Can tiltrotators help reduce excavator energy consumption?

Can you improve your energy efficiency when working with your excavator? In Rototilt's opinion, the answer is yes when using a tiltrotator. This is because of the way a tiltrotator changes how operators perform their tasks, and according to early tests that indicate significant energy savings when using their latest tiltrotator series.

"The results are impressive, to say the least," says Sven-Roger Ekström, product manager at Rototilt. "A tiltrotator makes it easier for you to work with an excavator, thanks to the increased flexibility of the work tool's movements. It enables you to adjust the angle and rotation of the work tool, which in turn makes it easier to carry out tasks with fewer machine movements. This saves fuel, but it has even more advantages in the long run."

"We call this the tiltrotator effect," Ekström continues. "We have always known that there is a big difference between working with and without a tiltrotator. Not only do you need to use fewer machines, but you can also carry out the task at hand with fewer movements and changes of position. This saves both fuel and time, as well as reducing the impact on the ground where you are working. It therefore has a number of positive environmental effects."

Tiltrotators provide multiple benefits when it comes to productivity and the environment; however, what is it that makes Rototilt's tiltrotators unique? According to Ekström, the tiltrotators in the company's new RC Tiltrotators series can further increase the positive impact thanks to their improved energy efficiency, as a result of Rototilt's proprietary pressure-compensated hydraulics.

"We have taken measurements comparing our previous series with the new, pressure-compensated hydraulics in the RC4-RC9," says Ekström. "The results are impressive, to say the least. We have managed to improve the efficiency of our product, enabling it to perform the same task with reduced energy consumption."

The time saved simply by using a tiltrotator, coupled with the energy improvements in RC Tiltrotators, can consequently make a major difference to a project's efficiency and energy consumption.

"Our lab tests indicate a reduction in fuel consumption of between one to two litres per hour for a 20-tonne machine, compared to our previous tiltrotator series," states Sven-Roger. "Out in the field, the savings are affected by a number of factors, such as the type of machine and the job in question. In terms of diesel per year, this could mean savings amounting to thousands of euros."

Rototilt will be attending Intermat in Paris in April, on the theme of Decarbonisation, where they will be showcasing the new tiltrotator series as well as other products in the Rototilt Control concept, also known as RC.