Komatsu dozer scoops silver in US IDEA awards

Komatsu's D51 EX/PX-22 medium-sized dozer has won the silver award in the US International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) 2008. The D51 design was honoured in the Commercial and Industrial category for its super-slant nose engine hood.

In a statement the IDEA said, "The super-slant-nose is a unique feature allowing the operator to see objects that are very close to the blade, dramatically increasing safety and efficiency on the jobsite. This new design is an improvement in fundamental dozer work parameters."

The D51EX-22 and D51PX-22 crawler dozers are mid-sized machines and range in operating weight from 12.7 to 13.1 tonnes, depending on the version. They feature Komatsu's 97 kW Tier 3/Stage IIIA emissions certified engine. Both standard (EX) and low ground pressure (PX) models are available offering customers weight distribution/flotation options to match their application.

The US IDEA programme is an international competition honouring design excellence in products, ecodesign, interaction design, packaging, strategy, research and concepts.