About · Komatsu PC490Overview
The Komatsu PC490 is a large hydraulic crawler excavator in the 47-tonne operating weight class, producing 362 hp and equipped with a 2.76 m3 bucket capacity. Positioned above the mid-size segment and below ultra-class mining excavators, it occupies a well-defined niche in heavy civil and infrastructure work. Komatsu has produced the PC490 continuously from 2008 to the present, giving the model a long production run with established parts availability and documented service histories across the market.
Typical applicationsWhere this machine is used
The PC490 is suited to heavy earthmoving, large-scale site preparation, road and highway construction, quarry stripping, and bulk material handling where a 47-tonne class machine can operate efficiently. Its bucket capacity supports high-cycle loading of rigid dump trucks and articulated haulers in production-oriented environments. The power and reach envelope also makes it a practical choice for river dredging approaches, port earthworks, and major drainage or pipeline projects.
Current marketPrice position
Within the 45-to-50-tonne crawler excavator segment, the PC490 is most frequently cross-shopped against the Hitachi ZX490 and the Volvo EC480. The Hitachi ZX490 sits in the same weight and power bracket and appeals to buyers with existing Hitachi dealer relationships or fleet standardisation commitments, while the Volvo EC480 is lighter and carries a slightly different reach and digging force profile, making machine-specific duty-cycle comparisons important before purchase. The PC490's long and unbroken production history from 2008 onward gives buyers a broader pool of used units to evaluate and a mature aftermarket parts network. Within the used price band for this class, the principal variables that move a machine higher or lower are total recorded hours, the presence of a factory quick-coupler or dedicated attachment package, configuration for specific duties such as demolition or mass excavation, documented maintenance history, and overall undercarriage and structural condition.
