Long reach excavators in UAE: when 20 m digging depth makes a difference

Most excavation work does not need 20 m of digging depth. Standard excavators already cover foundations, utilities, trenching, roadwork, and general earthmoving.

A long boom excavator becomes useful when the work sits much deeper or farther away from the tracks. For the Komatsu PC850-8R1, a 16 m boom and 12 m stick extend the working range to around 20 m below ground and 26 m forward. Those extra meters can make the difference on canals, deep excavations, slopes, dredging work, and waterfront projects in the UAE.

20 m digging depth for deep excavation in the UAE

A standard excavator may easily handle a foundation or utility trench several meters deep. But pits, drainage structures, canals, and marine excavations can extend well beyond a conventional boom's working range. The Komatsu PC850-8R1 long boom excavator reaches about 20 m below ground level. This allows the bucket to work at significant depth while the excavator remains on the upper working platform.

That makes the setup useful for jobs such as:

• deep drainage and civil excavation
• canal cleaning and sediment removal
• pits and shafts
• dredging support
• waterfront excavation

The benefit is not simply having a bigger machine. It is being able to reach material that would otherwise require another machine position or additional site preparation.

26 m digging reach excavators in UAE

The PC850 reaches about 26 m from the machine. That working distance matters when the excavator cannot sit directly beside the material, even if the required digging depth is not close to 20 m.

During canal maintenance, for example, the tracks may need to stay well back from the bank while the bucket works near the water. On a slope or deep excavation, the machine may also need to work from an established platform rather than move closer to the edge.

A 26 m reach is useful when working:

• across canals and drainage channels
• below deep excavation edges
• along slopes and embankments
• from waterfront working platforms
• across areas the tracks cannot access
• around weak or difficult ground

This is what makes long reach equipment different from a normal production excavator: the bucket can work much farther away while the undercarriage stays in a more practical position.

How longer reach affects digging and tipping stability

The extra working range also changes the forces acting on the excavator. As the bucket moves farther from the tracks, the load creates more leverage on the machine and increases the overturning force.

That means a bucket filled with dense material near maximum reach has a greater effect on tipping stability than the same load held closer to the excavator. Ground conditions, bucket load, machine position, and working radius therefore become increasingly important as the front extends.

At about 85 tons, the PC850 has a substantial tracked base for its long-reach setup, but its weight does not remove the effect of working at a 20 or 26 m radius. Long boom excavation is generally more controlled than the fast, repeated loading cycles expected from a conventional production excavator.

The PC850 uses a roughly 2.1 m³ bucket and includes Heavy Lift mode, Swing Priority mode, and Shockless Boom Control to support its long-reach work.

Full dimensions, digging forces, hydraulics, and other details are available in the Komatsu PC850 technical specifications.

Two Komatsu PC850 long boom excavators available in the UAE

Makana currently has two used Komatsu PC850-8R1 long boom excavators in Dubai: a 2017 model priced at AED 753,000 and a 2023 model priced at AED 1,230,000. Both weigh 85 tons, reach about 20 m digging depth and 26 m maximum reach, and come with GCC specifications and UAE customs paid.

Buyers can explore long boom excavators for sale in the UAE for deep excavation, canal work, dredging, slope work, and other projects where a standard boom does not provide enough working range. Depending on the machine, Makana provides 75+ point inspection reports, oil analysis, operational videos, detailed photography, and Ultra-HD 3D and 360° views before purchase.

Remote inspections can also be arranged, while machines located at Makana’s Dubai yard can be viewed in person. Heavy equipment financing and installment options are available for eligible purchases. If a different long boom model or configuration is required, Makana’s machinery procurement service can source it through Makana’s supplier network.

FAQs

What is a long boom excavator?

A long boom excavator uses an extended boom and stick to work deeper or farther from the tracks than a standard excavator. Typical uses include canals, dredging, deep excavation, waterfront work, and slope shaping.

How deep can the Komatsu PC850 long boom excavator dig?

The Komatsu PC850-8R1 long boom configuration can dig about 20 m deep.

What is the maximum digging reach of the Komatsu PC850?

Maximum digging reach is about 26 m with its 16 m boom and 12 m stick.

Why is maximum digging reach important on a long boom excavator?

It determines how far the bucket can work from the tracks. More reach is useful when the excavator needs to stay back from a canal, slope, excavation edge, or inaccessible area.

Does a long boom affect excavator tipping stability?

Yes. Moving the bucket and load farther from the tracks increases overturning force, so working radius, bucket load, machine position, and ground conditions become more important as reach increases.

What UAE projects use long boom excavators?

Long boom excavators suit canal maintenance, deep drainage, marine and waterfront work, dredging support, deep excavation, slopes, and difficult-to-reach material.

Where can I buy a Komatsu PC850 long boom excavator in the UAE?

Makana currently offers used Komatsu PC850-8R1 long boom excavators in Dubai, with inspection information, viewing options, financing for eligible purchases, sourcing, and shipping support.