沃爾沃建築設備開發了一種旋轉式鋪管機附件，該裝置使挖掘機也可以用作鋪管機，為不想購買專用鋪管機且一直使用常規挖掘機進行作業的用戶提供了一種簡單的解決方案。
「鋪管機附件的目標客戶是在空間有限的工地鋪設管道的用戶。我們的14噸挖掘機適合此類工作。」沃爾沃建築設備附件和特殊應用產品經理Todd Cannegieter說，「如果您不經常從事管道鋪設作業，也就不需要專用的管道鋪設機或側臂設備。我們希望為客戶提供另一種選擇。」
旋轉式鋪管機套件適用於傳統的沃爾沃14噸履帶式挖掘機-EC140EL和ECR145E。僅需將鋪管臂連接到挖掘機的主臂，大約一小時即可從挖掘機轉換為鋪管機（反之亦然）。
這些組件堅固耐用，可以安全處理最大20英寸（508毫米）的管道，額定載荷為7300磅（3.3噸）。最大工作高度為24英尺（7.3 m），最大工作深度為50英尺（15.24 m）。運輸時，配備了吊管機套件的挖掘機可在數分鐘內準備好運輸：只需要進行裝卸操作，無需起重機或額外的人員，節省了時間和費用。
與傳統的側臂吊管機不同，沃爾沃獲得專利的旋轉式上部結構解決方案意味著該機器具有更大的機動性，而無需不斷地重新定位其履帶。短迴轉半徑ECR145E可以在繁忙的兩車道街道上執行管道鋪設工作，同時留出一條車道供交通使用，非常適合在城市地區進行管道鋪設。這種鋪管機配置還為ECR145E提供了與其同級的標準挖掘機EC140EL相同的提升能力。
本文源自Heavy Equipment Guide，原文如下：
Volvo CE introduces rotating pipelayer conversion kits for 14-ton excavators
Volvo CE has developed a rotating pipelayer attachment kit that allows an excavator to also work as a pipelayer, offering a simple solution for users who don't want to buy a dediCATed pipelayer and who have been using conventional excavators for the work.
"The pipelayer attachment kit is aimed at customers placing pipe in cities and municipalities where space is at a premium. Our 14-ton excavators are the right size for this type of work, so pairing the kit to these machines made sense," said Todd Cannegieter, product manager of attachments and special appliCATions at Volvo CE. "If you're not lowering in pipe regularly, it can be hard to justify the investment in a dediCATed pipelayer or side boom. We wanted to give customers another option."
The rotating pipelayer kit fits conventional Volvo CE 14-ton crawler excavators — the EC140EL and ECR145E. The pipelaying boom simply attaches to the main boom of the excavator, converting from excavator to pipelayer (or vice versa) in about one hour.
volvo benefit winchkit excavator safer load management system
The components are robust and can safely handle pipes up to 20 inches (508 mm), with a rated load of 7,300 pounds (3.3 tons). Max working height is 24 feet (7.3 m) and max working depth is 50 feet (15.24 m). When it comes to transport, excavators with the pipelayer kit can be readied for transit in minutes: just load and go — no crane or extra people required, saving time, money and hassle.
Unlike a traditional side boom pipelayer, Volvo's patented rotating superstructure solution means the machine is far more maneuverable, with no need to constantly reposition its tracks. The short-swing radius ECR145E can perform pipelaying work on busy two-lane streets while leaving one lane open for traffic, making it ideal for pipelaying in urban areas. This pipelayer configuration also gives the ECR145E the same lifting capacity as its standard excavator sibling, the EC140EL.
Unlike a side boom, the operator will always face the load, helping to reduce fatigue. An excavator-based pipelayer will also be more familiar to most operators, which could help with recruitment, training and productivity.
Operators are further supported by Volvo's unique Load Moment IndiCATor, which ensures safe operation up to a 10° slope. The system monitors load weights and sends audio and visual alerts. It also includes a standard anti-two-block system.
Source: https://www.heavyequipmentguide.ca/article/35160/volvo-ce-introduces-rotating-pipelayer-conversion-kits-for-14-ton-excavators