The Hyundai HX400L is a 42-tonne powerhouse built for strength, precision, and fuel efficiency. We find out more.
Greg Robbins’ brand-new Hyundai HX400L might present an impressive picture, but the Blenheim-based forestry contractor reckons not many people will see it in action day to day.
“The block we’re working on for the next few years is very remote, and I’m out there for a 4am start each day. We run the digger through until around 2.30pm, but overall, it’ll probably spend over half its time there working in the dark!” he laughs.
That’s a bit of a shame, because the new Robbins Contracting Hyundai HX400L is an admirable beast – weighing in at 38.5 tonnes (or 42 tonnes with the grapple attached), it’s the second-largest crawler excavator the Korean heavy machinery manufacturer builds. As a result, all that size and grunt translate to positive production in the forest.
“Honestly, I can lift off a five-axle trailer with this machine and it’s like there’s nothing there – I can’t even feel it in the cab,” Greg continues. “In the smaller machines I’ve had in the past, you definitely know you’re lifting a trailer, but with this one I can swing out at full reach, and it won’t move one inch.
“It’s a big machine, but when you’re operating it, it doesn’t feel like one.”
Greg has had plenty of experience with other Hyundai excavators over the years. The new Hyundai HX400L is his fifth from the manufacturer. While he retains a Hyundai R250-9 alongside this latest addition to the fleet, he has also run another 25-tonne excavator in the past, along with a Hyundai HX235LCR. Until recently, Greg also utilised a 35-tonne Hyundai FX3230 forestry excavator.
Having spent many years contracting to Nelson-Tasman forestry company Bryant Logging, as well as running his own crews, Greg is currently contracting to Ernslaw One in the Waihopai Valley, along with Bryant Logging. He has been onsite for two years, with plenty of work ahead of him and the two crews operating there.
With everyone “flat out” at present, Greg says he values Hyundai equipment because of its reliability first and foremost.
“All the Hyundai gear I’ve had has been magic, and they just get better and better,” he says. “There are big improvements and little improvements, and they all add up to a good machine. For example, the new digger doesn’t feature rubber cab mountings underneath the cab. I’ve always found these made the cab rock around a bit more, but this one’s much more rigid, which means it rides much smoother.
“There’s so much room in the cab too. There’s heaps of storage for bits and pieces, and plenty of leg and elbow room. It’s a good place to work from, with great visibility out the front of the machine as well.”
Greg says that Rotorua-based Active Engineering completed all guarding on the Hyundai HX400L and did an impressive job. In fact, he says, the entire purchase process through Hyundai equipment distributor, Porter Equipment, was impressive.
“Porters have been great to deal with. They’ve been looking after me since about 2012 – sourcing and financing, it’s all very straightforward. For this machine, I spoke with Ants [Anthony Wanoa, business development manager at Porter Equipment] about what I needed, and we basically signed on the dotted line the same day.
“Porters even sorted out a loan machine for me while we were waiting for it to be delivered. They sourced a digger in Christchurch and trucked it up to our site and let me use that for three weeks: it was absolutely no drama, and they didn’t even charge me for the process or anything. That’s pretty amazing customer service.”
Greg’s Hyundai HX400L is only the third HX-series machine of its size to arrive in New Zealand, and the first to get stuck into work in the South Island. When I spoke with him, Greg had only just completed the machine’s fifth day on the job, but already – and underlining the scale of work he needs the excavator to get through – it was due to receive its on-site 100-hour service the following week.
“I’ve already racked up 55 hours on it since it arrived. I worked out the other day that it’ll probably average around 207 hours per month. So yeah, it’ll be busy for us,” he says.
Busy, but not thirsty. Greg says that, in the week since it arrived in the Waihopai Valley, he’s only filled the Hyundai HX400L up twice.
“I’m refuelling every three days so far. It’s light on fuel, despite being a big machine.”
Hyundai has made big advances in fuel efficiency with the HX-series excavators. Greg’s machine features a Variable Power Control system, which minimises equipment input and output depending on what the machine is being tasked with to help lower the overall fuel burn.
It does this via a three-stage power mode system to ensure the best performance in any given scenario, varying between ‘Economy’ for light load work, ‘Standard’ for general work, and ‘Power’, which gives Greg maximum power and speed for heavy duty tasks.
Right: There is good visibility from the spacious cab
The Hyundai HX400L looks after its hydraulics intelligently too. Its integrated Intelligent Power Control system optimises pump flow rates and power to match with the various working conditions the machine is being used in, while HX-series excavators also feature improved pump flow rates through the Attachment Flow Control system. This improves flow rates by independently controlling two pumps, setting the flow rate depending upon what’s attached to the end of the arm.
The standard technology all adds up to a machine that actively looks to protect itself in extreme working conditions, ensuring seamless productivity and protecting Greg’s investment in the process.
“Yeah, the machine is a big investment, but there’s no point going into a big contract underprepared,” he concludes. “I’ve had enough experience with Hyundai gear and the Porter Equipment service side of things to know this is definitely a solid investment for me, and it’ll help ensure we get the job done as expected.”
Images by Cameron Officer