Excellent Excavator
Komatsu’s PC78US-10 earns top honor with EquipmentWatch’s Highest Retained Value Award for small crawler excavators
Tight tail swing excavators continue to gain popularity due to their high production in confined spaces. Add in a solid value when it comes time to sell or trade them in, and you have a winning combination, according to EquipmentWatch, which gave Komatsu’s PC78US-10 a Highest Retained Value Award.
The PC78US-10 has an ultra-short (US) tail and a rounded cab design that allows it to swing within the same swing radius as the counterweight. The 65.5-horsepower excavator has a five-year retained value of 76%, which was 15 percentage points higher than the overall average for the small crawler excavator category, according to EquipmentWatch. The retained value is a prediction for the value of a piece of equipment five years from now. Analysis was limited to models still sold in 2022 to ensure that the results can be applied to buying decisions today.
“Retained values are often related to the concept of depreciation, which is a measure of how far a piece of equipment’s value decreases over time,” said Don McLoud in the article “Komatsu PC78US-10: The Small Excavator with the Highest Retained Value for 2022.” “Retained values are an important factor in equipment purchases or lease decisions, as some new equipment holds its value better than others over time. This could mean more money in your pocket when it comes time to trade it in.”
High output, six working modes
Komatsu recently released an upgraded PC78US-11 model that features a quiet, high-output engine with increased fuel efficiency. The hoist swing and lift rate are both faster compared to the PC78US-10 model, and the standard auxiliary hydraulic circuit now has up to 12% greater hydraulic flow.
Six working modes are available: Power, Economy, Lifting, Breaker, Attachment-Power, and Attachment-Economy. The improved blade is designed to better roll material for more efficient dozing and backfill work.
The PC78US-11’s versatility can be expanded with attachments such as hammers and grapples. The excavator has the standard two-way auxiliary hydraulic control and a dual-stage relief valve. Adding an optional thumb lets you run most tools in the industry, which could potentially increase profitability and lead to a better return on investment.
