Product profile: Komatsu HB365LC-3 hybrid excavator

Date: 30.09.2022

Ventia chooses Komatsu HB365LC-3 hybrid excavator for quarry operations

As the world moves towards a zero-carbon future to help offset the impacts of global warming, companies in industries that have traditionally generated significant emissions as part of their day-to-day operations are looking for sustainable alternatives.

Lee Johnson, Ventia machine operator

The infrastructure and resources sectors—with their dependence on large-scale energy-intensive excavation, haulage, and construction equipment—are now focusing their efforts on ways to reduce their CO2 emissions.

One solution on the road to a zero-carbon future is the use of hybrid earthmoving and excavation technology, with its ability to slash fuel consumption, and hence CO2 emissions by up to 20%.

Committed to low emissions technology

Ventia commissioned the first Komatsu HB365LC-3 hybrid excavator in NZ at its transport sector quarry

One company that has committed to moving quickly to more sustainable low emissions technology is Ventia, a leading essential infrastructure services provider across New Zealand and Australia.

Recently, it commissioned the first Komatsu HB365LC-3 hybrid excavator in New Zealand at its transport sector quarry at Puketona in the Bay of Islands. Ventia has more than 5500 employees and subcontracting partners in New Zealand.

With a history spanning more than 25 years across the region, Ventia says it’s proud to support its New Zealand clients across transport, power, local Government, water, and telecommunications, supporting projects that connect communities in urban, regional, and rural communities.

The new HB365LC-3 excavator combines Komatsu’s hybrid technology with ultra-low emissions Tier 4 diesel technology and supports Ventia’s strategy of redefining service excellence through its client focus, innovation, and commitment to sustainability.

According to Neil Cates, Ventia’s regional manager, Northland for its transport New Zealand operations, sustainability for the business is more than just about reducing their environmental footprint.

Ventia plans to have 100% of our fleet either EV or hybrid by 2030

"It’s quite simply the right thing to do," says Neil. "We strive to deliver our services in a sustainable and innovative way, and we plan to have 100% of our fleet either EV or hybrid by 2030."

Neil says that Ventia began speaking about this technology with Garth Dixon, Komatsu New Zealand’s national sales manager, at last year’s Quarry Conference. "We looked at the hybrid option and quickly saw that it has productivity benefits: much more powerful slew, faster cycle times, and great fuel savings.

The new HB365LC-3 has helped Ventia decrease downtime and increase productivity

"Our main goal in purchasing this equipment has been to decrease downtime, increase productivity, and decrease emissions.The hybrid option resonated well with our capex approvers, and of course, it was well aligned with Ventia’s sustainability strategy," says Neil.

Ergonomic features

At the delivery of NZ’s first Komatsu HB365LC-3 hybrid excavator were (from left) Ventia’s Neil Cates, Komatsu NZ’s Garth Dixon, and Ventia’s Shane King

Shane King, Ventia’s SHEQ (safety, health, environment, and quality) manager for the company’s Transport New Zealand operations, says the new machine’s safety and ergonomic features were also important elements in introducing the company’s latest waka.

"I’m glad to [see] this new machine and all the new safety features … that help our team, [including] really good ergonomics inside for operators," he says. "As a past operator, and where we are as an industry at the moment, the mana this brings to our operators with the new piece of plant.

That’s the office they work in 10 hours a day, so if we can keep our staff, we keep our retention and we keep our good people. That’s a great advantage that Komatsu brings to us."

Commitment to operator training

Shane says specific safety features, along with Komatsu’s commitment to operator training and assessment helped Ventia’s team understand the new equipment, its safety, and quality features and how to get the best from them.

"The other massive feature [has been] Komatsu’s training and assessment, [having] their plant assessor come and talk to our guys. [That gives] them the key skills and understanding of the plant.

It keeps them safe and ensures that they are looking after the plant and also looking after themselves at work. "That way they are productive, they can get the material out, and they can go home safe for their families and spend the weekend with their whanau," says Shane.

Garth Dixon says the delivery of the HD365LC-3 Hybrid was an excellent example of how Ventia and Komatsu shared common goals around sustainability, the environment and safety.

"The HB365 is very efficient in the way it combines hybrid technology and Tier 4 diesel efficiency, giving fuel savings of up to 20% better than comparable machines," he says.

Lee Johnson, operator at Ventia’s Puketona Quarry in the Bay of Islands, gets to work with the company’s just-delivered HB365LC-3 hybrid excavator

"It’s also very productive. The electric slew combined the hydraulic power to the bucket, arm, and boom produces a very efficient machine, especially in a quarry application as we have with Ventia’s Puketona quarry.

"This type of work, slewing back and forth, loading crushers, loading trucks—that’s where it is particularly productive," he says.

For more information, visit komatsu.co.nz.

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