the technological excellence of our Hybrid system but also the good sales we achieved with our first generation models," said Sean.

"As a leading supplier of construction equipment, Komatsu will continue to broaden our Hybrid excavator model range, as well as applying our Hybrid system to other types of construction equipment as part of our commitment to reducing our environmental impact and reducing our customers' operating costs."


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