First Look Video: Komatsu's PC158USLCi-12 Brings IMC 3.0 to Tight Tail Swing Excavators

Big brain. Tight tail. That’s the pitch. The new PC158USLCi-12 tight tail excavator is a first for Komatsu. This is the company's first compact tight tail swing excavator with the option for its Intelligent Machine Control 3.0 system. IMC 3.0 is a factory-integrated machine control suite of technologies — cool stuff like advanced 3D boundary control, auto-swing for truck loading, grade control, and tiltrotator integration. Even if you don't pay extra for IMC 3.0, the unit comes standard with IMC 2.0 and 2D boundary control. That's a pretty smart digger either way.

Learn about this and more in our latest video above. Matt Moen, product manager for excavators at Komatsu, gives us an overview of the PC158USLCi-12. Komatsu aims to introduce both the PC158USLC-12 and PC158USLCi-12 tight tail swing excavators later in 2026, so this is your sneak peek. Both of those machines build on the PC138USLC-11 platform, adding more lift capacity, better hydraulics, a new cab experience, and machine control integration. The PC158USLCi-12 specifically is a 15-metric-ton machine designed for urban construction, utilities, and roadwork. If you run crews in cities or along roads, this machine deserves a look. Watch above. There's some gorgeous b-roll of the unit I shot early in the morning when no one was around.

What features are included in IMC 3.0?

Komatsu noted in this press release that the PC158USLC-12 and PC158USLCi-12 will increase lift capacity and improve hydraulic attachment flow, but right now I don't have any specs or numbers to share. Komatsu instead zeroed in on tech and comfort, especially for the PC158USLCi-12, which will be the unit with an option for IMC 3.0, which includes:

• 3D machine control for real-time digging guidance
• 3D boundary control that follows the machine across the site
• Swing-to-line and travel-along-line for consistent trenching
• Auto swing to reduce repetitive motion
• Addition of a high-definition 10.1-in. ICT monitor
• Enhanced payload monitoring 
• In-field design and quick calibration tools

The 3D boundary control stands out. Set limits once, and the machine remembers them across the jobsite. It even adjusts for elevation changes. 

The PC158USLC-12 and PC158USLCi-12 cab experience

Komatsu also reworked the operator environment on both the PC158USLC-12 and PC158USLCi-12. Expect new wide-profile cabs giving operators more space and better visibility. Inside, you get electro-proportional control (EPC) joysticks and easy-to-use touchscreen controls. The electric-over-hydraulic system also allows custom joystick mapping. You can set buttons for attachments, travel functions, or even secondary controls. Other cab and control highlights include (for both units):

• 8-in. monitor on standard models
• New "multi-function seat"
• Joystick travel using thumb rollers
• Bucket payload monitoring system
• Standard 2D machine control and boundary control
• KomVision 360° camera system

The KomVision 360° system includes multiple cameras and radar scanners, giving a multi-spectrum view around the machine. Those work in tandem with Komatsu's KomVision Human Detection and Collision Mitigation System, which can increase operator awareness and mitigate the risk of accidental collisions during operation with auto-stop control. It's like having another set of eyes on the jobsite, as Moen explains in the video above. Speaking of which...

Watch the full video above already

This is part of the story. Seeing the machine tells the rest. In our video, Moen walks through the cab, controls, and IMC 3.0 features in detail. You can visualize how the system works, not just read about it. If you run or manage excavators, this PC158USLCi-12 is worth a look. This machine shows where the category is heading — more capability, more automation, and easier operation for the person behind the joysticks.