Kato introduces rotating crawler carrier

Kato launched this IC70R crawler carrier at the utility show. (Photo: Kato)

Kato Compact Excavator Sales (Kato), a US construction equipment manufacturer based in Kentucky, introduced one of its newest products – the IC70R mid-size crawler carrier – at the Utility Expo event in Louisville, Kentucky, US.

The IC70R is the company’s first crawler carrier with a rotating bed.

Japanese-made and customised and distributed in the US, the IC70R has a Kubota V5009 engine with a 188-hp output rating. The 25,408-lb. (11.52 tonnes) machine can carry a payload of 15,000 lb (6.80 tonnes), while its track undercarriage is said to enable a fully loaded ground pressure of just 6.17 psi.

A low center of gravity maintains a ground clearance of 560 mm, aiding stability on uneven terrain. The unit also achieves a gradeability of up to 20 degrees.

The pivoting boat-style bed has a maximum dump angle of 65-degrees. The carrier’s upper body can rotate 360-degrees, which allows it to accommodate a wide range of construction needs.

The company says that the IC70R features user-friendly access to filters, the DEF tank and the battery. The machine measures 18 ft. 2 in. (5.54 meters) in length, 9 ft. 9 in. (2.97 meters) in width and stands 8 ft. 10 in. (2.69 metres) tall. It comes with a fully enclosed ROPS cabin, integrated heater, air conditioning and a joystick control.

In a press release Kato said that the IC70R was “crafted with top-tier materials and components” and had gone through “stringent testing to ensure its durability and dependability.”