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With the Komatsu HB 365 hybrid excavator (L-R) are Zachary Beck, sales representative of Roland Machinery; Taimoor Khan, product manager of Komatsu America; Tom Killebrew, operator, Petersburg Plumbing and Excavating; Brian Vogt, president of Petersburg Plumbing and Excavating; and Robert Coady, project superintendent of Petersburg Plumbing and Excavating.
Spring is in the air in Illinois. Grass is growing, daffodils are blooming and construction equipment is humming. In Springfield, work is under way on a new sporting venue — Scheels Sports Park at Legacy Pointe.
The megaplex offers five 90-ft. multi-use diamonds with corner infields; two double youth multi-purpose fields; a stadium with 90-ft. diamond or full-size soccer field; a 190,000-sq.-ft. indoor sports dome; turf and sport courts; an indoor performance and fitness area; a hitting center; and a food truck bar and pavilion. The dome is scheduled to open in January 2025.
Before the first goal is kicked or the first bat is swung, one of the most important tasks is currently under way — laying pipe for the storm and sanitary sewers. That part of the project began in February and was awarded to Petersburg Plumbing and Excavating, a subsidiary of Henson Robinson Co.
Located in Springfield, Ill., Petersburg Plumbing and Excavating serves "commercial, institutional and industrial clients' underground utility needs with high-quality, reliable service." The company offers sewer/water construction, CIPP lining, manhole lining, directional boring, CCTV inspections and sewer cleaning.
"We're happy to be a part of a large project like this here in Springfield," said Robert Coady, field operations superintendent of Petersburg Plumbing and Excavating. "Obviously Scheels is a big name here in town now and this sports park is going to bring a lot of people and attractions here to Springfield."
Laying Pipe
The site conditions are ideal for pipe installation.
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"We're able to come in here, just start laying pipe and get things in the ground before any other contractors come in and start putting up any buildings or start putting up any other actual construction," said Coady. "It's a real blessing for us to get pipe in the ground a lot quicker when we don't have obstacles around and it's just open field digging. It's one of the best job sites we can ask for."
The team MVP is the Komatsu HB365LC-3 hybrid excavator Petersburg recently purchased from Roland Machinery Company.
"Right now, we are using the Komatsu HB365 hybrid excavator to install storm sewers," said Coady. "We are putting in 20-ft. lengths of advanced drainage systems high-density polyethylene [ADSHDPE] dual walled pipes. This size machine really lets us get a long reach. It allows us to get a full 20-ft. set in with each dig."
Komatsu HB365LC-3 Hybrid Features
The Komatsu HB365LC-3 hybrid excavator is a fourth-generation high-performance excavator and is powered by a Tier IV Final engine and Komatsu hybrid electrical swing system. This combination increases productivity and promotes carbon reduction, according to Komatsu.
Features of this machine include:
- 269 hp at 1,950 rpm
- an operating weight of 81,791 to 85,495 lbs.
- bucket capacity of .89 to 2.56 cu. yds.
- reduced fuel consumption with hybrid energy conservation system
- two-mode boom settings, electrically driven swing motor and six working modes for a variety of applications
- climate-controlled ROPS cab with high-back air-suspension seat with heat, low vibration cab damper mounting, pressurized cabin with air filter and automatic climate control
- auto idle and shutdown features
"The 365 hybrid Komatsu excavator is for deeper excavation and laying sewer, which we're doing here," said Brian Vogt, president of Petersburg Plumbing and Excavating. "Today we're working on a storm sewer run. The machine's very fuel efficient and working well in these conditions."
How It Works
The hybrid system works with the swing motor functioning as a generator to recover excess kinetic energy. This occurs at the end of each swing cycle. The excess energy is converted to electrical power and stored in a Komatsu ultra-capacitor.
The stored power can be sent to an engine-mounted motor-generator to provide immediate engine response from an ultra-low 700 rpm idle speed.
The hydraulic power normally needed by the swing system is now completely available for boom, arm and bucket power, allowing for an improved digging cycle time and production, according to the company.
"The electric swing motor has a generator on it," said Coady. "As you're swinging the machine, all your hydraulic power stays in the boom and the knuckle and the bucket. It also allows for faster turning and swinging radius, at the same time, using less fuel."
Fuel Cost Savings
The uncertain costs of fuel added to the decision to purchase the Komatsu hybrid.
"Fuel efficiency and economics —with fuel prices fluctuating, having the fuel efficiency of a hybrid helps that uncertainty," said Vogt.
With the hybrid energy conservation system, a Tier IV Final engine and ultra-low idle speed, the Komatsu HB365LC helps reduce costs by saving on fuel.
"We've gone on about a week of fuel now and we still have more than ¾ of a tank of fuel left," said Coady. "The hybrid is really working out for us as far as savings."
Peterson Relies On Roland Machinery
Roland Machinery Co. has been serving the Midwest for 66 years, with 17 locations throughout Illinois, Missouri, northwest Indiana, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Peterson Plumbing and Excavating has been a customer of Roland for more than a decade. The company has purchased approximately 95 percent of its machines from Roland and continues to add to its fleet.
"Roland came in 10 years ago when we merged with Henson Robinson and sold us on their equipment, and we haven't looked back. I have two 238 excavators; a 360 hydraulic excavator; a 210 excavator; a 490 excavator; two 320 wheel loaders; a couple PC35 excavators; a PC55 excavator; a couple of PC38 excavators — a good mix," said Vogt. "Roland provides great service from the sales and the service side."
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Komatsu Care is offered to help keep the machines serviced. The company's standard maintenance program covers the first three years or 2,000 hours, whichever comes first.
"With Komatsu Care, the servicing of all the equipment is monitored through Roland and through Komatsu, so when our machine is due for a service, they know to get in there and get it serviced for us without us having to call them," said Vogt. "This helps to not have very many unexpected bills throughout the ownership of the machine."
Another maintenance feature is Komtrax, a wireless monitoring system that allows all essential information about the machine to be sent directly to a computer, smartphone or tablet. The information is collected by Komtrax, transmitted and accessible on the Komtrax website.
"The Komtrax system lets Roland Machinery check in house and alert us of any codes getting thrown or any issues," said Coady. "Roland Machinery will notify us if there are any issues with the machine and they come right out and take care of it."
Komatsu Hybrid Operation
"The operator I've been discussing the machine with has been very satisfied with it," said Coady. "He is really happy with the speed and the power. He's really had nothing but good things to say about this."
Tom Killabrew, operator, said it took a little time to get used to the hybrid, but was up to speed quickly.
"It's a really good machine. It has good response and function to it," said Killabrew. "It took a little bit to get used to the hybrid where it would turn the RPMs down when you didn't need the power. That was something I found was pretty interesting — the RPMs on demand. The swing is fast. It has a lot of speed coming out of the ditch and it seems like it has plenty of power."
Killabrew also said it is very similar to operating a standard diesel machine and nothing changes the operation.
"It's a really nice machine," he said. "I was impressed at the amount of speed it has on the swing. Overall power — it's not wanting for any power."
For more information, visit rolandmachinery.com, komatsu.com, hensonrobinson.com/petersburg-plumbing-excavating and sportsfacilities.com/portfolio/legacy-pointe. CEG
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