Carbon neutrality by 2050. Japanese construction equipment manufacturer Komatsu has made this goal its mission and aims to achieve it as quickly as possible. A key component of this goal is the introduction and integration of electric construction equipment. Komatsu’s electric machines are built on more than a century of expertise in design, development, and manufacturing and underscore the company’s commitment to a sustainable future.
In close collaboration with Schlüter für Baumaschinen, the first prototypes of the new generation of construction machinery are currently being put to the test on various construction sites. Following the initial testing of the first electric machine—the PC33E-6 mini excavator—on various construction sites since the beginning of the year, another Komatsu model is now being introduced. Since June 2024, Komatsu’s new 21-ton PC210LCE-11 crawler excavator has been in operation in Bad Arolsen on the premises of WENOWA GmbH. WENOWA GmbH is part of the Marpe Group and is a subsidiary of Marpe Bau GmbH & Co. KG.
Building for the Region – Marpe Makes It Possible.
Marpe Bau GmbH & Co. KG, a medium-sized company based in Twistetal, prides itself on reliability and boasts over 10 years of experience in civil engineering, road construction, agricultural construction, renewable energy, earthworks, and paving. Managing Director Jörg Marpe and his 80 employees work every day to execute construction projects precisely and quickly. The use of digital and advanced technologies is a top priority for the company on all construction sites. In addition to managing Marpe Bau GmbH & Co. KG, Jörg Marpe also serves as managing director of the subsidiary WENOWA GmbH. WENOWA GmbH offers customers a wide range of services in the recycling sector. In addition to the processing and recycling of mineral building materials, the trade in recycled products is part of its daily business. The company, which was founded in 2021, is now set to open a facility in Bad Arolsen.
Introduction of Electric Excavators to the Construction Equipment Market: The New PC210LCE-11 from Komatsu
Komatsu views the gradual introduction of electric models as an opportunity to achieve carbon neutrality as quickly as possible and to establish a market for electric construction equipment. With the new PC210LCE-11, one of the most versatile hydraulic excavators is now equipped with an electric motor. Excavators in the 21-ton class are already considered versatile and user-friendly machines suitable for a variety of tasks, with a focus on earthmoving.
The new electro-hydraulic excavator, equipped with a lithium-ion battery, delivers 123 kW of power with net-zero emissions. With a battery life of more than 10,000 hours, maintenance costs are significantly reduced. Based on an annual operating time of approximately 1,200 hours, nearly 42 tons of CO₂ are saved each year. As the most productive electric excavator in its class, the PC210LCE-11 also prioritizes the operator’s comfort. The cab features minimal noise levels during operation, ensuring maximum comfort for the operator in every application. With an operating weight of 22,800 kg and a bucket capacity of 1.69 m³, this electric machine offers exceptional versatility. Komatsu’s new warranty program for electric machines ensures that the hydraulic excavator remains in top condition while minimizing operating costs. Up to a 5-year warranty, as well as regular oil changes and maintenance, are part of the attractive E-Support program.
The PC210LCE-11 in action: Schlüter and Komatsu visit the Schlüter construction equipment recycling site – represented by Martin Bolich (Product Manager for Electric Machines) and Burkhard von der Heide (Regional Sales Manager) – visited WENOWA GmbH in Bad Arolsen together with a seven-member Komatsu delegation from Japan and England, where the PC210LCE-11 is currently in operation. The goal was to get a firsthand look at the machine in action and to gather feedback from the operator. On the premises of WENOWA GmbH, which is sustainably converting a recycling landfill into new company grounds under the leadership of Operations Manager Torsten Stremmel, the electric excavator is being used for various earthmoving and civil engineering tasks. In addition to loading dump trucks or crushers, the machine is also responsible for operations with hydraulic hammers and pulverizers. Mr. Mourao, the operator of the Komatsu PC210LCE-11, shared his initial impressions of the machine on site: “The Komatsu PC210LCE-11 is a powerful machine with excellent stability, and its large bucket makes it ideal for earthmoving applications. The combination of the electric drive and the enormous lifting power is very well-developed. The current battery life of about 5–6 operating hours still has room for improvement, as the machine needs to be charged during the lunch break to be ready for operation until the end of the workday. Ideally, the battery life could be extended to 8–10 operating hours. Nevertheless, to me it no longer feels like a prototype, but rather like a competitive electric machine.”
Jörg Marpe, managing director of Marpe Bau, is also impressed by the new electric machine: “The excavator performs well and is versatile, as our operator has already confirmed. “Together with Komatsu and Schlüter for Construction Machinery, I want to continue driving the development of electric machines forward, as the topics of electrification and sustainability are personally very important to me.” Jörg Marpe is particularly pleased with the positive developments in electromobility, as the Marpe Group is pursuing the ambitious goal of becoming climate-neutral within the next five years. “To achieve this, we will invest several million euros in photovoltaics, electric trucks and cars, as well as electric construction machinery and crushers,” he continues. Jörg Marpe also emphasizes that a large proportion of the cars already have electric drives and that various construction machines are also powered by hybrid engines. Due to the positive response, the Komatsu PC210LCE-11 will remain at WENOWA GmbH in Bad Arolsen for another two months. Afterward, the electric excavator will be deployed to new work sites to gather further feedback and thus enable further optimization of the machine.
System Utilization… Our System – Your Benefit!
Schlüter Baumaschinen, based in Erwitte, is Germany’s largest authorized dealer for premium products from Komatsu, Sennebogen, Topcon, and attachments from NPK, Genesis, Starmag, Rotobec, and ALLU, with 33 locations and over 1,000 employees. The mid-sized family business sees itself not only as a dealer but especially as a service provider offering first-class customer service. Sustainable customer satisfaction is at the heart of Schlüter Baumaschinen’s philosophy, with individual needs and requests translated into market-oriented solutions. This enables Schlüter’s system utilization, a strategy for customized applications. Schlüter Baumaschinen assembles market- and customer-oriented solutions around premium products to fully exploit all customer potential. New and used machines, financing, trade-ins, rental and lease-purchase, fixed maintenance and repair packages—from mini excavators to large-scale machines. System components that are flexible and tailored to the customer.
