Kawasaki Intros Power Upgrades in 95Z7XT, 115Z7XT Wheel Loaders

At a recent media event, Kawasaki introduced a beefed up “XT” redesign (stands for extreme) of its two flagship models, the 95Z7XT and 115Z7XT, alongside the unveiling of two new loaders, the 90Z7 and 67Z7. Why more muscle? With the bigger buckets and heavier frames, the 95Z7XT and 115Z7XT can now carry roughly 12 tons per bucket. That means they can load a standard 24-ton truck in two passes instead of three. The 95Z7XT bucket size increased from 7.3 cubic yards to 9.0 cubic yards and is also available in a 9.8 cubic-yard configuration. The 115Z7XT bucket size increased from 8.3 cubic yards to 9.15 cubic yards. To handle the extra weight in the buckets and ratchet up the breakout force, the boom arms were shortened and made thicker and stronger. This keeps the center of gravity closer to the base so as not to stress the front-end hydraulics and components. The hydraulic cylinder bore for the bucket cylinder was enlarged as well. Reinforcements to the chassis handle the additional torque and loads, and the counterweight was increased to balance the extra weight up front. Compared to previous models, the enhancements increased the breakout force by over 2 percent in the 95Z7XT, and 6 percent for the 115Z7XT. The 95Z7XT tipping load is 10 percent greater than the standard 95Z7, and the 115Z7XT is 15 percent greater than the standard 115Z7. The 95Z7XT weighs in at 79,080 pounds operating weight. The operating weight for the 1157Z is 106,110 pounds.