During our recent ADT showcase, one of the questions we asked was, "Can/should an ADT be employed to push/pull a scraper of any kind?"

One ADT manufacturer flat-out said "no." Another chose not to answer that particular question. One of the OEMs that did answer was Komatsu.

And now comes the announcement that Komatsu has approved the use of the K-Tec 1237 ADT (pull) scraper with its HM460-6 articulated dump truck — delivering a new mass earthmoving combination to Komatsu dealers and customers throughout North America.

The 518-horsepower ADT is a match with the 37-cubic-yard-capacity scraper, creating a mass earthmoving platform that only requires one operator and provides fleet managers with a dual-capability asset as the HM460 can be converted back for use as a dump truck.

The best ADT maintenance advice

"Mass earthmoving provides many machine combinations to get the job done right — all guided by the size of the jobsite and the distance between the cut and final grade to the primary dumping site,” says Bruce Boebel, director of Construction Product and Service, Komatsu.

“An articulated truck chassis matched with a tow-behind scraper delivers serious advantages in long-distance hauling applications, as well as the ability to handle soft and complex ground conditions, and travel at a relative high rate of speed.”       

Increased power and torque

You might recall that the HM460-6 was first introduced at Conexpo and represents a significant increase in power and tractive performance with the DBA127 518-horsepower diesel engine, and a 23 percent increase in torque over the Komatsu HM400-5 (which it replaces in the lineup).

While the new HM460-6 is powerful, it’s also built to outwork any terrain the jobsite can throw at it with a new nine-speed Komatsu transmission and intelligent gear control. The truck’s powertrain is designed to balance performance and fuel efficiency even while hauling a heavy load across challenging driving conditions such as soft and wet ground.

This HM460-6 also features the Komatsu Traction Control System matched with cross-axle differential locks to help maintain traction in all conditions. Combined with a standard hydro-pneumatic suspension system built to deliver both ride comfort and stability, the HM460-6 is designed for reliable hauling across tough terrain.

“This is premium mass excavation and haulage delivered by a single operator capable of moving thousands of yards of material in a day while remaining in comfort, in control, and completely aware of the conditions and their surroundings,” Boebel says.