JCB has expanded its range of compact excavators with the zero tail-swing 50Z-1, boosting dig depth to 12 feet 7 inches and dump height to 14 feet over its predecessor, the 48Z.

“The 50Z-1 is a versatile machine with low cost of ownership, making it the perfect solution for contractors, landscapers, owner-operators, and rental companies,” said Chris Lucas, excavator product manager for JCB North America. Designed with a 100 per cent steel body and its zero-tail swing, the 50Z-1 allows for power and control in confined spaces.

“It is ideal for everything from construction, landscaping, and utility work to the highway and residential building,” Lucas says. Like JCB’s larger X-series excavators, the 50Z-1 has a new 7-inch colour display screen with an automotive-style rotary dial for screen navigation to access a host of systems and information, the company says.

The operator can set programmable auxiliary hydraulic flows from the cab for up to 10 attachments. The 50Z-1 provides access to key machine information and operation with twin-locking hydraulic quick hitch and tool select, to make attachment changeover easier. The screen is also part of the machine’s safety system, with a new visual lift overload warning.

The cab on the 50Z-1 was engineered for operator comfort, floor space, and reduced noise and vibration, according to the company. Redesigned tracking pedals, with auxiliary and boom swing control on the joysticks, leave a clear, flat floor with plenty of legroom in the air-conditioned cab. In addition to the new display screen, the 50Z-1 includes a new hands-free Bluetooth radio, auxiliary socket, and 12V charger.

JCB says the 50Z-1 was designed to keep operating costs as low as possible. The 50Z-1 runs on a 43.3-horsepower engine, which the company says provides programmable auto-idle, auto engine-stop, and four different engine modes to reduce overall fuel consumption.

In terms of maintenance, the first turn of the key automatically brings up an on-screen health check. JCB added convenient access to daily checkpoints, made the H-frame undercarriage easier to clean, and boosted greasing intervals to 500 hours to help increase productivity and reduce downtime. The company also includes a five-year JCB LiveLink contract as standard to help monitor fleets at the touch of a button.