Pipelayer Designed with Input From Customers Delivers Exceptional Stability on Energy-Sector Projects

Equipment performance and stability are critical to successfully lay pipe in the ground across miles and miles of varying terrain. Komatsu worked closely with crews from pipeline companies to develop a new pipelayer to meet those needs, according to Chuck Murawski, Komatsu Product Manager, Dozers.

“It’s essential to get feedback from the contractors who will ultimately use a pipelayer, like our new D155CX-8,” said Murawski. “They suggested a larger steering motor, so we incorporated one into the machine and that gives it better displacement and more steering torque.”

Murawski added that the D155CX-8’s stability comes from an oval design, nine-roller undercarriage that has 12 feet, 10 inches of track on ground, making it Komatsu’s largest. The pipelayer has a track gauge that is approximately 10 inches wider than on the standard D155AX-8 dozer and it features 32-inch track shoes.

Large footprint, better ground contact

“The heavy, final-drive components are close to the ground, which lowers the center of gravity and improves stability,” Murawski explained. “The rollers are fixed suspension and don’t oscillate like with a dozer. That improves ground contact. The pipelayer has a big footprint and was designed to handle heavy loads.”

With a 170,000-pound lift capacity, Murawski said the D155CX-8 can move steel pipe up to 36-inches in diameter. It features a pipelayer package with a standard 24-foot boom length. An optional 28-foot boom is available.

“It’s ideal for gas and oil projects in the energy sector and, after conversations at CONEXPO last year, we believe there may be other application possibilities to explore,” Murawski said.

Quick Specs on Komatsu’s D155CX-8 Pipelayer

Model: D155CX-8

Net Horsepower: 354 hp

Operating Weight: 120,970 lb*

Lift Capacity: 170,000 lb**

Industries: Pipeline, Energy

*With pipelayer package

**Maximum lift at tipping point