Used Kobelco SK480 Excavator

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Detailed Introduction to KOBELCO SK480 Crawler Excavator

The KOBELCO SK480 is a 48-ton class heavy-duty crawler excavator developed and manufactured by KOBELCO Construction Machinery, a subsidiary of Japan’s Kobe Steel Group, which is renowned globally for its industry-leading fuel efficiency, structural durability and operational precision. This model is tailor-made for high-load, long-cycle operation scenarios, balancing strong power output, low operating cost and operator comfort, and is one of the most popular heavy excavator products in the global market.

1. Core Specifications (Standard Configuration)

Parameter	Specific Value
Operating Weight	47,800 – 49,500 kg (varies by attachment configuration)
Rated Bucket Capacity	1.9 – 2.7 m³ (standard earthmoving bucket: 2.2 m³; optional rock bucket, heavy-duty bucket available)
Rated Power	257 kW / 2100 rpm
Max Bucket Digging Force	301 kN
Max Arm Digging Force	252 kN
Max Digging Depth	7,800 mm
Max Digging Radius	11,900 mm
Max Dumping Height	7,100 mm
Travel Speed	3.3 km/h (low speed) / 5.5 km/h (high speed)
Gradeability	70% (35°)
Swing Speed	8.5 rpm

2. Power System

The SK480 is equipped with a HINO P11C-VP inline 6-cylinder 4-stroke turbocharged intercooled diesel engine, with emission versions available for different regional requirements (Tier 3 for emerging markets, Tier 4 Final/Stage V for European and North American markets):

Features low-speed high-torque output, maintaining sufficient power reserve even under full-load heavy excavation conditions
Equipped with KOBELCO’s exclusive intelligent fuel control system, which reduces fuel consumption by 10%~15% compared with same-class competing products, and the comprehensive fuel consumption per hour is controlled at 22~28L under conventional working conditions
Built-in automatic idle speed and automatic engine shut-off functions, effectively reducing unnecessary fuel waste during standby

3. Hydraulic System

The SK480 adopts KOBELCO’s latest generation iNDr+ (Integrated Noise & Dust Reduction Plus) intelligent hydraulic system:

Closed load-sensing technology realizes precise flow distribution, no lag or jitter during composite actions (simultaneous boom lifting, arm retracting, swing, etc.), and operation efficiency is 8% higher than the previous generation model
Three operation modes are adjustable: Heavy (H) mode for extreme heavy load conditions, Normal (N) mode for conventional operations, Eco (E) mode for light load conditions, which can be switched freely according to actual needs to balance power and energy saving
The hydraulic system is equipped with a multi-stage filtration system, which effectively improves the cleanliness of hydraulic oil and extends the service life of hydraulic components

4. Structure & Durability

The SK480 is designed for harsh working conditions such as mines and quarries, with extremely high structural strength:

The boom and arm are welded with high-strength wear-resistant steel, and the stress concentration parts are thickened and reinforced; optional reinforced heavy-duty boom/arm for mining conditions is available
X-type box-type track frame, with strong torsion and deformation resistance; track shoes are available in standard, mining reinforced three-tooth, rubber block and other configurations to adapt to different ground conditions
Large-diameter slewing bearing, with high bearing capacity, quenched and hardened slewing gear, effectively extending the service life under long-term heavy load operation
The standard bucket is made of high-hardness wear-resistant steel, and the cutting edge is welded with alloy wear-resistant strips, which reduces the wear rate by 30% compared with ordinary buckets

5. Operator Comfort & Safety

The cab is ROPS/FOPS certified, which meets the international rollover and falling object protection standards, and ensures the safety of operators in high-risk operation scenarios
The whole cab adopts multi-layer sound insulation and shock absorption design, the indoor operating noise is as low as 72dB(A), which is far lower than the industry average
Equipped with fully adjustable air suspension seat, multi-directional adjustable armrest, low-force pilot control joystick, which greatly reduces the fatigue of long-term operation
Full-color LCD intelligent display, real-time display of operating parameters such as fuel consumption, water temperature, hydraulic oil temperature, fault code, etc; optional rear view camera to eliminate operation blind spots
High-efficiency constant temperature air conditioning system, with multiple air outlets, and is equipped with USB charging port, large storage space, cup holder and other humanized configurations

6. Maintenance Convenience

All daily maintenance points (air filter, fuel filter, oil filter, hydraulic oil filter, etc.) are designed to be accessible from the ground, no need to climb the upper frame, which improves the safety and efficiency of maintenance
Equipped with KOBELCO CONNECT remote monitoring system, which supports remote viewing of equipment position, working hours, fuel consumption, fault warning and other information, which is convenient for fleet management and early troubleshooting
Long maintenance interval: 500 hours for oil replacement, 2000 hours for hydraulic oil filter replacement, 5000 hours for hydraulic oil replacement, which greatly reduces downtime and maintenance cost

7. Typical Application Scenarios

The SK480 is widely used in:

Large-scale earthmoving projects, highway/railway subgrade construction
Open-pit mining, quarry stone excavation and loading
Water conservancy project construction, port bulk cargo handling
Heavy demolition work (with hydraulic breaker)

Its comprehensive advantages of high efficiency, low fuel consumption and high durability make it the preferred model for large engineering teams and mine operators around the world.

Non flooded

No accident

Original product

Used Kobelco SK480 Excavator

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