The Wacker Neuson 3503 excavator, which was awarded the ECO seal of distinction for efficient and ecological products, offers significant savings on material and time costs, thanks to some unique and innovative features.

Wacker Neuson recognises its responsibility to preserve the environment and resources, and is also aware that customers are increasingly demanding efficiency and environmental safety of their products. To draw attention to products and solutions that demonstrate how the two requirements of efficiency and environmental protection can be perfectly balanced and yet still yield a real benefit to the customer, Wacker Neuson assigns the ECO seal, which stands for ECOlogy and ECOnomy, to not only new product solutions that are highly efficient and kind to the environment, but also existing products that have proven these abilities over time already.

As one of the most powerful performers in its class over many years, the Wacker Neuson 3503 excavator has been awarded the ECO seal and boasts the unique Vertical Digging System (VDS), among many other features.

“This system allows the superstructure of the machine to tilt by up to 15 degrees, in order to compensate for slopes. This makes precise vertical digging and attachment performance possible, even on the most uneven of terrain, giving cost effectiveness and user comfort a considerable boost,” says Eugene Brown, managing director of Wacker Neuson in South Africa.

At the heart of the Wacker Neuson 3503 is a fuel efficient, high-torque Yanmar diesel engine, coupled with a powerful, yet simple, hydraulic system.

“The machine was originally designed to be the best option for both urban contractors and rental customers and as such needs to be able to operate quietly and efficiently, yet still have enough power for digging in all soil conditions and being able to power any attachment suitable to its size class, ranging from augers to hydraulic breakers. Our 3503 has managed to achieve these difficult objectives,” says Brown.

The unique Vertical Digging System, patented by Wacker Neuson, is a stand-out feature across a selected range of their excavators. “If you can imagine working on the embankment on the side of a freeway and, for instance, having to dig a trench along the embankment for fibre optic cable installations, you are sure to feel the discomfort of the operator with each digging cycle, as the machine swings though the angles,” says Brown.

“With the simple controls on our Vertical Digging System, this discomfort for the operator can be removed, as the machine’s cab can be adjusted to be on the level, while the undercarriage will be on the angle of the embankment. Further, with only a vertical trench being dug, as opposed to the conventional way of digging out a complete angled ditch, the savings in time and backfill material quickly justify the initial expense of the Vertical Digging System.”

“With the ever growing mini- and midi-excavator market in Southern Africa, Wacker Neuson is well poised to further capitalise on this potential through our range of innovative, hard-working and reliable excavators, all the way up to our 14 tonne machine, the 14504. We are excited to introduce the 3503 excavator to our market, in addition to our current models, and we are happy that we will have a 3503 on display at Bauma Africa 2013,” maintains Brown.