A new 22 tonne Doosan DX225LC-5 crawler excavator has been converted into an ‘all-terrain’ machine for working in and around the Wadden Sea in Germany.

The revamped crawler excavator will be used along the 11.3 km long Hindenburgdamm embankment, which connects the island of Sylt with the mainland in Germany. Around 8.1 km of the Hindenburg embankment runs through the Wadden Sea.

The machine, owned and operated by Sven Jacobs Tief-, Garten- und Landschaftsbau - based in Tating (Schleswig-Holstein), was converted by Olko-Maschinentechnik in Olfen.

Sold by local Doosan dealer Atlas Hamburg, Jacobs has been using Doosan excavators since 2014 and the new machine is its fifth Doosan crawler excavator. 

To prevent the standard Doosan 22-tonne crawler excavator from sinking into the water, a particularly low ground pressure is required. For this purpose, the superstructure of the Doosan DX225LC-5 is mounted on an all-terrain undercarriage, not a standard pontoon, to ensure the full manoeuvrability of the excavator has been maintained.

The Olko undercarriage is designed for difficult applications in adverse conditions and on challenging surfaces, such as those found in wetlands. It also makes it possible to carry out work on lakes, rivers and coastal areas.

The type U/1800 undercarriage used on the Doosan DX225LC-5 has a length of 10.80 metres, a width of 6.20 metres and a height of 2.35 metres. The undercarriage alone weighs around 27 tonnes and produces a buoyancy of 580 kN. It achieves a load capacity of 18 tonnes and a maximum speed of 4 km/h.
 
In addition to the conversion of the chassis, a number of other modifications were made by Olko. This included fitting the crawler excavator with a 9 metre boom and a dipper stick 6 meters in length. The extended reach makes it possible to work underwater without any problems. In addition, a supplementary fuel tank and a shelf for an anchor were installed.

In order to comply with environmental regulations, the machine was converted to biodegradable Panolin hydraulic oil. Olko ensured that the finished machine is certified with the CE mark and accompanied by the documentation required by the EU Machinery Directive. - TradeArabia News Service