SMT GB enjoys a triumphant return to Hillhead15 August 2022EventsWith over 18,500 unique visitors attending the show, SMT GB proudly showcased a wide range of Volvo Construction Equipment products and technological solutions at Hillhead. For the first time in Great Britain, visitors to the SMT GB stand had the opportunity to see both the ECR18 Electric excavator and L20 Electric wheeled loader from the newly expanded Volvo electric construction equipment range, as well as the all-new EWR130E wheeled excavator, EW200E material handler, the 50 t EC530E excavator, and EC300E Hybrid excavator. In the demonstration area, visitors to the show were also able to see the mighty 90 t EC950F excavator at work. Also present on the stand was Chepstow Plant International’s 1000th Volvo machine ordered to date, an L220H wheeled loader wrapped in a special reflective livery. Volvo Electric machines One of the main attractions to the SMT GB stand was the specially designed “electric village”, which offered Hillhead visitors their first opportunity to see the newly expanded Volvo electric construction equipment range in a series of mock real-world settings and included the ECR18 Electric compact excavator and L20 Electric compact wheeled loader. The ECR25 Electric, which was first displayed at Bauma in 2019, was also demonstrated on the stand. Stand visitors also had the opportunity to see these all-new electric machines working in their mock real-world applications on all three days of Hillhead. Commitment to Net Zero Extensive efforts were made by SMT GB to minimise the carbon cost normally incurred by attending Hillhead. To that end, a water refill station replaced the cups of water normally distributed on the stand, and single-use plastic cutlery and utensils were replaced with sustainable and biodegradable alternatives. The L25 Electric wheeled loader was also used extensively during the construction and teardown of the stand, offering great savings to the amount of carbon usually produced by diesel-powered machines. Power for both the stand and charger for the Volvo electric machines on display was provided by a low emission and high-efficiency Volvo Penta generator and industrial power pack. These ran entirely on HVO fuel throughout the stand’s construction, as well as all three days of the show and teardown, with no penalties to power output incurred or supply interruptions experienced, but significant carbon savings made. Wrapped around the perimeter of the SMT GB stand, visitors were able to view a detailed timeline of Volvo CE, SMT GB, Volvo Penta, and K-Tec’s road to net zero, which highlighted the many important milestones achieved by both companies as they journey towards a more sustainable future. Highlights included Volvo CE creating the world’s first ‘emissions-free’ quarry in August 2018, SMT GB swapping to a fully electric company car fleet in March 2021, and Volvo CE collaborating with SSAB to produce the world’s first machine made of fossil-free steel in October 2021. The latest technologies In addition to the all-new machinery on display on the SMT GB stand, visitors were provided with the opportunity to learn more about the latest technological efficiency and productivity-boosting solutions, which were focused on the categories of “Efficient Sites”, “Intelligent Data”, and “Flexible Maintenance and Repair”. Not only do these solutions boast the latest technologies to help boost site, project, and machine efficiency and productivity, but also reduce downtime, waste, and the total cost of ownership for customers. The “Efficient Sites” solutions showcased were Volvo EcoOperator training and Volvo Co-Pilot, state-of-the-art simulators, and SMT Site Simulation. Drawing crowds of operators, fleet managers, and company owners alike, the simulators were in near-constant use throughout all three days of the show, and much interest was shown by stand visitors in the opportunities for operational optimisation provided by both EcoOperator training and Site Simulation. The solutions showcased for the “Intelligent Data” area were CareTrack, ProCare, Insight Reports, and the soon-to-be-launched MySMT customer portal which, similarly to the “Efficient Site” solutions, received a considerable amount of attention from stand visitors and generated many meaningful discussions. Lastly, the solutions showcased in the “Flexible Maintenance and Repair” were SMT GB’s Customer Support Agreements, as well as Volvo Certified Rebuild, Used Parts and Equipment, and the SMT online parts portal. Recently overhauled to introduce two new levels of cover, SMT GB’s Customer Support Agreements provide a set of service packages to provide comprehensive machine cover and suit all customer budgets, offering customers considerable peace of mind to protect the investment made in their machinery. With levels of enthusiasm on the SMT GB stand as a high as the gloriously warm temperature across all three days of the show, Hillhead’s 40th anniversary proved to be a great success for all in attendance. Amy Metcalfe, Marketing Director at SMT GB comments: “It was great to return to Hillhead after a period of not being able to attend any large events due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As well as providing us with the opportunity to meet with customers and talk to them about our latest solutions, it also brought the SMT GB team together, which gave us all a real buzzing energy on our stand. We’re very excited about a future of low-carbon and technology solutions, which will really drive the industry forwards over the next few years.”... Read more...Datatag welcomes Vincent Lane as its new Police Liaison and Training Officer15 August 2022UncategorisedThe Datatag Police Liaison Team (PLT) are a key link between the Datatag team and Police across the UK. With relationships growing throughout the UK, Datatag has hired Vincent Lane to join the team to support the ongoing operation. Vincent has a 17-year career history as a PC and is a specialist vehicle examiner with extensive experience with the Datatag product range. Vincent also spent a long spell as a dedicated rural response officer with a particular passion for tackling vehicle crime where he personally recovered a significant number of stolen vehicles with a value of in excess of £1.2million. Vincent has recovered far in excess of this throughout his career, especially during his secondment to NaVCIS. Vincent’s role with Datatag involves working with the police forces in the south of England examining vehicles and machinery, including plant, cars, motorcycles and watercraft. He will also be responsible for the investigation, identification, and reinstatement of a recovered asset and assisting Police officers with training on the Datatag CESAR scheme and law enforcement. Vincent said “ I have a particular passion for tackling vehicle crime and have personally recovered a considerable number of stolen working vehicles. I coordinated our response to all construction and agricultural plant machinery theft throughout Hampshire. I created a weekly plant theft and rural crime bulletin which included images of each respective machine. This helped fellow police officers, who might not be familiar with plant machinery, of what to look for in stolen machinery on their travels. This generated a good recovery rate of stolen plant. I believe that Datatag is at the forefront of fighting vehicle crime and the CESAR Scheme is a great success.” Vincent added, “ Following my secondment to NaVCIS I wanted to stay within vehicle crime, therefore, when I saw that Datatag was recruiting – I checked the job description and it ticked all of the boxes and more. I’m delighted to be on the team covering the South Coast where I have many contacts in neighbouring forces and I’m looking forward to providing support and guidance.” Detective Constable Chris Piggott, who has headed the NaVCISagricultural unit for the last 10 years commented on Vincent’s new role, he said, “ Having known and worked with Vincent for a number of years in the Police, I know he is doggedly determined and he has a keen eye for a stolen vehicle. He understands the issues that Police officers face on a daily basis in identifying stolen property and will be a huge asset to Datatag bridging the gap between Policing and private industry. I look forward to continuing working with him in the future and continuing to target and disrupt organised criminality.” Kevin Howells, Managing Director, Datatag ID Ltd said “Over the last three decades Datatag has established itself as one of the leading companies tackling organised crime and proving beyond doubt the true identity of a vehicle – it’s critical for our world-class Police Liaison & Training Officers to continually support Police & Law Enforcement around the UK, Europe, and the World, so when we needed to increase the capacity of our Team we considered over 50 vehicle examiners and ID experts and feel privileged to recruit one of the most experienced, proactive professionals in the industry who is absolutely determined to continue catching criminals and helping Police officers gain prosecutions. We are extremely fortunate that Vincent Lane has joined Datatag and we cannot wait to see the results he will no doubt achieve.” Photo: Vincent Lane – Police Liaison and Training Officer – Datatag... Read more...SCOTTISH WASTE SPECIALIST ADDS JCB STAGE V 560-80 WASTEMASTER TO ITS FLEET15 August 2022Recycling / WasteA leading waste management company has added a brand-new JCB Stage V 560-80 Wastemaster telescopic handler to its impressive fleet of over 20 JCB machines. Glasgow-based J & M Murdoch will be using the JCB Stage V 560-80 Wastemaster telescopic handler for loading and distributing paper, cardboard, plastic and timber at the company’s four recycling centres across Scotland. Supplied by dealer Scot JCB the JCB Stage V 560-80 Wastemaster telescopic handler has been purpose built to meet the unique requirements of the waste and recycling industry. The world’s number one telescopic handler is designed perfectly to operate in some of the most arduous conditions and demanding environments. J&M Murdoch Managing Director Drew Murdoch said: “We choose JCB for the reliability plus they produce machines that fit all the needs of our business. We like dealing with Scot JCB as the service and back-up is first class. “We’ve had a load of JCB Wastemasters over the years – they’re very good machines, they’re reliable and they tick all the boxes. We like that they’re designed specifically for the waste industry. If you go to another manufacturer you can buy a telehandler but with a JCB Wastemaster you can add the full range of attachments: forks, buckets, clam shells, bale clampers – you name it – so the versatility is unbeatable.” The JCB 560-80 Wastemaster’s efficient Stage V JCB DieselMax engine now has a larger power capacity of 130hp (97kw). The CommandPlus cab is 12% larger with a 50% reduction in cab noise giving a best-in-class 69dBA. A 14% increase in upward visibility through new, seamless one-piece curved glazing ensures best-in-class visibility too. J&M Murdoch has been providing transportation, waste management, disposal and recycling services to central Scotland for over 50 years. It runs a fleet of 70 HG vehicles and 22 machines – the vast majority of which are JCB. The fleet covers 10,000 miles across Scotland and J&M Murdoch handles almost 500,000 tonnes of waste across its four sites per annum.... Read more...Rokbak strikes gold again with RoSPA Health and Safety Award12 August 2022News / SafetyRokbak is celebrating its second RoSPA Gold Award in a row for achieving the highest standards in health and safety. Rokbak has received a RoSPA Gold Health and Safety Award for the steps it has taken to ensure its employees get home safely to their families at the end of every working day. This is the company’s second successive Gold Award – the previous one being received last year, when it was still known as Terex Trucks, following on from four successive years of Silver Awards. Organisations receiving a RoSPA Award are recognised as being world-leaders in health and safety. Every year, around 2,000 entrants apply to achieve the highest possible accolade in what is the UK’s longest-running health and safety industry awards. With safety being deeply embedded in both the Rokbak and parent company Volvo Group’s philosophy, the spate of these awards highlights the many improvements made at Rokbak’s Motherwell manufacturing site and in the training and welfare of its employees since the acquisition of Terex Trucks in 2014. “Health and safety has always been a priority for us so we are thrilled to be recognised with a gold award from RoSPA,” says Paul Douglas, Rokbak’s Managing Director. “We’ve had a busy year with the rebrand and the various updates and changes that came with that, as well as lots of new team members on the shop floor, so to hold firm and win our sixth consecutive award is a fantastic result. This achievement is a testament to the whole team, their efforts have ensured our working environment remains a safe place.” “This is a fantastic and well-deserved accomplishment,” concludes Julia Small, RoSPA’s Achievements Director. “All our award entrants demonstrate their unwavering commitment and passion for keeping people safe at work. By receiving this recognition, Rokbak joins like-minded businesses and organisations worldwide, who represent the very best in their approach to health and safety. I would like to add my personal thanks for all the work that it has taken to secure this well-deserved award – congratulations to all those involved, who champion and drive up health and safety standards every day. You are a fantastic example to others in your sector.” For more information about the RoSPA Awards visit www.rospa.com/awards... Read more...Doosan Dealer BAU Süddeutsche Baumaschinen Opens New Facility at Kempten Branch11 August 2022NewsThe Doosan dealer for Southern Germany, BAU Süddeutsche Baumaschinen Handels GmbH, has opened a new facility at the company‘s branch in Kempten. The opening ceremony for the new building was well attended and accompanied by an impressive display of Doosan‘s high-quality products. “We at Doosan congratulate our dealer, Süddeutsche Baumaschinen, on another milestone in the company’s history and are certain that Christoph Karrer and his team will continue on their successful path,” emphasizes Markus Schweers, Regional Sales Manager at Doosan Infracore Europe. The new facility includes an administrative building that is both representative and functional, as well as an integrated training centre. This can be used by both customers and external parties. Particularly impressive is the more than 650 m2 workshop building with adjoining spare parts warehouse, construction shop and a separate customer area for the rental fleet. The latter includes various Doosan models in sufficient numbers to optimally and reliably cover all customer needs. In all, the new facility covers an area of 15,000 m2 and includes a test zone for demonstrations and machine try-outs offering construction site conditions. “With the significant investment in this new facility, we are underscoring our ties to the region and are confident that we can offer our customers an even better service,” explains Christoph Karrer, managing partner of the Süddeutsche Baumaschinen group of companies. Picture caption: The Doosan dealer, BAU Süddeutsche Baumaschinen Handels GmbH, has opened a new facility at its branch in Kempten For more on Doosan construction equipment, visit the website: www.eu.doosanequipment.com... Read more...New Bobcat Telehandler Delivered to Van den Heuvel9 August 2022Telehandlers– Equipped with Man Platform and Remote Control System – A new Bobcat T40.180SLP telehandler has been delivered to the contractor, Van den Heuvel, at Tata Steel’s IJmuiden Works, located on the North Sea Coast of the Netherlands. Finished in Van den Heuvel colours, the T40.180SLP has been supplied with a Bobcat man platform attachment that is widely used in the work the company carries out at the Tata Steel site. In addition to some loading and unloading work, the telehandler in combination with the man platform is mainly used for measuring and inspecting pipeline networks, but also for installation, repair, welding and maintenance work at height. The new machine has replaced the company’s previous telehandler that had reached a respectable age of 21 and was starting to show its age. “In the end we opted for the compact T40.180SLP from Bobcat; mainly because of the lifting capacity, the lifting height of 18 m, the functionality, the man platform and the ease of maintenance. The excellent stability thanks to the low centre of gravity, long wheelbase, heavy counterweight, balanced weight distribution and outriggers was also of great importance to us, because people regularly work on the platform. All these aspects were included in the programme of requirements,” explains Marco Bervoets, who was responsible for purchasing the new machine as Manager of the Support Office at Van den Heuvel. The company has its own equipment department and owns all the machines in its fleet. This is a conscious choice to give the machines their own identity and recognisability and to be flexible when planning and transporting machines. The new Bobcat telehandler is also dedicated to the work on the Tata Steel site. Van den Heuvel is a preferred supplier of Tata Steel. Like the other eleven contracting companies that work at the steel works, Van den Heuvel has its own facility in the ‘contractor park’ on the site. Home to a staff of 12 employees, the Van den Heuvel facility includes an office unit, a workshop and outbuildings for the storage of machines and materials. This temporary location offers considerable logistical advantages, because the Tata Steel site near IJmuiden has an area of more than 750 hectares and is located in an economically important, busy and therefore sometimes difficult to reach region. In addition, it is possible to react much faster for working on the site from its own location at the IJmuiden Works. Van den Heuvel is a Dutch family business that specializes in designing, organizing and executing infrastructure works for water, energy and telecommunications. The company, which has 10 branches and more than 700 employees, provides design, advice and implementation of the underground and above-ground laying of cables and pipelines and the underground construction of sewage, pressure pipes, earth and street works and related civil engineering projects and soil remediation. ‘Assembly Statement’ and Remote Control In July 2020, as a result of various serious accidents, the laws and regulations for the use of man platforms in combination with lifting and hoisting machines was changed. As a result of this, the combination of the Bobcat telehandler and work platform has had to be tested and certified by TÜV, one of the world’s leading testing service providers. This results in an ‘assembly statement’ that guarantees both optimal technical functioning of the machine/work platform and also safety for users. The Bobcat remote control system is an essential part of the specification of the new telehandler at Van den Heuvel. With the remote control all normal functions for driving, lifting and positioning of the platform can be controlled at height. The man platform is equipped with a small compensation cylinder, which ensures that the basket is always exactly horizontal. In addition, the platform can be rotated 90 degrees to the right and left. In combination with the boom positioning system on the telehandler, the platform can therefore be manoeuvred very accurately. Ensuring Safety at Work Marco Bervoets adds: “The Bobcat telehandler comes standard with many features that make working with the machine particularly safe. For example, the platform cannot be lifted if the outriggers are not extended and the outriggers can only be retracted when the work platform has been returned to the transport position. Safety comes first; especially when using a work platform.” For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website www.bobcat.com... Read more...CONEXPO-CON/AGG & IFPE 2023 – RECEIVE 40% DISCOUNT THROUGH DIGGERS LIVE8 August 2022EventsAttendee registration for CONEXPO-CON/AGG + IFPE 2023 is open!. DISCOUNT FOR OUR AUDIENCE: If you want to register you can use discount code = PR40 for a 40% discount on your badge through to October 28, 2022. Here are the latest updates of what is happening with CONEXPO-CON/AGG + IFPE. News from CONEXPO-CON/AGG+IFPE SourceDateArticle (link) CONEXPO-CON/AGG+IFPE3/14/2022The Countdown Begins Now: CONEXPO-CON/AGG + IFPE 2023IFPE4/7/2022Tech Advancements Driving the Fluid Power Market Forward – New Research from IFPE CONEXPO-CON/AGG+IFPE5/17/2022CONEXPO-CON/AGG, IFPE Bring Success to Firms GloballyCONEXPO-CON/AGG+IFPE8/2/2022Be First in Line: Registration Now Open for CONEXPO-CON/AGG, IFPE... Read more...CDE showcases sustainable future for hard rock quarries at upcoming open day event5 August 2022EventsOn Wednesday 7th and Thursday 8th September, Malcolm Construction is set to open its doors and demonstrate how CDE wet processing technology has supported its move towards a sustainable future. Guests will have the opportunity to tour the wash plant and find out first-hand how it is helping the company save void capacity, extend the life of its hard rock reserves and increase the quarry’s output by 400,000 tonnes per annum via a range of sustainable, in-spec sand and aggregates for the construction market. Malcolm Construction, a division of The Malcolm Group, embarked upon its second project with wet processing industry experts CDE to install a 150tph Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste recycling facility at its Beith site that will assist in the development of sustainable business solutions. It identified that landfill space for waste products it could not treat and repurpose was becoming limited. The company therefore set an objective to divert over 500,000 tonnes of material a year from landfill. In addition, Malcolm Construction sought to develop marketable and innovative solutions with a broad range of applications in the construction sector. As the site is an existing hard rock quarry, which produces a wide range of aggregates, the solution developed by CDE can conserve its natural reserve and save tipping space. Talking about the project, Graeme Lindsay, Malcolm Construction Waste Transfer & Recycling Operations Manager, says: “We felt that this investment was our best approach to delivering on our sustainability goals by saving void capacity, extending the life of hard rock reserves, developing resources from waste and aligning with further long-term business goals.” The event runs from 9am – 4pm each day at the Loanhead Quarry site, with a full team of CDE experts on hand to lead plant tours and answer questions. Spaces are limited. To attend, please register your interest here: www.cdegroup.com/malcolms... Read more...John Deere announces online careers event targeted at military service leavers3 August 2022EventsJohn Deere is calling on former and soon-to-be ex-servicemen and women to consider joining its dealership network as Qualified Technicians.With many transferrable skills, those with experience of military machines will be perfectly placed for a new career working with some of the world’s most advanced agricultural and turfcare equipment. The machinery manufacturer has announced that it will hold a free online careers event on 1 September 2022, where attendees will hear from individuals who have transitioned from military service into the John Deere dealership network. One speaker will be ex-serviceman William Foster who left the Army after 23 years’ service and completed multiple operational tours including Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Upon leaving, he was faced with the prospect of securing new employment – a task further complicated by the first Covid lockdown beginning just four days after he left the services.Although he didn’t get the first job he originally applied for at John Deere, it did, however, make him more determined to pursue a career within the agricultural engineering sector and focus his attention on how to best achieve his goals.“Not getting that job made me realise just how much I wanted to work with John Deere,” William says.“I decided to own that dream, put a professional spin on it and see if I could turn it into my next full career.”To gain experience, William volunteered his time at one of John Deere’s dealerships and secured a job at another, before finally landing his ultimate job as an Agricultural Engineer at Ben Burgess in Oakham, Rutland.“The similarities between this role and my career in the Army are uncanny,” William says.“I look at the depot as my Forward Operating Base, the surrounding areas as my Area of Responsibility and the Enemy as being breakdowns to deal with.“If you can fix a tank, you can fix a tractor.”The laissez-faire approach to leadership within the network is a breath of fresh air compared to the more autocratic one found in the Army. This was a welcome change for William, who first enlisted aged 17.“One of the things I enjoy the most about my new role is that I can talk to my line managers and bosses like I talk to my former colleagues,” he explains.“We have mutual respect, but the pomp and ceremony are no longer there. “I also love that the iconic sense of humour so prevalent within the services is as alive and kicking in the workshop as it was on the tank park.” John Deere is holding an online careers event for anyone who wants to find out more about the role of a Qualified Technician, working in either the turf or agricultural sector, on 1 September at 7pm.The event is open to all who register for free on this link: https://JohnDeereCareers.eventbrite.co.uk.“It’s an incredibly exciting time to work in the agricultural industry,” says John Deere Branch Training Manager Allan Cochran. “The machinery we’re working with is mind-blowingly clever and John Deere agricultural and turf technicians learn about the most advanced, cutting-edge equipment available on the market.“It’s a great, rewarding career that can take you anywhere in the world, working with an internationally recognised and respected brand.” Image: Ex-serviceman William Foster... Read more...Be First in Line: Registration Now Open for CONEXPO-CON/AGG, IFPE2 August 2022EventsYou’ll Need All Five Days to See What’s New MILWAUKEE – Registration is now open for CONEXPO-CON/AGG and the International Fluid Power Exposition (IFPE), running March 14-18, 2023 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Las Vegas Festival Grounds in Las Vegas, Nevada. North America’s largest construction trade show will feature more than 1,800 exhibitors across over 2.7 million square feet, showcasing the most advanced equipment and construction industry innovations. “We are thrilled to return to Las Vegas in March of 2023 to bring the construction industry together. If you’re a construction professional, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to see the industry in action and learn new ways to take your business to the next level,” said CONEXPO-CON/AGG Show Director Dana Wuesthoff. “No other show brings together as many segments of the construction and aggregates industries in one place. Be sure to register early so you can take advantage of the best badge and travel rates.” When you register at either CONEXPOCONAGG.com or IFPE.com, you can set up your badge, education selections, and hotel accommodations all in one place. The Festival Lot returns for 2023 as the biggest outdoor display area, featuring earthmoving and lifting (aerial and crane) equipment. It is better connected to the rest of the show via the brand-new West Hall and Diamond Lot, which were under construction during the 2020 show. Also complete for the upcoming show, the Tesla-powered LVCC Loop, an underground tunnel hosting Tesla vehicles running in a loop from the Diamond Lot to the Central Hall and the South Hall, home of IFPE. “IFPE is the heart and soul of the equipment manufacturing industry,” said IFPE Show Director John Rozum. “Because we feature the fluid power, power transmission and motion control technology that makes everything in the industry move. In addition to that, IFPE education sessions and Fluid Power Workshops qualify for Professional Development Hours.” The education component of CONEXPO-CON/AGG is top notch as well. With 170+ sessions covering everything from aggregates to technology solutions, the comprehensive education at the show is the leading source for those in the industry to obtain cutting-edge information for today’s business challenges and opportunities. There are several education packages to choose from while registering for the show from single sessions to multi-day passes. New this year are a Business Bootcamp and a Leadership Series that include recommended sessions on Strategic Decision Making for Increased Margins, Financial Essentials for Non-Financial Leaders, and How to be a Construction Leader Worth Following, among other tailored courses. Attendees need to plan for and get ready to talk, test, and connect with today’s leading construction experts. The full list of exhibitors is available to help plan your experience and meet the manufacturers and innovators whose products and services can enhance your business. After you’ve registered and before your plane leaves for Vegas, make sure you subscribe to CONEXPO-CON/AGG 365 to get the latest updates on the show and the industry all in one place.... Read more...Terex MP Acquires ProAll, Canada’s Leading Producer of Volumetric Mixers for Concrete1 August 2022MachineAugust 1, 2022: Terex Materials Processing (MP), a global leader in aggregate, environmental, concrete, lifting, and handling machinery, today announced the acquisition of the Canadian company ProAll, a specialist producer of mobile volumetric concrete mixers. ProAll’s history traces to companies that were originally founded in the mid-1960’s. The company was initially an importer of volumetric mixers into Canada but has since grown into a leading producer of volumetric mixer products for the North American and global markets. Today, the company employs 170 people and is experiencing the strongest demand in its history. ProAll’s main production is based in Olds, Alberta. It also operates a service and installation site in Keller, Texas. ProAll’s products are designed for business owners who seek to combine state-of-the-art technology with the flexibility and reliability in concrete delivery that only a volumetric mixer can bring. ProAll’s equipment delivers make-to-order concrete that improves the quality and efficiency of end-customer operations while making many smaller and more specialized pours both more possible and more affordable. ProAll’s expertise will be a valued addition to the Terex portfolio, enabling the Company to expand its overall presence in the concrete mixer space. ProAll will join Terex Advance, the US industry leader in front discharge mixer trucks, and Terex Bid-Well, the US leader in roller pavers for bridge and canal work, as businesses in Terex MP’s concrete sub-segment. Together, these businesses represent a commitment by Terex to increasing its participation in North America’s growing construction markets and in meeting growing infrastructure needs. ProAll also adds an international dimension to what, to date, has been a primarily North American business area for Terex. Volumetric mixers eliminate concerns about delivery time between a concrete plant and a job site. Where a conventional mixer truck can deliver within a range of 2-3 hours from the plant, a volumetric mixer can deliver anywhere with no concern over material degrading or setting up in the back of a mixer. Delivering ingredients enables making several small batches to exact specifications from the same vehicle or meeting the requirements of several different jobs. The ProAll team will report to Jason Talbot, Terex Vice President and GM, MPS and Environmental, United States and Australia. Mr. Talbot commented: “ProAll will provide us with exciting prospects to expand into new markets and grow our knowledge and market share in the mobile concrete pouring industry. We look forward to embarking on this journey together with our new colleagues in Alberta and Texas.” Larry Koop, co-owner and former Managing Director of ProAll commented, “For the past 50 years, ProAll has been a leader in mobile concrete delivery. This is something we are hugely proud of and one of the reasons that we feel so happy to have the opportunity to become part of the Terex MP family. The existing resources at Terex MP will bring huge benefits and global opportunities to our existing team and I am delighted to see their hard work pay off.”... Read more...170 metre office tower – Liebherr cranes involved in construction of “To‑Lyon”29 July 2022Construction / CranesEC-H and EC-B series cranes in Lyon, France, working on the development of a modern urban districtLiebherr provides the perfect concept for anchoring the cranes to advance the site timetable Crane operators and service technicians travel to their workplace comfortably in the LiUP elevator A 170 metre building, little space and heavy hoists – four Liebherr tower cranes finished in aircraft warning paintwork are helping to redevelop the Part-Dieu district in Lyon, France. High lifting capacity and a perfect concept for anchoring the cranes were the main focal points for this job for customer Vinci Construction France. Liebherr developed bespoke solutions to meet these demands. Lyon (France), 28 July 2022 – The cranes used for the project, which is located right next to Lyon central station, are the 420 EC-H 16, 280 EC-H 12, 280 EC-H 16 and 250 EC-B 12. The most striking building in the redevelopment of Part-Dieu is the “To‑Lyon”, a skyscraper with a height of 170 metres. On completion, the building will have a total floor area of 80,000 square metres for offices, businesses and a hotel. New buildings, more space for nature and networked mobility – these are just some of the measures that the district will use to make itself more attractive to residents and visitors. Precision tailoring of tower and jib to the site conditions The hook height and jib length of the top-slewing cranes were selected so that the machines can slew over each other without causing problems for each other despite the small amount of space available. This is exactly what the cranes in the ECB and EC‑H series were developed for because the jib length and tower heights can be tailored flexibly to the situation on a site. The jibs on the four cranes working at the site are between 30 and 65 metres in length. Their hook heights are between 47 and 194 metres. The 420 EC-H 16 will reach a final hook height 194 metres. A stable tower system and a sophisticated concept for guying to the building are what make this enormous hook height possible for the erection of the “To-Lyon”. This is because the guying systems have different lengths as the construction work progresses. Initially longer struts will be used, and then shorter ones. The reason for this is that the crane had to be anchored at a time when the final concrete façade was not finished. This enabled the crane to be erected without jeopardising the whole site timetable. Precise positioning of concrete and steel The cranes are mainly being used to help install steel elements and for concreting work. Some of the loads being hoisted way more than twelve tonnes. The Micromove assistance system can be a real benefit for these hoists. Micromove enables crane operators to position heavy loads with fingertip precision and is just one of several assistance systems which are available. Litronic, Liebherr’s smart assistant, is designed to support crane operators in their work and also increase handling capacity, reliability and safety. Using LiUP to get up to the required height at the touch of a button All the cranes on the French site feature the LiUP crane operator elevator. Liebherr’s LiUP crane operator elevator is designed to transport two people or a payload of 200 kilogrammes. The crane operator gets to his workplace quickly and safely at the touch of a button. It also means that erection engineers no longer have to face an energy-sapping, time-consuming climb. The LiUP elevator is tailored to Liebherr tower systems and only requires one-time installation. The rails can be left in the tower system during the erection and dismantling processes. The site is now so far advanced that the 250 EC-B 12 has been dismantled. The 420 EC-H 16 helped to carry out this work. Thanks to its easy-erection design, the EC-B crane was dismantled within a single day. LiConnect quick-release connections and the compact head with the slewing platform, cabin and switchgear cabinet ensure that the cranes can be dismantled and erected quickly and safely. Smooth dismantling was helpful in this particular project because the remaining cranes were able to restart their work quickly. The “To‑Lyon” is scheduled to be completed in spring 2023. ... Read more...Kubota Launch Summer Holiday Colouring Challenge28 July 2022UncategorisedLeading mini-excavator manufacturer, Kubota, has launched a colouring challenge in time for the summer holidays. Artists across the country are being asked to colour in one of Kubota’s digger pictures to help celebrate being 25 years at number one market share in the mini excavator market for the UK & R.O.I. As a reward, entrants who submit their efforts will receive an official Kubota branded colouring book and pencil set, to help them get even more creative over the summer holidays. The activity is running from July 27th until early September, giving plenty of time for Kubota fans and budding artists to get colourful! The entry image is free to download via the Kubota website: kubota-eu.com and once completed, challengers are being asked to snap a picture of their masterpiece and send it to kuk_g.marketing@kubota.com alongside their name, age and a delivery address to claim their rewards. “We’re looking to include everyone in our 25 year celebrations and that is why we have launched the colouring challenge for all the Kubota brand ambassadors out there, young and old, to have some fun over the summer holidays,” says Rob White, Divisional Manager, Construction, Kubota U.K. “Hopefully it can be a family activity or just something to help someone pass the time, who knows, we may even inspire the next Picasso!” For more information or to download the colouring challenge image, visit: kubota-eu.com * Submitted pictures of the finished colouring image must contain the image only and no entrants.** All entries sent to kuk_g.marketing@kubota.com automatically agree for their first name, age and colouring image sent to be shared on Kubota U.K’s social media channels. *** Delivery address information will NOT be shared elsewhere and ONLY used for the purpose of sending the Kubota colouring book and pencils to entrants. **** Limited stocks of rewards apply and will be distributed on a first come first served basis. ***** Limited to 1 colouring book & pencil set per image entered, with a maximum of 4 entries per address.... Read more...Bedrock Plant Hire Ltd diverts 70-80% from landfill within one year of CDE partnership26 July 2022Construction / EnvironmentalNew plant is processing 1,000 tonnes per day Established in 2002, Bedrock Plant Hire Ltd originally specialised in plant hire for a range of customers in construction and utilities across Scotland’s central belt. Sustained business growth led to the requirement for a landfill site with screening and crushing operations. Due to capacity and a drive to enhance their sustainability, Bedrock engaged with industry experts CDE to install a construction, demolition and excavation (CD&E) waste recycling plant at its Glasgow site, which created further opportunities for the company within the recycled aggregates market. Expanding upon the services offered by the family-run business, Bedrock wanted to build upon its strong working relationships with some of Scotland’s premier companies and offer a one-stop shop for plant hire and aggregate recycling. CD&E waste is in abundance in Glasgow as the city is regenerated, with new commercial and residential developments replacing older projects, meaning the demand for recycled aggregates has increased significantly. In late 2021, the eyes of the world were on Glasgow as 15,000 people and world leaders descended to partake in the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), tasked to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. It was during this global summit the installation of the CDE plant in Polmadie was nearing completion. Thirty minutes from the important discussions taking place in the SEC Centre in Glasgow, Bedrock Plant Hire was doing its part to move towards a more sustainable future, a circular driven economy and the protection of virgin materials. Investing with confidence The project was Bedrock’s first in partnership with CDE, and its first venture into wet processing. Previously, with dry processing operations, the company was crushing and screening to produce only a low-value fill, restricting its ability to market quality recycled aggregates and minimise its environmental footprint. The team at Bedrock reached out to CDE due to the company’s strong reputation in Scotland – particularly within the central belt – for its technical expertise, customer relations and results-driven solutions. Accompanied by CDE business development manager Garry Stewart, Bedrock representatives visited several CDE reference sites in the local market, including Brewsters and Brocklebank. Here, the Bedrock team had the opportunity to hear first-hand experiences from existing customers operating CDE technology which proved highly influential and reinforced Bedrock’s decision to partner with CDE. Carbon footprint reduction The 80tph CD&E waste recycling facility delivered by CDE consists of an R1500 primary scalping screen, AggMaxTM 83SR logwasher, a dual pass EvoWashTM sand washing fine material classification plant and AquaCycleTM A400 thickener with Flocstation. It was developed with the intention of reducing the volume of waste destined for landfill, turning it and other low-value material into profitable, saleable recycled aggregates. The R-Series allows for a constant, even flow of material to be delivered to the integrated screen before being sent for additional screening, washing and sizing. The pioneering AggMaxTMmodular logwasher incorporates aggressive attrition of conglomerates to release sands through scrubbing and organics removal, as well as recovering fines and removing filtrates. CDE’s dual pass EvoWashTM employs tried and tested modular hydrocyclone technology, offering unparalleled control of silt cut points with two washes. It enables Bedrock to produce a much cleaner, in-spec product and guarantees a fast return on investment within Glasgow’s construction industry. Meanwhile, the AquaCycleTM high-rate thickener recycles up to 90% of the process water for immediate re-use. Garry Stewart says: “Reducing Bedrock’s environmental footprint was a driving force in the decision to invest in a CDE waste recycling plant. The Bedrock team were conscious of the tricky materials to be processed and had full confidence in the capabilities of our technology due to our commitment to engineering excellence and our comprehensive analysis of their raw feed, the results of which informed the development of the plant.” Processing 1,000 tonnes per day Proven solutions from CDE provide maximum recycling potential and full water treatment, achieving considerable reduction in waste-to-landfill volumes. Indeed, since commissioning, the plant has led to a decrease in the quantity going to landfill by 70-80% as 1,000 tonnes have been processed per day, creating 700 tonnes of saleable material. The investment has also opened new revenue streams for Bedrock through the outputs generated, with eight variations of high-quality recycled aggregates being produced for sale and use in the construction industry. They include 0-2mm, 4-10mm and 40-100mm rinsed oversize. Bedrock is also delivering drainage stone (10-20mm) to the construction sector, as well as pit and utility sands for concrete. The aggregates will also be used for cable bedding and pipe bedding. The site at Polmadie is very compact and situated in a highly industrialised area in close proximity to large residential neighbourhoods. Due to its urban setting and limited site footprint, Bedrock required a closed-loop system capable of recycling the process water and eliminating the need for settlement ponds. CDE’s water management expertise, realised through the combination of a A400 AquaCycle coupled with a P15 filter press ensured Bedrock’s vision was feasible. With the plant processing 1000 tonnes per day, the filter press deals with approximately 20-30 tonnes per hour of sludge to produce a dry cake from the silt and clay generated from the washing process. This cake product is used as a capping material for Bedrock’s own landfill while the company investigates other uses for the material to bring it back into the circular economy. “We wish we had been able to do this 10 years ago” The company has its sights set on the future with plans to increase capacity, as Joe McHugh, director of Bedrock Plant Hire Ltd explains. “We wish we had been able to do this ten years ago. The technology has changed remarkably in that time and CDE is at the top of its game when it comes to wet processing and waste recycling. We really see these areas as a defining part of Bedrock’s future. “Our experience with CDE has been extremely positive. We visited other reference sites and hearing the endorsements first-hand from existing and satisfied CDE customers was reassuring that we were indeed making the right decision on such a significant investment. “The team were always managing our expectations while sharing our vision. We found them easy to work with and the bespoke, compact structure of the plant is first class and unique to our requirements. We have hopes for the future that this will only be the first plant we collaborate with CDE on, especially with the relationship we are building together.” Garry Stewart adds: “It has been a pleasure to work with Bedrock, a family business focused on building a sustainable future through strategic investments. It felt particularly poignant as the final stages of our project came at such a significant time for the city of Glasgow, as it played host to global climate summit COP26. “We are proud to be part of Bedrock’s journey towards a more sustainable business model and look forward to working with its team to strengthen its position within the market in Glasgow.” For more information about CDE wet processing solutions, visit cdegroup.com. ... Read more...Liebherr-EMtec GmbH drives digitisation forward together with customers21 July 2022Construction / TechnologyDigitisation is one of the defining megatrends in the construction and material handling technology industry. Liebherr-EMtec GmbH is helping to shape technological progress and, as part of its digitisation strategy, is working with customers to develop solutions that will enable them to carry out construction projects more economically, efficiently and safely in the future. The company provides customers with relevant practical knowledge on a customer-oriented IoT platform so they can operate their entire machine fleet with maximum reliability and productivity. Condition and performance data of earthmoving and material handling machines as well as attachments are the core of the modular and upgradeable application. Kirchdorf an der Iller (Germany), 19 July 2022 – Part of the digitisation strategy at Liebherr-EMtec GmbH covers digital, machine-oriented solutions for the optimisation of fleets in both operational and strategic terms. Liebherr actively involves customers in the development of these solutions from the start and takes into consideration their individual challenges and problems. Analysis of current challenges in the construction and material handling technology industry Liebherr experts conducted extensive interviews in order to gain an even deeper insight into the industry-specific challenges facing customers today. Discussions with customers and Liebherr sales and service partners of varying sizes and orientations, concluded that very different business segments often encounter similar challenges. It appears that construction site processes or projects cannot always be optimally coordinated due to missing or outdated machine information and data. This leads to inefficient machine deployment, which in turn can result in high costs and delays in project execution. Henri Backhaus, workshop foreman at Reinhard Feickert GmbH, has the following to report: “Sometimes it was the case that a component had to be replaced urgently on site resulting in unplanned machine downtime. If we had been able to keep an eye on this beforehand, the exchange could have taken place within the framework of one of the planned inspections.” Daniel Weis, Business Unit Manager “Mobile processing & recycling plants” at Weimer Group, states that it would be an advantage to have more in-depth insights into the performance data of the machines. For example, what the machine utilisation is during a certain project and the level of fuel consumption. Olaf Jansen, Head of Machine Technology Department at Friedrich Vorwerk SE & Co. KG, adds that there is a lack of a cross-manufacturer approach: “Because companies of our size generally have large machine fleets from a number of manufacturers, a platform where my entire fleet, including attachments, is visible and with all relevant information would be the optimal solution.” Practical development within the framework of lead customer partnership For Liebherr the integration of the customer in the development of digital solutions, which should offer customers added value over the long term, is of vital importance. Liebherr-EMtec GmbH implements this within the framework of the lead customer partnership, which started at the beginning of 2021. Meetings with selected lead customers take place regularly in order to obtain their feedback and test new rolled-out functions. The feedback from customers, new ideas and prioritised requirements are then included in the development. Eugen Schobesberger, Managing Director of Technology at Liebherr-EMtec GmbH, summarises: “We also consistently embody our strategy ‘From market to market’ in digitisation. Our customers are involved in the development as active partners from the initial idea to the current state of the product. As a result, the solution is optimally tailored to the needs of our customers and they can focus more on their core technologies.” A customer-oriented platform for location-independent performance analysis and condition monitoring The aim of the IoT platform is to give customers an overview of their entire machine fleet. In combination with AI-assisted recommendations for action, in future the Liebherr solution will represent a fundamental, future-oriented instrument for increasing efficiency. Together with those in the lead customer partnership, Liebherr-EMtec GmbH develops a digital customer-oriented solution, which should enable the location-independent performance analysis and condition monitoring of earthmoving machines and material handlers. With the aim of providing customers with relevant practical knowledge so they can manage the machine fleet and attachments with maximum reliability and productivity. With the aid of a condition analysis, unplanned machine downtime should be reduced in the future as well as the time required for problem identification, assessment and solution. This frees up valuable technical resources, especially in times of increasing skill shortages. In addition it will be possible to identify inefficient machine deployments at a glance in the future thanks to the performance analysis. This is supplemented by direct optimisation suggestions, which lower operating costs and make activities more efficient. Direct links to Liebherr world and customer production process In the course of the digitisation strategy Liebherr-EMtec GmbH not only develops smart earthmoving machines and material handlers as well as attachments but aims to link these directly with the customer’s production process. The solution should connect manufacturers, service partners and operators on one platform. With the aim of being a central interface in order to ensure a high level of availability and operating efficiency as well as short communication channels. The special feature of the solution is that machines from other manufacturers can also be included and managed in the application in the future. Third-party machines are integrated via standard interfaces, whereas attachments from other manufacturers are integrated via specific trackers. As a vertically integrated technology group, Liebherr delivers further added value to its customers through the precise coordination of components and attachments through to the complete machine. For a consistent customer experience and direct points of connection to the Liebherr world the platform will be anchored in the digital landscape in the future: the digital platform will be integrated into the existing Liebherr portal for all services – “My Liebherr”. This means that more synergies are created and the spare part orders can be processed in the same system. Modular structure for flexible and needs-based use The machine fleet can be managed in an aggregated view. Customers have all relevant information in their sight. Through the modular structure customers can order machine-oriented digital solutions in one platform as needed and extend them flexibly at any time. Via customisable views as well as configurable notifications customers can flexibly define which information they need and when they request a notification.... Read more...Bobcat T7X All-Electric Track Loader Wins Award in Spain21 July 2022News– The T7X is the first all-electric compact track loader in the world – The high performance and zero emissions of the Bobcat T7X, the first all-electric compact track loader in the world, have been recognised with a major award in the Earthworks, foundations and demolition category of the 2022 Potencia Awards in Spain. The quality of these awards lies not only in the level of the participants, but also in the independence and credentials of the jury that awards them. In this sixteenth edition of the Potencia Awards, the jury was presided over by SEOPAN and the National Confederation of Construction, whose members are responsible for the machinery fleets of the largest construction companies in the country. Carlos Campos, Doosan Bobcat District Manager for Iberia, collected the award. “We thank the Jury and the TPI group for this recognition. The Potencia award won by the Bobcat T7X loader is a great honour for Bobcat. It adds to the other awards the T7X has already received, as happened during the prestigious CES 2022 technology event held earlier this year.” The Advanced Technology and Design of the T7X Compact Track Loader The Bobcat T7X is fully battery-powered, built to be more productive from the ground up with electric actuation and propulsion, quieter with high-performance torque and more powerful than any diesel-fuelled track loader that has ever come before it – all while eliminating any carbon emissions. In the T7X, the traditional hydraulic work group has been completely replaced with an electrical drive system consisting of electric cylinders and electric drive motors, which means virtually no fluids. The new, all-electric Bobcat T7X uses just four litres of eco-friendly coolant compared to around 216 litres of fluid in its diesel/hydraulic equivalent model. The all-electric platform enables instantaneous power and peak torque available at every operating speed. The operator no longer must wait for the standard hydraulic system to build up power. At the heart of the T7X is a powerful 62 kW lithium-ion battery from technology partner, Green Machine Equipment, Inc. While applications vary, each charge can support common daily work operations and the use of intelligent work modes for up to four hours of continuous operation time and a full day of operation during intermittent use. The intelligence of the power management system is programmed to sense when loads are increasing, automatically backing off power when not needed to preserve the total energy use and extend the machine’s runtime. Providing an EMEA Perspective Commenting on future plans for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Vijay Nerva, Head of Innovation at Doosan Bobcat EMEA, said: “The T7X has been developed for the North American market for now but it addresses a global need and challenge. We plan to undergo internal testing and gather customer feedback in various countries in the EMEA region this year to better understand customer needs in this market before taking commercial decisions. The feedback we received at the Bobcat Demo Days in June was very positive indeed.” For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website www.bobcat.com... Read more...World of Concrete Launches Interactive Program Showcasing Top-of-the-Line Trucks, Education, and Demos: Work Truck Live!20 July 2022EventsDebuting at the 2023 edition, Work Truck Live! is a dedicated space, presented by Modern WorkTruck Solutions, for the work trucks that drive every contractor’s successAttendees can test-drive select Class 1- Class 7 vehicles on a closed, short loopJanuary 17-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center – get notified when registration opensfor World of Concrete 2023 here Dallas, TX (July 19, 2022) – World of Concrete, the industry’s only annual international event dedicated to the commercial concrete and masonry construction industries, revealed Work Truck Live!, an all-new experiential initiative designed to showcase the innovations in a contractor’s most important asset, trucks. Set to debut at the January 17-19, 2023, event held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the dedicated exhibit area in Central Hall, presented by Modern WorkTruck Solutions, will highlight innovations in the design and configuration of work trucks and innovative accessories that will help contractors increase safety and productivity. Work Truck Live! is strategically designed to bring attention to industry-leading companies that manufacture chassis and supply up-fitting accessories, as well as develop technologies with which contractors can customize their vehicles to the job at hand. Modern WorkTruck Solutions, a media brand of Highlands Publications, a multi-media publishing company based in Birmingham, Alabama, whose editorial team focuses on the fleet-based work truck market, will contribute expertise to the interactive area and educational program. Attendees will benefit from the initiative’s curated selection of manufacturers of chassis, trailers, and accessory vehicle products, easily accessible to event participants in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. “We could not be more excited to introduce Work Truck Live! at the next edition of World of Concrete,” said Kevin Archibald, Senior Show Manager of World of Concrete. “Work Truck Live! is such an important initiative, as powerful and efficient work trucks are the backbone of our community’s everyday efforts. The manufacturers that make our attendees’ lives easier, more productive, and increasingly enjoyable through the development of new technology innovations and products now have a dedicated platform at World of Concrete to showcase the latest must-have additions to work truck fleets.” In addition to Work Truck Live!, World of Concrete is debuting a Ride and Drive experience that provides attendees the rare opportunity to test-drive select Class 1- Class 7 vehicles. Approved drivers and passengers experience the feel of the vehicle in a closed, short loop located near the Las Vegas Convention Center. Ride and Drive will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday during World of Concrete – visit www.worldofconcrete.com for more information on how to participate. “Between Work Truck Live! and the Ride and Drive program, there is no better place for our community to discover the best vehicles and supporting technology and accessories available on the market than World of Concrete,” said Russell Haddock, President, Highlands Publications. “We are honored to partner with World of Concrete to gather a wide range of vehicles for all types of concrete and masonry construction professionals, offering the hard-to-come-by seat time in various styles of work trucks that attendees may be considering for use in their fleets.” World of Concrete will feature a technical session as a part of the event’s highly anticipated educational programming featuring editors from Modern WorkTruck Solutions. They will explore timely topics contractors should know and consider when searching for and specifying new work trucks. The full educational agenda will be announced soon.... Read more...DIMENSIONS THAT MATTER20 July 2022Attachments / Construction / RecyclingFor every excavator size, there is a crusher bucket model that can transform a construction site into a recycling center. Every construction site – whether small or large – generates waste. Inert materials of all kinds have to find a new life, a new use, considering the difficulty in finding raw materials and the time it takes to get them. Is it possible to recover waste and put it back into the production cycle in a simple, fast, and cost-effective way? Many may not know the solution lies in the operating machine already on-site: combined with an MB Crusher, crusher bucket and work the material so that it can be immediately reused or repurposed for other uses. Whether the excavator is large or small, an MB jaw crusher can be easily installed, allowing you to directly reduce the grain size of the material on site. When the operating machine is small… Czech Republic – A construction company from the Czech Republic, needs to recover materials to develop and finish their works on time. On-site, they have an 8-ton Yanmar B7 Sigma midi excavator. Recovering the material directly on site becomes simple when an MB-C50 crusher bucket is installed on the excavator. At just over 1500lbs and a load capacity of 0.19 CY, it is suitable for excavators and backhoe loaders starting from 5.5 tons and has an hourly production rate up to 13cy. A small jewel capable of transforming a construction site into a recycling center: it collects material and crushes it to specific sizes within its range, all on-site. Thus, the material can be reused for works in the urban and road sectors. Mayotte – In this archipelago of the Indian Ocean, the customer wants to become independent from procuring materials from the quarries, both to save on transport costs and wait times and to avoid the continuous coming and going of trucks to and from the construction site. There are two operating machines on this site, each at work with MB Crusher equipment: a Bobcat T300 with an MB-L140 crusher bucket and a Kubota KX080 with an MB-S14 basket screening bucket. The combined use of these two pieces of equipment mimics an actual recycling center: the waste material is screened with the MB-S14, separating the fines from the bulk, then crushed by the jaw crusher, and finally reused directly on-site for filling trenches. The waste turned into a gain of time and money, but above all, it turned into new material. If the excavator exceeds 30 tons… Czech Republic – We are still in the Czech Republic, but this time the customer’s goal is to save on the costs of landfill disposal or having to purchase or rent a large mobile crusher. The excavator on site is a 36 tons Doosan DX 350 LC to which an MB Crusher model BF120.4 jaw crusher is installed: a weight of 48 tons for a load capacity of 1.7CY and production that can reach up to 69 CY / h. Larger excavator but same results: the material is recycled on-site, there is no need to repurchase or dispose of it in landfills, transport costs and processing times are also reduced. And you work in total safety since the excavator operator himself does the operations. Bulgaria – The redevelopment of the area where the largest steel complex in the country was active for 40 years – the Kremikovtsi plant, whose dimensions were comparable to a city – saw one of the largest models of crusher buckets at work, the BF135.8. On a 45-plus-ton Hyundai excavator. Vast quantities of reinforced C&D demolition material had to be processed in an area of approximately 5 square miles. For this reason, the MB Crusher crusher was chosen. A flexible piece of equipment, easy to transport and use, capable of a high hourly production, and capable of crushing the reinforced material without any problem. The reinforced concrete is crushed to the desired output size, and the iron separates quickly from the aggregate pile. At the same time, a lot of travel – and pollution – of the material transport trucks are saved. In short, whether the construction site is large or small, there is always an MB Crusher unit with which it is possible to create a recycling center that allows the company to be autonomous in managing the material. And the cost of producing the recycled aggregate is much lower than that of purchasing virgin aggregate; it is also good for the environment and complies with the latest regulations issued in various countries on the use of recycled aggregates.... Read more...SIZZLING PARTY ATMOSPHERE AS JCB LAYS ON 75TH BIRTHDAY BASH18 July 2022EventsScintillating entertainment and sizzling summer temperatures combined to make the biggest party in JCB’s history a day to remember. Around 15,500 people soaked up the atmosphere at the JCB Family Festival, which was staged as a thank you to thousands of UK employees past and present. The spectacular event was held at the company’s picturesque Wootton Estate close to the World Headquarters in Rocester, Staffordshire. Entertainment included eight live music acts – headlined by chart-topping pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor. JCB had originally planned to celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2020 but plans for a party had to be put on ice for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. And in an ironic twist of fate JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford, who was due to address the crowds, was unable to attend after contracting Coronavirus. Instead, his wife, Carole Bamford, welcomed the thousands of employees and retired employees who attended the Family Festival Lady Bamford said: “I’m here by proxy. My husband should have been here today for this wonderful family day, but sadly he has got Covid. JCB is family business, built on family values and you are all so important to us. I’m proud of what we have all achieved together. Today is a thank you from us to all of you for making JCB what it is today. Have a wonderful day, in fact have a ball.” The Festival was compered by TV presenter, magician and comedian Stephen Mulhern who entertained with an audience participation magic show. He said: “As soon as I got involved with the Family Festival, I knew it was going to be incredibly special. It’s been an honour to perform in front of all these people.” Speaking during her performance, Sophie Ellis-Bextor said: “It’s been lovely being here today sharing it with you and your families. It’s been very special for me.” Another key ingredient of the day was popular TV chef Ainsley Harriott MBE who staged celebrity cooking sessions in his inimitable style. Acting as sous chefs at his two cooking demonstrations were JCB employees Richard Doyle, who works as an Engineer at JCB Power Systems in Foston, Derbyshire, and Lauren Guyler, who works as Management Accountant at JCB Cab Systems in Uttoxeter. Later, guests queued around the cooking tent to get selfies and autographs with the larger-than-life star. Also on the bill was JCB’s JCB Shakeshaft, performing a medley of songs during a half hour set. Jake, who works at JCB’s World HQ, represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016 as part of the duo Joe and Jake. The event was invitation only and open to UK employees and their families as well as retired employees. They were able to toast their contribution to JCB’s success with complimentary food and drink. Other highlights included a Spitfire and Hurricane fly-past, while back on the ground a 12-man Dancing Digger team entertained with their world-famous choregraphed routines. A classic car show, ferret racing, Punch and Judy and an all-day cinema tent provided endless entertainment as well as acrobatic and strongman displays. There was also an appearance by Carters Steam Fair, a travelling vintage funfair with rides from 1890s to the 1960s as part of its last ever tour. Among those attending were husband and wife Lee and Sue Durber from Newcastle-under-Lyme. Both have worked for JCB Finance in Rocester for 24 years and were there with son Sam, five. Lee said: “We decided to bring him so he could see where his mum and dad worked and get a better understanding of what a big role real JCBs play in our lives. He has been absolutely blown away by the Dancing Diggers – as we were as well. It’s been a great family day out laid on by a great company.” Phil Peach, of Rocester, was a welder on JCB’s Backhoe Loader production line at the World HQ for 35 years. The 78-year-old, who still works for the company as a part-time water bailiff protecting wildlife on the JCB lake, said: “I have really enjoyed today meeting old colleagues, many of whom who I have not seen for quite a while because of Covid. There is such a great community spirit around this company and a day like today just shows JCB likes to look after its people, past and present. The facilities are spot on and the entertainment is great – I really loved Ainsley Harriott’s cooking demonstrations – that was a highlight for me.” JCB Senior Engineer Mark Richards attended with wife Rosie and son Louie, three. Mark, from Derby, said: “It’s been fantastic to come here. You can see straight away the amount of work that has gone into this. Given the couple of years we have had, this is a real morale boost to everyone who is associated with JCB and a great way to celebrate the company’s anniversary. There is so much to see and do and they’ve laid on loads for children too, which makes it a real family occasion.” JCB Marketing Manager Olivia Chilman from Abbots Bromley is on maternity leave but attended with her husband Scott and their three-year-old son Rupert and six-month-old daughter Alice. She said: “We wanted to bring the little ones to see the Dancing Diggers and the steam fair – but in all honesty there is so much to see and do, we are spoilt for choice.” Scott, who is a Financial Controller with JCB Earthmovers, Cheadle, said: “This is a fantastic story all about family values. Everyone has had some very challenging times over the last couple of years so to be able to come and celebrate in this way with so many of our colleagues is just a great feeling.” Charles Wood worked for JCB more than 50 years ago at the company’s Wootton Estate, where the Family Festival has been staged. The 71-year-old from Rocester said: “Even though I haven’t been with the company for four decades, they still invited me to this celebration. It goes to show how deeply rooted JCB is in the local community. “It is a strange feeling being on this site, as I remember planting all the trees round here when they were just tiny saplings. Now I’m looking at them and they are 30 to 40ft tall.” His friend Gordon Bailey, 81, of Uttoxeter worked for JCB in the 60s and 70s on the cabs finishing line. He said: “When I got the invitation, it was an offer I just couldn’t refuse. I remember attending celebration events when I was working here but none of them were like today. This is spectacular. “It’s been a great trip down memory lane coming here and seeing so many of the machines and, also, seeing what has changed. Thank you JCB for inviting me.”... Read more...JCB GENERATORS IN POLE POSITION AT SILVERSTONE13 July 2022NewsA leading supplier of temporary power and lighting solutions has bought 60 JCB generators in a deal totalling more than £750k. Purchased by South-West-based Progen Power, many of the new gensets powered into pole position at the recent F1 British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone – where the circuit switched off from the grid for the 3-day event and was powered solely by the JCB generators. Supplied by dealer Watling JCB, the order comprises JCB’s compact 18-220kva range through to larger scale rental specification generators up to 500kva. The new models will be used for a wide range of temporary power applications spanning from domestic power cuts through to emergency power back-up for major commercial businesses. The JCB generators will also be take centre stage at several high-profile music events and further sporting highlights across the UK. Andy Fairbanks, Progen Power’s CEO, said: “We met with various manufacturers before deciding that JCB would offer us everything we needed thanks to the large range of units available and the well-known quality aftercare service.” Progen Power’s Marketing Manager Tom Walker said: “Ultimately we choose JCB because we feel it’s a superior product. No one else offers the range of generators which we require. They are performing brilliantly. They suit our needs perfectly as they’re reliable, easy to use and maintain, and arrive when expected.” JCB offers an extensive range of high specification diesel generators to meet customer requirements for any power application from 8-2,750 kVA globally. Each JCB generator is built to the highest specification to deliver outstanding reliability, high performance, and increased efficiency. Progen Power prides itself on not only providing temporary power and lighting solutions, but ensuring they are supplied in a safe, reliable, sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly manner. It offers seamless temporary power for events across the UK through its sector expertise, quality service and proven products.... Read more...Doosan ‘Transparent Bucket’ Makes Bauma Award Finals13 July 2022EventsThe industry’s first wheel loader ‘Transparent Bucket’ system developed by Doosan Infracore has been selected as a finalist in the Digitalisation category of the Bauma 2022 Innovation Awards. Among 41 innovations out of 133 that have been chosen in five different categories in the pre-selection process, the Transparent Bucket could scoop another important award to go alongside several others it has won around Europe in the last 12 months. To have reached the round of finalists is already a distinction for the candidates for the Bauma Innovation Awards. From this group, an expert jury will select the three nominees for the award in each of the five categories that as well as Digitalisation, include Climate Protection, Mechanical Engineering, Building and Research. The 15 nominated innovations will be officially announced by the organisers in early September 2022. VDMA Construction – Equipment and Plant Engineering and VDMA Mining, together with Messe München and the partner associations, HDB, ZDB and bbs, are conducting the multi-stage application process and hosting the awards ceremony at the Court Church of All Saints in Munich. VDMA represents around 3300 German and European companies in the mechanical and plant engineering industry. This innovative industry is export-oriented and predominantly made up of SMEs, employing around four million people in Europe, including more than a million in Germany alone. Doosan Transparent Bucket Increases Safety The Transparent Bucket is a system that allows the wheel loader driver to see blind spots in front of the bucket on the machine, using the monitor in the cab. The innovative system records images in front of the wheel loader with top and bottom front-loaded cameras and shows combined images on the cab monitor in real time using a curved projection method. Owing to blind spots caused by the buckets on wheel loaders, the area in front of the machines has been considered an area of major concern in terms of safety. With the new Doosan Transparent Bucket function, however, the driver can easily check the blind spots in front of the bucket via the cab monitor, to increase safety and prevent accidents. Another advantage of the Transparent Bucket system is that it can significantly improve work efficiency by providing a forward-view perspective for the driver during loading/unloading or when carrying materials such as aggregates, sand and soil. Patents Applied for in Korea, North America, Europe and China Doosan Infracore is the first company in the world to develop and apply a front projection function with the Transparent Bucket for construction machines and has applied for patents in Korea, North America, Europe and China. Doosan has also developed further sophisticated cutting-edge safety systems for the company’s machinery range, such as the around view monitor (AVM) system, that can observe the machines’ surroundings, and a rear warning system using ultrasonic sensors, which have both received very favourable responses from customers. A Doosan spokesperson commented: “As machinery and site safety standards continue to be significantly raised around the world, advanced safety systems have become a key factor in selecting equipment. We plan to continue developing safety features that can protect drivers and other workers on site, and we aim to be at the forefront in creating construction sites that are safer and accident-free.” For more on Doosan construction equipment, please visit the website: www.eu.doosanequipment.com... Read more...Tornadoes or Flash Floods – Bobcat Loaders Aid Firefighters12 July 2022Wheel LoadersBobcat loaders are iconic machines, especially in construction. But they also have an irreplaceable role to play in many other sectors. In 2022, it is 10 years since 13 Bobcat S650 skid-steer loaders were brought in to help firefighters throughout the Czech Republic. Here we reveal the work they have been doing, being deployed in all types of work, including interventions in major floods, traffic accidents or the recent tornado in the Eastern part of the country (the Moravia region). The Bobcat loaders were purchased in 2012 by the Fire and Rescue Service of the Czech Republic. This resulted, among other things, from the use of the European Union’s structural funds. Loaders and attachments have been stationed in almost every region of the Czech Republic. The Bobcat loaders are used to move materials at the site of interventions and to build defensive earthworks after floods and to remove debris when searching for and rescuing disaster victims. As a result, the machines are equipped with solid, highly resistant tyres to remove the risk of punctures. Among the attachments, combined 4-in-1 buckets, industrial grabs, demolition hammers and sweepers are most often used during rescue work. 10 Years in the Field The fire brigade loaders have proven their value on an almost daily basis with many interventions taking place. Over the past decade, they have been indispensable helpers in a number of crisis situations. Examples are the removal of debris after the massive explosion of the ammunition depot in Vrbětice in 2014, help after the tornado in Moravia in 2021 or their continuous role during flash floods, which unfortunately happen regularly in the Czech Republic. At the Olomouc Region Fire and Rescue Service, they use the Bobcat S650 loader mainly to help in emergencies associated with natural disasters. “The S650 is a versatile and durable tool for firefighting purposes – without the power and flexibility of the S650, we would have been dealing with some of the consequences of extraordinary events for a much longer time. Owing to the versatility it offers, we are also not afraid to use the S650 for innovative and unique procedures in firefighting practice, such as helping to evacuate vehicles at risk of fire from inaccessible areas,” explains Lt. Mgr. Lucie Balážová, a spokeswoman for the Olomouc Region Fire and Rescue Service. “The S650 is a big worker which we first used on development work at the station and over time it started working on interventions, where it has proved very successful. The S650 has excellent off-road handling, high performance and is amazingly versatile – we use a number of attachments designed for loading, sweeping and for working with pallets. This is a machine that works very reliably,” comments Lt. Col. Mgr. Jaroslav Mikoška, spokesman for the South Moravian Region Fire and Rescue Service. Bobcat loaders did a great deal of work in removing the debris and turmoil caused by the tornado in Moravia, where they were deployed for many days and worked reliably with almost no rest. Pprap. Mgr. Tomáš Grošek, operations technician, said: “In this deployment, the Bobcat S650s proved to be the best helpers, not just for us, but for the inhabitants of the affected areas, who needed their services the most.” With Good Servicing, Bobcat Machines are Almost Eternal Bobcat loaders offer a very long service life. But they cannot do this without regular and quality maintenance. Historically, great emphasis has been placed on making machines as easy as possible to service. Pprap. Mgr. Tomáš Grošek, commented: “Maintenance of the S650 is simple and easy to carry out. All checkpoints are clearly visible and easily accessible to users. Checking liquids and replacing parts is easy. Major repairs or servicing is provided by the Bobcat dealer in the Czech Republic.” “Bobcat machines are designed and manufactured to last for many years with heavy use, so their continued deployment after 10 years in the fire service is not a surprise. Normally, with good service, it is possible to use machines that are much older,“ explains Petr Hejduk, Chairman of Bobcat CZ, authorised dealer in the Czech Republic. Examples of Interventions with the Bobcat S650 Loaders Last year, the Fire and Rescue Service in the Czech Republic intervened in a total of 142,055 events, firefighters rescued 30,834 people and made evacuations of 56,163 members of the public. The firefighters use specialized equipment, including the Bobcat loaders, for a number of interventions. Flash floods – in multiple cases, Bobcat loaders are used to eliminate the consequences of local flash floods and torrential rains. The loaders both remove the alluvium – wood and vegetation, as well as rubble from damaged houses. They are also used to clean mud deposits and other materials from roads. The Bobcat loaders were used very effectively during the devastating flash floods in June 2020, when they were deployed to eliminate the consequences of the flood in Olomouc region. Torrential rains had completely damaged the village’s infrastructure, including bridges, roads and houses. The Bobcat loaders worked for six days at a time, with the firefighters taking turns on the machines. Road interventions – in a road accident in North Moravia involving a tanker carrying liquid asphalt, a car was overturned and one of the tanks was damaged to such an extent that hot asphalt leaked from it on the expressway. The Bobcat S650 helped with clearing the hot asphalt and thus reduced the damage to the road and accelerated the intervention on the busy backbone road between the cities of Brno and Olomouc. For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website www.bobcat.com... Read more...COUNCIL INVESTS IN JCB POTHOLE PRO TO MAINTAIN 1,000 MILES OF ROAD8 July 2022NewsJCB’S revolutionary Pothole Pro has hit the road for the first time in Ireland to wage war on the country’s potholes. Louth County Council has just invested in the country’s first Pothole Pro machine in a bid to fix potholes permanently on its 1,000 miles of roads. The machine was sold by JCB dealer ECI JCB. Tests with local authorities and contractors show the JCB Pothole Pro completes a permanent pothole repair in under eight minutes – equivalent to up to 250m2 a day or 700 potholes a month. Mark Johnston, Senior Engineer at Louth County Council, said: “Potholes which often form quickly and randomly, especially in wet weather, overwhelm scarce council resources, disrupt motorists and can cause extensive damage to vehicles. “Keeping the road in good condition is a priority for Louth County Council and this ground-breaking technology will be vital in enabling us to meet the Council’s strategy of prompt pothole mending with no requirement for further, future repair.” Councillor Conor Keelan, Chairman of Louth County Council, said: “This is a fantastic new development towards further improving the efficiency of our operations across the roads of County Louth.” Louth County Council will begin repairs across the county this month. The JCB Pothole Pro has been part-funded by the Department of Transport. One local authority – Stoke-on-Trent City Council – completed almost three years of repairs in just over four months earlier this year after it invested in a JCB Pothole Pro.... Read more...Bobcat To Show New Products and Technology at Bauma7 July 2022EventsAt Bauma 2022, Bobcat will be presenting several new products and technological developments for the first time at the exhibition. The Bauma stand will feature a comprehensive display of the latest Bobcat wheeled and tracked loaders, mini-excavators including four new exciting additions in the 5 to 8 tonne category, the very latest R-series telehandlers, light compaction products and a number of new attachments. Complementing these are new machinery premieres and the very latest in electrification, digitization, autonomy and gamification from Bobcat, including: New S86 and T86 R-Series Loaders Concept – Quad Tracks – Bauma Innovation Award FinalistConcept – The T7X – The World’s First All-Electric Compact Track LoaderConcept – OLED Transparent Touch DisplayConcept – E35 Operate By Wire Mini-Excavator “Many of the Bobcat products being presented at Bauma will be showcased for the first time. Over the last three years, we have significantly reworked our portfolio, added new product ranges and at Bauma, we will premiere even more new product categories,“ said Gustavo Otero, President Doosan Bobcat EMEA. Most Powerful Loaders from Bobcat – R-Series S86 and T86 The new S86 R-Series Skid-Steer Loader and T86 R-Series Compact Track Loader replace the previous 700 and 800 M-Series loaders and complete the current R-Series loader line-up. Delivering a higher engine and hydraulic output, the Bobcat S86 and T86 are the most powerful compact loaders the company has ever built. Both machines use a well-proven Stage V compliant 3.4 l Bobcat engine – producing 78 kW (105 HP) at 2600 RPM. One of the most exciting new aspects of the S86 and T86 is that both machines have for the first time three different auxiliary flow outputs. There is a standard flow configuration providing 87 l/min for applications such as load and carry, or where low hydraulic flow attachments are used. Bobcat also offers two additional hydraulic performance functions using the new Electronic Displacement Control (EDC) Pump: a High Flow function giving 138 l/min and a new, industry unique Super Flow function taking auxiliary flow to 159 l/min. The Super Flow function typically increases productivity with like-for-like attachments by 15 to 20%, and it has a new 5-coupler connection block allowing the use of larger ¾ inch quick coupler connectors and ¾ inch attachment hoses. This change also helps increase auxiliary hydraulic efficiency and performance. Bobcat Innovations and Technologies Concept – Quad Tracks – Bauma Innovation Award Finalist Currently being tested in markets in the USA, the Quad Track concept allows the wheels of selected Bobcat skid-steer loaders to be easily replaced with four individual track pods, effectively converting them into tracked loaders. Chosen as one of the finalists in the Mechanical Engineering category of the Bauma 2022 Innovation Awards, Bobcat quad tracks add considerable versatility to skid-steer loaders, allowing them to easily adapt to different environments. Benefits include increased flotation, reduced ground pressure and better traction on wet ground, compared to traditional wheeled skid-steer loaders, with a smoother ride compared to two-track compact track loaders. The Bobcat quad track solution allows the conversion of a wheeled skid-steer loader to a quad track loader simply by removing the wheels, adding an oscillation bar to limit total oscillation, and attaching track pods to the existing axles. The machine can easily be converted back to a wheeled loader, when desired. The ground pressure exerted by the quad track loader falls between that of the comparable skid-steer and compact track loaders. This provides even better forces when excavating soil, pushing snow or in other applications where a high push force is required compared to skid-steer loaders. Whilst quad tracks are a known technology, they have not been used before on skid-steer loaders, which require a track system that can withstand side-to-side movements, as well as forward and backward, which is introduced in skid-steering. Concept – The T7X – The World’s First All-Electric Compact Track Loader Together with a number of other electrification developments, the T7X is designed as a machine that addresses emission and noise reduction goals at Bobcat. The 62-kWh lithium-ion battery pack can give four hours of continuous use. That figure is made possible partially by a load-sensing power management system, which automatically reduces the power output to be no more than is required for the task at hand. Operators are also able to manually tune the performance of the T7X for specific jobs, including the ability to vary its drive speed while at full torque. “Another striking feature of the T7X which really stands out from any loader on the planet is the fact that there are virtually no fluids in the machine. The traditional hydraulic work group has been completely replaced with an electrical drive system consisting of electric cylinders and electric drive motors. The only fluid that goes in the machine is about four litres of eco-friendly coolant,”said Joel Honeyman, Vice President of Global Innovation at Bobcat. The machine has a rated operating capacity of 1374 kg and zero CO2 emissions. At Bauma, Bobcat will be using the T7X to continue to gather feedback from customers who work in different applications so the company can understand market opportunities in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “The T7X was designed with productivity, zero emissions and technological supremacy in mind. The machine aims to deliver minimal carbon footprint, reduced noise and vibrations and lower maintenance needs, all whilst boosting productivity. Bobcat will also be looking to study the regulatory needs in Europe and aftersales infrastructure readiness,” said Joel Honeyman. Concept – OLED Transparent Touch Display The Bobcat Transparent Touch Display concept has been developed in conjunction with LG Electronics and BSI Research and utilises OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) technology. This new system provides a transparent, engaging touch display solution embedded within the glass structure of the operator’s cab to enhance their productivity, efficiency and visibility of the task at hand. The display can be positioned on the front windshield or side window of the cab on a range of Bobcat machines, including mini-excavators, telehandlers and loaders. The operator can customize the display with smart widgets and interactive applications, to integrate data relevant to the jobsite or daily activities. This transparent, multi-function display allows an operator to view vital information and machine data displayed on the OLED screen and simply refocus their vision to see everything that is going on around them on the worksite. Concept – E35 Operate By Wire Mini-Excavator – Automation is Coming Bobcat will be showing the new 3.5 tonne E35 electro-hydraulically controlled mini-excavator for the first time at Bauma. As in most heavy excavators, the hydraulically controlled joysticks are replaced by an electro-hydraulic system. Such a system allows Bobcat to customize the machine controls to all levels of operator skill. Additional digital functionalities and special features on the machine are also available to the operator. “With the help of integrated sensors, the machine can also carry out some semi-automated tasks helping the operator with precise grading and levelling, trenching or repetitive tasks such as return to dig among others. We want to show the capability of such a concept and prove the value it brings to the operator‘s job and their productivity,“ said Vijay Nerva, Head of Innovation and Acceleration, Doosan Bobcat EMEA. For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website www.bobcat.com... Read more...Patent litigation between JCB and Manitou in the UK: 3 of 4 JCB patents invalidated by the UK Court6 July 2022NewsAncenis, July 5, 2022 – The High Court in London today handed down its judgment in the patent infringement litigation brought by J. C. Bamford Excavators Ltd (JCB) against Manitou BF and Manitou UK Ltd relating to four of JCB’s patents. Three of the JCB patents considered at trial were found to be invalid in their entirety: European Patent EP 1 532 065 B2 (EP 065), its UK equivalent GB 2 390 595B (GB 595) and European Patent EP 2 263 965 B9 (EP 965). Consequently, all infringement claims brought by JCB against Manitou relating to these three patents failed completely. Moreover, the Court held that only certain features of telehandlers sold in the past infringed the fourth patent, European Patent EP 2 616 382 B3 (EP 382). While reserving the right to appeal this judgment, Manitou confirms it does not have a significant impact on its business in the UK, nor on the business of its customers. Manitou will in any event seek payment from JCB of all its costs relating to the claims pursued by JCB but rejected by the Court, as well as interest on those sums. As ever, the Manitou Group will continue to defend itself vigorously in the patent infringement litigation brought against it by JCB.... Read more...Innovation Core Theme to Doosan Display at Bauma 20225 July 2022Events– Presenting new industry-leading machine and digital technologies – Doosan is presenting an industry leading display of new state-of-the-art machine and digital technologies on the company’s Stand No FM.711/1 at the heart of the Open-Air Area Middle construction and mining machinery section of the Bauma 2022 show. The Doosan stand is centred around a dedicated Innovation Centre and, under the theme of Powered by Innovation, will present the latest developments in the company’s leading edge Concept-X, Xitecloud and DoosanCONNECT systems, together with other unique products such as the world’s first ‘Transparent Bucket’ and the new DX225LC-7X, Doosan’s first ‘Smart’ Crawler Excavator. As well as the new DX225LC-7X, the array of products on the Doosan stand will show the increasing expansion at both ends of the product range for the first time at Bauma. At the top of the range, these will include the new DX1000LC-7 100 tonne crawler excavator, the award-winning DL580-7 wheel loader and a brand new 4×4 version of the Doosan DA45-7 articulated dump truck (ADT). At the compact end of the Doosan range, the company’s new 2 to 5 tonne mini-excavators and new 10 tonne midi wheeled excavator will be shown for the first time alongside the new Doosan range of compact wheel loader models. Another Bauma exclusive will be a preview of the first zero-emission mini-excavator from Doosan, the DX20Z-E, due to be launched in 2023. Doosan Concept-X and XiteCloud Systems Doosan will be demonstrating the latest version of Concept-X, the world’s first unmanned automated and integrated control solution introduced in 2019, for construction, quarrying and mining sites. XiteCloud is the first stage in commercialising Concept-X – it maximizes productivity by incorporating complex 3D drone construction surveys and earthwork calculations into a cloud platform, allowing them to be completed in just one to two days. Next Generation DoosanCONNECT App Doosan is demonstrating the company’s DoosanCONNECTTM TMS fleet and asset management system at Bauma. DoosanCONNECT is a mobile application available for both Apple and Android devices that now offers customers a new all-in-one management system for Doosan construction equipment. The latest upgrade to the DoosanCONNECT App introduces additional services and expanded overall functionality, allowing the App to manage all processes from operation and maintenance to parts purchase through this one platform. The system is designed to increase productivity and efficiency at construction sites by reducing equipment management time and effort compared to offline and other solutions. The World’s First ‘Transparent Bucket’ System Doosan’s industry unique ‘Transparent Bucket’ safety system will be at Bauma for the first time. The Transparent Bucket is the first safety system of its type to provide a solution to prevent the danger of blind spots in front of the buckets of wheel loaders. The DX225LC-7X – Doosan‘s First ‘Smart‘ Excavator Being shown for the first time in the world at Bauma, the new DX225LC-7X – Doosan’s first ‘Smart’ crawler excavator is designed to help operators work faster and more efficiently. To facilitate this, the DX225LC-7X offers a number of exciting new features as standard, including Full Electric Hydraulic (FEH) technology. As well as the FEH system, other standard features of the DX225LC-7X include integrated 2D machine guidance and machine control systems, as well as an E-Fence Virtual Wall. DX1000LC-7 – The Largest Ever Excavator from Doosan At Bauma, Doosan is premiering the new DX1000LC-7 Stage V compliant 100 tonne crawler excavator, the largest excavator model ever manufactured by the company. Driven by the most powerful engine in the 100 tonne class, the DX1000LC-7 also has the highest hydraulic flow for this size of machine, providing best-in-class performance, with higher productivity, lower fuel consumption and smoother controls. Brand New ADT Concept from Doosan Another world premiere for Doosan at Bauma is the company’s first 4×4 ADT. The new 4×4 version of the DA45-7 ADT is intended to challenge rigid dump trucks in the 40-tonne class. With its 4×4 design, the new version of the DA45-7 is better at handling bad roads, smoother driving surfaces and steeper terrain than rigid dump trucks. The DA45-7 4×4 ADT also has a better turning radius than comparable rigid trucks. Next Generation Doosan Compact Excavators Bauma provides a first look at selected models from Doosan’s next generation mini-excavators and a new midi wheeled excavator. The new DX27Z-7 2.8 tonne, DX35Z-7 3.9 tonne, DX50Z-7 5.4 tonne and DX55R-7 5.7 tonne Stage V compliant mini-excavators are all ideal for confined space work. Also featuring a new look design, the DX100W-7 10 tonne midi wheeled excavator from Doosan will be on show at Bauma. New Compact Wheel Loaders Also featured on the Bauma stand, Doosan will be premiering five new compact wheel loader models, the DL60-7, DL65-7, DL80-7, DL85-7 and DL80TL-7, with operating weights from 3500 to 5000 kg. For more on Doosan construction equipment, please visit the website: www.eu.doosanequipment.com... Read more...Chepstow Plant International invests in 1,000th Volvo machine from SMT GB1 July 2022News / PlantThe 1,000-machine milestone stems from a 20-year relationship of open communication and reciprocity to improve safety and environmental standards for the entire industry. In 2002, Chepstow Plant International placed its first package order for 10 Volvo A25 articulated haulers. Two decades later, the South Wales-based mineral and aggregates contractor regularly orders more than 100 Volvo machines a year from SMT GB and received its 1,000th unit to date – an L220H wheeled loader with Volvo Co-Pilot – at the end of June 2022. Before arriving at the Chepstow Plant yard in Caldicot, Monmouthshire, the Volvo L220H took pride of place on the SMT GB stand at Hillhead, featuring a special livery to celebrate 20 years of partnership between the two companies. “It’s a proud milestone for myself, the business, and our Chairman, Eddie Hayward, that we can install that accolade as a memory of all those transactions, all those livelihoods we’ve positively affected in the industry, and the strategic presence that we’ve developed alongside one of the biggest manufacturing giants on the planet,” said John Corcoran, Managing Director of Chepstow Plant International. Shared ethos and values What first attracted Chepstow Plant to Volvo was the company’s shared ethos and commitment to making a positive impact on the industry. The Volvo brand values of quality, safety and environmental care chime perfectly with Chepstow Plant’s mission to provide sustainable and practical solutions for resource extraction in a zero-risk environment. “It was that feeling of ‘these people think the same as us’, which has made it easy to work alongside Volvo and SMT GB,” Corcoran said. Longer term, open communication and close collaboration have been key to maintaining the relationship. “The communication flow is always an open door. Best practice sharing, supportive behaviour and, as I got to understand the Volvo business more, I realised that the simple values of understanding the industry and reciprocation of standards were the key ingredients to a sustainable relationship” he continued. Transforming hauler safety In particular, Volvo and Chepstow Plant’s close collaboration has helped standardise inclinometers on articulated haulers in the UK, transforming both operator and site safety. “The industry, historically, was suffering a lot of ADT turnovers. Volvo listened to us and our strategic clients and didn’t hesitate in investing and bringing that forward. Now, pretty much wherever you buy a truck from in the UK, it’s fitted with an inclinometer,” Corcoran explained. Beyond the addition of this product feature, Volvo and Chepstow Plant developed training programmes together to instil safe behavioural practice. “A feature of innovation is only as good as the end user who puts it to work, so we continually train and develop operators to use the inclinometer to stay in line with excavation and tip rules and make sure ramps and cambers are safe before even going to work. Small features like this can make significant progress in behavioural safety as long as the companies using them take full advantage of them,” he said. Low emissions and high uptime Volvo and SMT GB are also supporting Chepstow Plant’s decarbonisation programme. By the end of 2022, more than 90% of the contractor’s fleet will be operating with Stage 5 engines, helping to reduce CO2 emissions. In addition, Chepstow Plant is using Volvo CareTrack telematics data to manage and reduce fuel consumption from both an environmental and cost perspective. As for uptime, all Volvo machines in the Chepstow Plant fleet are covered by SMT GB’s Customer Service Agreements, providing peace of mind and ensuring each unit is ready to work when needed. “SMT GB delivers a consistent and high standard of service. They’ll, wherever possible, get a part to us overnight, but that’s not special treatment for us. I think it’s in the mantra of the business for all customers,” Corcoran said. The personal touch In every interaction with Volvo and SMT GB, Chepstow Plant appreciates the personal touch. “I’m familiar with everyone at SMT, from SMT Group’s leaders and the UK CEO to the regional team in South Wales. Each of our departments at Chepstow Plant also has a solid relationship with the relevant department at SMT GB – whether that’s the maintenance, parts or technical and warranty department. All those people know each other’s names and communicate well,” Corcoran said. “There are always cheaper options out there, but the personalised infrastructure support we get from SMT GB and Volvo, along with the opportunity to be involved in sensible and practical innovation, gives us sustainable value against that day one cost analysis versus efficiency and uptime to me, it’s quite affordable and with that overarching experience has significantly contributed to get us to the accolade of 1,000 machines purchased,” he added. Concluding, Nick Allen, CEO of SMT GB, stated: “1,000 machines is an incredible milestone, and we are so grateful for Chepstow Plant’s support over the years. Their honest feedback and willingness to collaborate have challenged us to continuously improve and develop solutions that have a genuinely positive impact on the industry. We look forward to continuing our partnership and finding more ways to innovate together for greater safety and sustainability in the years to come.”... Read more...Five Excavator Technologies to Improve Your Bottom Line27 June 2022TechnologyBy: CONEXPO-CON/AGG MILWAUKEE – While technology has been enhancing excavator performance for more than a decade, end-user demand for certain features has accelerated in the past few years. We talked with leading manufacturers to get their take on those innovations that provide the typical construction company with the best bang for the buck—innovations that allow excavator operators to: Dig and grade fasterEliminate guessworkReduce fuel consumptionEnhance operator comfortImprove safety 1. GET TO GRADE IN CONSIDERABLY LESS TIME Ryan Neal, Market Professional and Product Application Specialist for Large Excavators at Caterpillar, says 2D grade control has been a game-changer. The operator simply selects target depth and slope, and sensors and onboard processors provide real-time guidance on the distance to grade. That eliminates all of that in and out of the cab to set up stakes and lasers, oftentimes slicing an operator’s productivity in half. Matthew McLean, Product Manager for GPE Products at Volvo Construction Equipment, says interest in 2D indicate systems has exploded over the past two years. Demand was initially driven by the typical contractor’s desire to save time. More recently, it is all about the industry-wide challenge of finding skilled workers. “A newer operator might not be as fast, but at least they’ll be on grade because the monitor screen in the cab will let them know both visibly and audibly,” McLean points out. “Volvo’s system, Dig Assist, as seen in the above photo, is also designed to be easy to use, which is why we’ve made it standard on our 22- to 55-ton excavators. On virtually all other models, Dig Assist is an option.” 2. SEMI-AUTONOMOUS DIGGING AND GRADING Volvo calls its system Active Control and offers it as standard equipment on five excavator models: the EC220E, ECR235E, EC250E, EC300E, and ECR355E. “We’ve gone electric-over-hydraulic in the controls because we now have joysticks talking directly to computers and the valve and pump,” McLean explains. “When Active Control is turned on, once you get within a window of 4 inches (10 cm), you can just pull back on the arm lever and the computer helps you dig.” At the basic level, Active Control controls the boom to prevent operators from over-digging. But it can also be set up to control bucket angle and can even control a tiltrotator. Operators can allow the system to control back grading and can also specify if they need to achieve a finer or rougher (normal) grade. Finally, functionality such as swing control and swing fence help operators dig and load more efficiently while avoiding side obstacles. On that note, Caterpillar has made its swing-control technology, 2D E-Fence, standard on its excavators. This safety system uses data from position sensors to automatically stop motion when the front linkage reaches the operator-defined boundaries. 3. CALCULATING MATERIAL WEIGHT Caterpillar’s Neal points to one other game-changing technology that has come to excavators in recent years. Cat Payload uses cylinder pressure data and machine sensors to continuously calculate material weight while the excavator works. Neal recalls visiting a contractor in the Boston area recently. The contractor was using a Cat 395 Excavator to dig a massive foundation. “The contractor was using both the 2D grade control and the payload system—just as we’d intended for them to be used,” Neal says. “The contractor said they loaded 136 trucks and were within 2% accuracy on all of them. That almost brought a tear to my eye.” 4. HIGHER PRODUCTION, LOWER FUEL CONSUMPTION With the right equipment and technologies, improved productivity can also result in reduced fuel costs. Doosan excavators feature two innovations that can reduce machine fuel consumption. The D-ECOPOWER system, an option on select models, features an electronically controlled pump, a closed-center main control valve, and nine sensors that electronically detect and control the precise amount of hydraulic oil required to perform a task. “The exact amount of oil required is metered instead of a fixed amount continuously being forced through the system,” says Aaron Kleingartner, Product and Dealer Marketing Manager for Doosan Infracore North America. “The hydraulic system output requirements are optimized with engine horsepower. The resulting efficiency reduces fuel consumption and improves productivity substantially. Improved feedback through the controls also results in an outstanding level of operator comfort and much smoother machine management.” A second innovation from Doosan is its Smart Power Control. Controlled by the ECU (engine control unit), this technology is implemented through two systems, variable speed control, and pump torque control, that work together to improve efficiency while maintaining productivity. “Smart Power Control can save as much as 5-7% in fuel consumption,” Kleingartner says. 5. CAMERA SYSTEMS Cameras are also taking excavator productivity and safety to another level. For instance, Caterpillar excavators come standard with two cameras, one on the right side and one at the rear. A four-camera system is also an option for contractors who want to maintain a 360° view around the excavator. Over the past five years, Doosan’s Kleingartner says technological innovation has accelerated with respect to cameras. Doosan offers a standard rearview camera and an optional side view camera. Operators can view one or both (side-by-side) on the LCD screen in the operator’s cab. “At CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2020, Doosan previewed its newest camera system, an all-around view monitoring system (AVM), that gives operators a 360° view of their surroundings,” Kleingartner says. Five unique perspectives can be seen from the separate AVM monitor: top view, rear view, top-right view, rear-corner view, and 3D view. Volvo’s McLean also agrees camera systems have come a long way. The company began adding backup cameras more than a decade ago. Most recently, in 2020, Volvo Smart View was developed and has since been made standard on Volvo general purpose excavators (EC140 and larger). Now the industry is beginning to work on a camera system that warns the operator when certain movement is detected, McLean points out. Additionally, the future of excavator tech is likely to include increased adoption of things like 3D grade control, remote control operation, and even certain levels of autonomous operation. But as of right now, more construction contractors are making better use of game-changing technologies that have been available and continually improved for years. About the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) AEM is the North America-based international trade group representing off-road equipment manufacturers and suppliers with more than 1,000 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture and construction-related industry sectors worldwide. The equipment manufacturing industry in the United States supports 2.8 million jobs and contributes roughly $288 billion to the economy every year.... Read more...JCB REACHES NEW HEIGHTS WITH £5 MILLION ROTATING TELEHANDLER DEAL27 June 2022PlantOne of the UK’s leading equipment rental firms has invested in a fleet of brand new JCB rotating telehandlers in a deal worth more than £5 million – the biggest order so far for the new product. Nationwide plant hirer Charles Wilson Engineers (CW Plant) has ordered 25 machines including the 21-metre 555-210R machine and 26-metre 555-260R machines. Supplied by dealer Greenshields JCB, the new machines are operating for CW Plant’s customers across the UK. The new models are powered by JCB’s Stage V Dieselmax engines, and feature Auto Engine Idle and Auto Engine Stop features as standard, further reducing fuel use and exhaust emissions. With a robust boom construction and familiar vertically-integrated driveline components, JCB has focused on maximising reliability, productivity, safety and ease of use. JCB MD of Global Major Accounts Steve Fox said: “We are delighted to be sole supplier of rotating telehandlers to CW Plant. To secure such a significant contract with a leading player in the market, strengthens our longstanding partnership and is a fantastic endorsement of these new additions to our range. “The sector is changing and with customers demanding even more versatile, higher reach machines with the capability of operating in confined spaces, it was a natural progression for JCB to add these rotating telehandler models to our world number one Loadall telescopic handler range.” Director, Graham Pollard said: “Charles Wilson Engineers is committed to owning the best fleet of equipment in the industry. We chose JCB for the renowned product quality and service back up. The rotating telehandler market is a growing one and we want to be at the forefront of that by building the number one fleet in the UK.” The 555-210R and 555-260R models have been designed to meet and exceed the changing requirements of contractors and rental companies across the world. As an increasing use of off-site fabrication calls for heavier lift capacities and additional versatility, JCB’s rotating telescopic handlers offer a genuine cost-effective versatile replacement for smaller fixed and mobile cranes, with rapid set-up, ease of use and the ability to carry out a wide range of technical lifting operations. From a single site in 1979, Charles Wilson Engineers Ltd has grown to become one of the UK’s largest hirers of plant and tools with an extensive inventory and a network of 31 depots located throughout the UK. It offers a full range of equipment including excavators, telehandlers, access platforms, site dumpers, welfare units, portable accommodation, pumps, traffic-management equipment, portable air conditioning, ss generators and more across a series of specialist divisions. The new rotating telehandler models join a large and extensive range of JCB machines in the CW Plant fleet.... Read more...Doosan Demos and Displays New Products at Hillhead 202227 June 2022EventsDoosan took the opportunity to demonstrate and display the very latest products from the company for the quarrying, mining and construction industries for the first time at the Hillhead 2022 exhibition. On display on the Doosan stand was the new version of the Doosan DX530LC-7 53 tonne crawler excavator. Next to the stand in the Quarry Face Demo Area, a DX420LC-7 43.5 tonne crawler excavator continued to load a Doosan DA30-7 articulated dump truck (ADT) throughout the show. A series of humps created in this area by Doosan served to replicate the off-road advantages offered by the unique free-swinging rear tandem bogie in the company’s ADTs, that guarantees permanent 6-wheel contact and drive, particularly for the most difficult terrains and working conditions. Increased Comfort and Controllability A number of new standard and optional features are now available on several of the large Doosan crawler excavators, including the DX300LC-7, DX350LC-7, DX380LC-7 and DX490LC-7 models, as well as the DX420LC-7 and DX530LC-7 excavators presented at Hillhead. The main changes are in the new cab, which takes operator comfort and ease of operation to the next level. Also on display on the Hillhead stand was the DA45-7, the largest model in the Doosan ADT range and the DL420-7, part of the award-winning DL-7 range of wheel loaders from Doosan. Another of the new products being shown by Doosan for the first time at Hillhead 2022 was the 24.3 tonne DX235LCR-7 reduced radius crawler excavator. The DX235LCR-7 is part of Doosan’s new medium-sized ‘DX-7’ range of 17 Stage V crawler and wheeled excavator models from 14 to 25 tonne. Doosan also introduced a number of new compact products at Hillhead, including the new DX100W-7 10.7 tonne wheeled excavator, the new DX27Z-7 and DX50Z-7 next generation mini-excavators and the first appearance of the DL80TL-7 model from Doosan’s new range of compact wheel loaders. The New DX-7 Medium-sized Excavators Like all the new DX-7 medium-sized excavators, the DX235LCR-7 combines enhanced comfort, increased tool carrier capability and novel operator assist technology, with new features to boost fuel efficiency, uptime and return on investment, with a focus on increased power, robustness and agility. Maintenance of the diesel particulate filter (DPF) has also been greatly reduced, with no maintenance required until the machine has operated for 8000 hours. New High Performance 10.7 tonne Wheeled Excavator Also featuring a new look design, the DX100W-7 10.7 tonne wheeled excavator from Doosan made its debut at Hillhead. The 10 tonne weight class represented by the DX100W-7 is new to the Doosan range and the DX100W-7 offers a high performance solution for customers looking for a wheeled excavator designed primarily for urban and road maintenance applications. For this type of work, the DX100W-7 offers the best compromise between compactness and agility, complemented by excellent productivity and high-end comfort. It is very important that this type of machine can operate in very restricted areas, so the DX100W-7 can be equipped with the option of four wheel steering and a crabbing mode, with two wheel steering as standard. Next Generation Doosan Mini-Excavators The new DX27Z-7 2.8 tonne and DX50Z-7 5.4 tonnemodels on the Hillhead standprovided the first look at Doosan’s next generation Stage V compliant mini-excavator range, which also includes the DX35Z-7 3.9 tonne and DX55R-7 5.7 tonnemodels. The zero tail swing design of the DX27Z-7 and DX50Z-7 make them ideal for confined space work. The DX27Z-7 is powered by the Doosan D17 Stage V compliant diesel engine providing 18.4 kW (24.7 HP) of power at 2400 RPM. The DX50Z-7 is powered by the Doosan D18 Stage V compliant diesel engine providing 36.4 kW (48.8 HP) of power at 2200 RPM. As a result, both models offer the highest power and torque in their respective classes and cover a wide range of applications including heavy duty work. New Compact Wheel Loaders As represented by the DL80TL-7 model on the Hillhead stand, Doosan is now offering a choice of five new compact wheel loader models, including the DL60-7, DL65-7, DL80-7 and DL85-7 models, with operating weights from 3500 to 5000 kg. Just like their much heavier versions in the Doosan range, these new compact wheel loaders set the industry standard for productivity, flexibility, comfort, safety and reliability, with powerful Stage V engines, hydrostatic 4-wheel drive, 100% differential lock on both axles and versatile and powerful hydraulics. For more on Doosan construction equipment, please visit the website: www.eu.doosanequipment.com... Read more...Rokbak highlights robust and reliable haulers at Hillhead23 June 2022EventsHighlighting its robust and reliable machines that deliver low total cost of ownership and operation, UK articulated hauler manufacturer Rokbak is presenting its RA30 and RA40 at Hillhead, alongside its UK dealer Molson Group. Rokbak’s commitment to rock-solid reliability, power and performance is in sharp focus at Hillhead. Three Rokbak articulated haulers are at this year’s show, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to get up close to the machines, speak to product experts and see them in action. The RA40 is on Rokbak’s stand at N14 and an RA30 is at the Molson Group’s stand J3. An RA40 is working at the quarry face demonstration area, where visitors can see it doing real-world work in a live quarry environment. “At Hillhead we’re showing visitors how the RA30 and RA40 deliver low total cost of ownership and high productivity on a variety of jobs, including quarries, large-scale construction projects, infrastructure developments and mines,” says Paul Douglas, Managing Director of Rokbak. “We’re currently seeing huge demand for our articulated haulers, with dealers and customers excited to get hold of the new machines.” Better than ever Since becoming part of the Volvo Group almost eight years ago, Rokbak has introduced multiple improvements with the aim of delivering new benchmarks in terms of hauler power, performance and total cost of ownership. For example, for the European market, both the RA30 and RA40 feature the latest EU Stage V emissions-compliant engine, boasting up to a 7% improvement in fuel efficiency compared to older EU Stage IV engines. “Over the last few years we have made major improvements in every part of our business,” says Paul. “The machines we have on the market today are in a different league to what was on offer previously. It has been a process of continual evolution. That’s why we felt it was right to recognise this evolution with a new brand name and to launch an exciting new chapter in our history. “The Rokbak name embodies rock-solid strength, robustness, reliability and the brand’s promise to always have the backs of customers. Our customers were already referring to our haulers as ‘rock trucks’ so it made perfect sense. Our articulated haulers have never been better, and our company has never been stronger.” Rokbak hasn’t just concentrated on enhancing its haulers in recent years – it has also made substantial investments and improvements in employees, sustainability, processes, facilities and equipment. The production site in Motherwell, Scotland, has firmly moved into the twenty-first century with facility investments helping to improve safety, quality and environmental performance. These developments have also improved throughput efficiency and reduced manufacturing costs.... Read more...Bobcat Premieres New Products at Hillhead 202223 June 2022EventsBobcat is presenting several new products for the first time at Hillhead 2022. These include the show premiere of the E88, a brand new 8 tonne Stage V compliant model that extends the company’s new generation R2-Series of mini-excavators. As well as the E88, other products appearing for the first time at Hillhead include Bobcat’s new R-Series telehandler range; the L85, the first model in the company’s compact wheel loader range and a number of new light compaction products. The Bobcat stand also features the E10e, the world’s first battery-powered 1 tonne mini-excavator. The New E88 – Setting the Standard in the 8 tonne Category Delivering outstanding performance from a compact dimension machine, superb operator comfort and excellent stability with high digging output, the new E88 replaces the previous E85 M-Series machine. The E88 provides the operator with the full experience expected of an R2-Series excavator, adding new features and options such as an optional fourth AUX4 auxiliary tilt coupler line, a fifth AUX5 hydraulic coupler line as standard and a longer undercarriage. The proven Bobcat D24 Stage V 4-cylinder engine offers a maximum power output of 48.5 kW (65 HP) and ensures the highest performance and maximum reliability. Bobcat´s acknowledged productivity is coupled with smooth controllability thanks to low effort joysticks and intuitive 5- or 7-Inch displays, class-leading visibility and exceptional transportability for its weight class. Large, easy opening covers provide convenient, ground level access to all service points and for maintenance checks. Like previous Bobcat R2-Series machines such as the E60 launched at the end of 2020, the new E88 continues to develop the philosophy of ‘built around the operator’. The spacious cab with plenty of headroom and legroom retains the proven design of the cab in the E60. Easy and safe to get in and out of thanks to the wide doors, unique 3D handle, anti-slip step on the undercarriage and foot space above the track, the cab makes the daily life of the operator an easier one. Precise Control and Placement at Height The new T36.120 and T41.140 R-Series telehandlers are being shown for the first time at Hillhead. They are part of a choice of 12 new models with Stage V engines in the R-Series range, covering lifting heights from 6 to 18 m with maximum lifting capacities between 2.6 and 4.1 tonne. The new R-Series telehandlers offer agility on demand, with a newly configured transmission system providing enhanced smoothness to carry out the trickiest jobs at height with surgical precision. These operations are also facilitated by the combination of the Boom Positioning System, the new updated, ultra-accurate joystick, the inching function and the improved visibility from the cab. An enhanced inching pedal design is easier to use and reduces fatigue. A higher engine brake provides a shorter stop distance and increases safety on construction sites. Turtle/rabbit speeds are standard on all models and operated from the joystick. Bobcat R-Series telehandlers feature a new cab with unmatched ease of use, again designed around the operator, offering a unique central control panel for optimized 360° ergonomics. In the ergonomic design, all surfaces have been optimised to offer increased space and visibility. It is based around a new 5-inch LCD display providing interactive and streamlined information, including the feed from the rear camera for easier and more precise operation. Bobcat Offers Largest Loader Portfolio in the World With the L85 model, Bobcat now has the largest loader portfolio of any manufacturer in the world and will widen this further when the company launches the second model in the compact wheel loader range, the L75, later this year. High performance is assured by the combination of the powerful Bobcat engine and the hydraulics in the L85. This is complemented by the high stability, breakout, push and pull forces and a comprehensive selection of Bobcat attachments. Already, there are multiple Bobcat loader attachments approved for use on the L85, with more to be announced in the near future. The current portfolio includes a general purpose bucket, light material buckets, a combination bucket, pallet forks and angle broom and snowblower attachments, making the L85 a truly multi-purpose machine. The L85 is equipped as standard with the Power Quick-Tach system compatible with widely used industry standard couplers. To run high-flow attachments like a snow blower and an angle broom, the L85 can be fitted with a high flow option, providing a hydraulic flow of 100 l/min. Bobcat Expands Variety with Light Compaction Range Also appearing at Hillhead for the first time are new light compaction products from Bobcat. Designed to meet work requirements on almost any compaction job site, the Bobcat light compaction range comprises seven different product families and offers 37 models, from vibratory rammers weighing 29 kg up to 2.6 tonne tandem rollers. The products on the Hillhead stand include the R60 vibratory rammer, which is suitable for compacting mixed soils, sand, gravel materials, loam and clay. Like the R60, the new FP10.33 forward plate is easy to transport between job sites, and ideal for compaction in tight spaces (trenches, pipelines and sidewalks) and even landscaping. Bobcat is also showing the HP65.85 hydrostatic plate, designed for heavier compaction work in civil engineering and road construction. The display is completed by the ATR 12/26 articulated ride-on tandem roller used for larger surfaces of sub-base, asphalt or other ground materials. Bobcat Increases Production of the E10e Electric Excavator Built on the same line as the highly successful diesel-powered Bobcat E08 and E10z mini-excavators, production of the company’s E10e battery-powered model has recently been increased. The Bobcat E10e offers zero emissions, low noise and a width of just 71 cm, allowing it to easily pass through standard doors and in and out of lifts. The E10e is therefore ideal not only for indoor demolition and basement digging, but also many other sites where this type of machine is required such as urban/city centre developments, night-time work and contracts in quiet zones including hospitals, cemeteries, schools and so on. For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website www.bobcat.com... Read more...Exciting Previews of New Tech at Bobcat Demo Days20 June 2022Events– Bobcat showed leading edge concepts applying electrification, digitization, autonomy and gamification to the work site – The Doosan Bobcat Campus at Dobris in the Czech Republic has just hosted the first face-to-face Bobcat Demo Days event in nearly three years. Customers and dealers from all over Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) visited Demo Days to see and try out the latest Bobcat products, as well as a host of new concepts before they come to market. Bobcat Demo Days 2022 Highlights Blending established products with new developments, Demo Days 2022 was attended by hundreds of customers and dealers from across EMEA, grasping the opportunity to try out the full range of Bobcat wheeled and tracked loaders, mini-excavators, telehandlers, light compaction products and attachments in working conditions. Complementing these were a host of new product previews and leading edge technology, including: Commenting on this year’s event, Gustavo Otero, President Doosan Bobcat EMEA, said: “After almost 3 years we were delighted to be able to host a live event again. It is a unique opportunity for our customers and dealers to attend Demo Days with its revolutionary concept that allows them not only to see but to try out our whole range of products. They also have a great opportunity to meet in person the Bobcat team members who are developing our new products and solutions including designers, engineers and product managers. These discussions give us valuable feedback about the innovations displayed during the show, both on products and services, that allow us to continue to improve.” The Dobris Campus is a unique operation among Doosan Bobcat’s many facilities around the world. It is home to the company’s EMEA headquarters, the Innovation Center and the Training Center for EMEA. The site also includes one of Bobcat‘s manufacturing plants, which produces compact machines distributed not only in the EMEA market but also exported to other regions worldwide. For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website www.bobcat.com... Read more...Shellplant Celebrates 50 Years in the Industry15 June 2022NewsLeading construction equipment supplier Shellplant has reached a significant milestone as it celebrates 50 years of trading this year. The Northamptonshire based company owned and managed by John Fensome and Julian Payne was established by John in August 1972. It has grown from modest beginnings into one of the country’s most successful suppliers of new and used construction equipment. “We still have a record of our first ever construction transaction; it was a Winget mixer,” says John Fensome. “The journey from that day to now hasn’t been without its challenges. The industry has changed dramatically, so we too have had to adapt over the years, but our forward-thinking approach and ability to be flexible, has made us even stronger. We’re delighted to be celebrating 50 years of Shellplant.” The construction industry has certainly changed considerably since Shellplant’s inception, and alongside that so too has the company’s portfolio to meet the demands of its customer base, as Julian explains. “The advancement of technology across the industry during the last 50 years has been vast. The industry has become more innovative than ever before, which makes it an exciting environment to work in. Alongside this, the international demand for construction equipment from the UK has also grown. These changes have seen our portfolio evolve to meet our customers’ needs over this time, which is a vital requirement for any business looking for longevity. That said, loyalty is one of our core values, and we still work with some of the original manufacturers we represented from the outset, Winget being a great example.” Julian Payne believes that relationships with both manufacturers and customers are key to success in the commercial sector, explaining; “Many successful partnerships have come and gone during the last 50 years, but a big turning point for us was partnering with Kubota in 1997. Mini-excavators were beginning to gain in popularity here in the UK, and so we originally agreed a sales target of 30 units a year. Some 25 years on and we now surpass 500 units annually.”“Of course, the relationship we have with our customers has been pivotal to our success. Our proven track record over the last 50 years has gained Shellplant respect. Our customers trust us and can always rely on us to provide as much support as possible. Our team of people here at Shellplant are fully committed to providing the best customer service possible, be it the best deal or a quick turnaround on a service. Finding the right people is crucial; we have one engineer who has been with us for 34 years. We’re like a large family that supports each other.” Shellplant wants to commemorate its milestone year with a donation to charity. “We have chosen the local Riding for Disabled Group based in Mears Ashby says Julian” Their vision is to enrich the lives of disabled people through horses and their aim is to support an extra 10000 people by 2025 so the money is much needed. While reflecting on the past, Shellplant is a company that has a vision for the future, with a mission to always offer the best brands and the best service. “We may be celebrating half a century in the industry, but the hard work doesn’t stop. We’re looking to establish ourselves at larger premises to match our growth aspirations so we can begin our journey for the next 50 years.” kubota-eu.com/news/shellplant-50-years... Read more...Wacker Neuson strengthens Americas business through long-term agreement with John Deere for mini and compact excavators15 June 2022ExcavatorsThe Wacker Neuson Group and John Deere Construction & Forestry Company, a subsidiary of Deere & Company, USA, a global leader in the delivery of agricultural, construction and forestry equipment, have reached an agreement for mini and compact excavators. The long-term exclusive OEM supply agreement covers mini and compact excavators weighing less than 5 metric tons, including battery electric excavators. Wacker Neuson will design and manufacture the machines at its facilities in Menomonee Falls, USA, as well as Linz, Austria for the requirements of John Deere mainly for North America. The excavators will be distributed under the John Deere brand via John Deere’s global dealer network. The companies plan a phased introduction of models. All Wacker Neuson models in the same product range, will continue to be distributed under the Wacker Neuson brand through Wacker Neuson’s own distribution network. Wacker Neuson management is confident that this agreement will substantially accelerate the Group’s profitable growth trajectory in the medium term. It does not, however, expect significant contributions to sales and earnings within the next three to four years. The Wacker Neuson Group plans to invest an amount in the low double-digit million euro range to expand production capacity accordingly. The agreement also covers a technical collaboration between John Deere and Wacker Neuson in relation to 5-9 metric ton excavators. John Deere will purchase and incorporate design and technical IP provided by Wacker Neuson, adapting and evolving it to meet its own manufacturing and innovation requirements. These models will be produced and launched on the market exclusively by John Deere, while Wacker Neuson will independently continue to develop, produce and distribute its own 5-9 metric ton excavators under its own brand. “We are very much looking forward to adding another layer to our growth strategy through this OEM agreement with John Deere for mini and compact excavators. Our relationship with John Deere has been a successful collaboration that spans many years in both the agricultural and construction sectors. Our product and manufacturing excellence complements John Deere’s established market reach in North America to open up outstanding business opportunities in the attractive mini and compact excavator market segment,” explains Dr. Karl Tragl, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of the Wacker Neuson Group. “This agreement with John Deere ideally complements our growth strategy in Americas. We already offer our customers excellent products under the Wacker Neuson brand and we will continue to place a strong focus on expanding our product portfolio for the North American market in the future. The cooperation with John Deere opens up additional sales channels for our high-quality mini and compact excavators,” adds Gert Reichetseder, President & CEO North America at Wacker Neuson. More information at: www.wackerneusongroup.com... Read more...“On your site”: Liebherr at Bauma 202214 June 2022EventsInnovative Liebherr construction machines on the outdoor grounds at booth 809-810 / 812-813Liebherr components in Hall A4, Stand 326 Liebherr tool attachments/implements and quick coupler systems in Hall B5, booth 439 Additional booth of Liebherr concrete technology in Hall C1, No. 425 with a focus on mixing technology for precast plantsEfficiency, digitalisation and service, as well as product responsibility: Liebherr showcases over 70 exhibits and various solutions from its high-quality portfolio, which meets individual customer needs on every construction site At Bauma 2022 from 24 to 30 October 2022, Liebherr offers visitors unique opportunities to discover first hand the latest developments from the areas construction machines, cranes, material handling technology, mining and components. In line with the motto “On your site”, the Liebherr Group shows that Liebherr can always be found at its customers’ side – whether it is directly on the construction site with high-quality machines or through individual advice, global services and comprehensive solutions. Biberach an der Riss (Germany), 13 June 2022 – The Liebherr booths at Bauma 2022 offers space for more than 70 exhibits on the outdoor grounds with an area over 14,000 m² (Booths 809-810 / 812-813). Numerous new products and developments from the areas construction machines, cranes, material handling technology, mining and components are on show. In addition, Liebherr presents the latest component developments in Hall A4 (Booth 326). In Hall B5 (Booth 439) interested parties can find out more about new products from the comprehensive programme of Liebherr tool attachments/implements and quick coupler systems. Products from Liebherr Concrete technology are exhibited at the main booth in the outdoor area as well as at an additional booth (425) in Hall C1, where the focus is on mixing technology for precast plants. Visitors also have the opportunity to obtain information about the training and entry opportunities in the Liebherr Group at the Career Point of the Liebherr booth on the outdoor grounds, as well as in the ICM Foyer (Booth 105). Digitalisation and drive technology: Liebherr’s contribution to the construction site of the future The product segment mobile and crawler cranes will present several digital products at Bauma, including numerous applications in the new MyLiebherr customer portal such as the Crane Finder, the Crane Planner 2.0, the digital mobile crane licence, fleet management, as well as a new telemetrics application. The T 274, a class-leading 305-tonnes mining truck, will be on display featuring an impressive demonstration of the Trolley Assist System. In the technology pavilion visitors can also familiarise themselves with the latest products and services from the Technology Product portfolio of Liebherr Mining, including the product segment’s modular approach to emissions reduction. In addition to a static machine exhibition, practical applications of current and future alternative drive concepts for earthmoving and material handling technology are presented to the specialist audience within the framework of live shows taking place several times a day. At the main trade fair booth Liebherr also gives further insights into and outlooks of future-oriented services and solutions for its earthmoving machines and material handlers. The new compact crane LTC 1050-3.1 from the Liebherr in Ehingen is equipped with an electric motor in addition to the conventional drive. This means the crane movements can also be executed using electricity. The new version of the compact 50-tonne machine helps reduce CO2 emissions and satisfies the requirements for operation on “Zero Emission” construction sites. Liebherr also presents a new generation of stationary mixing plants at Bauma. The new stationary mixing plant series Betomix and Mobilmix can be flexibly combined from prefabricated modules, meaning that several predecessor series could be replaced. For customers this means greater freedom in the configuration of the machines, shorter delivery times, faster assembly and a high level of availability of parts. Moreover, optimisation of the drives reduces power consumption by up to 30 percent and increases the weighing accuracy so that up to 7.5 kg of cement can be saved per cubic metre of concrete. In the area of digital assist systems the components product segment also presents the IoT complete solutions for increased data security in addition to the LiXplore camera monitor and panoramic systems. This includes the integrated, digital wear measurement system for optimal monitoring of large diameter bearings, the force sensor for hydraulic cylinders, as well as the digital condition monitoring for combustion engines. In the area of alternative drive concepts Liebherr Components presents the first hydrogen engine, the H964, with high efficiency and very low NOx emissions with the same service life and maintenance intervals as diesel engines. The various injection solutions for hydrogen for medium and heavy-duty engines, as well as large engines with 7 to 100 litre capacity, are also presented. The new developments also include the mobile energy storage system, which in future will ensure local zero-emission operation of electric or hybrid construction sites with maximum power density, efficiency and quality. Product highlights at Bauma 2022 At Bauma 2022 the two product segments earthmoving and material handling technology present numerous new products, highlights and innovations at the main trade fair booth. The comprehensive portfolio of Liebherr tool attachments/implements and quick coupler systems is presented on a separate area in Hall B5 Stand 439. Liebherr extends its line of Fibre tower cranes with extremely powerful machines – and for the first time beyond the EC-B series. The luffing jib crane 258 HC-L 10/18 Fibre, the high-top crane 1188 EC-H 40 Fibre, as well as the flat-top cranes 520 EC-B 20 Fibre and 370 EC-B 16 Fibre, are new. Cranes with high-strength Fibre ropes offer even greater performance, which is particularly noticeable in large cranes. With the 195 HC-LH 6/12 Liebherr showcases its first hydraulic luffing jib crane in combination with a slim and climbing tower system. Liebherr is also working on future-oriented solutions in order to make crane driving even safer and more efficient. An excellent example is the tele-operation for tower cranes, which allows the machine to be controlled outside the crane cab. With the slogan “Game changer for tomorrow’s energy”, Liebherr presents a new crawler crane: The LR 12500-1.0 with 2,500-tonne load-bearing capacity supplements the portfolio below the LR 13000. The designs of the rotating platforms and the main boom set new standards because the unrivalled wide main boom gives the crane the stability of a power boom. Liebherr describes the new boom design as a high-performance boom. Despite the enormous capacity of the new crawler crane and the size of the individual components, Liebherr has managed to create a unique, practical concept for efficient transport. The new LTM 1110-5.2 combines old strengths with future-oriented innovations for greater safety and comfort. In addition to these new features, Liebherr produces a completely new crane design in series, which is future-oriented for the all-terrain series. Liebherr Mining will showcase its existing and proven mining solutions at Bauma 2022 and will also unveil a brand-new mid-size class hydraulic mining excavator – the second Generation 8 machine within the Liebherr Mining portfolio. Other highlights of Liebherr Components include the extension of the axial piston pump range with new rated sizes, the hybrid cylinder as part of the Fibre composite portfolio, the online configurator for hydraulic cylinders, the combustion engine for off-road applications, the D976, which is compatible for operation with HVO, and lots more. From the Unplugged series Liebherr brings six new products from the areas piling, drilling and lifting to Bauma 2022: The piling rigs LRH 100.1 unplugged and LRH 200 unplugged can work four to five hours in battery mode with a 200 kWh battery package, the charging is done using conventional construction site power. The battery package can be upgraded to 400 kWh for an operating time of eight to ten hours. The drilling rigs LB 25 and LB 30 have proven themselves as a conventional version over the years. The new battery-powered Unplugged versions are identical in terms of possible applications, weight and transport, but have the added advantage of “Zero Emissions”. They can be used for all standard applications in the area of special civil engineering. The two crawler cranes LR 1130.1 unplugged and LR 1160.1 unplugged from Liebherr in Nenzing have the same performance data as the conventional version. Both are operated in a similar manner, which is very practical if the crane operators frequently change between different machines in a fleet.... Read more...Elliotts Purchases New Doosan Excavator & Wheel Loader14 June 2022Excavators / Wheel Loaders– Working in Elliotts‘ quarrying and recycled aggregate operations – Elliotts (Cheltenham) Ltd., based in Bishops Cleeve, near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire in the UK, has been providing services to the area for well over 100 years. From early beginnings that started with deliveries by horse and cart, the company has now added the very latest in quality equipment with the purchase of a new Doosan DX380LC-7 40 tonne crawler excavator and DL320-7 wheel loader for use in the company’s quarrying and recycled aggregate businesses, respectively. As well as aggregates, Elliotts also specialises in skip and plant hire in the local area. The new Doosan machines were supplied by Kellands (Plant Sales) Ltd, based in Bridgwater in Somerset, the Authorised Doosan Dealer for West and South England. The Best Package on the Market Nick Elliott, Managing Director of Elliotts (Cheltenham) Ltd., said: “We have been buying Doosan machines for a number of years and the new DX380LC-7 crawler excavator and DL320-7 wheel loader are the latest. We choose the Doosan brand because it is a guarantee of excellent, dependable equipment backed by the expertise and fantastic service and support provided by Charlie Cook and the rest of the team at Kellands. We believe it is the best package available in our market.” The new Doosan DX380LC-7 excavator is working at Perton Quarry in Tarrington in Herefordshire, which is owned by the Elliotts group. The DX380LC-7 works at the face loading blasted material into a mobile crusher to produce 6F2 aggregates. The DX380LC-7 is also combined with a breaker to reduce larger pieces of rock that come off the quarry face during blasting. The mobile crusher moves between Perton Quarry and Elliotts‘ main aggregates recycling operation based outside Cheltenham. Here it joins the new Doosan DL320-7 wheel loader to be part of the fleet of equipment used at the site, where construction waste such as raw concrete and rubble is sorted and processed to produce 6F5 aggregates. The DL320-7 is used to load lorries with aggregates for delivery to Elliotts customers. For the bulk supply of aggregates to the construction industry and general public, product can either be delivered by one of the Elliott’s vehicles, or collected from the company’s yard at Bishops Cleeve. All materials can be delivered in a variety of load sizes, either loose in one of the tipper lorries, or perhaps in convenient Bulk Bags or smaller 25 kg Handy Bags. All types of sands and gravels are available, including Red and Yellow Building Sand, Plastering Sand, Sharp Sand and Fill Sand. The choice of gravel is huge, with Conmix and 10, 20 or 40 mm Shingle being the most popular. All types of roadstone are available, including Type 1, Scalpings, 6F2, Crusher Runs, Drainage Stone and other specialist types. Elliotts can also supply decorative aggregates including the very popular Reading Flint, Cotswold Shingles, Cheshire Pink, Cotswold Chippings, Red Chippings, Grey Chippings, Oatmeal, Green Chippings, Cornish Spa, and two sizes of Plum Slate. Recycled aggregates mostly destined for the larger trade contracts include a Recycled 6F5 and sometimes Type1 and Clean Stone. New Doosan Stage V Machines Bring Major Enhancements The new Stage V excavator and wheel loader build on the very successful design of the previous Stage IV machines. They introduce major enhancements in operator comfort, machine controllability, productivity, uptime and return on investment, with a strong focus on low fuel consumption, increased power, robustness and versatility. Part of the latest generation DX-7 range of Doosan excavators, the DX380LC-7 Is powered by the Scania DC09 Stage V compliant diesel engine, providing 240 kW of power at 1800 RPM. The DX380LC-7 features Doosan’s innovative D-ECOPOWER technology, providing operators with higher productivity and lower fuel consumption per hour, as well as smoother controls. The DX380LC-7 offers a digging depth of 8165 mm, a digging reach of 11930 mm and digging height of 10940 mm. The digging force over the bucket is 25.9 tonne and the digging force over the arm is 16.0 tonne. With a standard bucket capacity of 3.3 m3, the new DL320-7 wheel loader is part of Doosan’s new award-winning ‘DL-7’ wheel loader range. Power is provided by the new Doosan DL08V Stage V 6-cylinder engine, with an output of 202 kW (271 HP) at 1800 RPM. Increased bucket capacity provides increased productivity for a very wide range of material-handling applications. The LIS (Load Isolation System) on the DL320-7 provides a smoother ride and higher comfort for the operator, as well as higher output due to improved stability when the wheel loader is moving. The lift arm is cushioned by a hydro-pneumatic accumulator linked to the lift hydraulic system, acting as a shock absorber. The benefits include reduced cycle times, higher performance and better fuel efficiency while carrying out load and carry applications. The new EMCV (Electric Main Control Valve) joystick in the DL320-7 is fully integrated in the armrest in the cab, providing the operator with smoother and precise controllability of the lift arm and attachments on the wheel loader. Features available via the EMCV system include Automatic Return-to-Dig, Bucket Tilt Kick-out and the Bucket crowd stop position and shock prevention for higher operator comfort. Increased Comfort and Controllability Already excelling in spaciousness and ergonomics, the new cabs in the DX380LC-7 and DL320-7 models take operator comfort and ease of operation to unheralded levels. The cabs have new high quality seats and offer more features as standard than other machines on the market, ensuring super controllability and high precision in all applications. Using the new Doosan Smart Key system on the control panel in the cabs, an operator can start the machines using a keyless device, helping to prevent machine theft. The Smart Key system provides remote door control, door lock and unlock, door release, searching and other functions. Nick Elliott from Elliotts added: “All of our operators like the new machines which provide advances in every area over the previous generation machines. In particular, the operators like the redesigned cabs on both machines, which provide a very comfortable and safe environment to work in.“ DoosanCONNECT Telematics System The new DX380LC-7 and DL320-7 are both factory-installed as standard with Doosan’s state-of-the-art DoosanCONNECT wireless fleet monitoring system. The DoosanCONNECT system offers a web-based fleet management solution which is very useful for monitoring the performance and security of machines and promoting preventative maintenance. It is available as a standard feature on all new Doosan excavators (from 14 tonne), all new Doosan wheel loaders and Doosan articulated dump trucks. Doosan Dealer For 35 Years Kellands (Plant Sales) Ltd has been a Doosan dealer since 1987 and is the Authorised Dealer for West and South England. As well as Bridgwater, Kellands has depots at Brentwood, Aldershot and Camelford. In the West, Kellands is responsible for the counties of Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Scilly. The area covered in the South of England includes Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, the City of London, East Sussex, Essex, Greater London, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Surrey and West Sussex. As an Authorised Dealer, Kellands is exclusively responsible for the Doosan range of crawler, wheeled and mini/midi excavators, wheel loaders, articulated dump trucks and attachments in its assigned territory. For more on Doosan construction equipment, please visit the website: www.eu.doosanequipment.com... Read more...Three Bobcat Telehandlers for Waste Recycling in East Poland9 June 2022TelehandlersZZO Włodawa is an inter-municipal waste management organization within an association of seven municipalities in eastern Poland near the borders with Belarus and Ukraine. Due to the need to recycle waste for more than 24,000 inhabitants, its operation runs 24 hours a day, six days a week. Transfer machines play a key role in the proper functioning of the operation. Articulated loaders are often used in similar places, but in the village of Włodawa they use three Bobcat telehandlers instead, occasionally supported by a front-loader tractor. “The Bobcat telehandlers are perfect for our conditions. They are compact, easy to operate and offer a high lift height. Disposal of waste on the sorting line is organized in such a way that the loader must rotate through 90° in a small space. This is an easy job with these machines,” says Krzysztof Chilczuk, Chairman of the Board of ZZO Włodawa. Over 20,000 Operating Hours without Major Disruption The first Bobcat telehandler, a TL470 model with a maximum lift height of 7 m and a load capacity of 3.5 tonne, was delivered to the plant in Włodawa in 2013. So far, it has completed over 20,000 operating hours and is still in use: “It has never had a serious breakdown and we have never repaired the engine in it. There was once a problem with the fuel pump, but it was not the fault of the manufacturer, but rather the fuel itself,” recalls Krzysztof Chilczuk. In 2018, they bought a second Bobcat machine, a TL35.70 model, with the same operating parameters as the older machine. This machine is now approaching a total of 5000 operating hours. Having evaluated that the investment in the machines is very efficient, the management of ZOO Włodawa therefore added a third Bobcat telehandler to the fleet in August 2021. Again, a TL35.70 model was chosen, but this time with a slightly different specification. Krzysztof Chilczuk explains the choice of the machine as follows: “Telehandlers with these working parameters meet our needs and working conditions well. However, the two older machines have 20-inch wheels. When considering the purchase of another telehandler, we wanted it to be equipped with 24-inch wheels. As a result, it has a greater ground clearance and is even more efficient when working in a landfill. In addition, when loading on the processing line, the operator can drive more boldly directly into the waste heap. The new machine also has more features, which include, for example, air conditioning, an air-cushioned seat, cab protection and also a reversing warning system that does not beep, but provides the white noise sound we really wanted. Universal Helpers At ZZO Włodawa, there is no division of tasks between the Bobcat telehandlers – every machine is used for all tasks involved. This is mainly due to the assignment of individual telehandlers to specific operators, which facilitates their maintenance. The sorting area operates 24 hours a day, so the telehandlers change with the operators. In addition to loading material onto the processing line, they are used here for pushing and stacking waste to maximize the use of available space. The waste that is filtered and sub-sieved goes to containers that were initially handled by another leased carrier. However, this solution was associated with high costs, so the decision was made to introduce another method. The telehandlers are now equipped with special holders, while small wheels are attached to the containers at the rear. This allows the Bobcat machines to easily tow the containers and empty them: the undersized portion into three composters and an overflow amount in a dedicated yard, from where it is picked up by an external company after being picked up by the transport unit. The Bobcat telehandlers are also used to unload composting bins, create compost piles and to turn them over for aeration. After the compost has matured, it is sieved. Loading material into the sorter as well as collecting and transporting the resulting products is also the job of the telehandlers. An important task that they perform almost daily is also the loading of the so-called sliding floors of waste for disposal and bulk recyclable materials. Packaged materials are also loaded onto trucks. The best equipment when stacking them is a bale grab. The high lift height and reach of the telehandlers allows such work to be carried out easily and safely. Operating Efficiency due to Attachments and Low Fuel Consumption At ZZO Włodawa, Bobcat telehandlers are used additionally to maintain the currently operated landfill and to rehabilitate a landfill that has already been closed. They are used mainly for the creation of transmission layers and the construction of technological communications. In order to make the use of Bobcat machines even more efficient, in addition to the universal bucket, two high-volume buckets, pallet forks and a bale grab, the ZZO Włodawa range of attachments also includes a sweeping brush. As a result, the loaders can help clean up the plant premises. Krzysztof Chilczuk has great belief in the Bobcat telehandlers. He praises them for their performance, good visibility and versatility – they have never had a job that they cannot do with these machines. He also draws attention to their low fuel consumption, on average 4.7 l/h. It is all the more impressive given the amount and scope of work they do. The length of the warranty is also important. For Bobcat telehandlers, the standard is 3 years or 3000 working hours, which may be extended to 5 years or 5000 hours. For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website www.bobcat.com... Read more...Liebherr Generation 8 crawler excavators conquer Corsica9 June 2022ExcavatorsGeneration 8 crawler excavators are increasingly establishing themselves on the Corsican marketExcellent hydraulic performance and reduced fuel consumptionImpressive design and outstanding comfort Liebherr Generation 8 crawler excavators are successfully penetrating the French market. Corsica in particular, with its thriving market for crawler excavators and all other construction machinery, represents an important sales area. The high versatility and performance as well as the comfort and design are really impressing the local customers. Colmar (Department Haut-Rhin, France), 8 June 2022 – The R 934 crawler excavator for customer Graziani TP was the first Generation 8 excavator delivered to Corsica. Frederick Graziani, the company’s managing director, is particularly satisfied with the stability during work and the performance combined with low fuel consumption of just 18 l/h. In addition, he particularly appreciates the reliability and versatility of the excavator. This allows the company to take on larger jobs, such as demanding earthmoving work or large-scale rock crushing. This in turn enables solid growth for Graziani TP. Decisive purchase criteria for Frederick Graziani were also the origin of the excavator, which is produced in Europe, and the good reputation of the Liebherr brand. According to the managing director, Liebherr represents a very good price-performance ratio and efficient customer service. Efficient and versatile use In Balagne, at the other end of the island, there is also a satisfied customer who specialises in quarrying rock. Valérie Mercuri, managing director of the company Sablière de Calenzana from the town of the same name, particularly appreciates the versatility of the R 945 crawler excavator. On the one hand, dump trucks can be loaded very quickly, and on the other hand, the flexible changeover from bucket to a hydraulic rock breaker also allows drilling work for easier placement of explosives. The R 945 replaces an older Liebherr excavator at the customer’s site that has already completed enough operating hours to be replaced. The new model is even more manoeuvrable, lighter than its predecessor and at the same time significantly more effective and efficient. Like all Generation 8 excavators, the R 945 is equipped with Liebherr’s “Positive Control” hydraulic system, which forms the basis for smooth combined movements and an overall increase in performance. Valérie Mercuri particularly appreciates these technological advancements, which enable fuel consumption to be reduced by around 20 % to just 23 l/h, and this with even better performance data. Generation 8 crawler excavators: Highest performance, maximum comfort and optimum service The high load-bearing capacity and digging force round off the excavator’s performance spectrum. Also noteworthy is the optimal comfort for the operator thanks to the noise reduction in the operator’s cab and more safety thanks to the LED lighting and full all-round visibility. The operator has a spacious and comfortable workspace at their disposal in all working situations. The Generation 8 excavators offer a high level of operator comfort with reduced vibrations and a low noise level. To make daily work easier, the cab is equipped with an air-sprung seat with vertical and longitudinal shock absorption. Liebherr customer service is also a big plus for all customers and operators. The Liebherr branch in Marseilles, located in the suburb of Rognac, addresses all customers’ concerns and ensures a fast and tailored service. In addition to technical requirements, design is also an important criterion. The appearance of a machine continues to play an essential role in companies’ purchasing decisions.... Read more...The new DX225LC-7X – Doosan’s First ‘Smart’ Excavator8 June 2022Excavators / TechnologyDoosan has launched the new DX225LC-7X – the company’s first ‘Smart’ crawler excavator, designed to help operators work faster and more efficiently. To facilitate this, the DX225LC-7X offers a number of exciting new features as standard, including Full Electric Hydraulic (FEH) technology. Doosan excavators are well known for offering more innovative features as standard than other machines on the market. In the standard DX225LC-7 model and the rest of the new Doosan DX-7 medium-sized excavator range, for example, the new features provide major enhancements in machine controllability, versatility, operator comfort, uptime and return on investment, with a strong focus on increased productivity and robustness. But the new DX225LC-7X smart model takes this to a new level. As well as the FEH system, other standard features of the DX225LC-7X include: Integrated 2D Machine Guidance Semi-Automatic 2D Machine Control Laser Receiver E-Fence Virtual Wall Weighing System Full Electric Hydraulic (FEH) Technology Full Electric Hydraulic (FEH) technology is similar to the D-ECOPOWER VBO (virtual bleed off) system now incorporated on the standard DX225LC-7 model and all Doosan crawler excavators from the DX350LC-7 and above. In effect, the FEH is a VBO system without pilot pressure lines. The joysticks and pedals are fully electric, but give the operator the same feeling as hydraulic joysticks. In the FEH system, an electric signal is sent to the central controller and as such is more precise and provides faster information. Back pressure and energy loss are therefore eliminated, by delivering the exact amount of oil needed. As the system does not utilise pilot pressure, energy is saved and there is a resultant fuel saving. In fact, the FEH system offers a very significant 8% less fuel burn compared to the D-ECOPOWER VBO system. This is on top of the 7% decrease in fuel consumption already achieved in the standard DX225LC-7, compared to the previous DX225LC-5 model. Machine Guidance and Machine Control The integrated machine guidance system on the DX225LC-7X uses sensors mounted on the front and body to recognize the location of each working device and inform/guide it for the operator. Feedback to the operator is provided through audio and visual displays which allow improved control of the machine in relation to the intended or designed direction of travel. In the on-board machine control system, the sensors mounted on the front and body recognize the location of each working device and support/adjust the front operation to the work as planned. In this way, when the operator uses the arm, bucket or boom, they follow the target line. Thanks to the laser receiver, the system will always receive the reference point, even when the machine changes position, without the operator having to reset the reference point every time the machine is moved. When the DX225LC-7X is delivered to the customer, all the sensors are already calibrated. But the buckets to be used by the customer need to be calibrated, and no specific tools are needed for this. The system will ask the operator to enter the required measurements to finalize the calibration process with around an hour needed to calibrate three buckets. Three Major Machine Control Functions There are three major Machine Control functions, and they can be activated by pushing the appropriate function button: Assist – providing Grade Assist and Bucket Assist Swing Control – for Swing Assist and Swing Limit Virtual Wall – Set Ceiling/Bottom/Wall/Swing/Cab Avoidance/Track Avoidance/Dozer Avoidance Grade Assist Mode – On/Off can be set using the instrument panel and joystick. When the Grade Assist mode is set, the boom and bucket are activated in green according to the mode setting in the instrument panel icon. Bucket Angle Setting – When the Bucket Assist function is activated, the current angle is memorized. When the driver operates the Bucket joystick, the last value is memorized after stopping the operation. When the Bucket Assist mode is on, the Bucket is green on the instrument panel icon. Weighing System and Lift Assist The Weighing System and Lift Assist function measures and displays the current weight of the bucket as the operator is loading materials and warns the driver when the total loading weight exceeds the target. Doosan is hoping to provide even more on the DX225LC-7X and is currently working on other additional features to be offered on the machine in the future and these include: • Upgrade to full Trimble GPS 3D (optional) • Engcon Ready from Factory (Plug and Play) • Tilting Bucket for 2D Machine Guidance For more on Doosan construction equipment, please visit the website: www.eu.doosanequipment.com... Read more...New GNSS network for Ireland launched6 June 2022UncategorisedTopcon’s new Correction Services network provides reliability, precision and advanced support for construction, agriculture and IOT businesses A new positioning network covering the island of Ireland has launched from Topcon Positioning Group, offering improved support and accessibility for construction businesses looking to accelerate productivity and advance accuracy. The new network, which is part of the business’ plans to expand Topcon’s GNSS networks globally, offers users two additional satellite constellations to current available networks. The Topcon network will use Beidou and Galileo systems as well as the standard GLONASS and GPS systems, meaning access is easier and more reliable, and the accuracy it can deliver will be vastly improved. There is a dense network of stations already in place, with more planned in the coming weeks to achieve full coverage of the island with one subscription – something not currently available with other network providers. The network goals from Topcon are that businesses will experience no downtime, better accuracy, faster connections, and accessibility even in the most challenging environments that Ireland has to offer. The new network will also be maintained and supported by Topcon’s global professional services team around the clock, ensuring businesses have on-hand tech support for troubleshooting and better backup capabilities. Mark Fagan, Business Director for Ireland and Northern Ireland, said: “We’re pleased to be able to launch thisnew network and help businesses across the island ofIreland. All the benefits that the new network will bring will help industries take a big step forward in digital adoption; something that’s needed now more than ever as we continue to see the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. “This is an exciting development for Ireland as a whole. We’re delighted to be able to offer this to support businesses in digitalising their workflows to see productivity and efficiency boosts across the board.” The business is also offering a more flexible system for subscribers, with hourly packages available to be allocated as businesses see fit to their machines and projects across Ireland and beyond. Ian Stilgoe, Vice President of Emerging Business at Topcon Positioning Group, said: “At Topcon, we’re passionate about tackling the challenges of tomorrow, today. We’re proud to be a technology partner that enables businesses to work their own way more productively, and offering flexibility is paramount to that. “Our rapid expansion of Topnet Live correction services is helping businesses be mobile and reactive to their business needs without the frustrations of multiple subscriptions. Our services are also meeting the needs of the new mobility autonomous markets as the demand for precise positioning increases. This new network for Ireland is just another way we’re helping businesses to stay one step ahead.” Subscriptions will run through Topcon’s recently launched Topnet Live, a real-time GNSS correction service. Thanks to the new network, Ireland will become part of the European and global Topnet Live network, offering European roaming to users. Within Topnet Live subscriptions, users can access Starpoint, a service with provides a Precise Point Positioning (PPP) service anywhere on the planet, independent of local networks, and Skybridge, which provides and maintains position accuracy in case Real Time Kinematic (RTK) services are interrupted. Access to the new Irish network via Topnet Live is available immediately. Visithttps://www.topconpositioning.com/ie/office-software-and-services/gnss-correction-services/topnet-live for more information.... Read more...Liebherr earthmoving and material handling machines at Svenska Maskinmässan 20222 June 2022Events / Wheel LoadersLiebherr presents four wheel loaders including the new compact loader L 508Liebherr also showcases its compact wheeled excavator A 913 Compact Litronic and A 916 Compact LitronicBesides that, Liebherr is represented by its Generation 8 crawler excavators and dozers as well as telescopic handlers for heavy industrial applications and material handling machines for efficient recycling operationsAlso presented to the Swedish trade audience: the TA 230 Litronic articulated dump truck The Svenska Maskinmässan, a trade fair for construction machines, takes place in Stockholm (Sweden) from 2 to 4 June 2022. There, Liebherr presents an extensive range of earthmoving and material handling machines on an area of 2,000 m². Visitors to the exhibition find the Liebherr booth in the outdoor area V:09 Solvalla in the Stockholm district of Bromma. Besides a static machine exhibition, visitors to the fair can also look forward to a demonstration area where some of the machines can be seen live in action. Solvalla, Stockholm (Sweden), 2 June 2022 – Liebherr is exhibiting numerous earthmoving and material handling machines for a wide range of applications at the Svenska Maskinmässan fair. With the L 508 Compact, the L 556 XPower®, the L 586 XPower® and the L 509 Tele, Liebherr is exhibiting four of its wheel loader models. Also on display are two representatives of the Liebherr compact wheeled excavators, the A 913 Compact and A 916 Compact, along with a number of Generation 8 crawler excavators. Furthermore, the TA 230 Litronic articulated dump truck is presented to the Swedish trade audience. Besides that, Liebherr is presenting two material handling machines for various operations in the field of recycling and waste management, the LH 18 M Industry Litronic and the LH 26 M Industry E. A telescopic handler and a dozer round off the range at the show. Four wheel loaders at the Liebherr booth and trade fair premiere of model L 508 Compact At Svenska Maskinmässan, Liebherr is presenting four wheel loaders with operating weights between 5,700 kg and 32,600 kg. The L 508 Compact, making its trade fair premiere, is the largest model in the new Liebherr compact loader series introduced this year. The most important innovations include the redesigned operator’s cab, which provides the operator with excellent visibility thanks to its generous use of glass. The optimised visibility of the lift arms also ensures an unobstructed view of the working attachment and therefore maximum safety. For the first time ever, the L 506 and L 508 models are now available as speeder variants. In this version, they can reach a top speed of 30 km/h. In addition, Liebherr expands the compact loader series with the new L 504 model. In addition, Liebherr is showing two models from its large wheel loader series, the L 556 XPower® and the L 586 XPower®. Liebherr fits a power-split driveline as standard for these wheel loaders. It combines hydrostatic drive, which is ideal for material uptake and travelling over short distances, with mechanical drive, the advantages of which come to the fore over long distances and when driving on gradients. The combination of these two drive types in a single wheel loader ensures maximum efficiency and outstanding fuel savings in every application. To further enhance performance, Liebherr has recently reinforced the lift arms and overhauled the working hydraulics of the L 556 XPower®. Innovations also include increased tip load, breakout force and engine power. For its mid-sized and large wheel loaders, Liebherr offers various intelligent assistance systems to increase safety and comfort. An example is the active personnel detection with brake assistant. This optional assistance system, which is installed at the rear of the wheel loader, warns the machine operator visually on the display and with acoustic signals of dangers in the rear area of the wheel loader. In order to provide a specific warning of imminent injury to persons, the assistance system independently distinguishes between humans and objects using smart sensors. As soon as the active personnel detection emits a warning signal, the brake assistant automatically reduces the speed of the wheel loader to a standstill in order to avoid a potential accident. Front area monitoring is another assistance system for wheel loaders. It is useful especially in industrial applications where wheel loaders often work with large attachments, high-dump buckets for example, for handling lighter goods such as wood chips, paper or waste. These large attachments inevitably obstruct the driver’s field of vision. Hence, Liebherr offers a roof camera for front area monitoring to provide the operator with a view of the bucket in front of the machine from a significantly elevated perspective and transmits the image in the operator’s cab. Front area monitoring is therefore used for seeing people or objects hidden by the attachment, which increases safety when accelerating, driving forward and loading with large buckets. To complete the wheel loader line up, Liebherr is exhibiting the L 509 Tele telescopic wheel loader. This multifunctional machine combines the lift height and reach of a regular telescopic loader with the productive material handling capacity of a classic wheel loader. Instead of classic wheel loader lift arms, the L 509 Tele has an extendable telescopic lift arm which can lift to a height of 4.8 m with a fork attachment. Two representatives of the Liebherr compact wheeled excavator range Liebherr compact wheeled excavators are the perfect helpers on construction sites where space is restricted, for example in inner cities, in road construction or in classic earthmoving work. At the Svenska Maskinmässan, Liebherr is presenting two representatives: the A 913 Compact Litronic and the A 916 Compact Litronic, which are shown live in action on the demonstration area. The A 913 Compact has an operating weight between 13,900 and 16,000 kg and meets the requirements of emission level V. The 95 kW / 129 hp engine gives the machine excellent working and road performance with high fuel efficiency at the same time. With the A 913 Compact, Liebherr has developed a machine with both high lift capacity and enormous manoeuvrability and flexibility. The compact wheeled excavator is equipped with an extremely flexible undercarriage with all-wheel steering and crab mode. With the all-wheel steering, the steering movements of the front and rear axles act in opposite directions so that only a very small radius is needed when turning. In crab mode the steering movements of the front and rear axles act in the same direction. This allows the machine to be moved sideways without the uppercarriage turning. The A 916 Compact is one of the larger models in the Liebherr compact wheeled excavator range. Its operating weight is between 16,000 and 18,300 kg and it meets the requirements of emission level V. The machine concept of the A 916 Compact doesn’t only impress with respect to performance; it also offers maximum flexibility. Its engine delivers a high output of 110 kW / 150 hp and thus fast acceleration, high terminal speeds and maximum handling volume. Fast and flowing working movements are possible thanks to the optimally tuned hydraulic system. The tight tail swing radius of just 1.80 m makes the machine ideal for extended operations, even in the confined space of construction site work. Liebherr Generation 8 crawler excavators: highlights of the Svenska Maskinmässan trade fair Among the products on display is also the tracked excavator R 920 Compact phase IV with its 110 kW / 150 hp engine. With its innovative maintenance concept, the Liebherr R 920 Compact combines the properties of a standard crawler excavator with the advantages of a compact machine, especially with its compact swing of only 1850 mm. This makes it the ideal tool for working efficiently on construction sites where space is limited. Liebherr is also exhibiting its Generation 8 crawler excavators: the R 924 and R 926. With higher digging forces and greater undercarriage traction, these two new models combine performance and comfort with a heavier counterweight and minimal fuel consumption. For the launch of this new generation of excavators, Liebherr has completely revised the basic concept of its machines in order to offer its customers even more user-friendly and efficient products. In particular, access to the upper carriage has been extended and the maintenance platform now has handrails to increase safety during operation. With a power output of 150 kW / 204 hp and an operating weight of 28 tonnes, the R 926 G8 model combines ease of operation and ergonomics without compromise. In order to offer improved performance, the architecture of the R 926 has been completely redesigned and updated. On demonstration at the exhibition, visitors have the opportunity to observe it in action. The R 924 G8 crawler excavator, developed and manufactured at Liebherr-France SAS in Colmar (France), is capable of handling work requiring regular tool changes, increased stability and high breaking forces. In short, the new R 924 excavator is an all-rounder. Generation 8 dozers give customers new perspectives The diesel-hydraulic dozers of the new Generation 8 – a Liebherr PR 736 G8 is shown at the fair – feature powerful common rail engines from Liebherr’s own production. Compliance with emissions level V is ensured across the fleet by the SCR filter, a combination element comprising diesel particulate filter and SCR catalytic converter. Electronically piloted, the response and the speed of the front and rear equipment can be flexibly adjusted to the operating conditions and requirements of the driver. The intelligent working hydraulics also feature assist functions such as blade emptying with vibration function, rear ripper park position and automatic blade lift when reversing, and they allow 2D and 3D machine controls to be integrated. The new assist systems of the Generation 8 dozers make several levels of driver support available: Free Grade for active blade stabilisation during fine levelling and Definition Grade for automatic blade positioning when creating 2D areas. Two independent, permanently integrated sensor circuits (gyro and inertia sensors) are used to stabilise all blade axes. In conjunction with the hydrostatic drive and optimised centre of gravity, this allows particularly high levelling speeds and extremely precise results. Furthermore, the option 3D Grade provides a factory-fitted GPS machine control from Topcon – fully integrated and calibrated at the factory. Alongside this, Ready Kits allow the simple retrofitting of the latest 2D and 3D control systems from Trimble and Leica. Impressive in every dimension – telescopic handlers for heavy industrial operations Liebherr is exhibiting the T 60-9s at the trade fair. Besides the freely regulated hydrostatic travel drive and high-performance working hydraulics, Liebherr telescopic handlers score with productivity-boosting assist systems such as Auto Power, Load Moment Plus and programmable bucket return, plus intelligent safety functions such as Auto Hill Assist and the intervening overload warning system. The particularly efficient hydrostatic travel drive allows an actual maximum speed of 40 km/h. Alternatively, the machines are available as 20 km/h and 30 km/h speed variants. The travel speed is freely regulated and with the optional Auto Power function, independent of the power currently required in the working hydraulics. The engine speed is automatically increased according to requirements (joystick deflection), regardless of the travel speed. The standard Hill Assist system, which automatically activates the parking brake, ensures maximum driving comfort and safety when driving over uneven ground. The installed high-performance working hydraulics are electronically piloted and the load-independent flow distribution allows powerful simultaneous work movements with sufficient power reserves. Developed for the toughest off-road operations: the TA 230 Litronic articulated dump truck Following its successful digital product launch at the end of 2020, the articulated dump truck is presented to the Swedish trade audience at the Svenska Maskinmässan. With the TA 230, Liebherr has developed a dump truck in the 30-tonnes category for the toughest off-road operations. The robust and powerful all-terrain machine is primarily designed for transporting excavated materials and for the mining industry. The machines are also useful helpers in major infrastructure projects. Thanks to their optimal clearance profile, they can also be used for special applications such as tunnel construction. New designs in the front end area ensure maximum ground clearance and thus superb off-road performance. The powershift transmission is located under the cab and the exhaust gas treatment is positioned compactly and securely behind the operator’s cab, allowing a large slope angle. The solid rotary articulated joint also provides for optimum off-road capability. It allows independent movements of the front and rear end to ensure maximum manoeuvrability. The robust and positive-locking swivel joint with tapered roller bearing is perfect for the shear loads arising during use, withstands maximum loads and provides optimal force distribution. A powerful 6-cylinder construction machinery engine with 12 l displacement and 265 kW / 360 hp is installed in the TA 230 Litronic, which complies with the requirements of exhaust emissions standard V. A robust and efficient drivetrain with automatic 8-speed powershift transmission ensures optimal force distribution. Automatic traction control is also available for the machine in the form of actively controlled longitudinal differential locks. As soon as slip occurs at an axle, the torque is cleverly transferred to the axle or axles with traction. The large and robust trough is designed for the effective transport of a payload weighing up to 28 tonnes. Numerous improvements have been made for quick and efficient loading and unloading, as well as safe transport of the material. The front of the trough is straight and the sills are low so that loading with a wheel loader, for example, is easily possible across the entire length. During the loading process, an innovative weighing system, which comes as standard, shows the current payload on the display in the operator’s cab. An optional loading light on both sides at the back of the operator’s cab shows the loading level outdoors. The newly developed, spacious operator’s cab provides ideal conditions for comfortable and safe working. The excellent panoramic windows without any annoying struts and the short, inclined bonnet give the driver an optimum view of the driving, working and articulating area of the machine. In the soundproof cab, ergonomically arranged control elements facilitate intuitive operation of the machine. Various trays and storage spaces greatly expand the spatial offering. A new lighting concept with LED headlights also ensures improved visibility and safety – both for the machine operator and everyone in the outdoor area. Specially designed for recycling operations: the LH 18 M Industry Litronic and the LH 26 M Industry E With the two material handling machines, the LH 18 M Industry and the LH 26 M Industry E, at the Svenska Maskinmässan, Liebherr is presenting two models especially for recycling operations. The LH 18 M Industry is the most compact representative of the range of Liebherr material handling machines. Liebherr is presenting the LH 26 M Industry E as an example of its electric material handling machines. Visitors to the fair are able to admire the electric material handling machine live in action at the demonstration area. Examples of its possible applications in the field of recycling are the handling, unloading and sorting of waste paper, waste wood and waste materials. The focus is on a high level of machine availability. Both machines are equipped with a reversible, fold-down fan drive and a close-mesh protective grille for quick and simple cleaning. The fan’s direction of rotation can be reversed to blow the radiator and protective grille free, increasing the productive working time. Furthermore, the LH 26 M Industry E features an external air conditioning compressor. This maximises the air stream in the radiator and fan unit to guarantee a high level of reliability even in very dusty conditions. The LH 18 M Industry material handling machine has an operating weight between 17,000 and 18,000 kg, engine power of 105 kW / 143 hp and it meets the requirements of emissions level V. The machine is also available with approval for on-road use, allowing flexible changes of location. The ergonomic, clearly arranged and generously dimensioned operator’s cab provides a high level of working quality and booths for maximum driver comfort. Moreover, ergonomically arranged control elements and touchscreen displays make it easy to operate the machine. The LH 18 M Industry impresses with a high degree of sensitivity thanks to the optimum tuning between the engine, control valves and proportional controls. In addition, the standard proportional controls allow the steering, cab height and support to be conveniently and safety actuated using joysticks. The service-orientated machine design also allows short maintenance times and reduces unproductive downtimes. All day-to-day service points are accessed quickly, safely and easily from the ground. The Liebherr LH 26 M Industry E electric material handling machine impresses as a concept that is well thought out down to the last detail. The innovative drive concept includes the 90 kW Liebherr electric motor, which guarantees powerful and dynamic working movements while keeping maintenance costs and noise emissions low. Moreover, the drive concept includes an additional electric motor for auxiliary consumers, guaranteeing purposeful power distribution and maximum energy efficiency. Sophisticated frequency converter technology allows the engine speed to be individually adjusted to the respective use of the machine. Besides the simple adjustment to all common power supply networks worldwide, the frequency converter is also characterised by a substantial reduction in operation costs. This is achieved by preventing switch-on current peaks with a gentle ramp-up when starting and the related conservation of the hydraulic drive components. The cable feed operates with a cable winding system that allows the machine to move safely within a working radius of 40 m, or more on request.... Read more...Enar officially joins the Wacker Neuson Group2 June 2022UncategorisedThe Wacker Neuson Group, a leading manufacturer of light and compact equipment, has concluded an agreement with the majority owners of Spanish company Enarco S.A. to acquire 100 percent of the Enar Group. Execution of the transaction on June 1, 2022 means Enar is now officially part of the Wacker Neuson Group. Markus Einsele, who has been with Wacker Neuson for seven years now and is specialized in concrete technology, and David Gascon, CEO of Enar, will take the reins as joint directors on June 1, 2022. “I am delighted that this transaction has now been completed and we can get started,” comments Markus Einsele. “Enar ideally complements Wacker Neuson’s offering in the rapidly growing concrete technology market, enabling us to offer our customers the right product regardless of their needs.” Enar is a manufacturer of light construction equipment, specialized in concrete compaction. Alongside a wide range of internal vibrators for concrete, the company’s product portfolio also covers vibratory plates, rammers and walk-behind rollers for soil and asphalt compaction. The new alliance will further strengthen the Wacker Neuson Group’s market position and extend its international reach, particularly in the field of concrete technology. Given Enar’s very healthy market position and the high level of consumer acceptance for its products, the Wacker Neuson Group will manage Enar as an independent brand. More information at: www.wackerneusongroup.com and www.enargroup.com... Read more...Kubota launches machine tracking system1 June 2022Technology– Kubota Tracking System’ launched on KX080-4a2 – Portal offers increased security features and machine visibility – Assists in minimising downtime and increasing productivity – Available to access anytime, anywhere, on PC, laptop, tablet, and smartphone The U.K and Ireland’s leading mini-excavator supplier, Kubota, has launched a new telematics portal to help construction equipment operators increase machine efficiency and security. The ‘Kubota Tracking System’ portal enables users to stay informed about the KX080-4a2 machines in their fleet, and can be accessed via a PC, laptop, tablet, or smartphone, meaning the data from a Kubota fleet can be seen anywhere at any time. “As costs in other areas of construction rise, we are trying to develop new ways to help Kubota machine users understand where savings can be made and efficiency increased,” says Rob White, Division Manager, Construction at Kubota UK. “Our Kubota Tracking System, that’s being launched on the KX080-4a2 initially, ensures operators can access all the data from their machines at the touch of a button, allowing them to make informed decisions. This includes considerations around servicing times and fleet movement, alongside additional benefits such as increased visibility of machines that helps with security.” The intuitive and user-friendly portal shares informative data that helps users access operational performance and consider management decisions. Enhanced security is provided as machine owners can view locations via GPS tracking to oversee the movement of each KX080-4a2 excavator. Furthermore, geofencing is available which allows users to designate specific areas of use for each machine, with the portal notifying you, should that machine leave the area. The portal provides alerts which show a machine’s faults enabling a fast response and resolution, thus minimising any downtime. Increased productivity is achievable thanks to the constant review and analysis of real-time parameters of parts such as machine work rate, operating times, actual operation, occupancy rate (as a percentage), idling time, DPF regeneration history, water and oil temperatures, and fuel consumption. “Having access to all this real-time data provides the opportunity for Kubota excavator owners to really streamline their processes and adapt fluidly to any and all situations,” concludes Rob. The Kubota Tracking System portal is now available as standard on all Kubota KX080-4a2 excavators and will expand further throughout the range in the future. For more information on the portal, visit: Kubota Tracking System ... Read more...TVH EMPLOYEES SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE QUARTER TRIATHLON31 May 2022UncategorisedOn 26 May, employees of parts specialist TVH crowned their six-month sports training with the Izegem quarter triathlon. TVH guided them in the run-up to the race, together with professionals from Energy Lab. In December 2021, 20 TVH employees – the so-called TVH Nudge Stars – embarked on a sporting journey that would change their lives. Thanks to TVH, 13 colleagues from Belgium and 7 international employees received six months of professional sports coaching to prepare them for this quarter triathlon. A personal training schedule was developed for each Nudge Star, they received a sports outfit in the TVH colours and intensive guidance was always within reach. We are very proud that our Managing Director based in the UK was one of the great people who also took up this Nudge Star challenge. Putting the challenge to good effect, as well as completing the triathlon John has so far raised over £1,300 for Loros Hospice in Leicester, a local charity which continues to provide hands on support to the family of our colleagues in Coventry after their recent bereavement. ENCOURAGING HEALTHIER CHOICES The trajectory at TVH in which they were guided, is part of TVH’s Nudge health policy. Through Nudge, the company encourages its employees to make healthier choices. TVH did so before by setting up initiatives around mental wellbeing, sports and healthy nutrition. So this year, they went even further. Niki Mistiaen, Employee Happiness Advisor at TVH and organiser of the Nudge actions, explains: “Some colleagues were already regularly taking part in sports competitions before this programme, while others hadn’t touched their running shoes or bicycle in years. After months of intensive exercising, with ups and downs, they delivered a very nice performance. There were even a few personal records broken.” TO BE REPEATED NEXT YEAR Aron De Ketele (Administrator Materials) was one of the Nudge Stars. Things didn’t always go smoothly, he says: “An injury during training caused some setbacks. But above all, I retain a very positive feeling about this adventure. For example, we met triathlete Frederik Van Lierde, who provided us with tips.” For Hermien Wittouck (Learning & Development Specialist) too, training for the quarter triathlon had become ‘part of life’: “It was quite a puzzle to combine six training sessions a week with my household, but it was all worth it. I am very proud that I was able to do this. I can recommend all my colleagues to participate next year as well.” In addition to the Nudge Stars, another 47 TVH colleagues competed in the quarter or fun triathlon. Dominiek Valcke, CEO of TVH, also participated: “TVH sponsors the fun triathlon this year. This event ties in perfectly with our Nudge programme: promoting a more active, healthier lifestyle among our employees. It is something in which TVH invests considerably because a healthy employee contributes to a better working atmosphere and more happiness at work. That is why we will definitely be back here next year with new Nudge Stars.”... Read more...Liebherr at the 28th International Exhibition for Track Technology in Münster31 May 2022Events / TechnologyLiebherr rail-road excavators at booth B-420/B-421: A 922 Rail Litronic and A 924 Rail LitronicNumerous Liebherr attachments and quick coupling systems as supplement to the multifunctional machineECM certification for Liebherr rail-road excavators At the 28th International Exhibition for Track Technology in Münster Liebherr presents its latest generation of its rail-road excavators in the shape of the A 922 Rail Litronic and the A 924 Rail Litronic, both of which can be used on rail and on road. Also being showcased are various attachments and quick coupling systems to further enhance the versatility of these machines. Trade fair visitors will also have the opportunity to obtain comprehensive information about the ECM certification for Liebherr rail-road excavators. Münster (Germany), 31 May 2022 – Liebherr-Hydraulikbagger GmbH has been developing and producing powerful Liebherr rail-road excavators in Kirchdorf an der Iller for more than five decades. The extensive experience, continual development of the product portfolio, as well as the effort to constantly provide maximum efficiency and performance, make Liebherr the global leader in this market today. This is Liebherr’s sixth participation in this exhibition. The A 922 Rail Litronic and A 924 Rail Litronic rail-road excavators are on display in the outdoor area (booth no. B-420/B-421). Various Liebherr attachments and quick coupling systems are also on show, both static and on demo. Trade fair visitors can also obtain information about the ECM certification for Liebherr rail-road excavators. The directive requires vehicle owners to ensure the safe operation of their machines in the future. Presentation of the latest Liebherr rail-road excavator generation: The A 922 Rail Litronic and A 924 Rail Litronic excavators The A 922 Rail has an operating weight between 20,400 and 23,400 kg. The rail travel drive is mounted on either side of the undercarriage. During the re-railing the rail travel drive brings the tyres to rail level, whereby the inner wheels of the dual tyres assume the travel drive on rail. In addition to the standard counterweight, a revised, heavy counterweight with a reduced tail swing of 2,000 mm is now also available for the A 922 Rail. The maximum lift capacities can also be increased via a Power Lift mode as well as an optional 4-point support jib. The A 924 Rail has an operating weight between 21,800 and 25,000 kg. The rail travel drive is also mounted on either side of the undercarriage. During unloading the rail guide is lowered in axle pairs until the inner wheels of the dual tyres are at the track wheel and ensure a frictional connection of the travel drive. A 120 kW / 163 hp powerful and robust engine is installed in both machines. In combination with the optimally coordinated hydraulic system, the machines reach constantly high work speeds with the usual fluid working movements. For exhaust emission stage V Liebherr uses a newly developed SCRT system comprising a SCR catalytic converter and a standard particulate filter. The innovative hydraulic concept consists of a Liebherr variable displacement double pump with independent control circuits. High-performance, hydraulic attachments can thus be operated independently of the working and travel movements of the machines. The service-orientated layout of the machine guarantees short maintenance periods and minimises the associated costs thanks to the time savings. All maintenance points are easily accessed from the ground. The spacious two-person cabs featuring standard rollover protection (ROPS) and a modern interior design offer the best conditions for comfortable, focused and productive work. The usual generous use of glass and standard rear and side cameras provide an exceptional view of the working area and swing range. As occupational safety plays an important role in track construction, Liebherr offers safety systems specially developed in-house for rail applications. Numerous equipment features such as the pipe break protection on the lifting and stick cylinders, electronic height and turning radius limitation, load moment limitation i.a.w. EN 15746-2, impact-resistant roof panel made of laminated safety glass, rollover protection system (ROPS) and an emergency exit through the rear window provide maximum safety in all operations. Rail machine attachments and quick coupling systems In order to meet the various construction site requirements efficiently and reliably, Liebherr offers a comprehensive portfolio of attachments to further enhance the versatility of its rail machines. With the fully hydraulic Liebherr quick coupling system LIKUFIX® both mechanical and hydraulic tools can be changed quickly and safely from the operator’s cab. Both rail-road excavators presented at IAF are equipped with LIKUFIX®. One of the various attachments on show is the Liebherr tilt unit LiTiU which increases the productivity of the machines by giving an additional swing angle of up to 2 x 50°. This is a huge advantage especially in track construction where there are generally more restrictions due to the rail infrastructure. By extending the working envelope of the machines LiTiU enables them to access areas otherwise difficult to reach. At the trade fair LiTiU 33 is showcased as a sandwich attachment, i.e. the connection between the end of the stick and LiTiU, and the connection between the bottom of the LiTiU and the tool are made via LIKUFIX®. This means the entire unit can be set down quickly and a different tool, such as the Liebherr stick extension, attached and operational within seconds. The 2.25 metre Liebherr LS 12 stick extension on display can increase the reach to over 10 metres (depending on the stick length) to give an increased working radius. The Liebherr GMZ 22 clamshell buckets are also designed for track construction. They can be individually configured depending on customer requirements. The new generation with numerous new technical features is presented at IAF. Closely fitted and protected hydraulic lines ensure a reduced risk of damage. The new lean design of the ejectors with improved linkage for the grapples, combination and track construction buckets as well as the tilted side plates, lead to more efficient and less resistant grabbing as well as optimised loading and unloading operations. Top quality steel makes the clamshell buckets a robust and durable tool. Three different combinations are on show: The GMZ 22 with track construction buckets has a cutting width of 300 mm and capacity of up to 0.08 m³, whereas the GMZ 22 with combination buckets and grapples, each with a cutting width of 600 mm, have capacity of 0.20 m³ or 0.30 m³. Pivot rotators have also become indispensable in track construction work and the Liebherr TR 20 pivot rotator on show offers maximum flexibility specially when digging with its infinite 360° rotation, patented swivel mechanism and swing angle of 2 x 50°. ECM certification for Liebherr rail-road excavators In order to be able to operate in rail transport, compliance with strict rules and regulations is required in addition to the comprehensive machine safety systems. In 2019, the EU Commission initiated a new directive intended to further enhance safety in railway traffic and to improve interoperability. The new EU ECM directive (Entity in Charge of Maintenance) now places responsibility on the owners of rail-road excavators. The new DVO (EU) 2019/779, also called the ECM directive, applies to railway vehicles, which operate on the higher-level network. Liebherr rail-road excavators will also fall under this new certification requirement in the future. An ECM entity must be assigned to every machine in the vehicle register. ECM designates the authority responsible for the maintenance of the respective machine. From June this year, Liebherr-Mietpartner GmbH and Carl Beutlhauser Baumaschinen GmbH are officially certified as such ECM entities. The maintenance operations of Liebherr-Hydraulikbagger GmbH and Liebherr sales and service partners in Germany and Austria are certified. The Liebherr sales and service partner in the Czech Republic, Liebherr-Stavební stroje CZ s.r.o., was certified at the end of last year. Successful ECM certification will enable Liebherr-Hydraulikbagger GmbH to continue giving customers competent consultation and support. Successful certification also means that Liebherr sales and service partners will remain authorised and trained to perform repairs, annual inspections and revisions on Liebherr rail-road excavators. Liebherr-Mietpartner GmbH and Carl Beutlhauser Baumaschinen GmbH are also certified as official ECM entities. This will ensure that Liebherr rail-road excavators also remain available to customers for rental.... Read more...Pontchateau Now Even More A Major Asset for Bobcat31 May 2022Telehandlers– After beating production records in 2021, the plant in Loire-Atlantique, France for Bobcat rigid telehandlers has given itself the means to go to the next level – Telehandlers have been part of the DNA of the Pontchateau site in Loire-Atlantique in France for more than half a century. Before the year 2000, the factory used to manufacture the Sambron range of products, but after a succession of changes in ownership, it is Bobcat telehandlers that now come off the production line. All Bobcat rigid telehandlers for the world market are manufactured here, including 29 models split between ranges for the construction and agricultural markets. The factory was originally built on an 82,000 m2 plot of land and was extended in 2019 to meet higher demand. “In 2016, as our logistics capacity reached saturation and demand grew, Bobcat defined a 3 year expansion plan for the facility, representing 4 million euros of investment,” explains Jerome Miermont, Site Director for the Bobcat Pontchateau facility. Completed in 2019, with the addition of 13,000 m2 of extra space and a new 1500 m2 plus logistics building, these developments have made it possible to meet the effects of substantial growth in the brand’s activity (+75% between 2017 and 2022). This was also accompanied by a reorganization of the manufacturing process. For the telehandlers, the journey always starts in the design office. This office has a team of 40 employees operating from Pontchateau, together with another team based in the Czech Republic, at the Doosan Bobcat European headquarters. On the production line, the machines start to take shape during the mechanical welding operations, which are strategically organized in two lines: one for the boom, and the other for the frame. After the steel parts have been laser cut, they are bent into the right shape – for example, to form the two half-sections of the boom in U form, after which the next step is welding. “To optimize production, we have equipped ourselves with two larger robots, each of which welds all the frames, saving 30% in time. The last robot, representing an investment of 850,000 Euros, arrived last September,” Jerome Miermont explains. The various parts of the telehandlers are then sent to the blast chamber for shot blasting, before being painted. The staff carry out a detailed technical procedure (priming, fading time, lacquer application and oven drying) to ensure a high-quality finish. Up to 17 Machines Per Day The assembly line is organized around 58 stations. To save time and space, a team in the kitting workshop has prepared the necessary components for each station in advance. On the sub-assembly line, various machine components (the engine nacelle, the cab etc.) are assembled to gradually build the machine on the main line, which alone comprises 17 different stations. Even before the tyres are fitted, the carriage is filled with oil and programmed. This is followed by the fitting of the mudguards, a performance test and the installation of the tyres. The final assembly station is reserved for the installation of the hood and the stickers, then the machine goes through a test phase (static and dynamic) for four hours. Up to 17 machines can be assembled daily. “Last year we produced 2658 machines. This is a record number, well above the planned target of 2455 units,” Jerome Miermont adds. But with an estimated annual production capacity of 3500 machines in 2022, there is still space for growth. The Pontchateau plant intends to double its activity by 2025. For more information on Bobcat and Bobcat products, please visit www.bobcat.com... Read more...Bobcat ‘One Tough Animal’ Cleans Huge Mondello Beach31 May 2022Attachments– A new Bobcat T76 track loader equipped with a Sand Cleaner attachment has proved to be the winning combination for this famous Sicilian beach – The Bobcat SC200 Sand Cleaner attachment, mounted on a new Bobcat T76 R-Series compact track loader, has proved to be an unparalleled combination for cleaning one of the most beautiful and widest coasts in Italy: the Sicilian beach of Mondello (PA). Offering 1500 m of very fine white sand, the Mondello beach is a well-known and sought-after destination on the national and international scene. The very high performance T76 compact track loader, combined with this new Bobcat attachment specifically for beach cleaning, was recently purchased by the Mondello Italo Belga company, which has been taking care of the Mondello area for more than a hundred years, helping to preserve the uniqueness and the original splendour of this location. With the completion of land reclamation operations in the early 1900s, the Mondello Italo Belga company transformed this coastal district into a renowned seaside resort, based around the long white sand beach. The work on Mondello beach is important to the local economy as it is the only sandy beach in Palermo, a crowded city which is only 11 km away, meaning it is one of the most coveted beaches by Palermo people as well as by tourists from all over the world. Mondello beach requires state-of-the-art equipment Dedicated to continuous development of the area, Mondello Italo Belga company also wanted to adapt its equipment to support soil protection. “The choice of the Sand Cleaner to protect the beach is linked to the desire to achieve a technological evolution in the equipment,” says Antonio Gristina, CEO of Mondello Italo Belga company. “The maintenance of Mondello beach never stops. To avoid the creation of dunes and to remove organic debris carried by the wind and tides, maintenance is required throughout the year, before, during and after the seasonal peak. The investment we have made combines the company’s interest in being able to carry out the cleaning work in a more rational and advantageous way, with the environmental and sustainability needs of the area.” The decision to purchase the Bobcat Sand Cleaner, despite the fact that the company already had other suitable means to carry out this work, is primarily due to the need to ensure a thorough cleaning of the beach and therefore also of the sea. The machine and attachment are used continuously at the beginning of the season and during the entire summer period, passing on a daily basis between the rows of umbrellas, thanks to the compact dimensions of the T76 loader and its high manoeuvrability. Mr Genova, responsible for the maintenance of the Mondello beach for over 50 years now, and therefore an expert in the most suitable means for doing this, was a strong supporter of the purchase of the T76 loader combined with the Bobcat Sand Cleaner. “As soon as we understood the potential of this vehicle in terms of speed of work and saving of resources, we chose to replace our existing machines,” says Mr Genova. “To be fully convinced, we also tested competing proposals. None of them managed to match the performance of the Bobcat solution. It is a true masterpiece to ensure optimal cleaning of a beach 1500 m long and more than 40 m wide. Another important advantage for us is that, thanks to the rubber tracks, the T76 track loader can travel and circle on the road so it does not require dedicated transport on a vehicle from our warehouse to the beach.” Bobcat SC200 Sand Cleaner – faster and deeper cleaning Capable of covering a large area of 15,000 m² per hour, the Bobcat Sand Cleaner can quickly sift sand and retains even the smallest waste such as cigarette butts, caps, pieces of glass, wood splinters and algae. The waste is accumulated in its integrated 350 l collection bucket, which can be unloaded directly into trucks or bins, thanks to the hydraulic opening system of the bucket and the arms of the compact loader on which the attachment is mounted. It is a very effective sand cleaning tool with an adjustable depth from 0 to 20 cm, and equipped with interchangeable grids with four mesh sizes (5×5,10×10, 15×15 and 20×20 mm), to collect waste and debris of all sizes. The Bobcat SC200 Sand Cleaner does not require any maintenance and is extremely easy and quick to mount on the T76 thanks to the Bob-Tach attachment system. Available on all Bobcat compact track and skid-steer loaders, the Bob-Tach system allows them to be quickly and safely combined with all Bobcat attachments, ensuring versatility and efficiency. Bobcat attachments also have a ‘Plug & Play’ design, a unique technology that allows an exchange of multiple information using a single electrical cable connected to and operated via a panel from the comfort of the cab on the loader. The attachments are equipped with an Attachment Control Device (ACD) that allows them to be immediately recognised by the carrier machine and therefore ensures instant communication with them. The R-Series T76 Stage V track loader Utilising the qualities of the new T76 as a tool carrier, the Mondello Italo Belga company is able to manage not only the wide beach, but also other aspects of the business. As Antonio Gristina confirms: “The fact that the T76 loader can be used for different needs thanks to the interchange of attachments represents for us an optimization of costs and therefore an important saving. Its strength and operational capabilities allow us to use it to keep the grounds of the properties clean, as well carrying out site works and for lifting and carrying materials. Last but not least, the advanced technology in the Bobcat T76 loader allows us to access Industry 4.0 developments.” The T76 R-Series loader, launched in October 2020 as part of the revolutionary Next is Now programme, offers significant advantages compared to the previous generation machines, in terms of productivity, reliability and durability, without neglecting the increased operator comfort of the machine. The loader has been improved with larger track coverage allowing for a smoother ride. The increased stability, coupled with improved hydraulic efficiency, allows for class-leading push and breakout forces and increased lifting capacity. The new cast steel boom construction makes the T76 loader 20% stronger and the increased lift height makes it easier to unload materials into high-sided trucks. To make the most of the potential of the T76 loader, Mondello Italo Belga company chose to add various options for the machine: for example, the cab has transparent sides, equipped with side protections without mesh to increase visibility; the 7-inch touch screen display, that also shows the view from the rear view camera, provides detailed information on the machine and the associated attachment, and the undercarriage with 5-Link torsion suspension which reduces vibrations and material loss. To watch a video of R-Series Compact Track Loaders in action, please click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqPPuLWemsw For more information on Bobcat and Bobcat products, please visit www.bobcat.com... Read more...SANY UK TO SHOWCASE NEW MACHINES AT HILLHEAD30 May 2022EventsSANY UK & Ireland will be exhibiting at Hillhead for the first-time next month. Visitors to the stand can look forward to seeing a diverse range of machines on display that offer exceptional overall value combined with toughness and durability. Making its UK debut will be the new SY155W wheeled excavator. This 16T wheeled excavator has been in Europe for 2 years but has been upgraded with rear stabilisers and a front dozer blade to suit the UK market. The machine will also feature state of the art hydraulics with Hammer, low flow and rotate lines, with proportional controls as standard. Joining the SY155W on the SANY stand will be the recently launched SY390H, which was unveiled to the UK market at ScotPlant earlier this year. With world renowned components such as a Cummins L9 Stage V engine and Kawasaki pumps,this 40-tonne SY390H tracked excavator provides plenty of power and offers fuel savings of up to 42% over the outgoing SY365C model. Other machines on show will include the SY215C, the hugely popular SY80U and the SY26U and SY18C from SANY’srange of mini excavators. There really is, something for everyone. The SANY SY500H crawler excavator will also be working in the Quarry Face demonstration area across the 3 days. This 50-tonne Stage V machine with its powerful transmission and smart hydraulics is the largest excavator in the SANY UKrange and has been designed for maximum productivity in the harshest of conditions, whether that’s digging, loading or moving. All SANY excavators come with SANY’s industry leading 5- year warranty as standard giving customers peace of mind when it comes to the quality and cost of ownership of the machines and perhaps most importantly the full range is available ex-stock or with very short lead times. You can visit SANY on stand X5 where you’ll get the opportunity to meet the team from the UK & Ireland along with representatives from across the nationwide dealer network. Experts will be on hand to offer advice on product,service and finance support solutions. Leigh Harris, Business Development Director commented “Hillhead will be another first for SANY UK & Ireland this year and the team are really excited to meet with new and existing customers during the show. The quarry provides a spectacular backdrop and we have a great range of SANY excavators on display as well as in the demonstration area. It’s going to be a great show!” ABOUT SANY: SANY Group started in 1989 as a small welding supply company founded by four young men who wanted to offer better products to the world. Over the last three decades, SANY Group has grown and evolved into a global brand with a sales turnover of $15 billion, manufacturing and supplying a diverse range of products including construction and industrial equipment, renewable energy solutions, finance & insurance services, precast concrete housing, heavy duty mining equipment and industrial communications. One of the most successful products in the SANY range is their hydraulic excavator and in 2020 the company achieved the number one sales position for global excavator sales, selling 98,705 excavators worldwide, accounting for 15% of the global market. SANY truly is an international company with three listed companies and a presence in 140 countries around the world, including global R&D and manufacturing facilities in India, Brazil, Germany and USA. SANY UK & Ireland is the latest addition to SANY’s global network of companies... Read more...Xwatch announces new partnership with ABTECH in Québec27 May 2022UncategorisedXwatch Safety Solutions announce a distribution partnership with the ABTECH which distributes technological solutions in the construction industry across Eastern Canada. The company offers a range of reliable construction and surveying instruments designed to help its customers gain accuracy and efficiency during construction projects. The company is able to offer its customers the most evolved solutions resulting from the technological advances of its manufacturer, Leica Geosystems. Raising the bar for safety in construction, mining and transportation ABTECH understands the reality of a modern construction site which prompted the collaboration with Xwatch. The XW series has already revolutionised the safety market in the UK, with height control, slew control, rated capacity indicator (RCI) systems and is aiming on emulating this in Eastern Canada. The full range of XW systems are all designed and manufactured in the UK using only the highest quality components sourced from leading technology manufacturers. The systems have undergone the most rigorous testing scenarios before being launched to ensure they meet and exceed any current legislation within the construction industry. The Xwatch brand is synonymous with safety and a cost-effective solution to protect site personnel. The XW series of products meet the growing demands of site safety and data management with its easy-to-use operator screen. Setting and creating a safety barrier around the equipment within the equipment’s operating reach, whether it is height, slew, or RCI control, the “feather touch“ proportional hydraulic will easily produce a safe and comfortable working environment for the operator. Xwatch’s height and slew system has recently been integrated with Leica’s personal alert solution, the PA10 and PA80. These devices can communicate with anchors situated on heavy construction equipment and offer a range up to 50 m (164 ft.), enabling the detection of personnel on a job site. A PA tag is worn by ground personnel which communicates with the anchors on the equipment to alert all parties if a person is getting too close to a machine. A partnership built to last Philippe Girard, Construction Vice President at ABTECH, says the Xwatch partnership is ‘A perfect match’, he said “Every year, the construction industry suffers losses of colleagues and friends on construction sites – therefore managing the people plant interface is of vital importance. With the Xwatch Safety Solutions suite of safety systems and with the integration of Xwatch Leica Geosystems PA10-PA80 products, we are confident that the number of fatalities caused by heavy machinery activities will see a significant reduction.” Dan Leaney Sales and Operations Director, Xwatch Safety Solutions commented on the new partnership – he said “We are delighted to partner with ABTECH and provide key safety solutions, across Eastern Canada, the Leica connection sealed our alliance. Operators are at the coalface of every jobsite and their safety is our priority. Technology delivers productivity and a crucial part of productivity is to keep the operator and co-workers safe in the field.” Dan added, “We have been concentrating on growing our global presence since Xwatch began three-years ago. We now have dealers in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia Hong Kong, Macau and the USA. We are looking forward to revolutionising the safety market in Canada and working with our new Eastern Canadian partners.” Picture Captions: 1) Leica Geosystems and Xwatch Safety Solutions Integrated Alert Screen 2) ABTECH understands the reality of a modern construction site which prompted the collaboration with Xwatch... Read more...Collins Earthworks cuts emissions with UK’s first HVO Volvo EC300E Hybrid excavators25 May 2022NewsHaving taken delivery of the UK’s first Volvo EC750E and EC950E excavators and L25 Electric wheeled loader from SMT GB, Collins Earthworks has added two more pioneering machines to its fleet, a pair of Volvo EC300E Hybrid excavators. Featuring Volvo’s novel hydraulic-hybrid technology, these machines harvest ‘free’ energy generated by the downward movement of the boom to achieve 17% greater fuel efficiency than conventional models – with no trade-offs in controllability or performance. The boom down motion charges the accumulator, which drives the assist motor to power the engine system To further reduce their environmental impact, Collins is running the EC300E Hybrid excavators – the first of their kind in the UK – on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel, which decreases net CO2 emissions by up to 90%. No modifications were required for the excavators to accept this alternative fuel and they behave the same as if they were powered by diesel. “Sustainability is an integral part of our company ethos and profile, and so it is important to us to invest in hybrid and fully electric solutions. We want to be the company paving the way for other contractors towards carbon neutral construction,” said Nathan Warner, site supervisor at Collins. Nathan Warner, site supervisor at Collins Earthworks A relationship of trust and close collaboration Collins works nationally on some of the country’s largest contracts, operating more than 1,000 items of plant. Around 85% of this equipment is Volvo as the earthmoving specialist runs exclusively Volvo crawler and wheeled excavators, articulated haulers, and wheeled loaders, supplied by the brand’s distribution and service partner in Great Britain SMT GB. SMT GB’s commitment to industry-leading products and service support has enabled the dealer to earn Collins’ loyalty along with the company’s trust in the new Volvo technology. “The team at SMT GB have given us a professional service for many years, ensuring high uptime and productivity from our Volvo equipment, and in effect helping to keep the company running. We want to stay at the forefront of the industry and so it means a lot to us to be the first in the UK to have the new Volvo EC300E Hybrids,” Warner said. Volvo excavators and articulated haulers working on the SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton Gateway project A straightforward solution with a big payback Collins has put one of its EC300E Hybrids to work in a team of 10 Volvo crawler excavators and 23 articulated haulers – with more to come – on the SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton Gatewayproject next to the M1 Junction 15. Over three years, Collins will move 4,500,0003 of earth around the 480 acre site at a rate of 100,0003 per week in peak times to create plots for distribution buildings and a lorry park, a strategic rail freight interchange, acoustic bunds, and landscaped areas. The project also involves widening the dual carriageway and the construction of a by-pass around the village of Roade to minimise traffic congestion, along with the planting of 60,000 trees. “We have a lot of work to do, and everything has been precisely calculated at the tender stage, so productivity and fuel efficiency are crucial to us. Any small gains that we make cumulatively add up to a lot helping us to keep on schedule and within budget and to minimise our impact on local residents and the environment,” Warner explained. Collins Earthworks operator Jack Sewell behind the controls of one of the new Volvo EC300E Hybrids In this repetitive dig and dump application, where excavators are operating 11 hours a day for five days a week, the EC300E Hybrid offers a straightforward solution with a big payback. “The fuel efficiency is amazing, and I can’t feel any difference compared to a traditional digger. It’s also really comfortable and easy to use and the controllability is fantastic. It’s great to be operating such a state-of-the-art machine,” said operator Jack Sewell. “We are really impressed with how the EC300E Hybrids have been performing so far and we plan to invest in more Volvo hybrid and electric solutions from SMT GB. This will help us limit our fuel usage and carbon footprint for the benefit of both clients and wider society,” Warner concluded. The UK’s first Volvo L25 Electric wheel loader performing general site duties for Collins Earthworks on the SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton Gateway project... Read more...Plantworx is BACK! Dates and venue confirmed for Plantworx 202325 May 2022EventsAfter a hiatus, due to the COVID pandemic and making way for the Hillhead show, the Construction Equipment Association (CEA) is delighted to confirm the venue and dates for the next Plantworx trade show. The 5th biennial construction machinery exhibition will be held on 13-15 June 2023, at the East of England Arena and Events Centre, Peterborough. The CEA has taken the decision to host the Plantworx show, once again at the East of England venue, following positive feedback from exhibitors and visitors who attended the 2019 event, which was deemed a resounding success. The permanent exhibition facilities offered by the East of England Arena provided the perfect platform for exhibitors to showcase their products, equipment and services – introducing the latest plant and technology to the UK construction industry. Visitors also applauded the Plantworx show’s new home, praising the ‘all weather’ venue as a ‘definite winner’, with its permanent walkways, good communication signals and wifi facilities – which allowed visitors to ‘do business – while doing business’! The 2023 event is predicted to attract over 450 exhibitors from the world’s leading machine manufacturers, suppliers and service providers. Over the three-day event, visitors can expect to see the very latest in technological advancements and innovations which will impact the future of construction. The show, which will be the ‘largest working’ event in 2023, is planning a comprehensive demonstration programme where exhibitors can put their machines through their paces in ‘real-site’ conditions. The event team also has some new initiatives in the planning – so watch this space for more information. CEA, chief executive Suneeta Johal said, “Plantworx 2023 will be my first show as CEO and I am very much looking forward to it. I believe with the amount of new and emerging technology this event is set to be the best yet. There’s a real appetite for attending ‘in-person’ exhibitions again. Our recent Futureworx technology exhibition proved to be a great success – and there was a real buzz amongst both the exhibitors and visitors.” Suneeta added, “The East of England arena is an established exhibition venue and with the great support from our loyal exhibitors, and a targeted visitor programme, we are confident of delivering a memorable and valuable experience.” Simon Frere-Cook Plantworx event director said, “Planning for Plantworx 2023 is now well underway as we build on the successes of 2019. With so much importance being attached to the working demonstrations, we have undertaken an extensive survey of the grounds at the East of England Arena so that we can spread the demonstration plots and thus improve the footfall throughout the site. There will also be a focus on technological advancements, helping the industry to be safer, smarter and greener.” The 2023 site plan is being finalised following the results of the survey and stand sales will begin in June 2022. Plantworx Sales manager Angela Spink is anticipating a high demand for stands following the site plan release date! She said, “Confirmation that the show will return to the East of England Arena will be welcome news to previous exhibitors following the encouraging feedback from 2019. We are also very confident that new and old exhibitors will join us in 2023.” Angela added, “The comprehensive digital site survey has been invaluable in identifying new site opportunities for demonstration plots and a new and interesting layout. I am very much looking forward to getting Plantworx 2023 underway.” Angela concluded, “We have put in an order for wall to wall sunshine for the 2023 event – we are just hoping it’s in stock!” Plantworx 2023 will be exhibiting at the Hillhead Exhibition (21-23 June 2022 Hillhead Quarry, Buxton, Derbyshire) on Stand: PB24. Angela Spink will be on hand at the show to answer any questions you may have about the 2023 event. www.plantworx.co.uk... Read more...Smart equipment solutions: Liebherr presents new multi-tine grab25 May 2022Attachments– The new Liebherr five-tine grab GMM 50-5: Clever design for machine classes from 35 to 55 tonnes – Impresses with exceptional load-bearing capacity, resistance and durability – Designed for tough applications in the area of recycling and scrap handling Liebherr presents its newly developed multi-tine grab GMM 50-5. The intelligently designed five-tine grab was not only developed for customers, but also developed together with them. The new grab combines decades of Liebherr expertise in the area of the development and manufacture of high-performance, robust attachments with a valuable wealth of experience from the users themselves. The multi-tine grab excels in terms of exceptional load-bearing capacity, resistance and durability. Kirchdorf an der Iller (Germany), 24 May 2022 – Recycling and scrap handling are some of the toughest applications in industrial goods handling. Robustness, reliability and efficiency are required therefore, choosing the right attachment for the jobis key for efficient and economical goods handling. With the five-tine grab GMM 50-5 Liebherr has developed a new attachment that fully meets these special operational requirements. A comprehensive portfolio of buckets as well as a wide selection of optional equipment means that diverse materials can be handled efficiently and economically in recycling and scrap handling. Only top-quality materials are used for the manufacture of the new grab. The GMM 50-5 is available for material handlers with an operating weight from 35 to 55 tonnes. Extremely robust and resistant The components of the new GMM 50-5 are made of sturdy cast steel as well as low-wear, high-strength steel sheets. The consistent use of the high-quality materials guarantees extreme stability and resistance for the toughest applications and material handling scenarios. The special shape of the tine support and the buckets was developed based on state-of-the-art calculation and simulation software. Thanks to this modern development process, the new grab is extremely robust and resistant despite its low dead weight. Focus on maximum service life and performance In the design phase special attention was paid to maximum service life: In order to split the high torque, the slewing drive, for example, was equipped as standard with two motors. This increases the service life and minimises wear considerably. Both rotary transmission and the reinforced slewing drive are sealed multiple times to give maximum protected against external factors such as dust and water. Large and flow-optimised oil ducts not only ensure fast work speeds, but also efficient machine operation. The sealed, anti-twist piston rod protection for hydraulic cylinders is also included with the grab as standard. The latter come with new cylinder kinematics, which also guarantee a long-lasting and good closing mechanism also when the tines becomes worn. A newly designed wear back on the tines also extends the service life immensely. Long-lasting good and precise penetration in diverse scrap and recycling materials is due to the special shape and alignment of the tine tips. They are made from a new type of material for a long service life. Easy servicing and numerous options As the lubrication points are arranged ergonomically and logically, the GMM 50-5 is supplied with the necessary lubrication in a very short space of time. Perfect tolerances and generously dimensioned bearing surfaces lead to gentle interplay of the individual components. Thanks to the optional motor and hose protection damage to rotary motors and hydraulic lines is minimised. An optional central lubrication system assumes regular, automatic lubrication of all central points. The GMM 50-5 can be equipped with shackles to protect magnetic plates. In order to protect the edges of the often highly stressed internal sheet of the grab against wear and tear, the tines can be equipped with a reinforcement set of wear-resistant sheets. Three different tines shapes The GMM 50-5 is designed specially for optimal grabbing of mixed and shredder waste as well as chippings or shavings with content of up to 1.10 m³. The arrangement and shape of the tines are optimised for perfect penetration and holding of bulky and at the same time loose material. There is a choice of three different tines for handling diverse materials: The version with open tines is perfect for handling large-size and bulky scrap objects. The version with semi-closed tines is ideal for medium-sized, mixed materials and shredding waste. Small, fine materials and chippings or shavings can be handled most effectively with the closed, heart-shaped tines. About the Liebherr Group The Liebherr Group is a family-run technology company with a highly diversified product portfolio. The company is one of the largest construction equipment manufacturers in the world. It also provides high-quality and user-oriented products and services in a wide range of other areas. The Liebherr Group includes over 140 companies across all continents. In 2021, it employed more than 49,000 staff and achieved combined revenues of over 11.6 billion euros. Liebherr was founded in Kirchdorf an der Iller in Southern Germany in 1949. Since then, the employees have been pursuing the goal of achieving continuous technological innovation, and bringing industry-leading solutions to its customers.... Read more...MILLER GROUND-BREAKING ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR19 May 2022NewsMiller Ground-breaking has appointed Leigh Dobson as Finance director to succeed Chris Parkin, who recently announced his retirement after 24 years working for Miller. This senior appointment will see Leigh join the company at a time of accelerated growth, as Miller continues to develop its management team to meet its ambitious plans for international expansion and support the next stage of Miller’s evolution. Leigh will be responsible for Miller’s overall financial strategic direction, contributing to the next stage of expansion and financial success. Leigh has a wealth of industry-related financial experience and management skills which he will leverage to drive efficiencies and profitability for Miller, working together with departments across the business. Commenting on his appointment, Leigh Dobson said: “I am thrilled to be joining Miller as Finance Director at this point in Miller’s journey. I am passionate about working within the manufacturing sector and believe Miller has a great opportunity to continue to cement its leading position in the UK Earthmoving Attachment market, as well as plans to grow through new opportunities globally. I look forward to working with the team to help drive the company forward successfully.”... Read more...SENNEBOGEN LAUNCHES ELECTRIC MATERIAL HANDLER WITH BATTERY TECHNOLOGY: THE NEW 817 ELECTRO BATTERY AS THE FIRST MODEL OF A NEW MACHINE CONCEPT18 May 2022TechnologyUseful technology for maximum CO2 savings and flexibility. The 817 Electro Battery battery-powered electric material handler is the first of the freely movable battery-powered models that SENNEBOGEN will be adding to its tried-and-tested electric range in the future. Thanks to dual power management, these models continue to offer all the advantages of cable-based electric material handlers, combined with total freedom of movement. Completely safe, comfortable and fully mobile around the clock with zero emissions – a new technological milestone for the industry. Emission-free electric material handlers have been available in wired form for many years. For over 30 years, SENNEBOGEN has been building electric material handlers, which are used stationary or with limited mobility due to the cable, and provide a solution for a wide range of applications. Pure battery-powered devices already on the market have proven to be disadvantageous so far due to the limited operating time of the batteries. Not so with the new SENNEBOGEN 817 Electro Battery: the new mobile electric material handler with battery technology combines the advantages of both solutions. With the SENNEBOGEN battery-powered material handler, you can continue working even when it is connected to the mains power for charging. In mains operation, dual power management ensures that the power supply from the mains is used for the work movements, while the excess power fed in also recharges the batteries so that the machine can then work independently again. With an assumed 2,000 operating hours per year and energy generation from renewable energy sources, the battery-powered material handler saves an average of 31,800 kg of CO2 per year compared to its diesel-powered counterparts – and with equal freedom of movement. In future, the battery option will be available for the entire electric series of the 817 to 825 models. DUAL POWER MANAGEMENT: ZERO-EMISSIONS MOBILITY WITHOUT LIMITS The battery-powered version of the popular SENNEBOGEN 817 E electric material handler with 9 m reach and 18 t operating weight thus combines the advantages of two machine concepts: If the material handler is connected to the mains, it uses the wired power supply for the work movements without restricting the freedom of movement of the uppercarriage and equipment. Because the charging power is supplied to the undercarriage, the machine can continue to swivel and work 360°. If more power is supplied to the machine than it consumes, this is used to charge the batteries at the rear. If the mains connection is disconnected, the 817 Electro Battery automatically detects this and works autonomously in battery operation with the same performance data. Depending on the power requirement, the battery pack enables working times of six hours without recharging. The great advantage of dual power management then comes into play once again: if the machine is working in a working position for one hour, for example, it can be conveniently connected to the power supply via a standardized CE plug and charged without having to stop work. The capacities of the battery are easily and flexibly charged so that the machine can be operated continuously over a complete shift and does not need to be switched off for charging. PRACTICAL BATTERY TECHNOLOGY FOR EVERY OPERATION, COMBINED WITH PROVEN LARGE-SCALE SERIES TECHNOLOGY The machine also impresses with its practical design. Thanks to the CEE 63 A connector system, the 817 Electro Battery can use the existing infrastructure of an industrial company. Investments in expensive charging stations can be avoided thanks to the 44 kW on-board charger. Charging the batteries at any location is also an option, as a simple industrial socket is sufficient. Another advantage of a battery-powered electric material handler: Current peaks when working with the machine can be avoided via peak shaving, i.e. if more power is required, e.g. during combined movements and a full grab, this can be covered by the battery. The connected load is thus reduced to 44 kW without further restrictions. The integrated power electronics also ensure a gentle motor start that is particularly gentle on the mains power grid. With the wealth of innovative drive technology, SENNEBOGEN continues to rely on the proven large-scale series technology that has always characterized the brand’s material handlers. The certified high-voltage battery systems, which were specially developed for off-road applications and are already used in many e-mobility applications, are also used for the batteries themselves: 3,000 full charge cycles guaranteed. MORE CONVENIENCE, REDUCED SERVICE REQUIREMENTS, MAXIMUM SAFETY The battery model also offers all the advantages of the tried-and-tested SENNEBOGEN electric material handler in terms of operator comfort and service – elevating Multicab comfort cab included. Thanks to this innovative battery-supported electric solution, all applications in the hall will be emission-free in the future and alleviate the burden on employees. At the same time, the machine operates with less vibration and noise, does not need to be refueled and has reduced service requirements, as there is no need to change the engine oil, etc. The operator can conveniently see the charge level indicator via the SENCON control system, does not have to carry out any separate settings even if the power supply is changed and therefore does not come into contact with the high-voltage technology used in normal operation. The dual power management system automatically detects the energy source and switches to the corresponding working mode automatically. In addition to regular diagnosis, the machine independently detects faults and interventions in the high-voltage system and then switches off in a controlled manner, which guarantees completely safe processes in every situation. AVAILABLE TO SEE AT IFAT The premiere of the 817 E Electro Battery will take place from 30 May to 3 June 22 at IFAT in Munich, the world’s leading trade fair for environmental technologies. Discover our new battery model at our stand in Hall C5/Stand 241/340.... Read more...Bobcat launches ‘Bobcat Certified’ : the company’s new ‘Approved Used Equipment’ Program18 May 2022Machine / SafetyFollowing a successful pilot introduction, Bobcat has launched ‘Bobcat Certified’: the company’s new Certified Pre-Owned Program, offering customers a dependable route to procure a quality used machine, in a market where the supply of construction machines is being rapidly outpaced by demand. The new scheme has been launched first in the UK and Ireland, France and Germany, with Bobcat Certified machines available from Bobcat Authorized Dealers in these countries. Further countries are being added in the course of 2022, starting with Italy, Spain and Sweden. The new program ensures customers are offered premium class certified used machines backed by up-to-date condition, safety and operational checks carried out and certified by Bobcat dealers. A ‘Like New’ Experience Bobcat Certified aims to deliver machines of the highest quality and reliability, providing customers with a ‘like new’ experience, while demonstrating Bobcat’s commitment to maintaining the highest residual value for the entire Bobcat range. Machines have to meet a series of preset criteria to be eligible. These machines are then inspected and if approved as Certified, are then updated to adhere to Bobcat’s latest quality and safety standards. Each certified machine has proven reliability with Bobcat’s rigorous two-step inspection process, the latest service schedule using Bobcat genuine parts, oil checks, all necessary software upgrades and a 12-month/1000-hour manufacturer’s warranty as standard. Bobcat’s industry leading financing solutions are also available on Certified machines. A Bobcat Certified machine combines operational efficiency, increased productivity and reduced downtime. In fact, customers buying a Bobcat Certified machine are purchasing the next best thing to a brand new model – with the added bonus of saving significantly on the cost of an equivalent new machine. For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website www.bobcat.com... Read more...PLATINUM PARADE AS JCB MACHINES PAY HOMAGE TO QUEEN’S REIGN18 May 2022EventsJCB machines from the past and the present will be taking centre stage at a special pageant in London as the nation comes together to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next month. The company confirmed today that it has signed an agreement to become a Platinum Jubilee Pageant Partner – and milestone machines spanning The Queen’s 70-year reign will be taking part in the spectacular event. The Pageant – to be held in London on Sunday June 5th – will be the culmination of celebrations to mark The Queen’s 70 years on the throne. It will involve more than 10,000 people and tell the story of the monarch’s seven-decade reign through music, dance, and fashion. Taking a bow will be JCB backhoe loaders from landmark years of The Queen’s reign. Leading the way will be the Mark 1 JCB backhoe from 1953, the year of Her Majesty’s Coronation. Next in line will be iconic JCB 3CX backhoes manufactured in The Queen’s jubilee years of 1977, 2002 and 2012. Bringing the parade right up to date for Platinum Jubilee year will be a 2022 JCB backhoe loader powered by hydrogen. JCB Chairman Lord Bamford: “I am delighted that JCB is supporting the Platinum Jubilee Pageant as a Partner. It will be a very unique occasion and a wonderful way of saying thank you to The Queen for 70 years of service to our country and the Commonwealth. We are very proud to be taking part in the Pageant and proud of the role JCB machines have played over the course of the last 70 years in helping shape the world we live in today. We are also thrilled about a future where our machines will be powered by hydrogen and delighted to be able to highlight this technology.” The event will culminate in front of Buckingham Palace and be watched by up to one billion people globally across multiple platforms. It will also be a rare public outing for JCB’s brand new hydrogen-powered machines, which are currently being developed by the Staffordshire-based company as it explores the potential of hydrogen as a zero CO₂ alternative to fossil fuels. ... Read more...THE RIGHT WAY17 May 2022AttachmentsRecycling asphalt waste is a solution to the material shortage problems Managing and procuring materials in the construction industry is rapidly becoming a concern, due to material shortages and rising costs. For example, let’s talk about asphalt: how many miles of new roads are being built, how many new projects need to be financed, and how many roads are under maintenance? Suffice to say, the European’s road network has a total length of 86,992 miles (140.000km). Maintenance to repair potholes to prevent damaging vehicles is an enormous task. Building new roads and improving existing ones require plenty of materials. The tasks behind maintaining roads involve removing the old asphalt and laying down a new layer. Recycling old materials requires taking time to crush everything down to usable size. Now, the question is: how do you speed up this process? In Austria, an earthmoving and logistics company owns a stationary plant to produce gravel and sand. Meanwhile, in their recycling centre, they collect and recycle C&D waste and asphalt from their construction sites and use it as recycled aggregate. To get this done, they installed a BF80.3 crusher bucket on their excavator, replacing their stationary crusher for the practicality of a moving unit. Allowing the company to produce material of different output sizes independently and simplifying their maintenance also reduces costs and saves time. Video: https://vimeo.com/703683073 If you consider that asphalt can be recycled repeatedly and that RAP is suitable for areas with heavy traffic because it makes roads more durable. Then you can also understand this next company’s choice to use an MB-L160 crusher bucket on their Caterpillar 924G loader to process vast quantities of asphalt. If you were to run the asphalt slabs through a stationary crusher, it would jam the crusher and creates prolonged downtime. On the other hand, MB’s jaw crusher makes everything easier and simpler. Video: https://vimeo.com/700842611 Another major problem with road infrastructure is road maintenance. How much damage can cracks or potholes create? To vehicles and can affect safety itself. For this reason, to shorten maintenance times and reduce costs, a road works company installed an MB Crusher MB-L200 crusher bucket on its Manitou telehandler, recycled the crushed asphalt, and reused it for road maintenance. Video: https://vimeo.com/700840222 Recycling asphalt provides the company, municipalities, and those who manage roads with several benefits: recycling materials means reducing purchasing and disposal costs and less dependency on a stationary production plant. Moreover, recycling crushed asphalt is good for the environment as it reduces greenhouse emissions and limits the usage of non-renewable natural resources like gravel, sand and stones. Crushing materials with MB’s units is even easier than expected. As our Austrian customer reminds us, “A great advantage is that the crusher bucket is straightforward to transport , especially with hard-to-reach construction sites, road work in the mountains, or remote locations – and therefore, its versatility allows you to do more than what you typically could do: therefore, increasing the value of our work, of our construction sites while respecting the environment.” Choosing the right path is often easier than you think.... Read more...Gap in the market recognized by Auger Torque as they launch the Cone Crusher Bucket, helping customers save money, time, and re-use waste materials16 May 2022AttachmentsCheltenham, UK May 2022 – Auger Torque, the leading manufacturer and global provider of earth moving attachments, has today announced the addition of the Cone Crusher Bucket to their product portfolio. Promising to save the user time, money and hassle, Auger Torque have developed the Cone Crusher Bucket – engineered to work with excavators (2.5T to 8T), skid steers, backhoes and telehandlers. It provides a simple, efficient, and cost-effective way to reprocess and/or recycle small volume construction rubble and debris into useable aggregate. With an output of 5T-10T per hour (depending on your material), the cone crusher bucket, saves on; transport costs of removing onsite waste, material costs of importing hardcore to site, and minimal site traffic, delays and hassle. From general clay construction brick, light concrete walling blocks, hollow concrete ‘breeze blocks’, concrete pavers, asphalt and more, the Auger Torque Cone Crusher Bucket can crush to an output produced material size of up to 70mm. Ideal for use in applications including; foundation laying, track and yard surfacing, landscaping, roadways or using as a base layer below poured concrete or filling a disposal skip most efficiently. KEY FEATURES Easy to use and compact for small working sites – compatible with excavator, backhoe skidsteer, telehandlerBucket mouth for effective scooping and sortingSeven-sided rotating cone inside a cylindrical drumGrinding faces made in steel and tungsten carbideBuilt around a series 3.5 sub gearboxAuger Torque’s industry leading warranty Matt Hencher, Global Engineering Manager says “The cone crusher bucket is a great product to add to our portfolio, perfect for construction, agriculture, farming, estates and so on. It removes the hassle factor of arranging skips to take rubble away and waiting for hardcore to be delivered. With sales already in UK and Europe, and 60,000 views of our video on Tik Tok, we’re really excited for the opportunities this product presents across all our locations”... Read more...Rokbak RA30 and RA40 will command attention at Hillhead13 May 2022EventsRokbak will present its RA30 and RA40 at Hillhead 2022 – the nation’s largest quarrying, construction and recycling exhibition – alongside its UK dealer Molson Group. Rokbak is set to impress at this year’s Hillhead show with both its RA30 and RA40 articulated haulers on display from June 21st to June 23rd. The RA40 will be on Rokbak’s stand at N14, while the RA30 will be presented at the Molson Group’s stand J3. There will also be a Rokbak articulated hauler in the working demonstration area. Visitors at the three-day event will be able to get up close to the machines, see one in action and speak to Rokbak and Molson Group experts at their respective stands. The Molson Group is the UK’s largest independent new and used equipment dealer. It became a Rokbak dealer towards the end of 2019. On the Rokbak stand there will be plenty of photo opportunities including getting snapped while you lift a custom-made Rokbak barbell – it’s not as heavy as you might think! Cost-effective production from Rokbak “The Rokbak RA30 and RA40 articulated haulers set new benchmarks in durability, productivity and fuel economy – so we’re proud to be able to show the crowds at Hillhead what these machines are capable of,” says Paul Douglas, Managing Director of Rokbak. “We are looking forward to meeting existing and future customers alongside our trusted partner the Molson Group. The Molson Group is a very experienced dealer and I’m pleased to have them by our side.” Robust and reliable articulated haulers Rokbak articulated haulers are known for being robust, reliable, easy to operate and easy to maintain. The 38 tonne (41.9 US ton) RA40 is a heavy-duty articulated hauler that makes light work of large-scale quarry, mine and construction jobs. Offering high capacity and performance, the RA40 delivers cost-effective productivity in the toughest conditions. The high-performance engine balances controlled power with maximum fuel efficiency. The modulating transmission retarder is coupled with an efficient exhaust brake and fully enclosed oil-cooled multidisc brakes for total control – even on steep inclines. The 28 tonne (30.9 US ton) RA30 articulated hauler is made for the toughest jobs and roughest sites, from quarries and infrastructure developments to commercial construction projects. With true independent front suspension as standard, it offers more control and comfort for operators. The RA30’s new transmission and high-performance engine improve fuel efficiency, operator comfort and deliver power when you need it. For the European market, both machines feature the latest EU Stage V emissions-compliant engine, boasting up to a 7% improvement in fuel efficiency compared to older EU Stage IV engines. Hillhead 2022 will take place at Hillhead Quarry near Buxton, UK. It is expected to attract more than 20,000 visitors and around 600 exhibitors.... Read more...CASE showcase line-up at Hillhead 2022 to include ten models from the new E-Series crawler excavators and new D-Series Mini-Excavator range12 May 2022ExcavatorsBasildon, 12 May 2022. The media is invited to visit CASE Construction Equipment’s stand X6 at Hillhead on 21-23 June 2022 to explore the market-leading machines launched during 2022 to date, 2021 machine launches and to celebrate CASE’s 180th anniversary. CASE experts will be on hand to answer detailed product questions, including aftermarket specialists to explain the benefits of CASE® Service Solutions and financing options. According to Joseph O’Grady, Business Director Northern Europe, CASE Construction Equipment, the stand offers the first post-pandemic opportunity to see the breadth and depth of CASE machine and solutions range: “We’re excited to be at a live event where our customers and media partners can experience the E-Series crawler excavators, the SV-Series backhoe loader, the G-Series wheel loader and, launched last week, the D-Series Mini-Excavator range.“ Machines on display on the stand and in the quarry at Hillhead The impressive line-up includes 3 excavators from its new E-Series crawler excavator range and 7 models from the newly launched D-Series Mini-Excavator range, including one of the electric machines. This 2022 excavator line-up is joined by an SV-Series backhoe loader and G-Series Evolution wheel loader, both launched in 2021, alongside a skid steer and compact track loader. So journalists and customers can fully appreciate the power and efficiency of CASE excavators in action, the static displays are complemented by a CASE CX300E crawler-excavator working in the quarry. Product experts and experienced operator trainers from CASE will be on hand to answer questions about the features of the machines on display and how they perform. CASE crawler excavator range offers unrivalled versatility With last week’s launch of the D-Series Mini-Excavator range to complement the E-Series launched in March 2022, CASE’s excavator line-up features unrivalled agility and versatility, offering a machine optimised for every application. Hillhead visitors will see one of the larger E-Series models, the CX300E, in action in the quarry. Static displays include three E-Series crawler excavators; the CX130E, CX210E and CX250E. For the first time in the UK, 7 CASE D-Series Mini-Excavator models will be on display: CX12D, CX19D, CX25D, CX35D, CX50D, CX65TR and the CX15EV electric mini-excavator. Manufactured at dedicated European plants, the new D-Series benefits from the synergies of innovation, technology, expertise and production that follow the acquisition of Sampierana by CNH Industrial in 2021. Notable in Hillhead’s line-up are the uniquely sized 1.2-tonne CX12-D, the 2.5-3.5-tonne CX25D and CX35D offering medium capabilites and the two-piece boom CX65TR that delivers power and flexibility. O’Grady concludes: “Hillhead 2022 presents an opportunity for us to celebrate the continuation of CASE’s 180 years of innovation with live demonstrations of our latest market-leading machines to customers and the media, alongside learning from CASE experts about the extensive aftermarket solutions that keep these machines in optimal condition.”... Read more...Claymore Homes Purchases Six Bobcat 18 m Telehandlers12 May 2022TelehandlersClaymore Homes Ltd, based in Mintlaw in Aberdeenshire in Scotland, has taken delivery of six new Bobcat T40.180SLP 18 metre telehandlers, supplied by Balgownie Ltd, the local Authorised Bobcat Dealer. Established in 2007, Claymore Homes is one of the North-east of Scotland’s leading independent property development companies. John Smith, Managing Director of Claymore Homes, said: “Balgownie was able to offer us the most competitive package on the market and we confirmed this with a test drive and a demonstration period showing the new Bobcat machines provide great value for money. I have been very impressed with the performance of the new Bobcat telehandlers, which we use in every part of the business and we receive excellent back-up from Balgownie to ensure we get the maximum uptime.” Standard 3-Year Warranty Included As with all new Bobcat telehandlers, the T40.180SLP telehandlers offer customers peace of mind with a unique 3-year warranty (or 3000 hours) on each machine as standard from the factory, extendable as an option to 5 years and 5000 hours. Bobcat is the only manufacturer to provide a 3-year warranty as standard, allowing customers to focus entirely on growing their business without worrying about their machines. John Smith, Managing Director of Claymore Homes, said: “We have chosen to take up the option of extending the warranty to 5 years and 5000 hours, allowing us to concentrate on building our high quality homes. The new Bobcat telehandlers have been an excellent addition to our fleet and are working hard across several of our current developments, including those at Cruden Bay, Peterhead and St Combs.” Stamp of Quality in Home Building The Claymore name is a stamp of quality that guarantees exceptional service and premium craftsmanship. With on average over 30 years experience within the building sector, the company’s management ensures that attention to detail is consistent in every home Claymore builds. John Smith added: “We believe the key to our success is offering our customers a wide range of homes, which are tailor-made to suit individual requirements, lifestyle and budget. No two homes are the same. The Claymore custom design service places the customer at the heart of the process. From finishings and room layouts for first time buyers to designing a new home from scratch for the premium customer.” Top-of-the-Range Telehandler The T40.180SLP is the top-of-the-range model in the Bobcat range of 12 rigid frame telehandler models for construction/rental markets covering maximum lifting capacities between 2.6 and 4.3 tonne with lifting heights from 6 to 18 m. Bobcat telehandlers incorporate several standard features such as an automatic parking brake with an intuitive operation similar to those used in the automotive industry, providing greater safety and control. The ECO fuel saving system is actuated simply by pressing a button on the dashboard and maintains optimum hydraulic performance without using the engine’s full power, adjusting the main machine features to produce a balance between top performance and providing the best performance/fuel consumption ratio. Construction companies and rental customers appreciate this feature for the additional fuel savings it provides, combined with the excellent lifting capacities on Bobcat telehandlers. Bobcat Dealer for the North of Scotland Balgownie, based in Inverurie, is responsible for sales and servicing of the Bobcat range of telehandlers, mini-excavators, compact track and skid-steer loaders, compact wheel loaders, small articulated loaders, light compaction and attachments in the North of Scotland. Customers like Claymore Homes benefit from a superb on-site service network, covering everything from emergency repairs to routine maintenance. Balgownie‘s factory-trained engineers have many years of hands-on experience of repairs and servicing of plant and machinery. As well as covering existing contracts, Balgownie provides flexible service agreements, depending on the requirements of the customer. The company offers service and warranty work on all existing Bobcat machines in its area, backed by a full selection of genuine accessories and parts. Balgownie also holds a stock of new and used Bobcat machines, to respond quickly to customers’ needs. For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website www.bobcat.com... Read more...Sleipner’s new DB product family attracts orders from Finland and Africa – even before official launch12 May 2022Machine / NewsSleipner updated its entire DB product family last year and has unveiled two new narrower models. The new DB80 and DB130 models have a maximum payload of 80 and 130 tonnes respectively, and both are equipped with Sleipner’s patented loading ramps. The new product family received an exceptionally positive reception even before the official launch, and the first orders have already been delivered to Finland and Africa end of year 2021. “Our new models have been engineered in response to feedback from our customers. For example, we previously offered a 120-tonne model, but customers requested a narrower version. Accordingly, our new DB130 model is less than 10 metres wide and the smaller DB80 model is just over 8 metres, despite offering slightly higher payloads. The new models are now suitable for use on narrower roads,” says Teijo Höylä, Product Manager at Sleipner. Sleipner had already negotiated the delivery of previous-generation DB models to Africa before the outbreak of the pandemic. Following the resulting delivery delays, it was natural to upgrade the order to the new DB models already before their official launch. “We thought of the customer’s best so they could get newer and even better features for the same money. For example, the new models also feature full remote control and telemetry. Data can be automatically collected from the machines, allowing us to respond rapidly and remotely to possible faults and even perform software updates. There is no longer the need to fly all the way to Africa to investigate the tiniest of faults,” Höylä describes. Another new feature on the new models is the patented loading ramp that follows the surface of the ground. The solution reduces service and maintenance costs compared to traditional models and minimises stress on the loading ramp during loading. Viewed from above, the modular load beds on the two new models are largely similar – the main differences are the payload capacity and width. The decisive factor in choosing between the two models is the type of dozers they will be used with. The DB80 model can transport dozers up to D10T/D375 and the DB130 up to D11T/D475. “The new models have been engineered for use in all conditions, from the coldest to the hottest climates. Mines are located all around the world, and our customer base is global, so Sleipner products have to operate reliably everywhere. When engineering structures and components, we make sure that they all have a long service life and low life cycle costs, that spare parts are available globally, and that they are easy to service and maintain,” Höylä adds. Sleipner’s DB series enables fast and safe loading and transport while adding flexibility to daily production planning. Drills and bulldozers can be picked up and delivered efficiently directly to where they are needed.... Read more...Point of Rental Earns HAE Supplier of the Year Honours11 May 2022Events / NewsLONDON — On Saturday at Grosvenor House in London, Point of Rental Software took home the company’s first HAE Supplier of the Year award. Organised by Hire Association Europe and Event Hire Association (HAE EHA), the awards represent the best in the industry for plant, tool, hire and event equipment. Independently judged, the awards are the pinnacle of the year for the winners and also those highly commended, with both companies and individuals receiving recognition for their outstanding contribution to the hire industry. “We’ve put in a lot of work to figure out a new, hybrid workplace, managing our office’s growth, and how we can best serve our customers and the industry as a whole,” said Point of Rental’s EMEA Managing Director Mark Goodrum. “While happy customers and staff are the ultimate measure of success, the recognition by HAE EHA is incredible.” The team behind Syrinx had previously won Supplier of the Year honours in 2014 as Higher Concept Software. “When we brought the Higher Concept team into Point of Rental, we wanted to maintain their level of excellence while integrating the people and the software with our own culture,” said the company’s CEO, Wayne Harris. “It’s exciting to see that people outside the company feel that we’re achieving those goals.” Point of Rental user Steven Jones from MHM Group had even more to celebrate on the evening. He earned two awards, for Workshop Manager of the Year and Hire Achiever of the Year. Learn more about Point of Rental and the company’s relationship with the hire industry here, or begin your own Point of Rental experience at point-of-rental.com/gb/demo... Read more...Doosan Confirms Details for Five New Compact Wheel Loaders11 May 2022Wheel LoadersFollowing the signing of an exclusive supply agreement with Netherlands-based Tobroco-Giant, Doosan has confirmed the details of the new five model range of 3.5 to 5 tonne compact wheel loaders now available from the company. Comprising the DL60-7, DL65-7, DL80-7, DL85-7 and DL80TL-7 models, the new Doosan compact wheel loaders cover a wide range of applications, including construction, agriculture, earthmoving, waste/recycling, rental, builders merchants, landscaping, materials handling, warehousing and general industry. Just like their heavier versions in the Doosan range, the new compact wheel loaders set the industry standard for productivity, flexibility, comfort, safety and reliability. All the new machines offer a full package of modern technology features including: A powerful Stage V engineHydrostatic 4-wheel drive100% differential lock on both axlesVersatile and powerful hydraulicsHigh lift capacity with dependable stability Power and Productivity The DL60-7 and DL65-7 are driven by a Stage V engine providing 48.5 kW (66 HP) of power at 1600 RPM. The Stage V engine in the DL80-7, DL85-7 and DL80TL-7 provides 55 kW (75 HP) of power at 1500 RPM. Both Stage V engines offer high-pressure fuel injection and precise timing to provide a highly efficient fuel burn and perfect combustion. The aftertreatment system is composed of an oxidation catalyst and long-life diesel particulate filter to reduce emissions without requiring SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction). Electronic driving control ensures high driving comfort and precision and increases the thrust on the machines. In addition, various travel modes are available. The top speed in the DL60-7 and DL65-7 is 30 km/h, whilst the DL80-7, DL85-7 and DL80TL-7 have a travel speed of 35 km/h. The hydrostatic transmission boosts acceleration performance and delivers smooth, shock-free operation in all situations. The brake pedal provides an inching function. With no pressure on the brake pedal, full power is available for the drive system. Light pressure on the brake pedal reduces travel speed, with more engine power for the working hydraulics. When full pressure is applied to the brake pedal, the machine stands still and full engine power is available for the working hydraulics. This saves fuel and provides faster hydraulic movement. An optional hand-throttle system can be used to set a (minimum) engine RPM. This function provides constant hydraulic power (AUX line) to be used by the connected hydraulic attachment (hydraulic motor). As well as the hydrostatic 4-wheel drive and automotive control (Rexroth), the new Doosan compact wheel loaders feature a 100% differential lock on both axles, always providing plenty of traction, a lot of pulling force and smooth movement. Comfort and Safety The operator can focus on the job at hand thanks to the comfort and safety features in the cab, such as a premium, air-suspended seat as standard, the adjustable steering column and DAB radio. Air conditioning is also an option on all the models. In addition, all necessary information can easily be read from the gauge panel. Three versions of the cab are available to meet different users’ needs with ROPS/FOPS certification. All the models are equipped with a safety roof as standard. For higher comfort, a safety roof deluxe or a fully enclosed cab are available. The use of narrow styles and a skylight gives the operator all-round visibility and an excellent view of their work to allow safe and precise operation. All-In-One Joystick With an all-in-one joystick included, all essential controls are always at the fingertips of the operator, allowing them to change driving direction and speed modes or adjust the differential lock with ease. Full control over the hydraulics and a spool valve memory function help increase efficiency and control even more. The articulated pendulum joint provides a lot of stability and gives the machines a small turning radius and makes them extremely manoeuvrable and, combined with the optimal weight distribution and the compact dimensions, ensures they can operate in tight spaces. The system ensures that all four wheels remain on the ground, even when working on uneven terrain. This not only allows the operator to work safely, but always provides sufficient traction. For extra productivity, it is possible to equip the DL80-7/DL85-7/DL80TL-7 with the patented Stabilo System. This system provides extra safety and comfort, because unevennesses are absorbed without any compromise on performance. Truly Multipurpose Thanks to an optional tandem pump, a double-acting spool valve in the rear, and up to three double-acting spool valves on the lift arm, the user always has enough hydraulic power at their fingertips for even the most demanding attachments and applications. A High Flow option for up to 121 l/min is also available for the DL80-7, DL85-7 and DL80TL-7 models. To suit a truly wide range of applications, Doosan compact wheel loaders are equipped with three types of kinematics to suit preferences: – Z-bar arm to ensure high breakout force and excellent loading heights (DL60-7 and DL80-7). – Pull-bar arm for a lower front frame and higher lifting capacities (DL65-7 and DL85-7). – Telescopic arm to provide maximum lifting height and reach (DL80TL-7). All the Doosan models are equipped with a hydraulic quick coupler as standard. This makes it possible to change attachments safely and within seconds. A wide range of attachments is available to fit to all customer needs, from the warehouse to recycling, construction, agriculture, landscaping or road maintenance, including several types of buckets, manure forks, pallet forks, push brooms, clamps, snow blades and levelling frames. Furthermore, a wide selection of tyres also ensures customers obtain the maximum performance in their applications. Adjustable mudguards provide additional protection to keep the Doosan machines clean and safe. For more on Doosan construction equipment, please visit the website: www.eu.doosanequipment.com... Read more...Sinoboom Announce Five New Release to Headline Vertikal Days ’2211 May 2022EventsPinnacle Platforms the approved and sole GB distributor for Sinoboom Access Products, is pleased to announce that at Vertikal Days 2022, Sinoboom will be launching 5 new, all electric, access products to the market. Driven by the innovation and manufacturing excellence of their partners in access Sinoboom, the company is expanding the available options to hirers and contractors throughout Great Britain. The new products all electric powered solutions across the Telescopic Boom, Articulated Boom, Rough Terrain Scissor and Compact Scissor range. Pinnacle Platforms Managing Director Tim White said, “Timing is everything in business. These all-new electric products are arriving at the perfect moment. They give Pinnacle Platforms the ideal opportunity to showcase, to our customers, and those thinking about choosing Sinoboom, the build quality, technological advantages and finishing touches, that add value to owning and operating a Sinoboom product. The new range introduction: TB20EJ Plus Telescopic Electric Boom Lift. Electric telescopic boom lift with a maximum 22m working height and up to 454kg load capacity. 4-wheel drive, 35% gradeability and oscillating axels provide outstanding performance on inclines and uneven ground, while meeting indoor and emission-critical site requirements. 5389RE Rough Terrain Electric Scissor Lift. Fully electric scissor lift with 18m maximum working height, offering 4-wheel drive and 35% gradeability for excellent off-slab performance. Complete with one-click levelling compact outriggers and 4-man rated 680 kg capacity dual extension decks. 1932SE Compact Scissor Lift Indoor / Outdoor rated electric scissor lift with a maximum 7.6m indoor working height, maximum platform capacity of 240KG and overall weight of 1210Kg. AGM maintenance free batteries and DC motor drive offering longer run times. AB18EJ Articulating Boom Lift. Electric articulated boom lift with 18m maximum working height and 11.5m maximum horizontal reach. 4-wheel drive and 40% gradeability, couples smooth off-road drive with quiet indoor operation. The platform has 160-degree hydraulic rotation and 230kg capacity for two persons and tools. 4069RE Rough Terrain Scissor Lift. Electric rough terrain scissor lift with 14.2m working height and 365kg platform capacity. 4-wheel drive offering 35% gradeability, equipped with one-click levelling outriggers. Drives at full height. Maintenance free AGM batteries for outstanding run-times. Concluding Pinnacle Director Wayne Lawson said. “Sinoboom products are fast becoming recognised for their suitability in the UK hire market, these 5 new machines are reliable, rugged and rental ready. The new machines will continue to satisfy the growing demand of the powered access hire industry, in addition to the needs of contractors across a variety of sectors. The range is gaining a deserved reputation for enhancing customers experience and performance at the point of use”. The new 5 all electric machines launching at Vertikal Days be available for delivery in GB from Q3 2022. For those unable to attend the show, Pinnacle Platforms will soon be sharing marketing collateral that will enable hirers to expand their all-electric fleet, offering more choice and added value to customers. ... Read more...MyLiebherr homepage: new design and features enhance user experience11 May 2022TechnologyThe homepage of the MyLiebherr online portal has a new look. Thanks to the modern design users benefit from a clearly structured, intuitive user interface and a clearly arranged homepage. Optimised and additional features round off the design update. Biberach an der Riss (Germany), 10 May 2022 – Finding a spare part with a click of the mouse or quickly accessing documentation for a machine: with the MyLiebherr online portal Liebherr customers have access to information and services at any time of the day. It is available for products ranging from construction machines, mining equipment, mobile and crawler cranes, material handling technology, components to maritime cranes. The redesign of the MyLiebherr homepage marks the start of a new phase in the further development of the portal. In addition, major parts of now have a mobile version. Focus on user-friendliness In the course of the development of the new design special attention was paid to the user-friendliness of the MyLiebherr homepage. The key areas are now combined and clearly structured. This means that users see all their products at a glance and can skip directly to the areas “Personal data” and “Business relationships”. In addition, all licence managers and administrators of a company are now displayed to the user with their respective contact details. The previous navigation was replaced with the “Apps” area and offers easy and quick access to the key portal applications. Whether they need the shop, the spare parts catalogue or product documents – users can now enter applications by clicking on the new large tiles. With the new pop-up windows users also receive feedback on error messages or information about the status of requests. New features in profile management The profile management was optimised and even better tailored to the needs of users. In the “Address Book” section company administrators can now create and manage addresses that are available either to themselves or all users of their company. For orders, the appropriate delivery address can be selected directly without having to enter it again each time. In the “Products” section company administrators or product managers have the option to store keywords for each machine. Products can thus be assigned to corresponding topic clusters, enabling them to be found more quickly. These keywords are then visible to all users of a company. More new features planned The changeover to the new user interface is automatic. When visiting the website www.myliebherr.com the MyLiebherr portal automatically appears in the new design without users having to make any additional settings. The login data also have unlimited validity. In the coming months, numerous new features for MyLiebherr will be gradually rolled out.... Read more...Dynamic start to 2022 for the Wacker Neuson Group10 May 2022FinanceQ1 revenue 20 percent up on previous year, double-digit growth across all reporting regionsEBIT margin 7.5%; -2.5 PP yoy; Inefficiencies as a result of repeated disruptions to supply chains and sharp rises in input costs impact profitabilityGuidance remains unchanged: Revenue between EUR 1,900 and 2,100 million expected, EBIT margin set between 9.0 and 10.5 percentSupply chains and price dynamics in procurement market remain biggest challengesNet working capital ratio within strategic target corridor Leading light and compact equipment manufacturer the Wacker Neuson Group has made a successful start to 2022. Group revenue for the first quarter amounted to EUR 521.6 million, which is a rise of 20.2 percent relative to the previous year (Q1/21: EUR 434.0 million). Adjusted for currency effects, this corresponds to an increase of 18.4 percent. Profitability was impacted, however, by inefficiencies caused by continued supply chain strains and sharp rises in input costs: Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) fell 10.3 percent to EUR 39.1 million (Q1/21: EUR 43.6 million). The EBIT margin amounted to 7.5 percent, which represents a decline of 250 basis points (Q1/21: 10.0 percent). “Despite continued supply chain challenges, our teams succeeded once again in meeting dynamic demand for our products and delivered another quarter of strong growth. At the same time, the coronavirus pandemic and continued supply chain disruptions are still impacting operating workflows and resulting in rework. Along with the high cost of materials and rising energy prices, these factors are putting our gross margin under pressure,” explains Dr. Karl Tragl, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of the Wacker Neuson Group. Double-digit growth across all reporting regions Revenue for Europe (EMEA) for the first quarter rose 17.9 percent relative to the previous year to reach EUR 411.6 million (Q1/21: EUR 349.2 million). Double-digit growth rates made Germany, Austria, the UK, France, Poland and the Czech Republic the key growth drivers. The Group benefited from strong demand for excavators, wheel loaders and dumpers for the construction industry. Wacker Neuson’s own rental business also developed on a positive trajectory. Q1 2022 also saw a significant upturn in business with agricultural customers of Group brands Kramer and Weidemann compared with the previous year, with an increase of 32.2 percent recorded (Q1/22: EUR 105.5 million; Q1/21: EUR 79.8 million). In the Americas, positive trends in the US and Canada maintained momentum. Revenue in the first quarter grew at an above-average rate of 32.9 percent to reach EUR 90.8 million, driven in part by strong demand from key accounts (Q1/21: EUR 68.3 million). Adjusted for currency effects, the rate of increase amounted to 23.7 percent. There was particularly strong growth in excavators and compact track loaders as well as in worksite technology products including generators and light towers. In Asia-Pacific, revenue increased relative to the previous year by 16.4 percent to EUR 19.2 million (Q1/21: EUR 16.5 million). The upturn amounted to 12.7 percent when adjusted for currency effects. There was sustained strong growth in Australia, particularly in excavators and rollers, but the Group continued to face a challenging market environment in China. Inefficiencies and sharp rises in input costs impact profitability With the EBIT margin at 7.5 percent, profitability for the first quarter was 2.5 percentage points lower than the previous year (Q1/21: 10.0 percent). Repeated interruptions to machine production and the rework effort required as a result of overstretched and continually disrupted supply chains had negative impacts on costs and plant productivity. Higher procurement expenses for materials and energy combined with sharp rises in shipping costs all placed additional pressure on the gross margin. Sale price increases and a further reduction in sales, research and development, and administrative expenses as a share of revenue (-2.1 PP yoy) could not fully compensate for the negative effects on gross profit. Net working capital ratio within strategic target corridor, absolute increase in NWC results in negative free cash flow At 28.5 percent, the net working capital ratio at the end of the first quarter was within the strategic target corridor of less than or equal to 30 percent (March 31, 2021: 31.3 percent; Dec. 31, 2021: 26.1 percent). Net working capital amounted to EUR 595.3 million at the close of the first quarter and was thus above the value for the previous year (March 31, 2021: EUR 542.7 million). A build-up of inventory, including in particular unfinished machines along with materials and components, plus a rise in receivables fueled by dynamic business developments resulted in a rise in net working capital relative to the close of the year (Dec. 31, 2021: EUR 497.6 million). The free cash flow (before effects from the discontinuation of a fixed-term investment) thus amounted to EUR -68.4 million (Q1/21: EUR 9.8 million). Net financial debt increased relative to the close of the year to EUR 76.1 million (Dec. 31, 2021: EUR -0.8 million). Guidance for 2022 remains unchanged: Revenue between EUR 1,900 and 2,100 million expected, EBIT margin set between 9.0 and 10.5 percent The Executive Board’s fiscal 2022 revenue prediction remains unchanged in the EUR 1,900 to EUR 2,100 million corridor. The EBIT margin is expected to lie between 9.0 and 10.5 percent. Relative to the previous year, it is unlikely that the company will be able to fully compensate for inefficiencies in production and logistics as a result of overstretched and repeatedly disrupted supply chains plus sharp rises in material, shipping and energy costs. Furthermore, the Executive Board sees a risk that disruptions to supply chains could increase further in the short term. The guidance for fiscal 2022 does not consider the further implications of the war in Ukraine on the general economic climate or the health of global supply chains. Similarly, the impact of coronavirus containment measures in China is not reflected in the guidance. Key indicators for the Wacker Neuson Group Key figures in € mQ1/22Q1/21DeltaRevenue521.6434.0+20%EBIT39.143.6-10%EBIT margin (as a %)7.510.0-2.5 PPProfit for the period28.629.1-1.7%Earnings per share in €0.420.41+2.4%Free cash flow1-68.49.8>-100%1 Free cash flow before outflows into fixed-term investments amounting to EUR 100 million in Q1/21 as well as inflows in the amount of EUR 30 million in Q1/22. The complete Q1/2022 quarterly report is available at the following link: https://wackerneusongroup.com/en/investor-relations/financial-reports-presentations... Read more...Explore Plant and Transport Solutions specifies Xwatch ‘pitch and roll’ warning system with combined Trackunit telematics for cabbed dumpers6 May 2022Dumpers / TechnologyAn industry-first from Explore Plant and Transport Solutions, Xwatch Safety Solutions and Trackunit Explore Plant and Transport Solutions, headquartered in Worksop, is committed to leading the way in site safety through the continued development of new and innovative ideas, forging partnerships with leading technology developers, to provide state-of-the-art technically efficient solutions for its blue-chip customers. The company’s latest collaboration is with Xwatch Safety Systems and Trackunit, which together, have designed and developed an industry first with the Xwatch Simple Safe Two Series Roll Over Monitor, which is connected to Trackunit’s telematic system. Since the SS2’s first trial, Explore has since added the SS2 system to its front tipping dumper specification demonstrating its commitment to safety and providing customers with the latest innovation in dumper safety. The new safety system was first proposed when Chris Gatheridge, Head of Operations at Explore Plant and Transport Solutions, had a conversation with Dan Leaney, Sales and Operations Director at Xwatch Safety Solutions asking whether an XW system could be adapted to work with a dumper to warn the operator if the machine was at ‘tipping point’. The Xwatch engineers came up with a solution and this was fitted on one of Explore’s hire fleet six-tonne cabbed dumpers. Dan explained, “The Xwatch system monitors the driving style of the operator and gives an early alert to the operator via the Trackunit telematics of a potential pitch and roll-over situation. The system tells the operator when he/she is reaching the manufacturer’s published limits. In the event of a roll-over, the Xwatch system will stop the engine, preventing further operation of the machine, which eliminates engine damage and other potential hazards on site. The Trackunit telematics system is able to send real-time reports of this event”. Ryan Pike, Market Development at Trackunit commented, “It is fantastic to be included in a new innovative system in plant that can prevent incidents before they happen. I have been lucky enough to witness the positive effects this collaboration has already had and know it will be a massive safety success. The team agreed that adding the Trackunit telemetry to analyse these events and use the evidence to adapt the technology is where further progressions can be made. In certain cases, we have already been able to prove that it is not an operator at fault for causing an alarm to trigger, but how a ramp on-site was engineered (outside of the limitations of the machine). After advising site of this error, adjustments with the haul road and ramps were made, allowing the dumpers to work more effectively, efficiently, and safely.” Ryan added, “Matching the machine data with the SS2 data in the Trackunit platform and enabling early warning alerts has given Explore and HS2 to the ability to engage on safety events in a proactive, rather than reactive manner.” Chris commented on the collaboration, “At Explore, safety is the driving factor in our decisions. We strive to be an industry leader, redefining site standards with a focus on safety. The system that we have developed in partnership with Xwatch and Trackunit is a simple solution to a common problem on sites across the UK and ultimately works to mitigate the likelihood of a rollover situation before it has a chance to occur. It is innovative systems like these that will continue to secure and protect contractors and staff on-site, making it more accessible and safer for all.” Dan concluded, “We (Xwatch) have been working with Explore for around two years. Chris chooses the XW series 4 and 5 on all of the company’s excavators 13 tonne and above. We are delighted to continue this collaboration with the introduction of the new SS2. Together we are taking site safety to a whole new level.” Simple Safe Two Series Roll Over Monitor… The SS2 uses a compact controller coupled with a three-axis platform angle sensor – it’s designed to be robust, reliable and cost-effective. It supports optional telematics for data logging and an optional secondary sensor for articulated equipment. In its standard guise, the maximum roll angle can be set from 1 to 32 degrees (0- 63%). An audible alarm sounds when the maximum tilt has been exceeded. Intelligent filtering is used to separate actual machine tilt from bouncing and vibration. In the unfortunate event of a roll-over, SS2 will send a signal that can be used to cut the engine, and/or activate a siren or beacon. The control module samples angle data 250 times a second providing precise monitoring. Installation of the system can be achieved by any competent plant fitter. No calibration is required and there are no moving parts. Apart from the occasional visual inspection, the system is maintenance-free. own cannot provide. If data logging is required, SS2 supports optional telematics. The SS2 is suitable for a variety of machines that run the risk of pitch and roll – these include small twin rollers, small excavators, walk behind dumpers, commercial mowers, golf buggies and quad carts. ... Read more...Fantastic Free Training Initiatives to Support Mental Health Awareness Week5 May 2022CharityThe Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity are announcing some fantastic initiatives to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week and reminding everyone in construction about all of the freely available resources they offer. The charity is launching three fantastic new masterclasses to complement the huge variety of free wellbeing masterclasses already available to anyone in construction and these can be booked now. Free New Masterclasses Crossing the line – Bullying vs Banter: Looks at what is meant by banter and when does it go too far and become bullying. Taking Control -Drugs & Alcohol: The importance of why and how organisations carry out regular testing on their employees and the physical and mental effects of drugs and alcohol. Promoting Happiness: Introduces happiness habits and provides an understanding of how to develop your attitude and improve your mindset. As well as announcing their new masterclasses, the charity has also launched their Road to Wellbeing package as part of their Company Supporters programme. As from 1st May all Company Supporters will be able to access as many scheduled online mental health courses as they wish, completely free of charge. This even includes MHFA England approved Mental Health First Aider Courses. Free Mental Health Training MHFA England Mental Health Awareness ½ dayMHFA England First Aid Course 2 dayManaging Mental Health in the Workplace – 1 day CPD accredited Company Supporters will now also have access to additional support including, a dedicated resources hub, wellbeing champion training and critical incident response. Bill Hill, CEO of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity said, “There’s always a huge focus of activity around Mental Health Awareness Week which is fantastic, but with two construction workers taking their own life every single working day, we need to do more. We understand that for many companies, creating and delivering initiatives to improve workforce wellbeing can be difficult, time consuming and costly, so we want to make things as simple as possible. Our Road to Wellbeing package underpins our commitment to ensure that everyone has easy access to a variety of pro-active resources to support every level of an organisation, from site operatives through to senior management.” Throughout Mental Health Awareness Week the charity will also be posting industry relevant statistics on mental health across their social media channels and their website to signpost to their core charitable services. Five core charitable services available to everyone in the industry for free 24/7 Construction Industry Helpline offering free and confidential emotional, physical and financial wellbeing support with translation services for those that need extra support.Construction Industry Helpline Self Support App which complements the helpline and signposts to over 3000 accredited organisations offering specialist support.Free text HARDHAT service that gives immediate access to text back counsellingLighthouse Beacons. 160 volunteer centres across the country that offer a safe place to meet in a confidential environment.CPD accredited Wellbeing Masterclasses covering topics such as Managing Stress, Building Resilience and Financial Management to name just a few. If you need help or support now, or know someone that does, you can access free and confidential support 24/7 via: Construction Industry Helpline on UK 0345 605 1956 / ROI 1800 939 122, Or text HARDHAT to 85258 (UK) or 50808 (ROI)... Read more...New 8 tonne E88 Excavator Extends Bobcat R2-Series Range5 May 2022ExcavatorsBobcat has extended the company’s R2-Series of mini-excavators with the launch of the new E88 8 tonne Stage V compliant model, replacing the previous E85 M-Series machine. The E88 delivers outstanding performance from a compact dimension machine, superb operator comfort and excellent stability with high digging output. The E88 provides the operator with the full experience expected of an R2-Series excavator, adding new features and options such as an optional fourth AUX4 auxiliary tilt coupler line, a fifth AUX5 hydraulic coupler line as standard and a longer undercarriage. Bobcat´s acknowledged productivity is coupled with smooth controllability thanks to low effort joysticks and intuitive 5- or 7-Inch displays, class-leading visibility and exceptional transportability for its weight class. Large, easy opening covers provide convenient, ground level access to all service points and for maintenance checks. The proven Bobcat D24 Stage V 4-cylinder engine offers a maximum power output of 48.5 kW (65 HP) and ensures the highest performance and maximum reliability. To meet Stage V emission levels, the engine uses diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and a diesel particulate filter (DPF), replacing selective catalytic reduction, to achieve maximum reliability, efficiency and environmental protection. Please see the videos below: * action video Construction: https://youtu.be/aSDgZYE_sv8 * walkaround video with subtitles: https://youtu.be/HsgZ6lFl-Z0 * customer testimonial video Construction (with subtitles): https://youtu.be/z3PqSW_uq2I Top Class Operator Comfort Like previous Bobcat R2-Series machines such as the E60 launched at the end of 2020, the new E88 continues to develop the philosophy of ‘built around the operator’. The spacious cab with plenty of headroom and legroom retains the proven design of the cab in the E60. Easy and safe to get in and out of thanks to the wide doors, unique 3D handle, anti-slip step on the undercarriage and foot space above the track, the cab makes the daily life of the operator an easier one. The comfortable cloth high back seat is longitudinally and vertically adjustable, and is equipped as standard with a head rest and as an option, it can be heated. The seat adjustment is independent from the joystick and armrest adjustments and is applicable for any operator body weight and height. The joysticks and all the control switches and buttons are logically and ergonomically placed around the operator and easy to reach. All important information is clearly displayed on the standard 5-inch display or on an optional, class leading 7-inch touch screen display. A comfortable work environment regardless of the outside temperatures is ensured by powerful cab heating and air conditioning, which is precisely adjustable and can be used to quickly defog the windows. The E88 can be optionally equipped with automatic temperature control (Auto HVAC). Panoramic Visibility at the Top of its Class Unparalleled visibility improves job site awareness, making the machine more precise, easier and more productive to use, while keeping the job site safe. The new E88 excavator is engineered with narrower, but solid cab pillars and ample glass surface area. Rear visibility, together with the downward sloping right hand cover that does not restrict the view to the side, gives the operator the industry’s best visibility of the workgroup and the blade cutting edge as well as all around the machine. Features like powerful demisting with adjustable heating vents in front, large heating vents in the rear, front and boom LED lights (protected against damage) and the wiper with an optimized working area ensure that visibility remains uncompromised in all conditions and at different times of the day or in rainy and foggy weather. A rear LED light is available as a kit. For better awareness of the job site area, especially for working in confined spaces, the E88 can be equipped with the rear camera kit. This camera can be connected to the 5-Inch or 7-inch displays, both providing a high resolution view. Excellent Productivity & High Performance The low effort joysticks coupled with a new generation control valve make the workgroup feel like an extension of the operator’s arm and every precise movement is fully under the operator’s control. The latest generation hydraulic control valve offers improved metering for smooth controllability and natural, finite movement of the workgroup and great joystick feedback. The high breakout forces and fast cycle times in the E88 continue to be an essential part of Bobcat’s DNA. Whether it is traveling across a jobsite, backfilling or digging, the E88 excavator’s hydraulic smart system evenly distributes the flow to ensure maximum performance. The optimized blade has been designed with a self-cleaning shape for dustpanability with a short arm, power tilt and grading bucket, and contributes to improved stability. The blade float function simplifies grading and levelling. Blade float exerts a minimal, consistent downforce on the blade, with minimal operator input. High Versatility The new R2-Series E88 is available with Standard Arm and Long Arm configurations. Up to 5 arm mounted hydraulic auxiliary lines and the award-winning A-SAC (Advanced Selectable Auxiliary Control) technology enable a wide range of machine customizations to match any attachment requirement, making this excavator an excellent tool carrier. The AUX1 general purpose hydraulic line and AUX5 for hydraulic coupler control are standard equipment on the E88. The AUX2 hydraulic line for supporting functions such as rotation and the AUX4 hydraulic line for tilting control are available as an option. The AUX3 line for clam shell bucket (bucket diverter) operation is part of Bobcat’s comprehensive kit list for the E88. Superior Stability Like all R2-Series machines, the E88 is designed to achieve superior 360-degree stability in any situation, even when digging over the side or when handling heavier loads. It is a well-balanced machine for operating with different attachments owing to improved weight distribution, extended track length, optimized counterweight design and dual flange rollers guaranteeing superb over the side stability. This assures operators of confidence in any situation, even without the optional add-on counterweight. The additional 407 kg counterweight ensures the E88 offers the class-leading stability in the 8 tonne category, enabling a full range of attachments to be used without any worries. With the longer undercarriage and repositioned idler and sprockets, the E88 is continuously grounded even with the blade up. Robust Design & Easy Service and Maintenance The new R2-Series E88 is designed as a balanced machine in performance, compactness and stability. The rear overhang is only 327 mm (without an add-on counterweight), allowing this 8 tonne machine to be used in confined space areas. The dynamic and robust design reduces the risk of downtime, with the heavy-duty steel side channels and the counterweight acting as a bumper to protect essential components, as well as all the hoses, pipes, valves, lights and other sensitive components that are important for excavator functions. The R2-Series machine concept uses proven, reliable components (such as the engine, joysticks, cab etc) and if maintenance or service is needed, wide opening covers allowing access to all maintenance points from the ground level mean this can be done easily on the job site. Also under the right hand cover is a well placed and accessible fuel transfer pump with an auto shut down function, which is standard on the E88 and makes refuelling a quick, clean and easy process. The large external flat areas in the E88 simplify the cleaning of outside surfaces and help to keep the machine in perfect condition. Thanks to the use of water resistant materials in the interior and smooth surfaces, together with a removable two-piece floor mat, it is easy to clean the inside of the cab as well. Transportability As was mentioned above, the new E88 is a high performance machine in a compact package. In comparison with the previous E85 M-Series model, the new machine is 100 mm narrower (but more stable with higher lift capacities) with a maximum width of 2200 mm. The maximum overall height of 2540 mm allows the machine to be transported on a container truck without the risk of being over the EU maximum legal truck height. The tie down points inside and outside the undercarriage where the machine can be secured during transport are easily accessible and oversized for use with any type of approved fastening method. For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website www.bobcat.com... Read more...Komatsu to launch the PC01E-1 in Japan, its first electric micro excavator powered by portable and swappable mobile batteries4 May 2022ExcavatorsShowcasing joint-development work by Honda and Komatsu Vilvoorde May 2022 — Komatsu Ltd. (hereafter “Komatsu”) (Hiroyuki Ogawa, President and CEO) is going to launch the PC01E-1 electric micro excavator, developed jointly with Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (hereafter “Honda”) (Toshihiro Mibe, Director, President and Representative Executive Officer), as a rental model, in Japan in March this year. Komatsu and Honda have developed the PC01E-1 by successfully electrifying the PC01 conventional micro excavator through the incorporation of the Honda Mobile Power Pack e:* (hereafter “swappable mobile battery”) and Honda eGX electrified power unit. The conventional model is typically used very close to people, trees and flowers for pipe-laying work, gardening, agriculture, livestock and the like. As a result of electrification, the PC01E-1 model not only reduces noise and exhaust heat substantially, but also enables eco-friendly, comfortable work in either indoor or outdoor environments, thanks to no exhaust gas. As the batteries are swappable, customers can continue work simply by exchanging them. As its new electric motor offers high performance even in low revolutions, the PC01E-1 model achieves more excavation than the conventional model in low revolutions. As there is no engine installed, customers will no longer need engine-related maintenance or fueling, dynamically reducing daily inspection and maintenance work for them. Customers, who tried the PC01E-1 model at their jobsites for our PoC test, have voiced their high evaluation, such as easy exchange of the batteries, convenient charging with 100V household electricity, and practical benefits of no fueling. They have also given high marks on work performance, stating, “I feel the new model is more powerful than the conventional one.” By initially promoting the rental use of the new model by as many customers as possible, Komatsu hopes that customers will actually experience and appreciate its work performance, safety, environmental friendliness, and convenient use in order to further penetrate the market. While continuing its commitment to Quality and Reliability, and working to maximize its corporate value, Komatsu is working to achieve safe, highly – productive, smart and clean workplaces of the future through DANTOTSU Value (ESG solutions and improvement of earnings through customer value creation). *Honda Mobile Power Pack e: is a portable and swappable mobile battery developed by Honda. Main features of the product Eco-friendly, powerful electric motor No exhaust gas and no engine noise because it is battery powered. Thanks to its electric motor, which is capable of high performance, even in low revolutions, it enables stable, powerful work regardless of motor revolutions, offering more power output than conventional models in low revolutions. Portable and swappable Honda Mobile Power Pack e: Easy exchange and charging of the swappable batteries by anyone. Customers can continue work by exchanging the batteries, which eliminates waiting time for charging. Charging is also easy and convenient because its exclusive charger connects to the 100V household power supply source. New control panel The new, exclusive, simple, stylish control panel displays the battery charge level in big letters in the center of the monitor screen. Easy maintenance All engine-related maintenance work is no longer necessary, such as filter cleaning and fueling. Greasing is not necessary because oil-free bushings are used in its work equipment like in the conventional model. Daily inspection and maintenance work is substantially reduced. Inheritance of compact body size The battery box is installed in the rear of the equipment, inheriting the compact size of the current model of 580 mm width. It weighs 340 kg, lower than the max load capacity (350 kg) of Japanese mini trucks.... Read more...Doosan ‘Transparent Bucket’ Wins Major Award in France4 May 2022Safety / Technology / Wheel LoadersThe industry’s first ‘Transparent Bucket’ system launched by Doosan Infracore Europe, has won another major award in Europe. The latest honour is the ‘Coup de Coeur’ – Jury’s favourite – Award from the Jury of the 4th edition of the Grands Prix Matériels Chantiers de France and DLR, which took place in Nantes, France, on Friday, 1st April 2022, during the recent national DLR 2022 Congress. The Transparent Bucket is the first safety system of its type for wheel loaders. Due to the blind spots caused by buckets, the area in front of wheel loaders is considered a potential risk area. The new Transparent Bucket device records images at the front of the loader using cameras placed at the top and bottom of the machine. Using a curved projection method, the system displays combined images in real time on a monitor installed in the cab. With this monitor, the driver can check at any time on the screen what is happening in the blind spots in front of the bucket and thus avoid accidents. Another advantage of the Transparent Bucket system is the increased working efficiency that a full view of the front of the machine offers, which is ideal for fast loading/unloading operations or for transporting materials such as earth, sand, aggregates and in waste/recycling operations. After receiving the new award on behalf of Doosan, Gilles Bendaoud, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Doosan Infracore Europe, explained: “As safety standards for machines and job sites continue to tighten around the world, sophisticated safety systems have become a key factor in the selection of a machine. We plan to continue to develop safety systems that protect both operators and personnel working around the machines. We look forward to being at the forefront of promoting safer and accident-free work sites.” Patents filed in Korea, North America, Europe and China Doosan Infracore is the first company in the world to develop and apply a front loading function with a transparent bucket and a full vision system for construction machines. This innovation is protected by several patents in Korea, North America, Europe and China. Doosan has also developed other advanced safety systems for the machine lines in its portfolio, such as the All-round Vision Monitor (AVM) system, which displays the entire area surrounding the machine, and an obstacle detection system behind the machine using ultrasonic sensors. Both of these systems have already met with great success with customers. Grands Prix Matériels Created in 1965, the DLR is a leading French organization that brings together and federates companies in the sectors of distribution, rental, maintenance and services for equipment intended for construction and handling. Chantiers de France is one of the leading publications serving all aspects of the construction industry in France. DLR and Chantiers de France have been awarding the Grands Prix Matériels awards every year for the past four years. These awards distinguish remarkable innovations in the field of construction equipment in six different categories: Light range, Heavy range, Small equipment and site tools, Services, Jury’s favorite and Personality of the year.... Read more...SANYs ScotPlant debut hailed as a great success4 May 2022Events03 May 2022; SANY UK attended its first ever ScotPlant on the 22nd and 23rd April and the show has already proven to be a great success as the brand continues its journey to become a leading brand of excavators in the UK and Ireland. Attended by more than 6000 visitors and 200 exhibitors, footfall during the 2-day event was excellent which resulted in a huge number of high-quality leads for SANY and a number of machines being sold during or directly after the event, most notably to three new customers who were purchasing a SANY for the first time. Brian McGrane, Senior Sales Manager for SANY Scotland, commented “It has been fantastic to see a lot of people again after the restrictions of the pandemic. In this industry it’s important to meet people face-to-face and ScotPlant has given us the opportunity to meet a lot of potential new customers.” Brian continued, “Since re-launching into the UK market in 2020, customer feedback on the quality and productivity of our excavators has been excellent but alot of people are still unfamiliar with the SANY brand and so events like this are vital as we continue to build on our reputation. We had a great stand at Scotplant which allowed us to showcase our full range of machines and it was great to see so much enthusiasm for the products we had on display.” SANY took the opportunity to debut 2 brand new excavators to the Scottish and wider UK market, alongside their existing range of machines. The new SY75C with Stage V YANMAR engine is one of the most impressive SANY compact excavators on offer. With its powerful high torque drive, the latest hydraulic technology and state of the art cab, the SY75C is a mighty compact powerhouse that offers a great price to performance ratio. The larger 40-tonne, SY390 machine is an excavator boasting impressive performance, efficiency, comfort and economy. With world renowned components such as a Cummins L9 Stage V engine and Kawasaki hydraulics the SY390 doesn’t disappoint. Fuel economy is a major focus on all SANY excavators and the recent testing of the SY390 has shown fuel savings of up to a massive 42% over the outgoing SY365C (37T) model meaning significant savings as the construction market has to move to white diesel. Commenting on the show, Leigh Harris, Business Development Director for the UK & Ireland said, “It was great to finally unveil two of our latest additions to the SANY product range, allowing our visitors to see these machines up close. We had a constant flow of visitors to the stand and great interest not only in our 2 new arrivals but the whole SANY range.” Leigh continued, “A huge thank you to all of those who came to visit the SANY stand and for the team at Scotplant for helping to make it the fantastic event that it was. We look forward to 2024!.”... Read more...Kubota UK announces Rob White as new Division Manager for Construction3 May 2022Construction / NewsMarket leading manufacturer of high-performance construction machinery solutions, Kubota UK, has announced a new major and strategic appointment. Industry experienced and well-known, Rob White has joined the company as its new Divisional Manager, Construction, for the UK and Ireland. “I’m really pleased to be joining Kubota and heading up the Construction Division”, says Rob. “The product range has a fantastic reputation for quality and reliability, and even though Kubota leads the mini-excavator market in the UK and Ireland, there is still a huge opportunity for further growth.” Rob started his journey in construction at JCB in 1996, where he was immediately involved in mini-excavators as a product specialist and then went on to hold senior sales and marketing positions. Now, with more than 25 years’ experience in the construction and groundcare industries, the new Division Manager is looking to use his extensive knowledge of the UK and Ireland markets to the benefit of Kubota. “I am looking forward to working with my team, our customers, and the fantastic Kubota dealer network as we continue to deliver growth for mini-excavators, tracked dumpers and compact loaders. “There are exciting times ahead as we look to launch new technologies into the market, all of which will be focused on providing industry-specific solutions.” The appointment comes as Kubota UK celebrates 25-years at the front of the mini-excavator industry in the UK and Ireland. Activities to highlight the milestone are well underway, with more being announced throughout the year. For more information, visit kubota-eu.com. ... Read more...NEW JCB STORE SET TO REVOLUTIONISE MACHINE PURCHASING3 May 2022TechnologyJCB has launched an innovative new online platform which will transform the way customers can buy the manufacturer’s equipment – https://machinestore.jcb.com/ The new JCB Store is an online machine marketplace which allows customers to search for JCB plant and equipment within one centralised platform and view all machines available to them from their local dealer. The new system offers four times as many machines for online order than was previously possible and the site will display exact machines specifications and dealer specific pricing – giving the customer all necessary information to make a purchasing decision. JCB started to sell machines online for the first time in its history in May 2020 to support businesses with their plant requirements during the first Covid-19 lockdown. A select range of compact equipment was available for direct delivery. The brand new JCB Store offers a wider range of machines, greater insight and added flexibility to provide an even more enhanced customer experience. The machines available to purchase via JCB Store include: JCB’s full mini excavator, site dumper, vibratory tandem roller and JCB Access ranges along with a selection of JCB light equipment. JCB UK and Ireland Sales Director Steve Smith said: “Online ordering of JCB equipment has proved to be extremely popular. The JCB Store marks a significant evolution of the concept with more machines, more options, and more insight available. We have invested heavily in creating a high-quality platform tailored to the needs of an evolving market and a new generation of customers. “It capitalises on the support and expertise of our unrivalled dealer network and gives customers all the information they need in one centralised platform. It will transform the way our customers order JCB machines and makes access to our range of equipment simpler than ever.”... Read more...Successful 2022 European Dealer Conference for Doosan28 April 2022EventsUnder the theme of UNITE 2022, Doosan held the company’s European Dealer Conference in Barcelona from 4-6 April 2022. The company normally organizes these meetings every two years and the last one was held in Lisbon in February 2020. The event had an audience of 182 attendees, 134 of which were Doosan European dealers from 22 countries. Among the attendees were members of the Hyundai Doosan Infracore executive team from Korea, as well as managers from various areas of the company. Mr Seunghyun Oh, CEO of Hyundai Doosan Infracore, opened the day with a keynote speech about Hyundai Doosan Infracore globally. He spoke about the company’s achievements, product portfolio, proven product quality, opportunities and new technologies for the future. Mr Oh also described the global market outlook and the strategic direction of the company. He confirmed the record market share in Doosan’s markets including wheel loaders and crawler excavators, with record sales in 2021. Mr Oh also reminded the audience of the great development capacity at Doosan, with the launch of 20 new machines last year and the multiple international awards won by various Doosan models. Dealer Awards Across Europe Some of the dealers attending made presentations about their trajectory and growth, sharing their experiences with the rest of the audience. This was followed by a panel discussion, break-out working sessions, a gala dinner and team-building entertainment activities. Several performance awards for dealers from across Europe were announced at the dinner, including: Sales Excellence Pioneer Plant (UK) Sales Excellence Doosia AB (Sweden) Marketing Excellence Garnea, a.s. (Czech Republic) Product Expertise Real Machinery (Finland) Product Expertise Ummenhofer Baumaschinen GmbH (Germany) Service Excellence James Gordon (UK) Parts Sales Excellence Grausch y Grausch (Poland) Under the UNITE 2022 theme, the presentations at the Doosan conference showed the participants that they were all united by their passion for construction equipment, the Doosan brand, the best product – innovative and competitive, and that they also shared the success and recognition of customer satisfaction with the brand and service, which together resulted in ever stronger and more united dealers. The conference also emphasized the company’s slogan, ‘Powered by Innovation‘, defining innovation as one of the pillars of the company, including its vision as a world leader in infrastructure solutions. The event also confirmed health, safety and the environment as the number one management priority. On a final note, in lieu of corporate gifts for attendees, Doosan decided instead to make a donation to Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF), the international medical humanitarian organization. As we all know one country where the help of MSF is much needed now is Ukraine and teams from the organisation are working hard to deliver emergency medical aid to people still in Ukraine, as well as those now seeking safety in neighbouring countries. For more on Doosan construction equipment, visit the website: www.eu.doosanequipment.com... Read more...A Team of Five Bobcat Machines at Work on Archaeological Excavations at the Mausoleum of Augustus in Rome26 April 2022Machine / NewsThanks to their compactness, stability and precise manoeuvrability, Bobcat machines have proved to be the ideal choice for use on an impressive and prestigious archaeological project in the heart of Rome, the capital of Italy. Rome is a unique city in the world: it has buried under it an immense archaeological museum, the result of over 2800 years of history. Most of the old city still lies hidden under the current one, but it is increasingly visible thanks to excavations that continue to unearth new underground monuments. The city is in fact dotted with archaeological sites which are created when sections of Rome are redeveloped, leading to the discovery of more important evidence of the ancient Roman civilization. Among these, the most impressive archaeological site is that of the Mausoleum of Augustus, the tomb that the Roman Emperor, Augustus, built for himself and his family. Located in the historic centre of Rome, the Mausoleum is one of the most important monuments of the city, as well as the most impressive circular tomb in the world. Bobcat Machines on the Largest Archaeological Excavation in Europe On this archaeological site, the largest in Europe since the Second World War until today, five Bobcat machines have been working without interruption for two years, including a T590 compact track loader and E17, E35, E45 and E85 mini-excavators, used with great safety and certainty of results. As well as the archaeological dig, the five Bobcat machines are also working on transforming the Piazza Augusto Imperatore, in front of the Mausoleum, into a public space, which will house the ticket office for the Mausoleum and a cafeteria. The square will be connected to street level by two impressive stairways, one on the side of the Ara Pacis museum and the other towards the church of San Carlo al Corso, in effect recreating a amphitheatre, that will stage outdoor performances in the future. This project will make it possible to bring the city closer to its history with a new area of 7000 square metres, 1600 of which is at the same level as the archaeological works, including 350 square metres of original flooring from the first century AD. Archaeological excavations involve slow and very meticulous work, which involves the use of mini-excavators to be able to work effectively without risking compromising treasures of ancient Rome. Before proceeding with the excavation work, surveys are carried out by the superintendent archaeologists. The first part of the excavation can be done quite quickly. Once a certain depth has been reached, it is necessary to proceed in an extremely precise, skilful and scrupulous way. It is slow and patient work in which each excavator is constantly manned by an archaeologist to examine each stone and each fragment unearthed. The Bobcat machines were used with toothless buckets, to prevent damaging any finds. In addition, a screening bucket was purchased to sift the earth for possible archaeological treasures. Finally, forks were used to move material onto pallets. Thanks to their excellent digging performance and breakout forces, the Bobcat excavators, without any aid have dealt with the excavation of 16,000 cubic metres of soil, layer by layer, to a depth of 7 m from road level, proceeding at all times with the utmost of care. In carrying out the work, Bobcat excavators unearthed various finds among which a pomerial stone stands out, a block of travertine just over 2 m high dating back to 49 AD, which marked the edge of the city and is now exhibited at the Ara Pacis museum. VM Ecologica always satisfied with the efficiency and reliability of the Bobcat machines The work was carried out by VM Ecologica, a company based in Rome, that deals with transport for third parties, earthmoving, demolition and collecting construction waste, but specialized above all in archaeological excavations thanks to the great experience of the owner, Marco Vita, who has worked with other important archaeological excavations in the city of Rome. These include various restoration works on the Palatine Hill and at the Gabbi Archaeological Museum on the Via Prenestina, road repair work at Villa dei Quintili, excavations at the Balbi Crypt Museum in the centre of Rome, and excavations to rediscover part of the Via Appia, which passes about 9 m below the current street level in the centre of Rome. “We are proud to have been involved in another important archaeological dig in Rome, commissioned by Pasqualucci Costruzioni company,” says Marco Vita, owner of VM Ecologica. “Once again, Bobcat equipment has lived up to our expectations, especially in terms of efficiency and reliability. They are undoubtedly excellent machines. I have always bought Bobcat, and I have no intention of relying on other machines in the future. The competition’s machines give good performance, but I have complete confidence in Bobcat. My next purchase will be the E10e electric mini-excavator for a very special site in Rome.” Angelo Petti, VM Ecologica manager for site logistics management, comments: “Bobcat equipment has always been at our side on all our jobsites, demonstrating great digging power, excellent stability and precise, smooth control of work functions. In addition, spare parts are always readily available and their replacement is carefully and quickly carried out. We have never had any problems with the people on the construction sites who control both the bureaucratic and mechanical regulation of the machines.” Marco Vita continues: “For the purchase of Bobcat equipment, we have always turned to MCI Lazio under Raffaele Proietti, who has always guaranteed us a high level of service and a prompt response to all our needs.” Idio Ridolfi&figli – MCI Lazio MCI Lazio is a division of Idio Ridolfi&Figli Srl, Bobcat’s exclusive distributor for Abruzzo, Molise, Umbria, Lazio and Marche. For more than sixty years, it has been the reference point in central Italy for the sale, hire, servicing and spare parts of construction machinery and equipment. Idio Ridolfi&Figli Srl has offices in Avezzano (AQ), Santa Teresa di Spoltore (PE), Perugia and Monterotondo Scalo (RM). Idio Ridolfi&Figli Srl uses authorised workshops and vans equipped with a mobile workshop, guaranteeing a fast and economical response to any maintenance and repair problem, even on site. Raffaele Proietti, manager of the MC Lazio branch in Monterontondo, says: “The relationship with VM Ecologica has been consolidated for many years. It’s a real relationship of trust that has been strengthened site after site. In addition to sales, there is a great deal of attention to advice on the most suitable machine for each type of work, sales assistance before and after the purchase and unfailing technical assistance that is always ready and punctual, even on site. This has allowed us to create a lasting partnership based on mutual esteem and trust.”... Read more...EXPERIENCE SENNEBOGEN’S BIG RECYCLING FUTURE AT IFAT 2022 – WORLD PREMIERE OF THE NEW BATTERY-POWERED MATERIAL HANDLERS25 April 2022EventsVisit Sennebogen from May 30th – June 3rd 2022 at the world’s leading trade fair for water, sewage, waste and raw materials management in Munich. As big and with as many innovations as never before, SENNEBOGEN is once again setting significant standards for the future of the recycling industry at IFAT and will be presenting, among other things, the new battery-powered material handlers. Discover the brand new SENNEBOGEN 19 t battery-powered material handler, the 22 t recycling material handler 8.22 of their new G-series as well as the 4 t telehandler 3.40 G that has just been launched on the market. Everything can be found at our more than 300 m³ booth in hall C5, No. 241/340 and at the VDMA outdoor area (LIVE demos: biomass & construction material recycling). THREE NEW MACHINES WILL BE PRESENTED AT THE FAIR Experience an absolute market innovation: With the new battery-powered material handlers, SENNEBOGEN supplements its electric series with free-moving models that combine the best of both machine concepts. This is because with their mobile battery models, you can continue working even when the machine is connected to the power grid for recharging. The 4 t telescopic loader SENNEBOGEN 3.40 G, which was recently launched on the market, will also celebrate its trade show premiere. The completely new development is not only visually a real highlight. In addition to the impressive performance data and the stacking height of 7.70 m, the machine shines in particular with its unique selling point, the Multicab. The most modern cab of its kind can be raised infinitely to an eye level of 4.10 m and guarantees the best all-round visibility in recycling operations. Sennebogen are also presenting another model from their new machine generation: the 8.22 G-Series. The new edition of the popular 22 t recycling all-rounder 818 E not only impresses with its great system performance and reach, but also offers maximum operator comfort and safety, as do all machines in the G series. EVEN MORE SENNEBOGEN MACHINES: LIVE IN ACTION AT THE VDMA DEMONSTRATION DAYS You can also see the power of their machines in action. At the VDMA Demonstration Days, Sennebogen recycling experts will be demonstrating their skills in biomass recycling and construction materials recycling.... Read more...BORIS JOHNSON OPENS NEW FACTORY AS JCB GOES FOR GROWTH22 April 2022NewsPRIME Minister Boris yesterday officially opened JCB’s newest factory in India as the company strengthens is global manufacturing presence. With 11 factories in the UK employing more than 7,500 people, JCB first began manufacturing in India in 1979 and is now the country’s leading producer of construction equipment. Today Mr Johnson visited JCB’s latest factory in India – a £100 million investment plant in Gujarat which will fabricate parts for global production lines. The new factory is located in Vadodara near the port city of Surat on the West Coast of India. Unveiling an inauguration stone to officially open the new facility, Mr Johnson said: “ Joining the Prime Minister today at the opening was JCB Chairman Lord Bamford, who led JCB’s expansion in India in the late 1970s, including the opening of its first factory in Ballabgarh, near Delhi. Today JCB has six factories in India at locations including Jaipur and Pune. Lord Bamford said: “In its first year of full production, JCB India manufactured just 39 machines and by next year will have made a total of half a million. This country is now a major engineering power and being here has transformed our business. It has been a fabulous success, with so much more potential for growth. Such progress has only been possible by continued investment and the opening of our new Gujarat facility is an important step in growing our business here and around the world.” JCB India CEO and MD Deepak Shetty said: “This new facility will create around 1,200 direct jobs when complete and thousands more in the supply chain. It will also be a benchmark in the industry on gender diversity and modern technologies in laser cutting, welding and machining. Vadodara is a strategic location for JCB India given its proximity to ports and availability of raw materials and skilled talent. We would like to thank the Government of Gujarat for its phenomenal support with this project.” More . . . . India has been JCB’s biggest market every year since 2007 and one in two of every construction machine sold in India today is made by JCB. The new facility, which is on a 47-acre site, will be capable of processing 85,000 tonnes of steel annually. The new plant will be a gender diverse manufacturing facility employing 50% women. JCB India has also set up a skills centre at the plant where young professionals will be trained to work on diverse job roles in manufacturing.... Read more...Blue Scotland to become the MDS (A Terex Brand) Distributor in Scotland & North East England22 April 2022NewsBlue Machinery (Scotland) Ltd have been appointed as the MDS distributor for Scotland and the North East of England. MDS – A Terex Brand is a leading manufacturer of heavy-duty rock trommels and conveyors. The company which was acquired by Terex MP back in July were originally founded in 1995 and over the last 25 years MDS have built a valued reputation for innovation, offering bespoke solutions to serve client needs with equipment that can withstand the harshest of environments. Blue Scotland become the second Blue company to become a dealer for the MDS brand in the UK, with Blue Central having taken on the dealership within the North West and Central England. Blue Machinery Spares will become the authorised parts provider for the MDS product ranges within the area in which Blue Scotland operate. The next/same day delivery offered on the vast majority of parts, paired with Blue Scotland’s network of industry leading field service engineers, MDS customers will be able to benefit from minimised downtime on their machines. Austin Carey, Managing Director at Blue Machinery Scotland comments: “Blue Scotland have had previous experience selling MDS rock trommels in the Scottish market. We felt that the recent acquisition of the business from Terex will result in further development of the product range. We see lots of potential applications in which these products can excel in, including overburden processing, rock armour, primary screening and inert materials. We have some demonstration machines on order and we will be showcasing these machines to our customers in the Autumn”. Raheel Qamar, Sales & Marketing Manager at MDS commented: “Blue Scotland will be key to strengthening our product offering in the Northern region of the UK and Scotland. This is an exciting partnership, with the local marketing knowledge and existing sales network, Blue Scotland will provide local support to the MDS customer base.” As part of Blue Scotland’s introduction to the MDS brand, they will be exhibiting an MDS M413 3 way split Trommel at the Scotplant show which takes place at the Royal Highland Centre on Friday 22nd & Saturday 23rd April. You can join visit their stand on Avenue C to see the machine up close in person.... Read more...EVOQUIP LAUNCH SUSTAINABILITY CAMPAIGN – THINK GREEN, THINK EVOQUIP21 April 2022RecyclingApril 2022 – EvoQuip have taken a step towards sustainability in launching a campaign to illustrate their commitment to creating a sustainable future. The “Think Green, Think EvoQuip” campaign was launched in April 2022 and demonstrates continued growth by creating equipment that is increasingly sustainable. Barry O’Hare, Business Line Director for EvoQuip said: “Sustainability is a strategic priority for us and consistently at the top of our agenda. We see it as our responsibility to do what we can to be as sustainable a company as possible, and to help to build a world that puts sustainability at the forefront of everything we do.” The new campaign shows EvoQuip’s commitment to this important topic and demonstrates continued growth by designing and creating equipment that is increasingly sustainable. The compact crushing and screening brand have also posted a sustainability responsibility statement on their website stating 4 key commitments. These are the production of sustainable equipment that is as kind to the environment as possible, whilst still being effective and eco-friendly in its use, this is both in the design stage of the products and in the physical processing of material. The use of sustainable materials where possible in the production of all equipment, parts, and packaging to help to ensure the products are sustainable from design, to the finished product, to operation. Offering the best solution to customers to ensure their operation is as efficient and environmentally friendly as possible. They promise to comply with any and all legislations and health and safety requirements. Recycling is an important industry for EvoQuip, with over 40% of equipment out in the field working in a recycling application. The entire EvoQuip range provides the ideal solution for generating profit from waste. It is possible to process many types of waste from which can then be reused as product on site or sold. EvoQuip will be increasing their selection of hybrid/electric offerings over time, one of many things that they will be doing as part of this campaign. This as well as fuel consumption monitoring, assessing and reducing carbon footprint and reducing waste to landfill will help EvoQuip live up to the name of the campaign “Think Green, Think EvoQuip”. Their economic contribution comes in the form of reducing machine running costs, turning waste into profit and having a more measured approach to research and development to name but a few. This whilst also ensuring their training to operators is current and constantly and consistently updated to ensure that operator know the most economical way to operate and service the machines.... Read more...Bobcat Centrestage on Balgownie Stand at ScotPlant 202221 April 2022EventsAt the ScotPlant 2022 Exhibition at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh from 22-23 April 2022, Inverurie-based Balgownie, the Authorised Bobcat Dealer for the North of Scotland will be showing the latest in Bobcat mini-excavators and telehandlers for the UK market. First Time for E60 R2-Series Mini-Excavator at ScotPlant Being shown alongside the Bobcat E10z and E27 mini-excavator models, the new E60 R2-Series 6 tonne Stage V compliant mini-excavator will make its first appearance at ScotPlant. In common with Bobcat’s other new R2-Series machines, the E60 offers many state-of-the-art features and options such as Bobcat’s unique award-winning Advanced Selectable Auxiliary Control (A-SAC) system and the innovative Automatic Track Tensioning System (ATTS) technology. The E60 is a flagship model in all aspects – this conventional swing model features a powerful engine, a larger cab and other new unique features. In the E60, a tail overhang of only 280 mm allows the machine to be operated in confined spaces. The E60 is driven by the new Bobcat D24 Stage V high torque diesel engine providing 41 kW (56 HP) of power, designed specifically for Bobcat compact equipment and based on a well proven design installed in thousands of Bobcat machines worldwide. Built Around the Operator Like the very successful Bobcat R-series 2-4 tonne machines launched in 2018, the new E60 mini-excavator is built around the operator and is designed to take this philosophy a big stage further. This makes operators feel even more at home when working with this machine. The E60 features a best-in-class roomy cab with space where the operator really needs it, with more headroom, legroom and plenty of storage areas. Increased Versatility Up to five arm-mounted hydraulic auxiliary lines and the optional A-SAC technology enable a wide choice of machine customization options to match any attachment requirement, further enhancing the role of this excavator as an excellent tool carrier. The A-SAC system is a unique solution that enables operators to customize control patterns of auxiliary hydraulic circuits on Bobcat mini-excavators, depending on their set-up preferences for using hydraulic attachments. New Top-of-the-Range T40.180SLP R-Series 18 m Telehandler Balgownie will also show the top-of-the-range Bobcat T40.180SLP 18 m telehandler for the first time at ScotPlant. Part of the new generation R-Series telehandler range from Bobcat, the T40.180SLP is one of a choice of 12 models in the range with Stage V engines, covering lifting heights from 6 to 18 m with maximum lifting capacities between 2.6 and 4.1 tonne. New Cab for Remarkable Operator Experience In common with all Bobcat R-Series telehandlers, the T40.180SLP features a new cab with unmatched ease of use, designed around the operator, offering a unique central control panel for optimized 360° ergonomics. In the ergonomic design, all surfaces have been optimised to offer increased space and visibility. It is based around a new 5-inch LCD display providing interactive and streamlined information, including the feed from the rear camera for easier and more precise operation. R-Series telehandlers offer agility on demand, with a newly configured transmission system providing enhanced smoothness to carry out the trickiest jobs at height with surgical precision. These operations are also facilitated by the combination of the Boom Positioning System, the new updated, ultra-accurate joystick, the inching function and improved visibility from the cab. Standard 3-Year Warranty Included As with all new Bobcat telehandlers, the T40.180SLP telehandler offers customers peace of mind with a unique 3-year warranty (or 3000 hours) on each machine as standard from the factory, extendable as an option to 5 years and 5000 hours. Bobcat is the only manufacturer to provide a 3-year warranty as standard, allowing customers to focus entirely on growing their business without worrying about their machines. Bobcat Dealer for the North of Scotland Balgownie is responsible for sales and servicing of the Bobcat range of telehandlers, mini-excavators, compact track and skid-steer loaders, compact wheel loaders, small articulated loaders, light compaction and attachments in the North of Scotland. Customers benefit from a superb on-site service network, covering everything from emergency repairs to routine maintenance. Balgownie‘s factory-trained engineers have many years of hands-on experience of repairs and servicing of plant and machinery. As well as covering existing contracts, Balgownie provides flexible service agreements, depending on the requirements of the customer. The company offers service and warranty work on all existing Bobcat machines in its area, backed by a full selection of genuine accessories and parts. Balgownie also holds a stock of new and used Bobcat machines, to respond quickly to customers’ needs. For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website www.bobcat.com... Read more...OZ Lifting Launches Dynamometer Lever Hoist20 April 2022UncategorisedOZ Lifting has launched a third lever hoist range—Dyno-Hoist, a dynamometer-equipped product from 0.75 to 9 tons capacity. The Winona, Minnesota-based manufacturer is the first to bring a lever hoist that includes a dynamometer to the North American market. It is available in 0.75, 1.5, 3, 6, and 9 tons capacity, matching the ranges of the company’s industrial and premium (overload protected) lever hoist offerings. Dyno-Hoist, named by Richard Miller, sales manager, gives users a real-time reading of the load (in kilograms or pounds) they are applying to the hoist, whether it be a lifting or pulling application. An overload alert is triggered at 126%; the American Society of Mechanical Engineers requires that when a hoist is repaired or recertified, it gets tested at 125% of the rated capacity. OZ Lifting wanted to be sure that the hoist could be tested to that capacity without timing out. Against best practice advice, users could operate it beyond that point, but they would have no knowledge of the load being applied. Steve Napieralski, president at OZ Lifting, said: “There is nothing out there in the marketplace like this hoist. I don’t think there is a specific market for it, but we recently displayed it at two industrial trade shows and there was specific interest from the aviation industry, as they must tension parts for testing and need to know the exact weight. It will be useful in any application where you need to know the weight of the load being applied to the hoist. Where you would have previously needed to use a shackle, dynamometer, and hoist, with Dyno-Hoist, you gain a significant amount of headroom because the load cell is an integral part of the unit.” OZ Lifting’s industrial line of lever hoists already offers a good choice if users know the weight of the load. The premium line, meanwhile, is based on the same hoist but has overload protection. This has proved useful if the load weight is unknown, as the overload protection will activate at approximately 50% above the load rating. Notably, Dyno-Hoist’s dynamometer fitting itself can retrofit to either of the industrial or premium lever hoists. If a user has one of those models, they can purchase the load cell and complete installation. The net weight of the units (head only), is 16.5, 27.94, 45.1, 66, and 96.80 lbs. in order of capacity, while the effort to lift the safe working load (SWL) in each instance is 31.4, 49.5, 72, 76.5, and 81 lbs. The first three models in the range have one fall of chain and the 6 and 9 tons versions, two and three falls respectively. Other features include all-steel construction; steel handle with rubber grip; zinc-plated load chain; forged alloy steel hooks; and fully-enclosed gearing. Dyno-Hoist meets or exceeds CE, ASME B30.21, and AS 1418.2 standards. Standard AA batteries offer a run time of 150 hours, but the product can be plugged into a 115/1/60 outlet. Each hoist is load tested and arrives with a test certificate, one-year warranty, and a free set of latches. OZ Lifting will show a variety of davit cranes, hoists, and lifting components at this month’s Associated Wire Rope Fabricators (AWRF) Product Information Exhibition (PIE), which takes place at the Marriott Marquis Houston.... Read more...Sleipner launches two new simulators to improve occupational safety and training costs by 66%20 April 2022SafetySleipner Finland Oy has taken the need for improving working safety and remote training to a new level with their E-series products. The company has launched both portable and static simulators to train excavator operators at mine and quarry sites. The two new simulators have been created for different solutions. The portable simulator is light and movable, while the static simulator is a training station that is installed at the working site. With the simulators, operators can be trained on the new E-series products, or they can be retrained to maintain a certain quality level for operating the E-series. And since the world has changed more towards working remotely, the simulators create the possibility for completely remote training. Sleipner has now completed testing at two mines in Finland with around 20 operators. The feedback from the operators was very good. “For example, we trained excavator operators at the Boliden Kevitsa mine. Many of the attendees had variable working experience with excavators. The new simulator saved our customer almost two full days of valuable production time. Also, I noticed that both experienced older operators and younger “PlayStation generation” operators were able to learn on the simulator very quickly,” says Teijo Höylä, Product Manager at Sleipner. Training with the simulator can reduce costs by 66% compared to traditional on-site training by saving fuel, maintenance and resources from productive work. “The mine supervisors were happy that we were not taking machines out of production. Also, there was not a classroom of operators waiting for their turn on the simulator, so they could return to their work until their turn,” says Karl Marlow, Training Manager & Product Support at Sleipner. “Normally we would do a classroom theory session with around 5 to 10 people pending on the mine production releasing operators. Then we could send some operators back to work and call them back for their turn on the simulator, as sometimes it can take up to an hour per operator,” Marlow describes. Benefits from the simulator training can be sorted into four groups: work safety, increased training efficiency, increased productivity, and lower maintenance and training costs. “The benefits to the customer include no losses in production from taking two machines out for training, no risk of accidents or incidents as the training takes place in a classroom instead of the mine area, and less lost time by not having operators just sitting around. Also, the level of operating skills required can be zero, meaning untrained operators spend more time on the simulator rather than posing a risk in the mine or pit. The one simulator can cover both small excavators and larger ones. Also, all the tasks we cover in theory and practice can be done on the simulator,” Marlow says. CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE: First user experiences with Sleipner E190 simulator “Sleipner simulator provides a really good driving feel” Boliden Kevitsa Mining Oy in Lapland, Finland, has already gained first-hand experience of training with the new Sleipner simulator. The practical training was arranged for operators of the Sleipner E190 excavator transport system, which Boliden acquired last autumn, while operators of the company’s mining trucks also participated in the theoretical part of the training. Boliden’s training supervisor Joni Ylinampa found the new simulator to be extremely useful, especially in terms of safety and cost. “Sleipner was able to provide onsite training with its portable dual-screen simulator. It is always easier when the training comes to the customer instead of having to send our operators elsewhere. The first two five-person groups were trained on the simulator last autumn when there was already snow on the ground. Sleipner’s experienced trainer Karl Marlow was on hand throughout the training, and all the arrangements were very flexible. The service was really excellent in this respect,” Ylinampa says. Advantage of simulators: safety issues can be practiced safely Simulators provide operators with a risk-free experience of new equipment. In addition, good training significantly reduces the risk of accidents and damage to equipment. “Accidents usually occur during initial training in real conditions, which naturally results in both production and financial losses – everything in this industry is big, including costs. If the vehicle’s brakes are used incorrectly and the machine breaks down as a result, it can cost tens of thousands of euros in an instant, as will a single tire. It is therefore essential to maximize the service life of our valuable machinery. Simulators also make it possible to practice for emergencies and other situations that can lead to a loss of control, so operators know how to respond in such events,” Ylinampa describes. Driving feel is easy to find Although it took a little time to get used to the simulator, and simulators never fully correspond to reality, Ylinampa reports that the operators found it easy to find an accurate driving feel. “The Sleipner simulator is ideal for initial training, especially for operators who do not have previous experience with such excavator transport systems. Functionally, it demonstrates what modern technology can achieve. The simulator provides a really good driving feel, software and physics. The machines respond almost like in real life – it couldn’t be better. For example, the wheels of the transport system swing from the excavator bucket, just as they actually do. It is very realistic,” Ylinampa admits. Improvement ideas from the participants included tweaking the software to allow them to continue the training programme from where they left off after fixing their mistakes instead of having to start all over from the beginning. Sleipner took note of this feedback immediately and has already made the necessary software updates. “The last exercise in particular was quite challenging, as it is involved a twisty track. Participants had to really think and do all the right things. Impressively, everyone passed this test.” Training has produced results Since the training, operating the Sleipner E190 excavator transport system has gone well at Boliden, which uses the system to move a Komatsu PC2000 excavator. “There have been no problems at any point. We were able to practice our basic skills with using the excavator transport system and to test the boundaries safely – keeping within these boundaries is essential for getting the job done. The simulator had different indicators to describe the angles of the machine, for example, so it showed clearly what would happen at too high a speed or if it was overturning,” says Ylinampa. According to Ylinampa’s calculations, the simulator saved a lot of time. The training was faster as it allowed different operators to take the controls without any delay. Another advantage was that the training did not cause disruptions to operations at the mine due to traffic. “Of course, training always takes time away from production, but with the simulator we needed a day or two less compared to training the old way. It also eliminated the need to prepare the work area for training by constructing tight curves, for example. The simulator gave our operators a strong basic understanding of the machine’s functions, so practicing in the field afterwards was much faster,” Ylinampa summarizes.... Read more...Kubota & Rose Builders – A keen eye on quality19 April 2022Construction / ExcavatorsCombining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary designs, Rose Builders located in Manningtree, Essex, has earned itself a reputation for delivering the very highest standards of design and construction. With a sustainable business built on quality, a solid reputation, and a desire to improve the communities in which it works, this fourth-generation family-run house building company is clearly not your average construction firm. Having recently won a five-star award from the House Builders Federation for customer satisfaction, it’s clear to see that Rose Builders holds quality in much higher esteem than quantity. Part of that ethos can be attributed to the way it manages and controls processes. And having its own groundworks division, complete with highly skilled operators, brings an additional element of quality control to the business. “Running our own groundworks division instead of hiring in contractors, brings an additional element of quality control and time management to the business,” explains Daniel Frost, Rose Builders’ operations and fleet manager. “As a result, we’re in a far greater position to control and manage our quality control processes by having our own fleet of excavators,” he says. Needless to say, its core values of honesty, integrity and trust apply as much to the machinery it buys as they do to those who eventually invest in a Rose-built home. “As a builder, contractor and developer, quality is very important to our business,” says Daniel. “And it’s one of the areas that is high on our agenda when sourcing plant and machinery. It’s not just our customers who expect the best – we want top quality too.” It explains perhaps, why the mini excavator fleet is gradually morphing into a shade of orange, with a total of 17 Kubota models now supplied by local dealer HOS Plant. The lion’s share comprises six of Kubota’s flagship eight-tonne KX080 models, with a further five KX030 three-tonners and four short radius U17s. In addition, Rose Builders operates a five tonne U48-4 and a K008 micro excavator. Daniel Frost says past experiences with Kubota machinery prior to him joining Rose Builders proved that strong residual values combined with high reliability, make the Japanese brand an obvious choice. “Demand for clean, tidy, used Kubota mini and midi excavators continues to impress,” he says. “Our kit doesn’t sit around for long when we trade up. And the used values also contribute to a low total cost of ownership.” He says the firm’s excavator replacement policy is five years, in which time the Japanese machines are likely to have clocked up around 4,000 hours. “We do like the reassurance of Kubota’s own warranty, but seldom have to call on it,” he says. “But when we have, the service and support from HOS Plant and Kubota UK has been faultless.” “But just as importantly, we aim to keep the same operator on all machines of eight tonnes and above. This gives each operator responsibility and pride in the kit they use – and that is also reflected in residual values.” When it comes to machine specification, a selection of buckets and breakers tend to cover all bases for groundworks. “It’s why we operate so many eight tonners,” he says. “It really is a jack-of-all-trades machine. The KX080 is relatively compact but with a generous working envelope – and that makes it ideal on our building sites.” The firm also operates a further 12 larger excavators, comprising 14 and 21 tonne machines for heavier work and bulk excavation during the early phases of site development. “If Kubota produced 14 and 21 tonne excavators, we’d probably have those on the fleet too,” he says. Phil Hempstead is one of Rose Builders’ many machine operators. He spends his days in the cab of an eight-tonne KX080-4 a2, which he views as a versatile all-rounder on building sites. “I use the Kubota with a selection of Rhinox buckets that extend from narrow trenching to grading,” says Phil. “A low pin height and a bucket hook for easy handling improves on-site convenience, and we can flip the buckets round to work in reverse, which is handy when laying shingle over drains.” “Compared to other midi excavators I’ve used, the Kubota is very smooth, it’s a lot quieter and packs more comfort too,” says Phil. “The cab is quite wide, which is also good for the operator.” Phil has particular praise for the built-in refuelling pump, which avoids having to climb on the tracks to refuel. “This is just one of many small improvements that all add up to create a great machine,” he adds. “Blade float is a brilliant feature, and it makes back-filling both fast and efficient.” He also has praise for the cab’s interior trim. “Plastic panels in the cab are smooth finished, which makes them easy to keep clean and bright compared to those with a rougher surface,” he says. “It’s just a very well-built excavator.”... Read more...SMT GB proudly announces return to Hillhead19 April 2022EventsAfter a two-year break from exhibitions due to COVID-19, SMT GB is excited to showcase a wide range of the latest Volvo machines and service solutions at Hillhead 2022. On the SMT GB stand, visitors will have the opportunity to see a host of new Volvo excavators, displayed for the first time in Great Britain. These include the EWR130E wheeled excavator, the EW200E material handler, EC530E excavator and EC300E Hybrid excavator. The multipurpose Volvo EWR130E wheeled excavator sets a new standard for powerful machine performance in an unbeatably compact package. Ideally suited for working in tight urban spaces, its wheeled drive means it can quickly move through infrastructure projects with ease. Designed especially for waste and recycling, the all-new Volvo EW200E material handler is built on the success of the larger EW240E MH and delivers outstanding results in waste and recycling applications. The Volvo EC530E crawler excavator, launched along with the EC550E in 2020, will also be shown on the SMT GB stand. Designed for heavy-duty digging, mass excavation and large site preparation, both the EC350E and EC550E boast superb operator comfort and a new generation of electro-hydraulics. Another star of the show will be the new Volvo EC300E Hybrid crawler excavator. This machine delivers the same levels of controllability and performance as an equivalent conventional machine, but with an up to 17% potential fuel efficiency improvement, making it the environmentally respectful choice for powerful performance in built-up areas. Due to be shown for the first time at Hillhead in 2020, the Volvo EC950F crawler excavatorwill be working in the demonstration area directly behind the SMT GB stand. The 95 tonne EC950F is the largest Volvo excavator to date and delivers maximum productivity in heavy rock or muck shifting applications thanks to its perfect combination of power, stability and breakout force. New Volvo electric compact range A specially designed “electric village” will also be featured on the SMT GB stand, which will offer Hillhead visitors their first opportunity to see the newly expanded range of fully electric compact machines from Volvo Construction Equipment. This includes the new Volvo EC18 Electric and ECR18 Electric compact excavators and the Volvo L20 Electric compact wheeled loader. The Volvo ECR25 Electric compact excavator, which was displayed for the first time at Bauma in 2019, will also be shown on the SMT GB stand. Visitors will be able see the new electric machines working in mock real-world applications during daily demo shows on the stand at 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00. Efficiency and productivity boosting solutions In addition, SMT GB will be showcasing its latest service solutions in the categories of “Efficient Sites”, “Intelligent Data” and “Flexible Maintenance and Repair”. Not only do these solutions boast the latest technologies to help boost site, project and machine efficiency and productivity, but also reduce downtime, waste and total cost of ownership for customers. The “Efficient Sites” solutions being showcased are Volvo Co-Pilot, Volvo EcoOperator training, state-of-the-art simulators and SMT Site Simulation. Having a reliable and efficient fleet of machines plays an important part in every project, but it is the performance of the operator and the efficiency boosting technology available to them that really makes the difference. This is where Volvo Co-Pilot and EcoOperator training delivered by SMT GB makes a real difference. Using a state-of-the-art cab mounted touchscreen, Volvo Co-Pilot provides the operator with all the information they need to complete projects in less time and with more precision. Through the specially designed advanced training course provided by SMT GB, Volvo EcoOperator training teaches operators how to get the most out of their Volvo machines, while also reducing fuel consumption, emissions and wear. This is made possible thanks to the cutting-edge SMT GB machine simulators, providing operators with the ability to get hands-on with a highly accurate digital version of their machines, along with real-world feedback in a safe classroom environment to hone their skills and identify areas for improvement. The newly developed SMT GB Site Simulation solution, meanwhile, uses advanced drone technology to generate highly accurate 3D models of any site it is deployed on. This provides customers with the ability to accurately determine the current condition of a site, suggest optimal machine pairings and identify what changes will improve on-site productivity and efficiency. Actionable data at customers’ fingertips The solutions being showcased for the “Intelligent Data” area include CareTrack, ProCare, Insight Reports and MySMT. CareTrack provides customers with the ability to monitor and analyse a broad range of data on a fleet-wide basis, while SMT ProCare goes one step further to offer real-time performance data on individual machines within a fleet. Insight Reports combine the information from both CareTrack and ProCare to generate reports on fleet performance that are easy to understand and analyse. MySMT provides customers with a web browser-based portal to provide easy access to all of SMT’s intelligent data solutions, order parts and book servicing or repairs from anywhere. Maintenance made easy Lastly, the “Flexible Maintenance and Repair” solutions area will showcase the benefits of SMT GB Customer Support Agreements, as well as Volvo certified rebuilds, used parts and equipment, and the online parts portal. Recently overhauled to introduce two new levels of cover, SMT GB Customer Support Agreements provide a set of service packages to provide comprehensive machine cover and suit all customer budgets, offering customers considerable peace of mind to protect the investment made in their machinery. Thanks to the quality of refurbishment available from SMT GB’s Volvo certified rebuild programme, purchasing from new is no longer necessarily the best option available to customers. Similarly, SMT GB’s expert used equipment and parts teams provide a highly credible and cost-effective alternative to purchasing new parts and equipment. The SMT GB online parts portal provides customers with the ability to search for and order parts from anywhere 24/7 and receive free standard shipping for all orders placed through the portal. “After a two-year break from exhibitions, the SMT GB team is so excited to meet with new and existing customers at Hillhead 2022. We have many new Volvo machines to showcase, along with a host of service solutions to boost customers’ productivity and profitability. It’s set to be a fantastic event!”, says Nick Allen, CEO of SMT GB. ... Read more...First Bobcat MaxControl Remote Control System in Spain13 April 2022UncategorisedObras y Construcciones Corbera, a construction and earthmoving company based in Corbera de Llobregat (Barcelona), is the first business in Spain and one of the first in Europe, to purchase Bobcat’s new MaxControl remote control system. MaxControl is an exclusive hardware kit from Bobcat, which combined with an iOS application allows the operator to control Bobcat compact loaders remotely, using an iPhone or iPad. Obras y Construcciones Corbera was introduced to the MaxControl system by Bobcat Of, the Authorised Bobcat Dealer for the area. The company was very struck by the versatility that this application could give them thanks to the total visibility of the working space that is offers and, above all, the safety and security provided by this new way of working. This has been particularly useful in some concrete projects as the peripheral vision of the work is considerably improved by being outside the machine. MaxControl has allowed the company to carry out special jobs that require greater safety, working in confined spaces and with little visibility. The system also helps in demolition and in finishing new pavements, providing the company with more precise finishes and in less time. MaxControl has provided greater reliability and precision when loading and unloading machines onto trailers for transfer to other sites. Obras y Construcciones Corbera is convinced that the system improves safety, a factor that is more and more important every day on the job site and offers direct benefits for both operators and employers alike. In addition, it helps to avoid damage to machines through collisions with objects, since by being outside the loader the operator can better see where they are driving. ‘It’s like driving a remote-controlled car’ “It’s fantastic, very easy to assemble and disassemble, and to use – it’s like driving a remote-controlled car, but always with great care,” says Eduard Heredia, Manager of Obras y Construcciones Corbera. He continues: “In just a few hours I had mastered the operation of the loader through my own iPhone – I would definitely highlight the safety aspects. The MaxControl system is very useful and versatile as I can use it with the bucket or with a variety of Bobcat attachments to carry out different tasks safely such as clearing with a brush or using a wheel saw. Also, I only have a Bobcat tracked loader at the moment, but in the future I might buy a skid-steer model and I will be able to work with the MaxControl with both machines.” Very easy to Install, with all the details on your mobile phone screen It is very easy to connect to the MaxControl system – the user simply puts the receiver on top of the loader’s cab and the emergency stop button on the back of the machine – both have a built-in magnet for quick placement. The engine cover can then be opened and the cables for the system hooked up to the machine’s diagnostic connector. The next step is to download the MaxControl application on the mobile phone and once downloaded, the Bobcat dealer can give the customer access to the MaxControl kit. After these steps are completed, the operator simply connects to the wi-fi system of the machine and can start operating it remotely. Once installed, the operator can access the main machine information on the screen of the mobile or tablet, while the intuitive controls allow them to operate both the machine and attachments with ease. This allows errors to be easily identified thanks to the maintenance codes that appear directly on the mobile device. And machine diagnostics are available that communicate all the important information about the carrier and access can be given to the machine to multiple end users, allowing for a quick change of operators. Transforming two person jobs into solo tasks On a recent project using MaxControl, Obras y Construcciones Corbera carried out filling in work with earth in a large underground area of about 1000 m3 under a school yard to protect the safety of the students. Mounted on a Bobcat T590 track loader, the MaxControl was used to drive the machine remotely through a small opening and down an underground corridor to the filling area. Thanks to MaxControl, any blind spots were eliminated, with full visibility at all times and increased awareness of the surrounding environment. This work was therefore carried out in a couple of weeks with the T590, much more quickly than it would have been by alternative methods using smaller machinery. Resulting in increased safety, comfort, quality, speed and profitability In remote areas with little connectivity, such as this underground passage, the system keeps the operator registered for 12 hours of operation and works in a range of up to 100 m. As for the Bobcat T590 compact loader, it is ideal for this type of task with very limited space, thanks to its compact size, its manoeuvrability, its stability, providing excellent power, breakout force and lifting capacity for handling the fill material. It combines this with high specifications, shorter cycles and faster turns. Bobcat continues as always to offer new solutions, integrating products and technologies for the market, entering new categories and to promote innovations based on meeting customer needs, and the new MaxControl system is undoubtedly the latest proof of this commitment. For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website www.bobcat.com... Read more...Xwatch has expanded its global presence and has recently signed a partnership deal with Tak Lee Machinery Company Limited (TLMC).12 April 2022Equipment / TechnologyTLMC is a leading earthmoving equipment sales and rental service provider in Hong Kong. The company is the sole dealer of Hitachi Construction Machinery in Hong Kong and Macau. The firm is also a distributor of South African brand, Bell Equipment in Hong Kong and Swiss machinery brand Amman in both Hong Kong and Macau. Jawin Chow, Managing Director and CEO of TLMC, commented on the new partnership, “TLMC is pleased to announce our partnership with Xwatch. There is a growing demand for construction site safety products in our region. We contacted Xwatch to discuss the options to supply its advanced safety systems to our customers and we are very excited to become the sole dealer of Xwatch in Hong Kong and Macau. We are looking forward to showcasing the application of safety systems for excavators, lorry cranes, lifting cranes, loaders and aerial platforms to our customers and government groups.” Dan Leaney Xwatch Sales and Operations Director said, “We have been concentrating on growing our global presence since Xwatch began in 2019. We have dealers in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia and the USA. We are delighted to welcome Tak Lee Machinery Company as a new distributor in Hong Kong and Macau which has given Xwatch another large market to work within.”... Read more...The next generation: SENNEBOGEN 3.40 G – 4 t telehandler unique in its class12 April 2022TelehandlersIt is much more than its little brother: with the latest addition to the Multi Line, the 3.40 G–series, SENNEBOGEN is offering a new telehandler with a load capacity of 4 t, a stacking height of 7.70 m and, as a unique selling point, the most state-of-the-art cab of its kind – infinitely elevating to an eye level of 4.10 m for 360-degree all-round visibility. The new generation of the G series once again sets standards in terms of user-friendliness and efficiency – made in Bavaria. LITTLE BROTHER WITH STRONG GENES:4 T TELEHANLDER WITH SML POWER The new 3.40 G combines the advantages of telescopic handler and wheel loader technology in one unique machine. The proven Z-kinematics in combination with a strong drive train and the heavy steel construction enable demanding operations. Compact machine with maximum stability and overview –flexible and multifunctional The little brother of the established 355 E has now been developed as an addition to the Multi Line portfolio for use as a telescopic handler and as a multifunctional machine. The completely new development is already visually impressive and unique. In addition to the performance data, the 3.40 G also attracts attention in this market segment above all through its comfortable overview due to the infinitely elevating cab.... Read more...New Bobcat Products to Appear at Hillhead 202212 April 2022EventsOn Stand CE16 at the Hillhead 2022 Exhibition in Hillhead Quarry in Buxton in the UK from 21-23 June 2022, Bobcat will present several new products for the first time at the show. These will include models from the company’s new R-Series telehandler range, R2-Series of mini-excavators and the L85, the first model in the company’s compact wheel loader range, all developed as part of Bobcat’s innovative ‘Next is Now’ programme. The Bobcat stand will also feature the company’s E10e, the world’s first battery-powered 1 tonne mini-excavator. Bobcat’s new generation R-Series telehandler range provides a choice of 12 models with Stage V engines. Bobcat will show telehandlers from both ends of the range, which covers lifting heights from 6 to 18 m with maximum lifting capacities between 2.6 and 4.1 tonne and comprises the models below: Compact telescopic loaders – TL26.60, TL30.60 and TL30.70 Middle range telehandlers – TL35.70, T35.105, T35.105L and T36.120SL High lift telehandlers – T35.130S, T35.130SLP, T35.140S, T41.140SLP and T40.180SLP New Cab for Remarkable Operator Experience Bobcat R-Series telehandlers feature a new cab with unmatched ease of use, designed around the operator, offering a unique central control panel for optimized 360° ergonomics. In the ergonomic design, all surfaces have been optimised to offer increased space and visibility. It is based around a new 5-inch LCD display providing interactive and streamlined information, including the feed from the rear camera for easier and more precise operation. R-Series telehandlers offer agility on demand, with a newly configured transmission system providing enhanced smoothness to carry out the trickiest jobs at height with surgical precision. These operations are also facilitated by the combination of the Boom Positioning System, the new updated, ultra-accurate joystick, the inching function and improved visibility from the cab. First for Bobcat R2-Series Mini-Excavators at Hillhead The R2-Series of 5-6 tonne Stage V compliant mini-excavators make their first appearance on a Hillhead stand – the new E50z, E55z and E60 models. The R2-Series machines offer many new state-of-the-art features and options such as Bobcat’s unique award-winning Advanced Selectable Auxiliary Control (A-SAC) system and the innovative Automatic Track Tensioning System (ATTS) technology. In the E50z and E55z, Bobcat’s unique Zero House Swing (ZHS) feature adds another level of protection to the standard zero tail swing design, providing full peace of mind when operating the machines near walls. The E50z ZHS model is an easy-to-use, robust machine optimized for specific rental industry needs while introducing the next level of operator comfort and features required by demanding owner-operators. The E55z is a premium performance model – it is the largest and most powerful Bobcat machine with the ZHS design. The E60 is the R2-Series flagship model in all aspects – this conventional swing model features a more powerful engine, a larger cab and other new unique features. In the E60, a tail overhang of only 280 mm allows the machine to be operated in confined spaces. Bobcat Increases Production of the E10e Electric Excavator Built on the same line as the highly successful diesel-powered Bobcat E08 and E10z mini-excavators, production of the company’s E10e battery-powered model has recently been increased. The Bobcat E10e offers zero emissions, low noise and a width of just 71 cm, allowing it to easily pass through standard doors and in and out of lifts. The E10e is therefore ideal not only for indoor demolition and basement digging, but also many other sites where this type of machine is required such as urban/city centre developments, night-time work and contracts in quiet zones including hospitals, cemeteries, schools and so on. Bobcat Enters Compact Wheel Loader Market After entering the compact wheel loader category in 2020 with the L85 model, Bobcat now has the largest loader portfolio of any manufacturer in the world and will widen this further when the company launches the second model in the compact wheel loader range, the L75, later this year. High performance is assured by the combination of the powerful Bobcat engine and the hydraulics in the L85. This is complemented by the high stability, breakout, push and pull forces and a comprehensive selection of Bobcat attachments. Already, there are multiple Bobcat loader attachments approved for use on the L85, with more to be announced in the near future. The current portfolio includes a general purpose bucket, light material buckets, a combination bucket, pallet forks and angle broom and snowblower attachments, making the L85 a truly multi-purpose machine. The L85 is equipped as standard with the Power Quick-Tach system compatible with widely used industry standard couplers. To run high-flow attachments like a snow blower and an angle broom, the L85 can be fitted with a high flow option, providing a hydraulic flow of 100 l/min. For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website www.bobcat.com... Read more...Plantforce future proof Kobelco machines with Xwatch6 April 2022Safety / TechnologyPlantforce has recently installed five XW5 rated capacity indicators, with height and slew restriction to the company’s new Kobelco SK210 machines and also a Kobelco SK130, which are heading off to the Plantforce hire fleet. The installation was carried out by registered Xwatch installers. Plantforce have worked with Xwatch, which manufacture a range of safety solutions for plant, since the brand was established back in 2019 and has found the systems reliable, intuitive with an easy to use interface, and are compatible with telematics, GPS and proximity warning systems, such as SiteZone RFID and Blaxtair Camera. Lee Blewett, Fleet Manager at Plantforce Rentals commented on why the company has chosen Xwatch as its preferred RCI safety system and distribution partner, he said, “Firstly the Xwatch safety systems are very easy to fit and very easy to use. The system hasn’t got multiple sensors like competitors brands, which is means there is less to go wrong! Plantforce supports the system as it basically ‘does what it says on the tin’. When a system is fitted to our hire machines it’s important that the system is easy to use – with Xwatch you can set it up very easily, without the need for extensive training, and get on with the job in hand safely.” Lee added, “All of XW suite of safety systems are very reliable, however, going forward we will only specify the XW5 on our fleet, which future proofs our machines. To date, we have installed 11 XW systems and we have more on order.” The XW5 offers a total safe working envelope around the machine and operator enabling the control of the machine’s height, slew and rated capacity indication. Lee concluded, “We have just returned from the Futureworx technology event, which was held last week in Peterborough, where we demonstrated our fully functioning connected worksite, which also had a live two-way feed to the stand monitoring design progress, fuel burn, idle time along with as-built data. We also used the event as a platform to unveil a brand new SK85 Kobelco machine which was decorated in Cancer Research UK livery. The machine was also fitted with an Xwatch XW4 height and slew monitor, MachineMax telematics, FTC pedestrian detection camera system, Trimble 3D GPS, and a Strickland quick hitch and bucket. All of the systems on this machine were donated, free of charge, by the companies to support Cancer Research UK, with more support from Plantforce throughout the lifespan of the machine. ” Dan Leaney, Sales and Operations Director at Xwatch said, “We have worked with Plantforce for a number of years. The company was one of the first plant hirers to trial the Xwatch systems. We are also delighted that Lee has confirmed that Plantforce will only specify the full XW5 system going forwards – to future-proof its hire fleet. We thank them for their commitment to Xwatch.” Dan added, “We were also very happy to help with the partnership with Cancer Research UK and Plantforce. It’s important to support these charities – cancer has touched all of our lives in one way or another and we are very proud to be involved.”... Read more...New Generation Doosan DX27Z-7 and DX35Z-7 Mini-Excavators6 April 2022Excavators– DX27Z-7 and DX35Z-7 expand new Doosan mini-excavator family – Doosan Infracore Europe has announced the launch of the new DX27Z-7 2.8 tonne and DX35Z-7 3.9 tonne Stage V compliant mini-excavators. Both new models provide a larger working range than the previous generation machines as well as other mini-excavators in this part of the market, together with higher lifting capacities and digging forces. DoosanCONNECT Telematics Another important feature of the new Doosan mini-excavator range is the installation as standard of the latest version 3.0 of the DoosanCONNECT system, which provides a telematics management system for the excavators, by collecting data from sensors on the machines. The DX27Z-7 and DX35Z-7 mini-excavators are now the smallest machines in the Doosan range with the successful DoosanCONNECT system. Featuring the new shared global styling for the next generation Doosan mini-excavator range, the novel platform design and new upper structures in the DX27Z-7 and DX35Z-7 provide increased durability/robustness. The zero tail swing design of both machines make them ideal for work in confined spaces on construction, landscaping and utility projects. Both models are powered by the Doosan D17 Stage V compliant diesel engine providing 18.4 kW (24.7 HP) of power at 2400 and 2200 RPM, respectively, in the DX27Z-7 and DX35Z-7. As a result, the new mini-excavators offer the highest power and torque in their class and cover a wide range of applications including heavy duty work. The DX27Z-7 and DX35Z-7 also offer high auxiliary flows of 58 and 74 l/min, respectively, to enhance work with attachments. Newly designed cast counterweights ensure excellent machine balance and stability when working. Long arm options are available for both models with 60 and 100 kg additional counterweights, respectively, included in the DX27Z-7 and DX35Z-7. The boom swing angle and swing radius are better than or equal to other machines in this class. Visibility and workability are improved by increasing the bucket protrusion distance beyond the tracks. Placing the boom swing cylinder on the left hand side of cab allows the operator to work right up against walls and other structures on the right hand side of the machines. The fuel tank and boom swing cylinder have been positioned at the base of the cab, with the MCV now on the right side of the machine, improving visibility for maintaining and working on the MCV. New Dozer Blade and Dozer Lever The DX27Z-7 and DX35Z-7 mini-excavators incorporate a new dozer blade providing both a higher dozer lifting height and dozer digging depth than other machines on the market. The machines also have a new dozer blade control lever. Using the dozer lever, the operator can select between low and high speed for the levelling blade hydraulics. Travel speed can also be selected by using the travel selector button on the dozer lever. When hydraulic oil pressure rises due to going up a slope while driving in the high speed mode, the travel speed auto-shift valve automatically resets the travel speed to low, to enhance the operator’s driving convenience and to reduce machine stress. As well as offering the best performance, versatility, durability and ease of maintenance in the 2-4 tonne range, the DX27Z-7 and DX35Z-7 mini-excavators feature a new larger, roomier cab, providing excellent operator comfort and controllability. New High Comfort Cab The new DX27Z-7 and DX35Z-7 mini-excavators are packed with a host of innovative features. Nowhere is this more evident than in the.new high comfort cab, which has a full glass entry door to maximize operator visibility on this side of the machine from inside the cab. The high luminance LED work lamps on the cab further enhance visibility and additional LED lamps are also available as an option. Key features of the new cab include: An enhanced heating system (AC is optional)DAB Audio5.7 inch Touch ScreenDeluxe fabric seat with heating system and mechanical suspensionThumbwheel JoystickAuxiliary flow control (10 steps)Cup holder and power socketFoldable pedalsTravel speed switch on Dozer lever The enhanced heating/HVAC system is the best on the market, providing more nozzles to direct warming and cooling air, including both front and rear pillar nozzles that together help to improve the system performance. Larger nozzles are also used to ensure direct and sufficient airflow for operators and manual adjustment of the opening/closing of the nozzles is also possible. In the DX27Z-7 and DX35Z-7 mini-excavators, a new EPPR valve is incorporated for two-way and optional rotating functions, that provides the operator with 10-step proportional control of the hydraulic flow rate via the thumbwheel joystick. For more on Doosan construction equipment, please visit the website: www.eu.doosanequipment.com... Read more...SANY UK to showcase new excavators at Scotplant 20225 April 2022Events / ExcavatorsSANY UK & Ireland will have its biggest ever stand at the ScotPlant show later this month and will debut two new excavators now available in the UK. The SY390H, a 40-tonne tracked excavator, and the SY75U, a 7.5-tonne conventional type excavator in the midi class will be exhibited alongside the existing range of SANY’s excavators from mini’s to 50-tonne demolition machines. The new SY75C with Stage V YANMAR engine is one of the most impressive SANY compact excavators and offers the ultimate in productivity. With its powerful high torque drive, the latest hydraulic technology, compact dimensions and state of the art cab, the SY75C is a mighty compact powerhouse that offers a great price to performance ratio. The larger 40-tonne, SY390 machine is an excavator boasting impressive performance, efficiency, comfort and economy. With world renowned components such as a Cummins L9 Stage V engine and Kawasaki pumps the SY390 provides plenty of power with refined hydraulic pump control. Cab comfort is ensured through a heated air suspension Grammar seat, a 10-inch touch screen, proportional controls on the joysticks and features such as blue tooth phone technology and an operators cool box. Fuel economy is a major focus on all SANY excavators and the recent testing of the SY390 has shown fuel savings of up to a massive 42% over the outgoing SY365C (37T) model meaning significant savings as the construction market has to move to white diesel. All SANY excavators come with SANY’s industry leading five-year warranty as standard giving customers peace of mind when it comes to the quality and cost of ownership of the machines. Leigh Harris, Business Development Director for the UK & Ireland said, “We have a fantastic stand at this year’s event and the SANY team are really looking forward to meeting our customers, both old and new. One of the main selling features of a SANY excavator is the robustness and reliability of the machine, which is of particular importance in Scotland as the ground’s a bit tougher and the operating conditions are harder. This is the ideal opportunity for Scottish operators to come along and familiarise themselves with our machines as we’ll have our full range on display”. SANY will also be showcasing the SY16, 1.6T canopy excavator aimed at the utility and landscaping marketing and larger SY26, a 2.6T excavator with cab design, both of which were officially launched to the UK market at the Exec Hire Show earlier this year. For those who would like to put their operating skills to the test, the SANY Operator Challenge will also be in full swing over the course of the two day event. The SY390H and the SY75U are now both available from the SANY dealer network across the UK and Ireland. ... Read more...Liebherr: Significant boost in turnover of the Liebherr Group in 20214 April 2022FinanceIn 2021, the Liebherr Group achieved a turnover of € 11,639 million. Compared to the previous year, the company posted an overall increase of € 1,298 million or 12.6 %. As a result, the Liebherr Group was almost able to match its previous record year in 2019 in terms of annual turnover. The conditions in the past financial year were also difficult for manufacturing companies. From the second quarter in 2021, to some extent, it was extremely difficult to procure various raw materials, components and electronic parts. This resulted in price increases and bottlenecks in the global supply chains. Despite that, Liebherr recorded a significant increase in sales revenues compared to the previous year. The Liebherr Group grew in eleven of its 13 product segments and in almost all of its sales regions. Revenues in the earthmoving, material handling technology, deep foundation machines, mobile and crawler cranes, tower cranes, concrete technology and mining product segments were 17 % higher than in the previous year at € 8,009 million. In the other product segments, including maritime cranes, aerospace and transportation systems, gear technology and automation systems, refrigerators and freezers, as well as components and hotels, Liebherr achieved total revenues of € 3,630 million, a 3.9 % increase compared to the previous year. Sales increased in the European Union, which has traditionally been the Group’s strongest sales region. High growth rates were recorded in almost all EU markets, with France in particular showing above average development. Outside the EU, there was a marked rise in sales in the United Kingdom, among other regions. Positive development was also seen in North America, as well as Central America and South America, where strong growth came especially from Brazil. The Liebherr Group faced declines in Africa, as well as in the Near and Middle East, whereas the financial year in Asia and Oceania ended with a moderate rise. In 2021, the Liebherr Group achieved a net profit for the year of € 545 million, a value above the level before the pandemic. Operating results and the financial result grew considerably compared to the previous year. The 2021 business year also saw a significant increase in the number of employees. At the end of the year, the Liebherr Group employed 49,611 people worldwide. Compared to the previous year, this constituted an increase of 1,686. Traditionally high investments in research and development As a technology company, the Liebherr Group pursues the goal of making a decisive contribution to technological progress in the sectors relevant for the Group. Liebherr invested € 559 million in research and development last year. The bulk of this was used in the development of new products. Numerous cooperative ventures with universities, or higher education institutions and research institutes were initiated or continued. Alternative drive technologies continue to be a focal point of the research projects at Liebherr. The Liebherr Group takes a technology neutral approach. In 2021, it worked, for example, on hydrogen-powered combustion engines and their injection technologies, as well as electric drives. For instance, Liebherr expanded its portfolio of construction machines with electric drives with two all-electric truck mixers on five-axle chassis frames, the two electric crawler excavators R 976-E and R 980 SME-E and the battery-powered crawler cranes LR 1160.1 unplugged and LR 1130.1 unplugged both with zero local emissions. The start of the development phase of the first all-electric offshore crane marked the launch of the electrification of the product portfolio in this area. Furthermore, Liebherr prepared various product lines for the use of hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVO) as a fuel. The Ehingen and Kirchdorf an der Iller sites (both in Germany) are now already fuelling all machines with the climate-neutral fuel ex works as standard. Digitalisation was another focal point of R&D activities. Among others, a new range of refrigerators and freezers with resource-friendly freshness technology and digital networking was launched. In addition, in several product segments, the existing technologies were optimised for remote control, automation and networking and the Liebherr-Remote-Service App was extended. It is also worth highlighting the development of two assist systems for mining trucks, which offer automatic steering assistance, reduce the strain on the driver, and lower fuel consumption. Strong double act: The Betomix dual concrete mixing plant has a discharge output of up to 230 m³ per hour.Strong double act: The Betomix dual concrete mixing plant has a discharge output of up to 230 m³ per hour. Investments in production, sales and service The Group invested € 742 million in its production sites and its global distribution and service networks. The level of investment increased by € 137 million compared to last year. Offset against this was depreciation of € 507 million. In the concrete technology product segment, a new production plant went into operation: Liebherr-Concrete Technology Marica EOOD in Plovdiv (Bulgaria) supplies Liebherr-Mischtechnik GmbH in Bad Schussenried (Germany) with pre-assemblies and steel constructions for truck mixers. To further expand its presence in the Asian market and meet the high demand from the wind and construction industries, the Group began construction of a new components plant in China: Liebherr Components (Dalian) Co., Ltd. will produce slewing bearings, gearboxes and hydraulic cylinders at the Dalian site, starting at the end of 2022. Last year also saw the construction of a new assembly line for gearboxes in India. In addition, a largescale expansion was approved for the plant in Ehingen (Germany). Step-by-step, investments will be made in the expansion until 2030 in order to significantly increase its production capacity and meet the rising demand for mobile and crawler cranes. In parallel, the Group continued to expand its sales and service infrastructure. In Austria, new logistics centres were established in Telfs and Bischofshofen, and the building work on a new sales centre for construction machines started in Puch / Urstein. In Dettingen / Iller (Germany), Liebherr added a new office and repair facility to expand its sales and service infrastructure for construction machines. Outlook for 2022 The Liebherr Group has started 2022 with a very good order situation. Opportunities arise from the expected increase in demand in the various industrial sectors in which the Liebherr Group is active. However, the negative effects on the activities of the Liebherr Group due to the war in Ukraine can already be seen. Liebherr is monitoring and assessing the current situation in Ukraine and Russia on a daily basis and is currently in the process of adjusting its Russian activities to the extensive sanctions imposed on the country. At the same time, there are still uncertainties with regard to the pandemic-related restrictions, the effects of steep price increases for many goods and services, shortages of certain raw materials and the lack of skilled workers, as well as bottlenecks in different supply chains. It is also unclear how fiscal and monetary policy measures will ultimately affect the Liebherr Group. Despite the difficult conditions, Liebherr is cautiously optimistic about the rest of the year. On Monday, 4 April 2022, the Liebherr Group publishes its current annual report. In addition to detailed figures, it contains a magazine section reviewing the past financial year. In an interview, Dr. h.c. Dipl.-Kfm. Isolde Liebherr, Dr. h.c. Dipl.-Ing. (ETH) Willi Liebherr, Philipp Liebherr and Stéfanie Wohlfarth give their summary for 2021. The annual report of the Liebherr Group can be found online at www.liebherr.com/liebherr-annual-report... Read more...New from Xwatch – the Xw Laser Drone1 April 2022TechnologyThe brand new Xwatch laser solution, once deployed, will fly around the machine on a jobsite, creating a virtual wall that moves with the slew area as the boom extends and retracts. If the drone picks up a human presence or an object within the slew area, a high-density laser beam will hit the target and vaporise it, therefore eliminating the object or person, removing any danger to the machine or the operator. The laser will also activate the machine’s XW integrated safety system and will stop the machine with the Xwatch proportional hydraulic control. This is fully recorded via the telematics connectivity with remote incident reporting which allows analysis post-incident. The stored data can assist with helping prevent future incidents. Dan Leaney, Sales and Operations Director said “This is a global first in accident protection from Xwatch. We have collaborated with a leading drone manufacturer to integrate Xwatch technology into a failsafe extension for onsite drones. Having tested the software we can confirm that it’s accurate to within 1cm. Personel onsite are advised to wear their RFID tags at all times to prevent entering the danger zone of the machine and the drone’s laser.” For more details visit www.xwatch.co.uk... Read more...GLOBAL PLAYER TVH STRENGTHENS ITS POSITION WITH NEW HQ BUILDING1 April 2022Global / NewsOn Thursday 31 March, global player TVH – parts specialist for lift trucks, industrial vehicles, construction and agricultural machinery – officially opened the doors of ‘The Hub’, its brand-new main office in Waregem, Belgium. In the presence of 200 guests, CEO Dominiek Valcke inaugurated the new building. “With this state-of-the-art office building, we can now employ even more people and easily introduce visitors to our services”, says Dominiek Valcke. In April 2019, TVH started the preparatory works for the construction of a new main building. This new 13 000 m² building, named ‘The Hub’, is the sleek, bright and contemporary solution to the impending lack of space that TVH was experiencing because of its rapid growth. In its design, great attention was paid to comfort, ergonomics and efficiency. Numerous CO2 sensors, temperature sensors and controls, ensure a pleasant indoor climate, and the many sound-absorbing materials also contribute to comfort. STRONG GROWTH TVH has more than 5000 employees worldwide, with Belgium alone accounting for more than 2500 colleagues; a number that continues to grow each year. To accommodate the growing workforce, additional workplaces had to be created. “The growth that TVH has experienced in recent years entailed a strong increase in the number of employees. We didn’t just create more office space with The Hub. We can now also support our employees better with extra meeting rooms, an auditorium, a new company restaurant, a showroom and an extensive meeting centre”, says CEO Dominiek Valcke. “This additional space is certainly not an unnecessary luxury, since we are looking for more than 250 new colleagues to strengthen TVH, in Waregem alone. TVH EXPERIENCE CENTER The pièce de résistance can be found on the ground floor of the new main building: the TVH Experience Center. “This unique 1500 m² visitor centre primarily serves as a location to familiarise local and international visitors, such as customers, suppliers, associations, schools and applicants, with the offer, services, atmosphere and working method of TVH”, says Facility Manager Luc Rasschaert. “And thanks to its interactive nature, TVH Experience Center is much more than just a showroom. Visitors can play games and test their driving skills with a virtual lift truck in a warehouse, for example.”... Read more...RM Contractors Orders 11 New Doosan DX-7 Excavators31 March 2022ExcavatorsRedditch-based RM Contractors Ltd has placed an order for 11 new DX-7 medium-sized crawler excavators from Doosan. The order is being supplied by Doosan Authorised Dealer, T H WHITE Construction, based in Stourport-on-Severn and comprises 10 DX140LC-7 14 tonne machines and a DX225LC-7 23 tonne crawler model. Chris Moen, Managing Director at RM Contractors, said: “To meet our need for new excavators as well as replacing some of the existing ones in our fleet, we decided to put a few different Doosan machines on trial from T H White Construction. We were very impressed by the Doosan machines, but it was the comments from our drivers that really made the difference, They love the new Doosan excavators.” Andy Chatham, Sales Director of T H WHITE Construction, said: “RM Contractors is a new customer for us so it was particularly pleasing to hear their comments about the Doosan excavators – and then to receive such a substantial order.” A Leading Groundworks Company in the Midlands and the Home Counties As well as the headquarters in Worcestershire, RM Contractors has a regional office in Oxfordshire. Established in 1994 as a family business, the company has grown over the past 28 years to be one of the leading groundworks and civil engineering companies in the Midlands and the Home Counties. RM Contractors provides site preparation and groundworks for some of Britain’s leading housebuilders. The company’s sphere of operations stretches from Shropshire, Herefordshire and the Welsh borders, down to Bedfordshire and Oxfordshire in the south and to Weston-super-Mare in the west. Chris Moen commented: “We primarily operate in the residential market for the UK’s top house builders and can deliver a wide range of services from groundworks, bulk excavations, roads, sewers, infrastructure and section 278 works. High levels of Health and Safety are a key pillar of RM Contractors and we hold both CHAS and SMAS Worksafe certifications. “Our staff are at the heart of our business – we continually invest in developing their skills and expertise, ensuring we are offering the best service and quality. We have an experienced team of over 500 people and a large fleet of machinery including the new Doosan excavators, enabling us to take care of all of our client’s needs. This has enabled us to develop long-standing partnerships with our clients.” The New Doosan DX-7 Range of Medium-Sized Excavators The DX140LC-7 and DX225LC-7 are part of Doosan’s new medium-sized ‘DX-7’ range of 17 Stage V crawler and wheeled excavator models from 14 to 25 tonne. Altogether, the new medium-sized DX-7 models provide significantly higher performance in every area than the previous generation Stage IV machines. They combine enhanced comfort, increased tool carrier capability and novel operator assist technology, with new features to boost fuel efficiency, uptime and return on investment, with a focus on increased power, robustness and agility. Maintenance of the diesel particulate filter (DPF) has also been greatly reduced, with no maintenance required until the machine has operated for 8000 hours. The new DX140LC-7 14.6 tonne excavator is powered by the Doosan D34 4-cylinder Stage V diesel engine providing 86 kW (115 HP) of power at 2000 RPM. To meet Stage V engine emission regulations, the new DX225LC-7 23 tonne excavator is powered by the latest generation Doosan DL06V diesel engine, providing 129 kW (174 HP) at 1800 RPM. Increased Comfort and Controllability The state-of-the-art cab on the DX140LC-7 and DX225LC-7 excels in terms of spaciousness and ergonomics, taking operator comfort and ease of operation to new levels. As well as a new high quality seat, the enhanced cab offers more features as standard than other machines on the market, ensuring super controllability and high precision in all applications. Other key new features in and around the cab include: • New 8-inch Doosan Smart Touch screen, giving more information via a 30% larger screen * DAB audio (Hands-free calling system and Bluetooth) * Keyless start (Doosan Smart Key) & remote door lock/unlock * Parallel wiper system and new design pedals * Improved air flow for defrosting and air conditioning * 8 x LED work lights as standard/4 more LED lamps as an option * AVM – Around View Monitor with 360° cameras (option) The DX225LC-7 is also the first Doosan excavator of this size to feature Doosan’s innovative D-ECOPOWER virtual bleed off (VBO) technology, providing operators with higher productivity and around 7% lower fuel consumption per hour than the previous Stage IV model, as well as smoother controls. Over 60 Years Serving the Midlands Market T H WHITE Construction represents the full range of equipment from Doosan that also includes wheeled excavators, wheel loaders, articulated dump trucks and attachments, providing full servicing, repairs, warranty and parts back-up from the company’s modern and well-equipped premises, with Doosan-trained technicians and advisors. ... Read more...KUBOTA ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF TWO NEW TRACKED DUMPERS30 March 2022DumpersKubota has expanded its extensive range of tracked dumpers with the launch of a new electric model, the KC70VSL-4 e, and a new diesel machine, the KC110SL-4. The KC70VSL-4 e has been developed on the base of the KC70H-4 e, boasting a lithium battery pack of 48V and 120 Ah. The new model will be a perfect fit for customers working in city centres due to its quiet operation. The tracked dumper brings more versatility than the KC70H-4e with a variable track and a self-loading device. The model has a maximum load capacity of 700kg and is able to transport large quantities of material in a short time. The width of the machine is 758 mm (tracks retracted), allowing users to work in tight areas. The tracks are also electrically powered, granting better efficiency and less energy consumption. The machine can be charged totally in three hours and reach 80% charge in 1.5 hours. A complete charge will allow a full day’s work. In addition, the Universal fast external Battery Charger (UBC) is sold with the machine and it works with the following power and tensions (3 kW and from 80V to 240V). The new KC110SL-4 comes in addition to an existing machine on the segment of tracked dumpers with more than 0,5 m3 of payload, the KC110HR-4. The new dumper is equipped with a front tip skip of 1200kg of capacity and self-loading device. The KC110SL-4 has a Kubota D722 Stage 5 engine, well known for his reliability and performances. The machine can overcome any slopes up to 20° and will be very useful for construction work, renovation or landscaping. To learn more about the KC70VSL-4 e and KC110SL-4, or locate your nearest dealer, please visit https://www.kubota-eu.com/. ... Read more...Huge Bobcat Excavator Order for ‘Decent Life’ Project in Egypt30 March 2022Excavators / GlobalBobcat excavators and loaders operating in the Decent Life initiative – Otrac Heavy Equipment, the Bobcat Authorized Dealer in Egypt, has secured the largest ever order in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region for new Bobcat mini-excavators for use in the ‘Decent Life’ initiative launched by the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The Decent Life or ‘Hayah Kareema’ initiative directed by the Egyptian President is focused on the eradication of poverty in Egypt. It is targeted at 4500 villages throughout Egypt, affecting 58% of Egypt’s 102 million population, with the aim of transforming slums and poor villages into thriving communities with modern infrastructure. Specialist in the Compact Equipment Market in Egypt For use in Phase 1 of the Decent Life Project, Otrac Heavy Equipment is supplying the Egyptian Government with 80 Bobcat 4.5 tonne mini-excavators and 49 Bobcat skid-steer loaders. Otrac was chosen by decision makers for the project, because they are specialists in the compact equipment market with the market-leading Bobcat range, supported by their very high level aftersales service. A spokesperson for the Decent Life initiative commented: “High-performing compact machinery such as the Bobcat mini-excavators and skid-steer loaders will be vital in the work involved in the Decent Life project. We chose the Bobcat brand again based on the excellent experience we have had running Bobcat skid-steer loaders, particularly their durability and reliability, backed by the superb aftermarket service provided by Otrac.” Mr Hatem Ouda, Chairman of Otrac Heavy Equipment, said: “We are delighted to keep the high level of trust allowing us to win this major order for both mini-excavators and skid-steer loaders from Bobcat for the Decent Life project. The Egyptian authorities and Otrac have a successful, long standing relationship, involving the purchase of many machines based on Otrac’s performance and professionalism.” Gaby Rhayem, Regional Director Middle East and Africa at Doosan Bobcat EMEA, said: “We are very pleased that Otrac Heavy Equipment has secured our largest ever order for Bobcat mini-excavators in MEA. It is a fitting tribute to the great attention and expertise Otrac always offers their customers in Egypt.” Decent Life Presidential Initiative The Decent Life presidential initiative – the National Project for the Development of the Egyptian Countryside – is a multi-pronged and integrated initiative. It aims to improve the living conditions and daily life of Egyptian citizens, within a framework of integration and unity of efforts among the state institutions, private sector entities, civil society and development partners in Egypt. The Initiative also aims to provide an integrated package of services, including various aspects of health, social and living conditions. It is a huge shared responsibility among these different parties to provide a decent life for Egyptian citizens, especially vulnerable groups. Target groups include the neediest families in rural communities, senior citizens, the disabled, orphans and children, unemployed youth and volunteers. More than 20 ministries and entities, and 23 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are collaborating to implement this enormous project. This is in addition to the Egyptian youth who are volunteering for charity and development work through the Decent Life Foundation to implement the initiative’s work pillars and achieve its goals in 4500 Egyptian villages. MCIT Scope of Work The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) is playing a significant role in implementing some of the initiative’s pillars, including developing the telecommunications infrastructure, through installing a fibre optic cable network and covering targeted villages with mobile phone network services; developing post offices to serve citizens and promoting human development, and the new Bobcat excavators and loaders are the perfect machines for such a tough job! For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website www.bobcat.com... Read more...AUSA introduces the D301AHG, its new 3,000 kg dumper29 March 2022Dumpers• Notable improvements have been made to the dumper’s design and equipment • The heaped capacity of its skip has increased by 12% March 29 2022. – After completing the launch of its entire range of dumpers with higher payloads, 6 and 10 tonnes, AUSA is continuing to upgrade its equipment with the new D301AHG dumper, which has a 3,000 kg payload. A completely new dumper, designed with the aim of delivering higher productivity and a better return on investment for the customer, as well as improved operation safety. With the D301AHG, AUSA has upgraded its first mid-range dumper. Machines that are perfectly suited to relatively large-scale construction works, whether for public works or quick earthworks in open spaces. To move the load, the dumper is equipped with a Kubota four-cylinder 18.5 kW engine with no DPF, which complies with the Stage V low emissions standard. Additionally, the machine’s low weight and permanent all-wheel drive give it excellent off-road capability and 50% gradeability. More productive This new dumper has been designed to achieve optimal productivity. In this new design, a new skip has been devised with a heaped capacity of 1,742 litres, which is 12% higher than in the previous model. With this notable increase, AUSA is seeking to minimise the number of journeys that the operator has to make to transport the same amount of material, thus speeding up the completion of the works. The power-to-weight ratio has also been optimised, resulting in a machine that is more manoeuvrable, quicker and with greater off-road capability. More cost-effective Calculating the return on investment is a crucial moment when it comes to choosing the right investment, so basic elements have been prioritised to lower this outlay: Firstly, the new design has angular lines to the rear, that allows to include large engine covers on both sides, which can be easily reached on your feet, without using any kind of step. All of the regular maintenance components such as filters and fluid tanks have been arranged to make them fully accessible in this area. Additionally, the counterweight’s large central grille makes it possible to quickly access the cooler, making it easy to clean and remove. It is also worth noting that the optimisation of the D301AHG dumper’s power-to-weight ratio ensures that fuel consumption is significantly lower than in the previous model. Safer In terms of equipment, the new 3-tonne dumper includes a set of safety features that make it a top performer in this regard. Firstly, the power is transmitted via hydrostatic transmission, ensuring smoother and safer operation. Furthermore, the driving position is equipped with a seat that has a presence sensor and a seat belt with a buckle sensor, to prevent the machine from being started if the recommended safety measures have not been taken and to avoid any inadvertent movement of it. Additionally, it has been equipped with an electronic negative brake, which is automatically engaged when the dumper’s engine is switched off to prevent any movement whatsoever. Finally, the new D301AHG all-terrain dumper has an extensive range of optional accessories, so the machine can be customised to meet each customer’s requirements. These include the AUSAnow fleet manager and lighting equipment.... Read more...ROCKET RENTALS AIMS HIGH WITH FUELACTIVE29 March 2022UncategorisedGloucestershire plant and tool hire business Rocket Rentals has installed FuelActive’s clean diesel pick-up system across its self-drive plant fleet. The company, which operates a growing selection of crawler excavators, site dumpers, compaction equipment and telescopic handlers throughout the South West, has been so impressed by the performance and increased productivity of its equipment since fitting FuelActive, that it has also installed the clean diesel system across its HGV delivery trucks. “We’ve always had problems with fuel contamination and we’ve tried many ways to prevent it and combat it, but with little success,” said managing director Simon Tomblin. “We’ve tried all sorts, additional filters, additives for the fuel, but fuel on site is a challenge. Customers handle it in so many different ways, from larger bowsers to smaller cans, it’s a challenge to control. “With FuelActive, it gives us control. Ultimately, it all comes down to looking after the customer and giving them less downtime in the process.” With the rapidly rising cost of diesel, contractors and rental companies are keen to ensure that every drop is used to the full and that equipment offers maximum uptime and performance. Having machinery standing, while filters are changed, is costly and unproductive. Rocket Rentals first encountered the FuelActive system when it was delivered pre-installed on a Genquip welfare unit. Having seen how effective the system is, with a floating fuel pick-up that ensures that only the cleanest diesel in the tank is passed to the engine, the company enquired whether it could be used with larger plant and equipment. Based in Cardiff, South Wales, FuelActive’s floating fuel pick-up system has been developed to work with all types of static and mobile equipment. Installed in around an hour, usually without any requirement to remove the fuel tank, the system ensures that only the cleanest diesel, from the upper layer of fuel, is delivered to the machine’s engine. The system requires no regular maintenance, with any contamination and water being drained from the bottom of the tank in the normal way during regular machine inspections and servicing. The system is offered with a five-year warranty and has been tested on a wide range of equipment, with fuel flow rates of up to 4,000 litres per hour. “Basically, it was right for us,” said Tomblin. “It’s so simple, but so effective. We’ve installed it across the fleet, on all of our excavators, site dumpers, compaction equipment and telehandlers. We’ve even installed FuelActive on our HGV fleet. We can’t afford to have any of our lorries off the roads. “Every new item of equipment that we can have it fitted to in the future, we will have it fitted. It works for us, it’s just so simple, so straightforward. We all know what diesel costs at the pumps these days and if we can save our customers any issues, then that has to be the way forward.”... Read more...FIRM TICKLED PINK BY FUNDRAISING DIGGER IN MEMORY OF VICTORIA29 March 2022Charity / PlantPlant hirer Waitings is tickled pink with its newest heavyweight JCB machine – literally. The latest 22-tonne excavator to join the family firm’s fleet doesn’t come in traditional JCB yellow but in pink – in tribute to a much-loved member of the founding family. And each time the machine digs a clump of earth it will be raising money for a number of charities close to the family company’s heart. The pink machine – a JCB 220X tracked excavator – has been given the stunning paint job in memory of Victoria Waiting, who died aged 44 of a brain tumour in 2016. Now Victoria’s brother Robert and fellow director Adrian Ash, who run the Cumbria-based drainage, civil engineering, pipeline and plant hire firm, have decided that each time the machine is hired, a percentage of the revenue will be donated to charity, including local Cumbrian hospices and Brain Tumour Research. The new model follows in the tracks of another pink JCB excavator bought in 2015 Adrian Ash said: “Our existing pink JCB has been fantastic in terms of productivity and in the awareness it raised. It delivered an excellent return not only for the business but also the chosen charities. It is poignant that soon after it had been introduced, we lost Victoria to the very disease we were raising money fund research into. “That is why we are so keen to continue with the pink theme and raise vital funds for those cancer-related charities which are so close to our hearts. “We would like to thank JCB and Scot JCB again for their hard work and support in commissioning this machine – it is testament to the factory’s flexibility. Their willingness to engage in such a special project is hugely appreciated.” Victoria lived in Cliburn – the Cumbrian village where Waitings is based – all of her life and she was a much-loved part of the company and community. Mother to son James and daughter Alex, Victoria was also passionate about horses and a highly successful eventer. The original pink JCB machine – which has helped Waitings raise over £100,000 for charity over the years – will soon be auctioned off with a portion of the proceeds going to charity. Waitings was founded in 1970 and specialises in nationwide utilities installations – be it water, sewers, gas or cables – for both the public and private sectors. Additional services include civil engineering, groundworks, plant hire, servicing and refurbishment. Waitings has also delivered a vast number of drainage projects in the agricultural, land reclamation, sporting, civil and environmental fields. Its specialist plant hire business offers long reach excavators, pontoons, tank bridges, work boats, safety boats and pile driving equipment all available to hire across the UK for work on flood defence and coastal defence projects. ... Read more...Wacker Neuson Group with clear rise in revenue and profitability29 March 2022FinanceGroup revenue to reach EUR 1,866.2 million (+16 percent); supply chain bottlenecks dampen pace of growthClear rise in profitability: EBIT margin at 10.3 percent (+5.6 percentage points) including positive effect on earnings from the reversal of allowances for doubtful receivablesNet working capital at 26.7 percent well in target range of ≤ 30 percentHigh free cash flow results in positive net financial positionGuidance for 2022: revenue projected between EUR 1,900 and 2,100 million, EBIT margin to lie between 9.0 and 10.5 percentDividend proposal to the AGM: EUR 0.90 per shareSupervisory Board extends contract with CSO Alexander Greschner The Wacker Neuson Group has returned to its growth trajectory. In fiscal 2021, business developments at the Wacker Neuson Group recovered quickly from the 2020 drop in revenue triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Group reported revenue of EUR 1,866.2 million, which is an increase of 15.5 percent relative to the previous year (2020: EUR 1,615.5 million). “Looking back on 2021, hard work and a concerted effort made this a successful year. We were hampered by overstretched and repeatedly disrupted supply chains. Raw material and component shortages repeatedly led to rework efforts and this, compounded by rising material prices and spiraling shipping costs, had a negative impact on margins. However, our employees worked tirelessly to get as many machines as possible onto our production lines and delivered to our customers despite all the obstacles,” explains Dr. Karl Tragl, CEO of the Wacker Neuson Group. In Europe, revenue increased to EUR 1,477.5 million, a rise of 14.6 percent (2020: EUR 1,289.7 million). This clearly exceeded the previous record reached in 2019 (2019: EUR 1,379.0 million). Alongside the Group’s domestic markets of Germany and Austria, which again emerged as growth drivers in the construction industry, business also developed very strongly in the UK. In the majority of countries in Southern, Eastern and Northern Europe, the Group was also able to report high double-digit growth, albeit against a lower baseline in some cases due to the impact of the pandemic. Once again, business with customers in the agricultural sector developed particularly positively. Despite the stable development of business in 2020 and the resulting strong baseline for comparison from that year – the fall in revenue amounted to only 1.9 percent – the Group managed to grow revenue in this segment by 14.5 percent to EUR 348.4 million (2020: EUR 304.3 million). Revenue in the Americas – a region that was particularly hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic – recovered in fiscal 2021, partly driven by a gradual upturn in demand from rental firms as the year progressed, rising 21.5 percent overall to reach EUR 328.6 million (2020: EUR 270.4 million). Business developed particularly well in Canada, where the Group was already able to exceed pre-crisis revenue levels. In Asia-Pacific, revenue increased relative to the previous year by 8.5 percent to EUR 60.1 million (2020: EUR 55.4 million). While the Group continued to face a challenging market environment with surplus capacities and significant price pressure in China, business in Australia developed at a dynamic pace. The Group significantly increased its revenue in this market and also recorded growth in the double-digit percentage range relative to the pre-crisis year of 2019. Marked increase in profitability Group profitability rose significantly in fiscal 2021 – even when compared with the pre-crisis level of 2019. Following the sharp downturn in 2020, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) climbed 155.6 percent to EUR 193.0 million – fueled amongst other things by the rise in revenue flanked by stringent cost control measures – and was thus significantly higher than 2019 EBIT (2020: EUR 75.5 million, 2019: EUR 153.1 million). The EBIT margin reached 10.3 percent (2020: 4.7 percent, 2019: 8.1 percent). Earnings included a positive net effect from the reversal of allowances for doubtful receivables in the amount of EUR +13.5 million. In the previous fiscal year, value adjustments in the amount of EUR -33.3 million had a negative effect on earnings. Net working capital ratio further reduced Following a significant reduction in the net working capital ratio during the prior fiscal year, it fell lower still in 2021. At 26.7 percent, it reached the strategic target range of 30 percent or less of revenue (2020: 30.8 percent). In absolute terms, net working capital remained at the same level as the previous year. High free cash flow results in positive net financial position Buoyed by the significant increase in earnings and a reduction in non-current financial assets, gross cash flow at EUR 375.2 million almost doubled compared with the previous year (2020: EUR 197.9 million). Cash flow from operating activities (after investments in net working capital) amounted to EUR 331.7 million and was thus lower than the high prior-year figure (2020: EUR 420.0 million). 2020 saw a significant reduction in net working capital. Free cash flow before fixed-term investments in the amount of EUR 115.0 million amounted to EUR 264.1 million (2020: EUR 344.0 million). The high cash value pushed net financial debt in fiscal 2021 into the negative range at EUR -0.8 million (December 31, 2020: EUR 122.9 million). Guidance for 2022: Revenue projected between EUR 1,900 and 2,100 million, EBIT margin to lie between 9.0 and 10.5 percent The Executive Board expects revenue to pan out between EUR 1,900 and 2,100 million in fiscal 2022. The EBIT margin is projected in the 9.0 to 10.5 percent corridor. In view of the staff shortages caused by the Omicron variant – both on the supply side and within the Wacker Neuson Group’s production and logistics networks – the Executive Board expects tight supply constraints to continue with limited visibility into future developments. It is unlikely that the Group will be able to fully compensate for the resulting inefficiencies and the significantly higher input, shipping and energy costs compared with the previous year. This forecast does not factor in the currently unpredictable impact of the war in Ukraine on macroeconomic developments and global supply chains. Dividend proposal at the AGM Wacker Neuson SE has adopted an attractive shareholder remuneration policy to ensure that shareholders enjoy a steady and appropriate share of the company’s profit. The Wacker Neuson SE dividend policy provides for a payout per share of 40 to 60 percent of Group earnings per share. At the AGM on June 3, 2022, the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board will propose a dividend payout of EUR 0.90 per eligible share. Supervisory Board extends contract with CSO Alexander Greschner The Supervisory Board has extended the contract of Chief Sales Officer Alexander Greschner for a further five years. Mr. Greschner has held the position of CSO at the Wacker Neuson Group since 2017, also holding responsibility for aftermarket and marketing. The Supervisory Board looks forward to continuing this trusted and successful relationship with Mr. Greschner. Key indicators for the Wacker Neuson Group Key figures in € million20212020DeltaRevenue1,866.21,615.5+16%EBIT193.075.5+156%EBIT margin (as a %)10.34.7+5.6 PPTotal profit/loss for the period137.914.1+878%Earnings per share in €1.990.20+895%Free cash flow1264.1344.0-23% 1 Before fixed-term financial investments in the amount of EUR 15.0 million for FY 2020 and EUR 115.0 million for FY 2021. Net financial debt = long- and short-term borrowings + current portion of long-term borrowings – cash and cash equivalents – fixed-term investments with terms of less than 1 year. The definition of net financial debt as applied by the Wacker Neuson Group does not include lease liabilities in accordance with IFRS 16.... Read more...31ST EDITION OF SAMOTER NOW SCHEDULED 3-7 MAY 202329 March 2022EventsThe Veronafiere event will focus on construction machinery of the future: h2m and m2m technologies, efficiency, safety and sustainability. The road map of run-up events in 2022 gets going with a new SaMoTer Day appointment in Rome. Verona, 23 February 2022 – The dates for SaMoTer as an attended show at Veronafiere have been set: the international construction equipment trade fair will be held 3-7 May 2023. The schedule was agreed with machinery builders and associations in relation to the busy trade fair calendar for this sector, with the aim of capitalizing on the recovery in this field which in 2021 closed with growth of 30% over 2020, with 22,000 construction vehicles sold on the Italian market (source: Unacea). The 31st edition of SaMoTer will highlight the key role that the construction equipment industry is destined to play as regards environmental sustainability and the development of the economic models outlined by the New Green Deal. A vital turning point to promote the innovations introduced to reduce emissions and promote recycling of the materials used on construction sites. A rational approach to sustainability involving significant efficiency improvements and the consequent reduction of economic and environmental costs, as well as overall improvements in performance. Sophisticated technologies connect humans with machines (h2m) and machines with other machines (m2m), thereby enabling the progressive automation of construction activities, improvements in efficiency and safe management of the most hazardous tasks. The industry 4.0 revolution is also having an impact on the world of construction equipment and SaMoTer is the preferential observatory for a better understanding of construction sites of the future. “We have a date at last for the return of SaMoTer after the long pit stop caused by the most acute phase of the pandemic,” said Giovanni Mantovani, CEO of Veronafiere. “The supply chain was significantly impacted by the cancellation lack of one of its landmark professional appointments in Europe. Trade fairs continue to confirm their role as one of the main tools for promoting business. We are now working with our main partners, including Unacea, to design a show in 2023 that will meet the expectations of companies and our stakeholders, while taking into account the highly expansive scenario that will be assigned to the Italian construction sector in coming years with over 107 billion euros in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.” “The construction machinery and equipment sector,” added Mirco Risi, President of Unacea, “comes forward at SaMoTer with a range of technological solutions which, if encouraged and adopted, would significantly improve advance the environmental sustainability of construction sites. They range from latest-generation machinery with Tier V engines and 4.0 Technologies to equipment for selective demolition and recycling, through to concrete plant equipped with mixers producing quality material with lower gaseous emissions.” Six halls will be available to exhibitors at SaMoTer, plus three outdoor areas. The format of the latest editions will be further strengthened through an increasingly interactive and dynamic approach focusing on demo areas where visitors can see and try many of the machines on display, as well as ever more ‘tailor made’ attendance thanks to events, promotions, set-ups and the conference programme. As regards incoming international buyers, a series of initiatives is being developed to support the internationalization processes of SMEs, with an emphasis on B2B presentations and business meetings during the trade fair. In the meantime, the run-up to the 2023 show has already started. The road map envisages two SaMoTer Day appointments: the traditional networking day in Verona in January next year will be preceded at the end of March 2022 by a meeting in Rome to take stock of the national and international construction equipment market, analysing 2020-2021 data and initial estimates for 2022, together with institutions, Unacea and CER-Centro Europa Ricerche. This is an additional market intelligence tool that SaMoTer makes available to companies keen to invest with a view to the availability of additional NRP resources. 2023 will also welcome B2Press appointments bringing together selected companies and the trade press, the Technical Innovation Competition rewarding research and innovation investments by companies, and a major International Summit dedicated to all exponents and decision makers in the construction industry.... Read more...A Restructuring of Murray Plant for Attachment Sales29 March 2022News / PlantSince Blue Group purchased Murray Plant back in 2019, it has always been our goal to grow the business to become a leading attachments distributor throughout the UK. In recent years Murray Plant have grown significantly, taking on several new brands and product lines. As part of our long-term growth strategy the decision has been taken for all current product ranges sold by Murray Plant Ltd, to be sold and serviced through our three core regional businesses- Blue Southern, Blue Central and Blue Scotland. Blue Scotland will keep the Murray Plant trading name, operating as ‘Murray Plant – A Blue Scotland Company’. However, both Blue Southern and Blue Central will acquire the attachment product lines and continue to operate as usual under their current trading names. Our product ranges include attachments from world leading brands such as Rammer, Allu, Fortress, Xcentric, Pladdet, OilQuick and more. Spare parts for all these brands will now be stocked at our two dedicated Blue Spares facilities based in Warrington and Stirling, for improved access to parts and quicker lead times. By bringing our attachment products into the three core Blue businesses this allows us to offer regionalised sales, service and administrative teams to provide customers with more comprehensive levels of service and support. With additional local depots and access to more engineers, our customers will benefit from faster response times and reduced downtimes. The restructure will be effective as of 1st April 2022 and will see minimal change for our existing customers as their local sales and service representatives will remain the same, but with additional staff resource being added across all departments to better support our customers. All members of staff previously working for Murray Plant will continue to support our range of world leading attachments by joining the regional business local to them depending on whether they were previously based out of Stirling or Warrington. We look forward to continuing our strong relationships with existing customers and creating some new ones too, as we strive to increase our attachments offering across the UK.... Read more...National Highways to set out new system for connected and autonomous plant at Futureworx event25 March 2022EventsFirst-of-a-kind system scores machinery according to its level of automation National Highways will be unveiling a new industry-wide scoring system for Connected and Autonomous Plant (CAP) to construction bosses at the Futureworx event next week. Visitors to the industry event will be given the first look at the new CAP levels which will score machinery according to its level of automation. This standardised measure, the first of its kind, will offer clarity and a clear way to compare different types of machinery to suit different tasks. The system is the latest development in the CAP Roadmap launched by National Highways and i3P jointly in June 2020 which identified challenges and workstreams to support a goal of making automation business as usual in construction by 2035. The new CAP levels will establish a common language and a first-of-its-kind framework to enable connected and autonomous plant to be specified and deployed on construction schemes. This means that all construction clients, like National Highways, can communicate clear expectations to suppliers and manufacturers can describe capability of their products using the same language. National Highways Head of Innovation Annette Pass said: Connected and autonomous plant offers a real opportunity to revolutionise the construction sector by making work safer, quicker and brings significant benefits for the environment. Futureworx is the perfect platform to showcase our new CAP levels which will further our ambitious plans to introduce more connected and autonomous plant onto sites as we continue to develop the roads of the future. CAP has the potential to improve productivity by more than £200bn by 2040 in the construction sector and we are committed to making it standard industry practice. By establishing more collaborative relationships with innovators and academics we hope to continue to lead in this field. The term Connected and Autonomous Plant refers to construction plant that is connected to its environment through sensors or wireless transfer of data between a remote operator while the autonomy element refers to aspects of the vehicle’s operation and also movement around a site. The new CAP Levels Maturity Matrix offers a standardised scoring system that enables plant and machinery to be scored according to its level of automation. An example of currently available technology is Intelligent Machine Control which guides excavators to dig to precisely the right level and profile, meaning more efficient and easier working for machine operators. In future, the operator may not need to be in the vehicle and could even control it from the other side of the world. The roadmap and the CAP levels have been developed in collaboration with TRL – the UK-based global centre for innovation in transport and mobility – as well as i3P, Costain and over 75 industry stakeholders meaning they have been shaped by those who will be guided by them. The ongoing digital revolution in the construction industry can increase productivity dramatically and generate billions of pounds in savings. At the same time, digital transformation can reduce disruption to the public and improve safety. Digital technologies are increasingly being introduced in construction and opportunities arise to introduce new techniques such as automating some activities that require manual labour and human intervention but also involve risk. National Highways’ Digital Roads strategy sets out: The company’s Digital Roads 2025 vision for safer and greener roads. How the growth of digital technology and the move to electric, connected and autonomous vehicles will fundamentally change roads in the future. The Futureworx technology showcase is taking place on 30 and 31 March 2022 at the East of England Arena, Peterborough. Futureworx will bring together industry professionals keen to find out what is in the pipeline of ideas and technology which will shape tomorrow’s construction equipment experience. The two-day event will also include conference sessions, live product demonstrations and technical talks. ... Read more...Liebherr’s dealer in Luxembourg: Comat celebrates its 50th anniversary25 March 2022News– Comat has been Liebherr’s official distributor in Luxembourg since 1980 – Liebherr R 924 G8 jubilee crawler excavator chosen for 50th anniversary celebrations – Comat and Liebherr: past and future In 1972, Jacques Conter founded the first Comat group company in Luxembourg-Hamm. While this family-run organisation has undergone many changes to date, its core objective of ensuring customer satisfaction through the quality of its products and services has remained unchanged. Just eight years after it was founded, Comat became a distributor for Liebherr earth-moving machines in 1980. Colmar (France), 25 March 2022 – In 1980, Liebherr was looking for a new partner to distribute its earth-moving equipment in Luxembourg. When Jacques Conter heard the news, he wrote a letter directly to Liebherr-Export AG. Two weeks later, the two companies started their adventure together. An alliance of two family-run groups, the partnership between Liebherr and Comat soon bore fruit. The first machines to be sold were an A 922 wheeled excavator for Sotraroute and an LR 631 for Perrard. Claude Conter, son of Jacques and the company’s current director, is very happy with the partnership between Comat and the Liebherr brand: “It’s a very good partnership”, he says. “These two family-run companies are reliable and stable. We consistently plough our profits back into investments that will secure our future.” R 924 G8 crawler excavator celebrates Comat’s 50th anniversary The Conter family have chosen an R 924 G8 crawler excavator from the Liebherr-France SAS production site at Colmar. With its characteristic generation 8 design, this machine features a completely reconfigured architecture to offer even better comfort, ergonomics and operating performance. Our Luxembourg distributor chose a custom version in its company livery and featuring a special 50th anniversary logo. Once it joins the company’s hire fleet, this machine is sure to be attracting attention very quickly on many future construction sites. Comat and Liebherr: past and future Since its foundation, Comat has made a name for itself with the main players in the construction sector in Luxembourg. It has also enjoyed a high profile through its involvement with numerous quarry projects in the country. Comat, is a valued local partner, highly regarded in its own country for its technical expertise and very fast service, but also and above all for the very close and trusting relationships that it maintains with its customers just as much as with Liebherr. Claude Conter recalls nostalgically: “In 1990, I did several months of practical training at the Liebherr-France plant in Colmar, and that allowed me to understand the Liebherr way of thinking and working. Our technicians also regularly attend training at the various Liebherrmanufacturing facilities to acquire in-depth and up-to-date knowledge of the Liebherr world.“ With over 100 employees, Comat has grown considerably in 50 years. Along with a steady, permanent customer base in its sector, this Luxembourg company launched a rental service about a decade ago. With excavators from 14 to 40 tonnes, the Comat Location fleet runs to more than 50 vehicles. It also includes wheeled loaders and crawler tractors, making up a complete range to cater for heavy demand from customers in Luxembourg. Comat and the Conter family owner have numerous projects under way, and the future looks bright for even the next fifty years!... Read more...Finning acquires hydraulic services specialist, Hydraquip24 March 2022Construction / EquipmentFinning, authorised dealer of Cat® equipment and parts in the UK and Ireland has announced the acquisition of Hydraquip, the UK’s largest independent provider of mobile hydraulic services. The move complements the company’s extensive product support offering across key customer industries. Hydraquip specialises in providing 24/7 nationwide coverage for hose replacement, assembly and fitting, oil replenishment and general hydraulic servicing. With 130 mobile service vans and highly trained technicians, Hydraquip’s rapid response capabilities mean jobs are typically completed within just three hours of the initial customer call – reducing machine downtime and generating significant cost savings and efficiency gains for customers. Tim Ferwerda, Managing Director of Finning UK & Ireland, said: “The acquisition of Hydraquip demonstrates our commitment to build on and extend our reach to provide exceptional product support and aftermarket services for our customers. The company is a great fit with Finning, in terms of its family-orientated and customer-focused culture, which complements our current product support service perfectly. “The Hydraquip brand name will remain in place as we maintain and build upon the high standards of service it is known for. The business has an established footprint with hydraulic hose specialists focused on industries such as construction, transportation, waste management, utilities, manufacturing, and materials handling. With our extensive joint network in the UK and Ireland, customers will find it even easier to reap the benefits of reduced downtime and operating costs. “I’d like to personally welcome all the Hydraquip employees to the Finning family. We’re looking forward to working side by side to ensure our customers benefit from the most responsive and specialist product service support across all our key sectors.” Headquartered in Kent, Hydraquip employs 270 people and serves more than 4,000 customers across a diverse range of industries. Alongside its on-site mobile hose services, the business also sells hydraulic and fluid power products and parts via its website and a network of 27 strategically located branches across the UK. In addition to hydraulic and pneumatic hose products, these branches also carry adjacent inventory of products such as oils and filters. Duncan MacBain, founder of Hydraquip said: “Joining Finning is an extremely exciting move for Hydraquip and will prove a critical step in the continued growth of our offering, enabling Hydraquip to recognise its full potential in the UK and further afield. We can see many cultural similarities as well as tremendous opportunities between the companies to give customers an even stronger proposition. “This is down to the quality and commitment of our team, who will remain focused on offering our customers the very best service and support levels – now with the added backing of Finning, its network, and broader aftermarket capabilities. Our joint goals and vision remain to continue to build our market share and expand further from being the largest independent provider of mobile hydraulic solutions to the largest provider overall.”... Read more...First Time for New Doosan Products at Hillhead 202222 March 2022EventsDoosan will be featuring a wide range of new products for the first time on the company’s Stand Number Z4 at the Hillhead 2022 Exhibition in Hillhead Quarry in Buxton in the UK from 21-23 June 2022. They include the latest versions of the company’s large crawler excavators from 36 to 53 tonne, the next generation of Doosan mini-excavators, the new DX100W-7 10 tonne wheeled excavator and a new range of compact wheel loaders, Alongside these products, Doosan will show the latest DL-7 wheel loaders and articulated dump trucks for the quarrying, mining and construction industries. Increased Comfort and Controllability A number of new standard and optional features are now available on several large Doosan crawler excavators, including the DX350LC-7, DX380LC-7, DX420LC-7, DX490LC-7 and DX530LC-7 models. The main changes are in the new cab, which takes operator comfort and ease of operation to the next level. Standard features include: Keyless start (Doosan Smart Key) & remote door lock/unlockParallel wiper system covering a larger window areaOperator ID/Password functionality (setting operator authorization to modify parameters)Remote diagnostics functionalityNew Heating & Cooling seat (cooling is optional)DAB audio + hands-free call system11 LED work lights as standard with 2 more optional AVM – Around View Monitor with 360° cameras (Ultrasonic sensors are optional) In all the excavators, the Main Control Valve (MCV) has also been changed as standard to a Doosan Mottrol MCV with no change in performance. Next Generation Doosan Mini-Excavators Hillhead provides the first look at selected models from Doosan’s next generation mini-excavator range, which currently includes thenew DX27Z-7 2.8 tonne, DX35Z-7 3.9 tonne, DX50Z-7 5.4 tonneand DX55R-7 5.7 tonneStage V compliant models. The zero tail swing design of the DX27Z-7, DX35Z-7 and DX50Z-7 and the reduced radius design of the DX55R-7 models make them ideal for confined space work. The DX27Z-7 and DX35Z-7 are powered by the Doosan D17 Stage V compliant diesel engine providing 18.4 kW (24.7 HP) of power at 2400 and 2200 RPM, respectively. The DX50Z-7 and DX55R-7 are powered by the Doosan D18 Stage V compliant diesel engine providing 36.4 kW (48.8 HP) of power at 2200 RPM. As a result, all four models offer the highest power and torque in their respective classes and cover a wide range of applications including heavy duty work. A novel platform design featuring new upper structures has increased durability/robustness and this is complemented in all four new mini-excavators by a larger working range than other equivalent machines on the market, coupled with higher lifting capacities and digging forces. New High Performance 10 tonne Wheeled Excavator Also featuring a new look design, the DX100W-7 10.7 tonne wheeled excavator from Doosan make its debut at Hillhead. The 10 tonne weight class represented by the DX100W-7 is new to the Doosan range and the DX100W-7 offers a high performance solution for customers looking for a wheeled excavator designed primarily for urban and road maintenance applications. For this type of work, the DX100W-7 offers the best compromise between compactness and agility, complemented by excellent productivity and high-end comfort. It is very important that this type of machine can operate in very restricted areas, so the DX100W-7 can be equipped with the option of four wheel steering and a crabbing mode, with two wheel steering as standard. As well as agility in confined spaces, the DX100W-7 offers the highest safety and specifications on the market. The integral 1.35 tonne counterweight ensures the highest stability for lifting work in combination with the articulated boom and long arm, which together provide a larger working range than other machines in this class, despite having similar boom and arm lengths. The counterweight also has a novel design, offering the best maintenance access in the industry, from the rear of the machine and from ground level. The articulated boom ensures that the operator is able to position the machine as close as possible to trucks during loading. In addition, the DX100W-7 offers maximised lifting capacities and digging forces, as well as satisfying a requirement in some countries for a wheeled excavator with a travelling height of under 4 m. New Compact Wheel Loaders Doosan has signed an exclusive supply agreement with Netherlands-based Tobroco-Giant, a leading manufacturer of compact wheel loaders for materials handling, construction, rental, agriculture and landscaping. Under the new agreement, selected compact wheel loader models are being manufactured by Tobroco-Giant in the orange colours of Doosan and being sold under the Doosan name through the brand’s European dealer network. As featured on the Hillhead stand, the partnership covers a total of five new Doosan compact wheel loader models, the DL60, DL65, DL80, DL85 and DL80TL, with operating weights from 3500 to 5000 kg. Just like their much heavier versions in the Doosan range, these new compact wheel loaders set the industry standard for productivity, flexibility, comfort, safety and reliability, with powerful Stage V engines, hydrostatic 4-wheel drive, 100% differential lock on both axles and versatile and powerful hydraulics. For more on Doosan construction equipment, please visit the website: www.eu.doosanequipment.com... Read more...Bobcat Appoints New Authorised Dealer for the Canary Islands22 March 2022NewsLast month, ITT Canarias became the new Bobcat Authorised Dealer for the Canary Islands in Spain. With ITT Canarias joining sister companies ITT Bobcat Of, the Authorised Dealer for central Spain, Valencia and Catalonia; Compañía Maquinaria 93 in the Balearic Islands and ITTMach10 in France, this makes the parent, the International Trucks & Tractors (ITT) group, one of the largest distributors of the Bobcat brand in Europe. ITT Group is a leading supplier of agricultural machinery, construction equipment and transport vehicles. Operating from Three Locations, with Coverage in All the islands Alejandro Buitrago, Manager of ITT Canarias, comments: “We are pleased to be distributing Bobcat, one of the most recognised and valued brands in the world, through our three locations on the islands of Tenerife, Las Palmas and Lanzarote, respectively, providing coverage across all of the Canary Islands, supported by 15 technical specialists and seven service vehicles. To guarantee the best service for our customers, we also offer the extensive experience of the ITT Bobcat operation, a benchmark in the group as a specialist in the Bobcat brand since 2002.” In addition to the sale of Bobcat compact equipment and handling the aftermarket, ITT Canarias will offer its customers an extensive range of machines for rent. ITT’s specialized rental division currently has a fleet of more than 800 pieces of equipment in France and Spain. From telehandlers, mini-excavators and compact loaders, to compaction equipment and all kinds of attachments, the ITT fleet will be available from hire by Canarian users. Excellent Customer Response “The response from our customers has been excellent and they are very excited about also being able to benefit from our technical service, not only from the ITT Canarias team but also from all the synergies of the group and its long history with Bobcat. “Customers are currently concerned about delivery times, but ITT has more than 300 Bobcat skid-steer loaders, mini-excavators and telehandlers scheduled for its specialized Bobcat subsidiaries, so we will be able to quickly meet most needs,” adds Alejandro Buitrago. With more than 13 Bobcat dealers on the Iberian peninsula, with 34 different locations, including ITT Canarias, this demonstrates Bobcat’s commitment to offer the best professional service, analysing and complementing the specific needs of each customer across every sector. “The appointment of ITT Canarias as the new Authorised Dealer for the entire Bobcat product line provides us with a strong presence in a territory in which Bobcat has not been present for a while and is without doubt good news for our customers in the Canary Islands. “We are confident that ITT Canarias will once again place the Bobcat brand in the leadership position it deserves,” says Carlos Campos, District Manager Bobcat – Iberia & Turkey. For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website www.bobcat.com... Read more...Volvo Construction Equipment Extends Engine Service Intervals To 1000 Hours22 March 2022Construction / TechnologyAdvancements in Volvo CE lubricant technology, coupled with new high-performance engine oil and fuel filters, cut engine service intervals and costs by up to 50%. Volvo Construction Equipment is releasing a new generation of fuel filters that extend service intervals to 1,000 hours across a wide range of machines. This introduction means Volvo can now offer customers a complete 1000 -hour engine service package. Niclas Wahlström, Head of Uptime and Parts at Volvo Construction Equipment explains: “We understand that increasing uptime and reducing maintenance costs are vital objectives for our customers. That is why our design and engineering teams dedicate many hours to develop high quality machines and components for a long-lasting performance.” Niclas Wahlström continues: “Part of this commitment is the introduction of Volvo High Performance Fuel Filters, meaning we can now offer our customers a complete 1000-hour engine service package. The result is reduced maintenance requirements and less maintenance costs, meaning customers’ machines stay out on the job site and working their best.” The longer intervals will save customers up to 50% on maintenance costs and have a positive environmental impact without compromising on component performance or longevity. The 1000-hour package consists of Volvo Engine Oil VDS-4.5, in conjunction with Volvo High-Performance engine oil and fuel filters. Niclas Wahlström concludes, “The 1000 hour engine service interval is yet another reason why we believe Volvo is the number one brand when it comes to uptime and TCO.” While older machines can benefit from Volvo Engine Oil VDS 4.5 and Volvo high-performance filters, users should adhere to the service intervals defined in their operator’s manual. The extended engine service interval is available across a wide range of machines. Check with your local Volvo dealer to learn whether your current Volvo equipment qualifies.... Read more...Site safety people plant interface management at Futureworx 202222 March 2022EventsNew technologies improve detection capabilities – at Futureworx a number of exhibitors will be demonstrating a range of advancements in object and people detection… Advancements in sensors and other components used in various types of safety systems are improving the detection capabilities and alerting machine operators when there may be a person, animal or inanimate object in their path. This capability will be particularly important as machines become more automated because they will need to be able to distinguish their surroundings and know they are travelling a safe route. Spillard Safety Systems is showing its award-winning cloud platform captures, processes, and learns from an equally innovative video telematics system. With real-time video and analytics from multiple cameras over a fleet of vehicles simultaneously, Spillard says, you will never miss a thing ever. A Deep Learning Human Detection System will also feature on the Spillard stand. With this system, you will only detect the human form, removing hazards such as lampposts, railings, dustbins etc. often identified by more basic detection models. XwatchSafety Solutions is launching a new safety system and showing the latest machines from Sany fitted with Xwatch technology. The company has also teamed up with Plantforce Rentals who is revealing its ‘Cancer Research’ Charity machine, an SK85 Kobelco fitted with an Xwatch XW4 height and slew restrictor, all proceeds from the hire of this machine will be donated to Cancer Research. Plantforce Rentals is also bringing the latest hybrid and semi-autonomous machines from Kobelco, also kitted out with Xwatch and Leica technology, in addition to bringing its state of the art simulator to promote advanced operator training and invite guests to experience machine technology. Plantforce will also be linking live to a connected work site. FTC Group has developed a Pedestrian Detection Camera system and will showcase this at Futureworx. Many construction and plant companies are already using the system in the field with FTC Group seeing a huge increase in demand, FTC Group’s BDM Sean Hamill states ‘We are working with companies across the board, who see the clear benefits of such a system fitted to their assets in the field and also from new straight off the line from their OEM, our system works on any brand and type of machine and delivers instant Health and Safety improvements across the board’. Plantforce Rentals will also showcase the system on its stand following recent positive trials on the hire company’s plant. GKD Technologies in partnership with SiteZone Safety will be launching the first phase of its cloud-based, connected platform, SafetyZone at FutureWorx 2022. With a ‘best-in-class approach’, SafetyZone will bring together advanced health and safety technologies to deliver actionable insights making it the first of its kind in the industry. This initial phase sees the integration of SiteZone a leading proximity warning system, with a roadmap for 2022 which enables SafetyZone to incorporate an ecosystem of innovative safety solutions. Safety Shield Global has also confirmed its attendance and will be giving live demonstrations of the latest innovations in semi-autonomous plant solutions and collision avoidance and how these innovations will work in collaboration with existing site safety procedures and reduce collisions on site. There will also be live interactions with the plant through the Safety Shield Vue data portal and the team will demonstrate how the data analytics and event video capture is changing behaviour on-site associated with people and plant interface. The event will showcase the most enhanced AI collision avoidance technology and behavioural management systems for construction sites of the future. MDiG will be showcasing the Leica MC1 machine control system which is a revolutionising software platform for all machine control solutions and applications. The Leica MC1 is the one-for-all software solution platform to guide and automate all heavy construction machines. The Xwatch and Leica MC1 systems have recently been integrated to provide safety for the operator. The conference programme is taking place on day two of the event, 31st of March and speakers confirmed are from, Hexagon, Skanska, Costain, MachineMax and many more. The conference will also investigate future fuels where there will be a panel of experts discussing how to power the machines of the future. Visit www.futureworx.uk for the full programme of events. Registration is now open for day two (31st March) of the event – for the conference and exhibition Showcase please visit www.futureworx.uk/rsvp and enter the code FWXG22. Places are limited and space is filling up fast.... Read more...INMALO are pleased to announce the release of the MBI EAGLE III Shears to the UK market.18 March 2022AttachmentsThe new range of MBI Eagle III shears is hitting the market this Spring. Designed to be market leaders for power and reliability the new range will run alongside the existing and well proven Eagle II range. The new shears will out compete the biggest names in the market with new, larger cylinders offering 25-30% more power than existing shears, as well as redesigned cylinders that can work at 380 bar pressure instead of the industry standard of 350 bar – these shears are designed to be industry leaders. On the reliability aspect they have an improved piercing tip that is stronger and covers the end of the jaw to reduce time consuming rebuilding works. Replaceable armoured plates have also been fitted to the jaw, again to reduce downtime for rebuilding the shear. To improve material quality the jaws are built from single sections of steel which reduces welding and improves strength. The Eagle III range will initially cover machines from 20t to 150t. The SH800 (8,000kg) and SH15000 (15,000kg) have completed well over 4,000 hours of work with incredible results and minimal down-time. Inmalo will be bringing the Eagle III shears in as soon as possible for sales and demonstrations. Call 01962 760055 or email info@inmalo.co.uk for more information.... Read more...Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity offers free access to industry leading support to combat sleep deprivation on World Sleep Day17 March 2022CharityFriday 18th March is World Sleep Day and the Lighthouse Construction Industry is partnering with Sleepstation to offer free access to this industry leading support to anyone in construction suffering from insomnia or poor sleep health. Easily accessed through the Construction Industry Helpline App, Sleepstation is an NHS approved service aimed at improving support with insomnia and poor sleep health, but sadly it can be a postcode lottery on whether you can easily access the services free of charge. The charity is offering the clinically proven sleep improvement programme completely free to charge to help address poor sleep in the industry. A good night’s sleep helps us deal with stress, improves resilience and optimises our immune system but the very nature of the work in construction lends itself to poor sleep quality and quantity and the issues affect all levels, from the site operatives through to management level. Key sleep facts in construction Over 80% of construction workers in the UK are not getting enough sleep.The construction industry has one of the highest ratesof psychosocial health problems, including fatigue and burnout.The UK construction industry ranks third for the highest average hours worked per week.Only 14% of construction workers in the UK work fewer than 40 hours a week.44% of construction workers in the UK travel around 2-3 hours a day to work and back. Sleepstation looks at the underlying reasons why people are having problems and has been proven to address even the most severe sleep issues. Dedicated support teams deliver a plan that reflects the issues identified and there can be significant improvement in just four sessions. It has also been shown to be far more effective than pharmaceutical interventions. Sleepstation offers: An understanding of what is normal and what constitutes sleep deprivation A personal sleep assessment and expert analysis Confidential advice and reports Support from an expert team who offer personal advice. Sarah Bolton, Director of Charitable Services for the charity said, “We launched Sleepstation in autumn of last year and it has been very successful, but we really want to ensure that everyone in construction knows about and has free and easy access to this fantastic resource. We already know that construction workers work in an environment that can be incredibly stressful and emotionally challenging. Add to that, the complications of irregular shift patterns, long working hours, early starts and demanding workloads and it’s not difficult to see why our construction workforce are at such high risk of sleep fatigue. With our app’s latest addition, within a few moments, users can access the highest level of support without lengthy waiting times to get an appointment with their GP or a GP referral, it’s really that simple”. Sleepstation complements the huge variety of wellbeing support already available through the charity’s free to download self support app which offers self assessment tools, coping strategies and referral pathways to access expert advice and support. It also ensures that users are signposted to support services local to where they live as well as national help centres. For more information about Sleepstation visit https://www.constructionindustryhelpline.com/sleep If you need help or support now, or know someone that does, you can call the charity’s 24/7 Construction Industry Helpline on 0345 605 1956, (UK), 1800 939 122, (ROI), download the complementary Self Support App or text HARDHAT to 85258 (UK) or 50808 (ROI). For more information about any of these free services for the construction industry and their families visit www.constructionindustryisithelpline.com Key support areas of the helpline app include: Emotional Wellbeing; covering anxiety, depression, anger, suicidal thoughts, sleep and building resilience Physical Wellbeing; covering aches and pains, nutrition, weight management cancer, alcohol and drug addiction. Financial Wellbeing; covering budgeting, debt management, tax and legal advice, retirement planning and emergency financial aid. ... Read more...GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES: NEW ATTACHMENTS FOR YOUR JOB SITE17 March 2022Attachments / ExcavatorsGood things come in small packages. And these new units are small and designed for mini and midi excavators. Small but efficient, practical, and productive. The two new shaft screener models are the MB-HDS207 and the MB-HDS212. These two shaft screeners were created to simplify tasks on all job sites. For example, tasks like aerating packed soil when preparing a garden. Or if you need to recycle and separate dirt from demolition debris, stones, or roots; or screening materials to cover pipes and trenches. SHAFT SCREENER BUCKETS FOR MINI AND MIDI EXCAVATORS There are two new models designed for mini and midi excavators: the MB-HDS207 and the MB-HDS212. The MB-HDS207 weighs 98kg and is compatible with a mini excavator with operating weight from 1.3 to 2.8 tons.The MB-HDS212 weighs 480kg and can be installed on midi excavators and backhoe loaders between 8 and 9 tons, and skid loaders from 4 to 5 tons. The attachments are designed and created for the gardening, landscaping, and urban construction industries. The new MB-HDS shaft screeners combine efficiency and versatility and are solutions for complex job sites. The shaft screeners were designed to simplify the job. Thanks to the coupler connection being lowered than the rest of the unit, you get more control during the loading and processing phases making it easier to get the job done. Not only that, but buckets’ shape increases productivity. Maintenance is simple – greasing is centralized and can take place at the job site. The shaft screeners have a sealed cover designed to withstand long-term use but also to shield the internal parts of the machine from materials such as dirt and sand. The same cover protects the bolts and side casings, guaranteeing minimal downtime and the ability to continually work. Similar to our other HDS models, the new units have shafts that are easily replaced on the job site. You can also install a capacity increase kit to the MB-HDS207, increasing the unit’s load capacity from 50l to 60l. The MB-HDS212 is also compatible with skid steers. These two attachments are crucial when you’re looking for practicality, reliability, and productivity on the job site. The shaft screeners are compact, versatile, and extremely easy to use; they’re designed to simplify jobs, reduce working times, and save money. Video: https://vimeo.com/687148555... Read more...Omnia Machinery launches mobile app for used heavy plant and construction machinery to streamline buying and selling within industry15 March 2022TechnologyBased in Teesside, Omnia Machinery are a global supplier of used heavy plant and construction machinery, sourcing the best quality used machines from trusted suppliers. Their new mobile app, developed with their digital partner Calm Digital, will help make buying and selling a simple process. The app features hundreds of machines from America to Australia, and everywhere in between, and can be relocated to almost anywhere in the world. Updated daily, the app will help users find the best deals for used construction machinery, and is much quicker to use than sending a website enquiry. Omnia Machinery are committed to helping their customers throughout the entire buying and selling process, offering the best shipping rates possible and providing industry-leading aftercare. Recognised by the Northern Powerhouse and Tees Business Awards, they have traded in over 70 countries across 5 continents. Download the Omnia Machinery App to: ● Gain access to hundreds of listings when on-site or travelling. ● Find information on all available machinery, and make enquiries on any listing. ● Save machines to your account and monitor any changes. ● Request to sell machinery through the Omnia Machinery app. ● Select the route you wish to take when you buy or sell machinery. ● Share machinery to your contacts via a number of platforms. ● Autosave your information to save time. The app is available to download from the Apple Store and Google Play, or alternatively, visit www.omniamachinery.com... Read more...The Countdown Begins Now: CONEXPO-CON/AGG & IFPE 202314 March 2022EventsMILWAUKEE – With the next CONEXPO-CON/AGG and International Fluid Power Exposition (IFPE), being just a year away, construction pros can expect a next-level experience when they arrive at the Las Vegas Convention Center, March 14-18, 2023. The most obvious project underway during the last show was the construction of the new West Hall and adjacent Diamond Lot on the site of the old Gold Lot. The other was the Tesla-powered people mover, now called the “LVCC Loop,” underground transport project being built under the LVCC. Now that both projects are complete, CONEXPO-CON/AGG, and the co-located IFPE will make full use of both. “AEM and our show committees of industry leaders are working to take advantage of everything that has changed in Las Vegas to deliver a top-notch event delivering the latest innovations and best practices to help construction pros take their businesses and careers to the next level,” said Dana Wuesthoff, show director of CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023. “Between the West Hall and Diamond Lot bringing a lot of displays closer to the rest of the show as well as serving as a connector to the Festival Lot, and the LVCC Loop making it effortless to get across the entire Las Vegas Convention Center, it’s never been easier for attendees to see everything they want to learn about when they get there.” According to the Las Vegas Convention Center, the new West Hall provides an additional 1.4 million square feet of indoor space, including 600,000 square feet of “technologically advanced” exhibit space. CONEXPO-CON/AGG is making West Hall a hub for earthmoving and materials handling displays in 2023, the largest of which include Case, K-Tec/Ashland, Hitachi and Hyundai. “When you attend CONEXPO-CON/AGG, you are able to see an item, touch it, sit in it, sometimes operate it and discuss it with the engineers and manufacturers,” said Brian Dietz, of Bob Dietz & Sons, an excavating contractor in New York’s Hudson Valley. “When you walk up to a machine and talk to someone, you get answers that you are not going to get anywhere else. No local equipment dealer that can provide that. The event also helps you stay on top of the latest trending technology.” The Diamond Lot, attached to the west of West Hall, will have a large variety of exhibits from Business Operations to Hauling to Portable Power to Underground Construction. The largest exhibitors in this area include Bauer Equipment, CZM Foundation Equipment, Trail King, and Hammer & Steel. The LVCC Loop, which features new electric Tesla vehicles carrying attendees around the LVCC, is the other major addition to the show. With stops in the South Hall (providing easy access to both floors of South Hall and IFPE exhibits), running to Central Hall (providing access to Central and North Halls) and finishing at Diamond Lot (providing access to West Hall), CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE attendees can save themselves a lot of steps getting around. And with shuttle service carrying construction pros from West Hall to the Festival Lot where the largest exhibits at the show are, seeing the whole show has never been easier. “In the construction business, everything we talk about is benchmarked by the last CONEXPO-CON/AGG we went to,” said Bruce Barnhart, owner of Barnhart’s Custom Services, an excavating contractor in the Eastern Iowa Corridor. “It’s like everything revolves around CONEXPO-CON/AGG. Even our conversations with our employees years after the show connect back to what we saw and learned at the show. Also, the hospitality by the manufacturers is a major highlight. At CONEXPO-CON/AGG you have fun, and you learn.”... Read more...Hubbway Plant Hire invest in Xwatch14 March 2022TechnologyHubbway Ltd was founded in 1965 by George Hubb. The business was originally located in Ellington, next to one of the largest deep coal mines in the UK. Hubbway has since grown into one of the largest privately owned Plant Hire Companies, based in Cramlington, in the North East, headed up by Managing Director, Nick Hubb, who is George’s son. The company hire all types of plant, tools and equipment Nationwide. Hubbway Plant Hire, Director, Phil Hickey (pictured) is responsible for the plant and equipment at the hire firm, which has an impressive fleet of over 150 excavators ranging from a 1 tonne mini up to 30 tonne heavy line machines. Hubbway ran height & slew safety systems from a competitors brand before adopting Xwatch as its preferred system. Dan Leaney, Xwatch Safety Solution’s Sales and Operations Director contacted Phil at Hubbway just over two years ago when the Xwatch business was in its infancy. Phil commented, “I had heard some very good things about the Xwatch system on the industry grape vine. When Dan got in touch I was very open to trying the system. We ordered an XW4 system, which monitors height and slew, which was then installed on a 17tonne Hitachi wheeled excavator.” “I was very impressed with the system – it was easy to operate, which was one of the first things I noticed. It was also very intuitive and represented value for money” Added Phil Hubbway Hire supply machines to key blue chip companies including leading tier one contractors where onsite safety is a priority – all the company’s machines are ‘Highways Spec’. “Ease of use and reliability is an important factor, when out on hire” said Phil. “With Xwatch – you don’t need any previous experience of using this system – it’s self-explanatory. In the past I have had operators on the phone asking me to talk them through a competitors system, but I can honestly say I have not had one phone call about using the Xwatch – the operator can get in the cab set the limits and off they go! More complicated systems waste time and can have serious safety implications if overridden, because the operator can’t make it work!” To date Hubbway has purchased 30 XW4 and XW5 systems fitted to a range of machines, both wheeled and tracked excavators, including Hitachi, Hyundai, Kubota and Yanmar, with another six systems on order. The XW5 offers total protection and is a RCI, a rated capacity indicator, that ensures the safe operation of lifting equipment throughout the machine’s working envelope. The system continually measures the height, radius and load on the machine, allowing operators to work at the maximum lifting capacity whilst remaining within the machine’s safe working load (SWL). Phil continued, “We have a very good working relationship with Xwatch and the service is excellent. This combined with value for money, reliability and ease of use, makes for a very good combination.” Phil concluded, “K&W Mechanical Services and Hargreaves have installed the systems on our machines, and again, this was done to a high standard and we are very happy with the service. We look forward to working with Xwatch and the team moving forward.” Xwatch Sales and Operations Director, Dan Leaney commented, “We were delighted to be able to supply Xwatch systems to Hubbway providing a simpler and more reliable solution for the company’s hire fleet. We understand that ‘ease of use’ is an important factor when supplying machines to the hire sector- down time and idling costs money. With the Xwatch suite of safety systems even the most inexperienced of operators can make it work – vastly improving site safety.”... Read more...CPA Makes Industry Plea to the Chancellor Ahead of the Spring Statement to Extend the Super Deduction Allowance and Make it Permanent11 March 2022NewsAhead of the Spring Statement taking place later this month, the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) has written to ChancellorRishi Sunak to urge the Treasury to work with the construction plant-hire sector to address concerns and help build and secure the industry’s economic recovery. In particular, the CPA has made a strong plea to the Chancellor to extend the Super Deduction Allowance (SDA) and make it permanent. The letter to Mr Sunak states: “The CPA has very real concerns about how our members can plan for the future and invest in new technology and equipment, while simultaneously, dealing with the removal of the red diesel rebate that comes into effect at the beginning of April. Cost pressures within the construction industry continue, alongside the impact of Covid-19 and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine providing greater uncertainty for businesses.” The CPA is the largest trade association for the plant-hire sector in the UK, representing over 1,700 companies who are responsible for 85% of the construction plant used in the UK. CPA Chief Executive Kevin Minton urges Mr Sunak and the Treasury to consider four key areas ahead of the Spring Statement on 23rd March 2022: To boost business investment and encourage the uptake of cleaner, greener plant, it is vital the construction plant-hire industry can claim the SDA. Under existing legislation, plant-hire companies are unable to claim the SDA. The SDA in its existing guise, should be extended with a view to making it permanent. It is currently due to expire in 12 months’ time. This will provide confidence, certainty and broaden the scope and range of companies who are able to claim the SDA, especially those plant-hire companies looking to invest in new electric or hydrogen powered plant. The CPA would welcome a delay in the removal of the red diesel rebate given the current wider global uncertainty and continued volatility on oil prices. The Treasury should instigate a fuel buy back scheme for smaller companies affected by the removal of the rebate who operate in both the agricultural and construction sectors – this will offset to an extent, the unrecoverable administrative costs caused by the loss of the rebate. In the letter to Mr Sunak, Kevin Minton states: “Over the course of the last two years during the pandemic, the plant-hire industry has played a vital role in supporting the national effort in supporting the healthcare system, working at often, breakneck speed by helping to build the ten Covid-19 temporary critical care hospitals throughout the UK. “Projects that normally would take years of planning and development were being delivered in days. Our members, alongside their partners from right across construction and the NHS, worked together to tackle the biggest civil emergency since the Second World War. Yet as we look to recover and get back to business as usual, the sector is facing cost pressures that for some companies, might prove too much to bear.”... Read more...NEW E-Series crawler excavators11 March 2022ExcavatorsE FOR E-SERIES: EXCELLENCE REDEFINED. No matter what you’re doing or where you’re working, the NEW E-Series crawler excavators excel in every way. The new benchmark for excellence is here.... Read more...Terex MPS Handles a Large-Scale Relocation Project in Malaysia9 March 2022NewsMount Trusmadi, located in the Trusmadi Forest Reserve, in Sabah, Malaysia, standing at over 2,500 metres above sea level is the new job site for one of our Terex MPS crushers along with other Terex equipment. A recent project for one of our customers involved relocating Terex equipment to this location from over 150km away. The requirement from the customer was that the equipment be moved to this site that needed it post-pandemic. This equipment had been unused for upwards of 2 years. The durability and quality of the machines shone through as they were relocated with ease. The equipment was the Wheeled Jaw WJ1175, this contained the Primary Jaw Crusher Model Terex JW42, and a Terex Wheeled Cone Model WC1000 containing a Terex TC1000 model Cone Crusher. The machines were relocated successfully, and with ease. The flexibility which is offered with Terex MPS Wheeled Plants was the key factor by which the customer could reuse almost all components from the previous site. This included reusing the 5×14’ IV Decks which were easily attached to the wheeled units in transit. “The versatility of our Wheeled Plant was the main reason that the customer chose Terex originally,” said Benjamin Tong, Regional Sales Manager for Terex MPS. “The IV Decks screen makes it easy for the customer to cope with the market demand for four different aggregate sizes,” he added. The service support provided by Terex MPS team was also highly appreciated by the customer, which resulted in a quick turnaround of the plant and in turn production. Now sitting at the top of a new site some 150km from the old site, overlooking the beauty and majesty of Mount Trusmadi, the Terex MPS systems are working together as one, once again, after years of sitting idly by. The one-of-a-kind optimization of the machines, along with their premium quality components has saved the customer time, labour costs and overall relocation costs during a time when the market is at its most challenging. It’s easy to see why Terex MPS are the number one choice for our customers. To learn more about Terex MPS, visit our website at www.terexmps.com... Read more...UK Imports and Exports of Construction and Earthmoving equipment – Q4 20217 March 2022Construction / EquipmentIn the last quarter of 2021, imports and exports of construction and earthmoving equipment showed very different outcomes. Exports showed a significant increase of 21% on Q3 levels and reached a similar level to Q4 2018, which was a “record” quarterly level since trade has been monitored from 2013. As a result, exports for the whole of 2021 were 25% above 2020 levels at £3,442 million, which was very similar to the high levels reached in 2019. In contrast, imports of equipment in Q4 showed a 22% fall on Q3 levels, continuing to fall after reaching peak levels in Q2. However, despite the declines seen in the last two quarters, total imports in 2021 were still 67% up on 2020 levels, reaching £2,092 million. This was above the level of imports seen in 2019, which was the highest year since trade has been monitored from 2013. This is consistent with the high level of equipment sales in the UK in 2021, which ended up above the peak levels seen in 2018 and 2019, and were the highest since before the “financial crash” in 2007. Exports of equipment in Q4 were £977 million, similar to the peak levels in Q4 2018, as highlighted above. An update on total tonnages shipped in 2021 still isn’t available for this report due to problems with some of the tonnage data in Q3, which haven’t been corrected yet. On a £ value basis, while exports of equipment were at very high levels last year, the share of exports to the EU has remained at slightly lower levels in 2021 compared with 2020.The table below shows that exports to the EU accounted for 50% of total exports in 2020, but fell to 47% in 2021, which was similar to 2019 levels. After EU share of exports had shown a growing trend in earlier years, the reduced levels in 2021 could be attributed to a post Brexit effect. Imports in Q4 were £413 million, 22% down on Q3 levels, and the lowest quarterly level since 2020. On a tonnage shipped basis, they were just above 77 k tonnes in Q4, which was also a reduction of 22% on Q3 levels of trade. However, for the whole of 2021, imports were 67% up on 2020 levels at 396 k tonnes, due mainly to the high levels in the first half of the year. Despite total imports of equipment reaching “record” levels in 2021, imports from the EU showed a reduction. The table below indicates that the EU share of total imports fell to 63% last year compared with 69% in 2020. This reduced share of imports from the EU can probably be attributed to a post Brexit effect. As highlighted above, higher levels of imports in 2021 overall, is consistent with the latest statistics on UK sales of equipment, as reported by Systematics International from the construction equipment data exchange. This identifies that unit sales in 2021 were 48% above 2020 levels, which suffered from the impact of lockdown in the construction industry in the early part of the year. However, the reduction in imports of equipment in the second half of the year may have been influenced by some of the supply chain constraints experienced around the world, which included freight and shipping problems. The UK remained a net exporter of construction and earthmoving equipment in 2021, with exports (£3,442 million) 64% higher than imports (£2,092 million). However, this was a much smaller margin than previous years – for example in 2020, exports were more than double the level of imports. The table below provides a summary of the EU share of total imports and exports of equipment for the last four years. In both cases, this shows modest increases in the annual share for EU countries in earlier years, but as highlighted above, after peaking in 2020, both types of trade returned to similar levels as 2019 last year: EU share of UK trade: UK trade by £ value UK trade by machine weight Exports of Equipment by Country of destination In 2021, UK exports of equipment were shipped to over 170 different countries. The table below shows rankings for the Top 20 countries based on weight of machines shipped (tonnes) since 2019. However, for 2021, the country ranking has been switched to a £ value basis due to the problem with tonnage shipped data from customs highlighted above. In 2021, the Top 20 countries accounted for just over 80% of total exports in value terms. The USA remained the top destination for UK exports during 2021. Its share of total exports compared with 2020 levels has remained fairly stable at between 22% and 23%. The destination country showing the strongest growth for exports during 2021 was Russia. This market saw an increase in shipments of 68% in 2021 to reach just under £175 million, accounting for over 5% of total UK exports of equipment. This resulted in Russia climbing to 5th place in the league table of destinations. Following the recent invasion of the Ukraine and the potential imposition of sanctions, this has been flagged up as a potential issue for UK exporters. Imports of Equipment by Country of origin In 2021, UK imports of construction and earthmoving equipment arrived from over 50 different countries. The table below shows rankings for the Top 20 importing countries based on weight (tonnes) of machines since 2019. The Top 20 countries accounted for over 97% of total imports in both weight and value terms in the first nine months of the year. Similar to previous years, Japan has remained as the leading source for UK imports in 2021. Its share on both a £ value and tonnage shipped basis remained stable last year at around 16%. Germany remains as the second highest source of imports of equipment into the UK on a tonnage shipped basis, but was actually above Japan on a £ value basis. Between them Japan and Germany account for nearly a third of total imports. Imports from China have continued to increase their share of total imports and accounted for over 8% in 2021 on a tonnage shipped basis. This moved China up to 5th place in the country ranking for 2021. Definition of equipment included in the analysis of export and import statistics The data used in this report is taken from HMRC official trade statistics, and covers construction and earth moving equipment (excluding separate trade data for components and parts). Trade data has been used from 9 different HS (Harmonized System) codes. This consists of the following at the 4 digit level: 8413 – concrete pumps 8426 – cranes 8474 – crushing and screening equipment, and concrete, mortar and other types of mixers 8479 – machinery for public works 8701 – track-laying tractors 8704 – dump trucks for off-highway use 8705 – concrete mixer lorries and pumping vehicles 8429 – construction and earthmoving equipment – including bulldozers, graders, scrapers, loaders, excavators, shovels, tamping machines and road rollers 8430 – pile driving and pile extracting equipment, tamping and compacting machinery Paul Lyons – March 2022 ... Read more...Xwatch announces MDiG collaboration ahead of Futureworx technology event7 March 2022TechnologyXwatch safety systems have recently announced a new partnership with technology solutions specialists, MDiG, who will become official distributors of the Xwatch suite of safety systems. Xwatch Safety Solutions is currently revolutionising the global safety market, with its XW series of products which include, height control, slew control, and rated capacity indicator (RCI) systems. Xwatch, who was established in 2019, has already successfully launched a number of game-changing products in both machine safety and telematics. MDiG provides businesses nationwide with technology solutions that optimise their construction sites enabling them to complete projects more efficiently, safely, and accurately. Although MDiG was launched just two-years ago, it has captured the market in a big way providing customers with solutions from leading manufacturers including Topcon and Leica. It was the connection with Leica that led MDiG to explore a partnership with Xwatch Safety Solutions. MDiG supply and install Leica Geosystems MC1 machine control solutions. In the latter part of 2021, the Leica iCON PA80, VA80 and CAS safety awareness solutions were integrated with Xwatch creating the perfect synergy. Users of the popular Leica MC1 machine control platform can leverage their investments to run the new safety awareness solution. The Leica iCON PA80 integration will automatically alert the operator on the screen of the same device that they already use for their ongoing machine operations. The collaboration between Leica Geosystems, Xwatch and MDiG will offer a system that streamlines job site safety offerings by interconnecting height control, slew control and 2D and 3D safety machine control solutions. Commenting on the new partnership, Xwatch Sales and Operations Director Dan Leaney said, “MDiG has quickly established itself as a market leader offering customers a comprehensive range of digital construction solutions. Technology delivers productivity and a crucial part of productivity is to keep the operator and co-workers safe in the field. We are delighted to partner with MDiG and provide key safety solutions, the Leica connection sealed our alliance. Operators are at the coalface of every jobsite and their safety is our priority. We will be exhibiting alongside MDiG at the forthcoming Futureworx event at the end of this month.” Ash Mills, Head of Rental and Sales at MDiG said, “We are also very pleased to announce our partnership with Xwatch. Technology has moved on rapidly in recent years and advancements in enabling machines to detect their surroundings has reached a whole new level of safety in heavy equipment applications. Xwatch is ahead of the game in the field of safety systems and we are excited to embark on this new relationship. The Leica corelation means safety and awareness for the operator and provides immediate response whether the operator is in a dozer, excavator or any other heavy equipment using the MC1 machine control system.” Ash added, “ We are very much looking forward to showcasing our range of products at the Futureworx technology event including the Leica MC1 integrated with Xwatch.” Xwatch and MDiG to join forces at the Futureworx technology event The Futureworx event and conference programme, is taking place at the East of England Arena, Peterborough during the afternoon of 30th of March (invite only) and 31st of March. The event will celebrate digital construction technology to include telematics and safety systems. Xwatch and MDiG will be exhibiting at the event, following the announcement of the companies partnership, where MDiG are now official distributors of the Xwatch suite of products. Xwatch Safety Solutions is launching a brand new safety system at the event and showing the latest machines from Sany fitted with Xwatch technology. The company has also teamed up with Plantforce Rentals who is revealing its ‘Cancer Research’ Charity machine, an SK85 Kobelco fitted with an Xwatch XW4 system. All proceeds from the rental of this machine will be donated to Cancer research. The XWatch XW4 Excavator safety system(height & slew control) can be configured to work on a variety of articulated hydraulic plant. Height and slew limitation is controlled using proportional soft-stop hydraulic valves providing accurate and repeatable performance without detriment to the machine. Plantforce Rentals is also bringing the latest hybrid and semi-autonomous machines from Kobelco, also kitted out with Xwatch and Leica technology. MDiG will be showcasing the Leica MC1 machine control system which is a revolutionising software platform for all machine control solutions and applications. The Leica MC1 is the one-for-all software solution platform to guide and automate all heavy construction machines. The Xwatch and Leica MC1 systems have recently been integrated to provide safety for the operator. The Leica ICG60 Base Station will also feature on the stand. Leica’s latest GNSS hardware and IMU (Inertial measurement unit) releases the need to use the poles bubble, unlocking faster data capture! Icon’s field software integrates with all modern construction workflows to minimise downtime with data transfers. Other products from Leica include the Leica iCON windows field tablet. MDiG will also showcase products from Topcon and Smart Construction. The Topcon X53x is said to deliver the most advanced and precise GPS positioning technology, coupled with advanced sensors, controllers, and simple on-board software. Productivity improvements of 30% or more are common – even for experienced operators. The Topcon Hyper VR Base Station will also feature. A DJI M300 RTK drone will be also be on display – the DJI MATRICE 300 RTK is reported to be the most powerful and versatile commercial drone platform by DJI Registration is now open for day two of Futureworx (31st March) for the conference and exhibition Showcase, and it’s FREE, please visit www.futureworx.uk/rsvp and enter the code FWXG22. Places are limited and space is filling up fast.... Read more...Mecalac Announces New UK Excavator Dealer – Cooks Midlands Ltd3 March 2022ConstructionMecalac has announced the appointment of a new dealer to its UK and Ireland distribution network. Headquartered in Stanton under Bardon, Leicestershire, Cooks Midlands Ltd (Cooks) will be responsible for retailing Mecalac’s globally acclaimed excavator portfolio across the East Midlands. Alongside new product sales, Cooks will deliver service agreements and aftersales. Renowned for extensive product knowledge, unrivalled sector experience and unbeatable on-site support, the team is trusted by countless construction professionals across the region. Commenting on the announcement, Mark Royse, Head of Sales at Mecalac Construction Equipment UK, commented: “As a global leader in the compact equipment marketplace, further developing our distributor network is a key corporate goal. Alongside increasing access to our latest range of innovative excavator models, this strategy aims to broaden our national service and maintenance reach. “With considerable pedigree in the market, we look forward to working with Cooks to drive widespread brand awareness and build strong bonds with excavator operators across the East Midlands.” Darren Cook, Managing Director at Cooks Midlands Ltd, added: “Mecalac’s unique excavator range is innovative, productive and developed to set the standards in both performance and capability. There is growing demand for the latest models across the midlands, especially when it comes to forestry, agriculture and groundworks applications, so we’re confident that Mecalac’s portfolio will be well-received by owner-operators, site managers and rental firms alike. “With a range renowned for performance, capability, flexibility and reliability, we’re looking forward to joining the Mecalac network and introducing more customers to the globally-acclaimed brand.” For more information about Mecalac, visit www.mecalac.com/en. For more information about Cooks Midlands Ltd, or to discuss your equipment requirements, visit www. cooksmidlands.co.uk... Read more...Rokbak wins two CeeD Industry Awards!2 March 2022EventsRokbak employees are celebrating after winning two prestigious industry awards. The company bagged awards in both Marketing and the Young Person of the Year categories of the CeeD Industry Awards 2022. CeeD is a national body that supports a range of industry sectors in Scotland, bound together by a common aspiration to improve operational efficiency, effectiveness and profit through peer-to-peer knowledge exchange. CeeD’s Industry Awards Dinner, which took place last week (Thursday 24 February) at the Glasgow Hilton Hotel, in Scotland, recognised and celebrated the achievements of some of the best established and rising-star businesses and individuals in the country. Award-winning rebrand Rokbak’s entry for the Marketing category focussed on the company’s hugely successful global rebrand campaign. Judges were impressed with the passion shown by the marketing team, who working in unison with other Rokbak teams, to help devise and drive the campaign – which also included direct feedback from both dealers and customers. This ensured Rokbakand its robust RA30 and RA40 haulers received extensive coverage in the national and international trade press, as well as across social media. “Rokbak’s rebrand campaign was of huge importance for our company,” says Paul Douglas, Managing Director, Rokbak. “The campaign had to connect to our dealers and customers, and it did so on so many levels. It really grabbed the attention of the various media streams about the reliable haulers we are manufacturing from our plant in Motherwell. “The campaign was expertly conceived and delivered through incredible Rokbak teamwork. The project touched every area of the business and you could really feel the pride and passion from our team members. It took a significant contribution from all functions in making the rebrand so successful, and that they have now been officially acknowledged by CeeD with this award.” Rokbak’s Rhys Dingwall won CeeD’s Young Person of the Year 2022 Nurturing talent Rokbak’s evening of success continued as Rhys Dingwall was announced CeeD’s Young Person of the Year. Rhys, 19, joined Rokbak through the company’s partnership with local authority, North Lanarkshire Council and their No Limits Scheme. The initiative is linked to the Supported Employment Scheme, which matches jobseekers who have additional support needs and / or disabilities to recruiting companies. Rhys has proven to be a real asset to the business, especially to the Paint Shop team, taking on every task with enthusiasm and enjoying the challenge of learning new skills. Since coming on board, Rhys has undertaken a range of activities – from washing trucks and valeting cabs to masking and paint finishing. Having joined the business for a fixed term of a year, it is planned that Rhys will be offered full-time employment. “I am thrilled that Rhys has won CeeD’s Young Person of the Year award,” says Paul Tierney, HR Director, Rokbak. “Since joining Rokbak he has proven to be a real talent for the company and I know that his work is greatly appreciated by his colleagues from the Paint Shop team – Rhys has a great future ahead of him.” Sharing Rokbak’s plaudits was also Ross Mitchell, who was shortlisted for the Young Person of the Year category. Ross, 23, joined the company in 2017 and has excelled working with the New Product Introduction teams, helping to implement quality processes and inspection documentation for Rokbak’s new haulers being distributed around the world. Ross also manages the Customer Concerns Database and achieved internal auditor certification in both Quality and Environmental ISO standards. He has joined Rokbak’s Internal Audit team, while also continuing to study for his Engineering degree. “I am also delighted that Ross was also recognised by the judges,” concludes Paul Douglas. “Rokbak is committed to nurturing and developing the skills and experience of young people so that they can have great careers.” Rokbak were Headline Platinum Sponsors of the CeeD awards, as well as sponsors of the Women in Industry Award, which Paul presented to Rachel Jones, from SnapDragon Monitoring Ltd on the night.... Read more...Volvo Construction Equipment’s (Volvo CE) Articulated Haulers Really Pack a Punch28 February 2022EquipmentFrom developing the first series manufactured articulated hauler more than 55 years’ ago, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is continuing to dominate the field, with articulated haulers that really pack a punch – delivering optimum performance at the lowest cost per ton. Committed to innovation and development, Volvo CE continues to evolve its range of articulated haulers, making them even smarter, more efficient and easier to operate. Uptime is maximized too, whilst maintenance costs are kept to a minimum, reducing total cost of ownership. EFFICIENT OPERATION WITH HAUL ASSIST The Haul Assist suite of tools is a game-changing solution designed to get the most out of the Volvo Articulated Hauler. Powered by a 10” Volvo Co-Pilot monitor – which is available on a variety of machines from haulers and excavators to pavers – it provides valuable insight to help customers optimize the efficiency of their haul cycles and boost profitability. A new addition to Haul Assist, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System enables monitoring of tire pressure and temperature from the comfort of the cab. Inflation pressure having a marked impact on tire wear, proactive monitoring is invaluable to optimize tire life as well as fuel efficiency, machine performance and operator comfort. Map provides a real-time overview of the on-site traffic to help navigate around more effectively. The whereabouts of every machine and vehicle – irrespective of the type or brand – as well as visitors on site are now visible, so long as they are connected to the map application. Alongside haul roads, Map also shows load and dump zones, and flags single-lane sections, restricted zones and speed-restricted areas, helping to anticipate operating decisions and reduce unnecessary stops. Also part of Haul Assist is On-Board Weighing, a proven tool that allows payload information to be viewed in real-time, helping to eliminate carry-back and overloading. As well as boosting productivity, this also reduces excessive fuel consumption and machine wear and tear. SMARTER PERFORMANCE Operator comfort has always been at the heart of design – from the centrally-positioned operator seat offering excellent visibility, through to user-friendly controls. And a range of automated functions is now offering even more support to enhance ease of operation and performance. Terrain Memory is a handy feature of the intelligent Volvo drivetrain that identifies and remembers slippery road segments to ensure optimized traction control and off-road mobility. OptiShift enables fast and smooth directional changes, whilst Downhill Speed Control automatically maintains a constant speed when operating on downward gradients; both these, and the Cruise control function, are fitted as standard since 2019 and are available for retrofit on older haulers. MAXIMIZING UPTIME, MINIMIZING MAINTENANCE COSTS Not only easy to operate and highly efficient, Volvo Articulated Haulers are also designed to be easy to service. Daily or even weekly greasing is a thing of the past, required instead every 250 hours on a Volvo Articulated Hauler, the longest time interval in the industry. Add to this long engine service intervals – up to 1,000 hours on Stage V and Tier 4 Final models – and less than half the fluid volume of most of its counterparts when measured over the lifetime of the machine. The result is reduced maintenance requirements and consumables, helping to keep the machine at work while lowering maintenance costs and environmental impact. The improvements introduced to Volvo Articulated Haulers are delivering both performance and cost advantages for customers. New work-enhancing tools and straightforward servicing are just some examples contributing towards more profitable – and sustainable – operations. All part of Volvo CE’s commitment to drive transformation in the industry and achieve its goal to have net zero value chain emissions by 2040.... Read more...SMT GB celebrates the opening of a new Customer Support Centre28 February 2022NewsAfter over 40 years of occupancy at their Minworth site, SMT GB has moved the Birmingham team into a larger, more modern and strategically superior site in Brownhills, West Midlands.“Thanks to the success of our support services, we had outgrown the old site”, comments Regional Service Delivery Manager Richard Baker. “A larger facility was needed in order to support our growth ambitions and to deliver the best in class service support for our customers”, continues Richard.At 17,227 square foot, or 1.72 acres, not only is the new Birmingham site 48% larger than the previous Minworth site, it also benefits from modern and well-thought-out workshop facilities that are accessible from both sides of the building, with improved access for delivery vehicles. This greatly improves onsite efficiency and ergonomics, while also increasing the workshop capacity by five times compared to the old site. The new facility has 10 workshop bays equipped with new tooling and equipment that incorporates the latest technology and safe systems of work. Richard goes onto say: “In conjunction with the increased capacity, we have recruited additional workshop engineers and continue with developing a team of apprentices onsite as well as at college.” The new site has also benefited from a vertical storage system, maximising floor space by 85% and providing 99.9% accuracy with increased capacity for essential parts and tooling.The new site’s close proximity to several major motorways, including the M6 Toll, ensures SMT GB is able to provide better coverage to the local and national customers that the Birmingham facility serves. The new location also provides the ability to support key current and future national infrastructure projects, such as HS2. Located at the new site are the HS2 support team, who schedule and plan service support through a dedicated team of engineers. Each engineer has a fully customised and equipped 4×4 vehicle, enabling them to travel safely onsite. The location move has also met with the approval of the Birmingham Customer Support Centre’s support staff, who benefit from the newly fitted and modern two-storey office facility attached to the new site. “It’s a pleasure to come to work in such a nice place” comments HS2 Service Co-ordinator Mohammed Zahir, who is the latest employee to join the team. While the new site boasts state-of-the-art facilities, SMT GB’s ambitious sustainability goals ensure that there is still room for improvement to be made. Commenting on the work planned for the future, Richard Baker says: “Our aim is to make the site carbon neutral through various improvements such as renewable energy generated onsite, waste water recycling and employing various energy saving devices. We also aim to create an eco-friendly garden by planting more pollinators in green spaces and creating natural habitats for insects, animals and birds.” Concluding, Richard adds: “All of these objectives not only contribute to a better working environment for our team, it also supports our aim of becoming a carbon neutral company.” SMT GB markets Volvo Construction Equipment products, together with K-Tec articulated hauler scraper boxes, in Great Britain. There are eight strategically placed Customer Support Centres, a dedicated National Used Equipment Centre and a network of utility equipment dealers to ensure high quality customer support is maintained throughout the country.... Read more...GRANITA Lomy Assembles a Fleet of 11 Doosan Machines24 February 2022Wheeled Excavators– The Doosan equipment is used in the company’s quarries – GRANITA Lomy s.r.o. is one of the most important players in the quarrying and sale of crushed stone in the Pardubice region of the Czech Republic. The company owns and operates six quarries, supplying granite, diorite, granodiorite and rohozec stone. Quarrying of stone like this can only be carried out using heavy machinery and GRANITA Lomy has chosen the Doosan range for these applications, with a fleet of 11 Doosan machines used across the quarries. The key reasons for choosing the Doosan machines were their performance, economy of operation, reliability and, last but not least, the quality service back-up. All of the machines were supplied and are supported by GARNEA a.s., the Authorised Dealer for the Doosan range in the Czech Republic, and service is provided by ZTH s.r.o., GARNEA’s contractual partner from Dobrá Voda near Hořice. GRANITA Lomy decided to buy the first Doosan machines in 2019, when the company bought a large Doosan DL550-5 wheel loader and a DX380LC-5 crawler excavator. The excavator serves as a hydraulic hammer carrier and its task is to prepare large pieces of stone for loading using the Doosan wheel loader. Both machines work in the company’s quarry in Chvaletice. The first loader has worked for over 4000 hours and, based on this performance, GRANITA Lomy decided to purchase more Doosan machines. Today, GRANITA Lomy has a total of 11 Doosan machines at its disposal and these machines are among the most popular in their class. The Chvaletice quarry relies on efficiency and economy The Chvaletice quarry is the company’s largest operation of its type. It is located between Kolín and Pardubice and has good transport links via Class I and II access roads. This is one of the reasons why stone was quarried here for large projects such as the D35 and D11 motorways. The main type of stone in the Chvaletice quarry is medium-grained biotite granite. Quarrying is carried out by blasting the rock followed by subsequent processing of the stone, which is where the five Doosan machines in the quarry take over. Last year, GRANITA Lomy added another DX380LC-5 excavator and a larger Doosan DX490LC-5 50 tonne excavator for the Chvaletice quarry. Large wheel loaders work in tandem with the excavators, including the DL550-5, which is the second largest model in the Doosan range, with an operating weight of over 30 tonne and a maximum bucket volume of more than 5 m3. Supporting the DL550-5 is a Doosan DL420CVT-5, a very economical model, offering significant fuel savings. “It’s a pleasure to work with our latest addition, the larger DX490LC-5 excavator. With a 3 m3 bucket, it’s a real boost and has made quarrying a much more efficient operation. The power of the excavator and its reliability have been amply demonstrated,” says Tomáš Dunda, the Plant Manager at the Chvaletice quarry. Using the DL420CVT-5 reduces fuel costs by up to a quarter The DL420CVT-5 was purchased for the Chvaletice quarry at the end of 2019 and it has worked for more than 3000 hours. It is equipped with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). A CVT transmission is the result of a permanent combination of a hydraulic technology and a mechanical technology which provides a smooth and continuous speed variation. The CVT design combines the benefits of a hydraulic mechanical transmission and a hydrostatic transmission in the same machine. It allows the DL420CVT-5 to automatically transition from hydrostatic power at low speed to the mechanical system to operate at higher speeds. The complete driving range, forwards and in reverse, is controlled by the CVT system. Low engine speeds ensure a high efficiency and the highest driving comfort irrespective of the traction speed. The power splitting continuously variable technology facilitates moving off softly and hydraulically. Furthermore, with the CVT, a fuel saving of up to 25% can be achieved. “Efficient servicing for all the machines is provided by GARNEA, as part of an extended warranty of 5 years/10,000 hours on all the machines. We are glad that we chose Doosan machines, because we can fully rely on them,” concludes Tomáš Dunda. For more on Doosan construction equipment, please visit the website: www.eu.doosanequipment.com... Read more...Hat-Trick of awards for Hyundai dealer for Taylor & Braithwaite23 February 2022Construction / EquipmentConstruction equipment specialists Taylor & Braithwaite Ltd have been recognised with three prestigious accolades from Hyundai Construction Equipment Europe for exceptional performance during 2021. The family-owned business located at Sandford near Appleby, Cumbria has been awarded the Hyundai UK and Ireland dealer of the year for increasing market share and sales to become one of Europe’s most successful dealers. Chris Jordan, Taylor & Braithwaite’s North East area sales manager, has been awarded the European salesperson of the year. And thirdly, a special accolade for the European dealer selling the most units in 2021. Ian Burton, Sales Director, commented: “These three accolades are recognition of the hard work and dedication of our staff and continued loyalty of our customers throughout 2021. Chris Jordan, has worked tirelessly across his area for six years, developing the Hyundai and Taylor & Braithwaite brands across the North East of England. Ian continued: “The final award is more remarkable when considering there are over eighty dealers across Europe, from Latvia in the East, Spain in the South, Finland in the north, and Ireland in the West. The construction sector has continued to trade strongly throughout the pandemic, and Taylor & Braithwaite have been in a good position to capitalise on this with both strong sales and aftersales support.” Dr. Hubertus Münster, Hyundai Europe Sales & Marketing Director added: “At the start of each year Hyundai Construction Equipment Europe takes a moment to look back at the previous one. 2021 has been a challenging but very rewarding year resulting in record sales of construction equipment.” “This could not have been possible without the strong cooperation with our professional dealer network. The Hyundai Dealer Awards commend those dealers that stood out with fantastic performances in the field of sales, customer service, innovations, and the Hyundai spirit among others.” Pictured: Ian Burton (left), Taylor & Braithwaite Sales Director, congratulating Chris Jordan, Taylor & Braithwaite North East Area Sales Manager, on becoming Hyundai Construction Equipment European Salesperson of the Year for 2021.... Read more...A&M Group Becomes New Bobcat Full Line Dealer in Wales23 February 2022Equipment / Machine / NewsBobcat has appointed A&M Group, with headquarters in Bridgend, as the company’s new Authorised Dealer for South, West and Mid Wales. A&M Group is now responsible for sales and service in this region for the entire Bobcat range of loaders, mini-excavators, telehandlers, light compaction and attachments. Newport-based Border Bobcat, the previous dealer for the area, is now specialising in the Bobcat skid-steer, compact track, compact wheel and small articulated loader ranges for the counties of Powys and Gwent. Andrew Wolton, the new District Manager for Bobcat for the UK South area, commented: “We are delighted to confirm A&M Group as the new full line Bobcat Authorised Dealer for South, West and Mid Wales. I look forward to working closely with A&M Group and we are confident that they will be as successful as a full-liner for the entire Bobcat range as they have been selling the Bobcat agricultural telehandler range in Wales over the last few years.” A&M Group Makes New Investments to Support Dealership As part of developments in taking on the Bobcat dealership, A&M Group has purchased two plots on the Brackla Industrial Estate in Bridgend, one of which will form the location for the company’s new headquarters. The new facilities in Bridgend complement the existing operations in St Clears in Carmarthenshire, from where A&M Group serves the west of Wales. James Atherton, Business Manager at A&M Group, said: “We are very pleased to be appointed as the full dealer for Bobcat in South, West and Mid Wales. We intend to build on the substantial success we have had with the Bobcat agricultural telehandler range in our area. In 2021 alone, we sold over 60 new Bobcat telehandlers to farmers across the region, converting many of them to the Bobcat brand for the first time. “Our extensive experience in the construction market will be key in meeting our goals. To support the new dealership, we are making substantial investments in our premises in Bridgend, including the construction of our new headquarters building. To meet demand from the growing construction market and other industries in this part of Wales, we have initially ordered over 210 new Bobcat machines.” Building on Over 35 Years of Experience A&M Group is a family business founded in 1986 by Mark Atherton, and his business partner, Ralph Morris, trading originally as A&M Engineering. Operating first out of premises in Lower Lamphey in Pembrokeshire, the growth of the business led to the company building new facilities in St Clears in 2006. The company changed its name to A&M Group in 2019 when the new partnership was formed between Mark Atherton and his two sons, James and Josh. The business development side is run by James, while Josh runs the sales side. Mark has a third son, Jack, who is currently doing an engineering course at Harper Adams University and is looking forward to joining the business in 2024. Expansion Ensures Continuous Growth Although agriculture has always been the primary business, A&M Group has powered growth over the years by adding additional products and services to the business for other sectors such as Construction, Groundcare, Online Retailing and Finance. James Atherton added: “The number of employees at A&M Group has grown year on year and we continue to look to build our team and improve our services. We have demonstrated time and again that we can convert our large customer base to the brands we represent. We are aiming to achieve the same for the Bobcat brand to match our success with the agricultural telehandlers.” Bobcat ‘Next is Now’ Boosts Range Driven by the company’s innovative ‘Next is Now’ programme, the Bobcat product range continues to expand. Bobcat now offers 11 skid-steer loader models and seven compact track loaders. Most recently, the Bobcat loader selection has been increased with the addition of new compact wheel loaders and small articulated loaders. The Bobcat range also comprises 17 mini-excavator models and a choice of fifteen new R-Series rigid frame telehandler models and ten new rotary telehandlers, covering maximum lifting capacities between 2.6 and 7.0 tonne and maximum lifting heights from 5.9 to 38.9 m. Another recent addition to the range is a new line of light compaction products, comprising seven different product families and 37 models. As well as the entire Bobcat range of machines and attachments, A&M Group also offers a full selection of genuine Bobcat accessories and parts to support both new and existing Bobcat customers in its area. This is backed up by a stock of both brand new and second hand Bobcat machines for sale. Customers also benefit from the company’s on-site service network, covering everything from emergency repairs to routine maintenance. For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit www.bobcat.com... Read more...Disability is no barrier for Swedish operator – Hyundai dealer finds a solution to get Patrik back ‘off road’.21 February 2022Equipment / ExcavatorsSwedish machine operator Patrik Ketti was left paralysed from the chest down as a result of a terrible accident in 2011. Patrik was understandably concerned for his future as an excavator operator and felt doubts about how, and if he would be able to work again, as accessing and working his machine was practically impossible. Patrik operated a forestry machine before the incident – but forestry work is notoriously difficult with a rough, bumpy, and often boggy terrain, which makes the ground challenging to navigate for even the most able-bodied operator. Patrik’s brother is also a machine operator – he managed to convince Patrik with some persuasion and brotherly love, that he could operate once again, despite of his disability. With plenty of grit, determination, and perseverance, Patrik was, once again, looking ahead to a bright future on the ‘sticks’. Following Patrik’s ‘sick leave’ he had a meeting with an employment service, who offered him a position as a receptionist. Patrik thought this was hilarious and in his own words said “I’m probably not socially adapted, or comfortable, with reception work.” There was another option available to him, which was far more practical and a huge leap forward in realising his dream of becoming a plant operator again and continuing his career. The option, and ‘the golden ticket’, was to access financial support in order to adapt an excavator machine to suit his disability. This took some time to come to fruition but the future was looking bright for Patrik. Patrik said, “When I changed to my current Hyundai, it went much smoother with financing and everything, then the process only took a few months and we had refined the solutions even more.” Patrik contacted his local Hyundai CE dealer, Orsa Maskin, based in Sweden, and spoke with sales director Magnus Bruce, he explained the situation and his disability and asked if the dealer could mount a lift on a 24-tonne Hyundai HX235 LCR crawler excavator. Magnus Bruce, product manager at Orsa Maskin: said, “This was a question we had never been asked before, however, we were very keen to help Patrik and we immediately started thinking about how such an excavator lift could work.” Magnus added, “Searching for similar projects online, we found that there was very little, if any, information on such a project. So we decided to sketch and design a solution ourselves. We hired a company that realised our ideas in a 3D format. This CAD design step was instrumental in visualising our ideas and identifying potential problem areas early on. We were able to adapt and alter to suit as the project moved forward.” Orsa Maskin designed and built an electric lift to help Patrik access his new machine. The pedals were removed from the cab and were replaced with Engcon’s control system. The cabin seat was also equipped with a four-point belt so when the machine is tilted, which is common when working on uneven ground, Patrik remains safely secured. External connections and other aspects of the machine were also adapted for easier access and also to make attachment changes simple.In addition, sprinklers have been installed inside the cab of the new Hyundai – because should there be a fire, it would take Patrik some time to exit the machine. “One of the most important things, when you are paralysed, is to have a good seat – there is otherwise a risk of pressure injury when you are unable to feel. Everything about my new Hyundai machine works very well – I am very pleased.” Commented Patrik Patrik added, “Orsa Maskin really helped me to get back on (and off!) the road and back in my cab doing the job I love. I think there must be more operators in similar circumstances to me who would want to keep driving – and they could – if they knew solutions like this were possible.” Magnus concluded: “When I started working on this project, I was surprised how little information I could find. I’m sure there must be more operators like Patrik, who could benefit from what we have achieved. I am glad we were able to help him back into his machine and doing the job he loves.”Patrik concludes: “This just shows that everything is possible, where there is a will, there is a way.” Hyundai would like to thank Gunilla Hellstrom of EMSG Sweden for leading us to this story which proves the adage – The most successful people see adversity not as a stumbling block, but as a stepping-stone to greatness.”... Read more...New Holland raises the bar on performance and comfort with the new D Series Backhoe Loader18 February 2022Backhoe Loaders• New Stage V engine and maintenance-free Hi-eSCR2 after-treatment system optimised for compact equipment deliver industry-leading power and torque with reduced emissions • Cab re-designed for comfort and safety, with more space, improved ergonomics and visibility Basildon, 14 February 2022 New Holland Agriculture takes a further significant step in the renewal of its light equipment range with the new backhoe loader range, following the recent launch of the D Series wheel loader. The new D Series build on the strengths of New Holland backhoe loaders to deliver significant benefits in productivity, operator comfort and safety. Alain de Nanteuil, New Holland Light Equipment Europe Leader, states: “Our backhoe loaders are masters of versatility that combine the strength and the efficiency of a compact loader with the precision and the versatility of a real mini excavator. They are a real asset for all types of operations, from arable farms to horticultural and landscaping businesses.” Cutting-edge powertrain technology for increased productivity The new D Series backhoe loaders deliver a powerful and fuel-efficient performance with the cutting-edge powertrain technology developed by FPT Industrial. The new F36 3.6-litre, 4-cylinder engine delivers industry-leading power and torque up to 82 kW and 460 Nm. The Hi-eSCR2 after treatment system uses a low-rate EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation), SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) and DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) to achieve the stringent Stage V emissions standards. The SCR integrates a maintenance-free filtering device, which has the dual advantages of maintaining the after-treatment’s compact size, so that it has no impact on the design and visibility of the machine and ensuring maximum uptime. The new D Series also introduces a host of efficiency-boosting features. They include the standard Eco Mode, which automatically regulates engine speed and hydraulic pressure in all operations that do not require sustained speed and power, delivering up to 10% fuel savings. Further fuel economy is achieved with the Auto Idle feature that lowers engine speed when the machine is inactive for more than 5 seconds, and Auto Engine Shutdown, which switches off the engine after 3 minutes of inactivity. New cab re-designed for outstanding operator comfort The cab has been re-designed to significantly enhance the operator’s experience on board. The wider cab provides better access and the space to increase knee and feet clearance when the operator rotates the seat to switch from loader to backhoe operation. The parking brake and stabiliser levers have been relocated, and the switches on the right-hand console have been regrouped. Together with the new F-N-R (Forward, Neutral, Reverse) switch integrated in the loader joystick and a new joystick roller switch for extending dipper operation these featuresfurther add to the operator’s comfort and productivity. The latest Bluetooth technology includes two new USB ports, a 12v port on the instrument cluster and a mobile phone holder which makes it easier for the operator to bring their digital life on board. Industry-leading storage capacity, increased four-fold compared to the C Series, will enable them to comfortably accommodate everything they need during their working day. Operator safety comes first Operator safety is always key for New Holland, and the D Series backhoe loaders introduce further improvements. The excellent 360° visibility provided by the large, glazed areas benefits from new rear side glasses, as well as the powerful work lights packages. This comes top of the many safety features, such as the cab’s ROPS and FOPS (Roll-Over and Fall-Over Protection Systems) certification, the standard stabiliser check valves, backhoe transport lock, available safety valves for hydraulic cylinders, optional front loader check valves, 4×1 / 6×1 check valves and Object Handling Kit.... Read more...Takeuchi join the CESAR ECV green revolution17 February 2022EnvironmentalFrom February 2022, Takeuchi Mfg UK Ltd will include the enhanced CESAR ECV (Emission Compliance Verification) system as standard across the full Takeuchi line up. Since 2008, Takeuchi Mfg UK Ltd has fitted the CESAR scheme to their full line up of machinery and following the recent achievement of Stage V compliance on all its models up to 15 tonnes, Takeuchi will now include the CESAR ECV bolt-on product as standard, providing accurate emissions information to their customers. Following the significant success of the CESAR security scheme, the CEA recognised an opportunity to add emissions verification to the existing scheme. With the help of Datatag, CESAR ECV (Emission Compliance Verification) was developed to create an easy and reliable way to confirm the emissions category of construction equipment. ECV uses tamper-evident colour-coded labels with a unique alpha/numeric code, which is also linked securely to a machine’s unique CESAR identity and ensures complete integrity of the system. Hitoshi Arai Managing Director, Takeuchi Mfg UK Ltd “As a leading supplier in the construction equipment sector, we are constantly looking at environmental impacts of our machines. Takeuchi has been Stage V ready since 2020 across the entire range and the new CESAR ECV system confirms this. For our customers, this will be essential on-site to manage large scale projects and multiple contractors ensuring plant on site is as ‘clean’ as is possible”. Suneeta Johal, Chief Executive Officer, Construction Equipment Association. “Since the launch of the CESAR ECV system in 2019 the scheme has seen significant growth across the industry and this has been strengthened further with the introduction of CESAR ECV. It is great to have Takeuchi Mfg UK on board with the scheme and making emissions easier to understand across the construction industry” Kevin Howells, CEO, Datatag ID Ltd “Takeuchi has been a key partner of the CESAR Scheme since 2008 and with the addition of the new CESAR ECV system, it will provide another level of critical information for their customers. The ECV system is linked to a secure online portal where machine and engine data can easily be shared regarding emissions status of a machine greatly reducing admin and onsite inspection difficulties with whoever needs this information and environmental reassurance”... Read more...Kubota discusses challenges facing the construction industry16 February 2022ConstructionLeading mini-excavator manufacturer, Kubota, discusses what the construction industry is likely to face in the coming months, with changes to legislation expected and disruptions to materials and supply chains rife in 2021 set to continue. Geoff Smith, Dealer Manager at Kubota UK explains. Industry data tells us while commercial construction was slightly hampered in 2021, overall construction industry growth was in fact driven by residential building and public infrastructure projects. This helped account to a significant growth as an industry average. Of course, this was achieved through a number of difficult circumstances; the Covid-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions and a shortage of materials to name a few. These resulted in trying times for the industry – a perfect storm. Isolating staff, transport delays, shortages of materials to transport and labour gaps all contributed to industry disruptions and seemingly had an effect on pricing too, with some suppliers looking to cover themselves in difficult times. After a tough previous year, industry growth is forecasted to continue increasing at around 5%. Some of the key drivers of industry change are foreseeable. Legislation will continue to impact trends and most noticeably the Building Safety Bill, expected to become law in Summer 2022, and the Red Diesel usage changes in April. Unfortunately, the issues of last year are not immediately ceasing to exist, as this recovery will take time. Furthermore, a spike in Covid-19 cases saw a surge of positive tests in the first few weeks of 2022, isolating key workers and staff. Supply chain issues are expected to continue fluctuating parallel to this due to driver availability and ongoing staff shortages. These uncertain challenges highlight the need for foresight and importance of partnering with a supplier or manufacturer with industry expertise, to help manage fluctuating lead times and negate any foreseeable disruptions to projects. Furthermore, sustainability will continue to increase in popularity as projects, suppliers and manufacturers look to hybridize their efforts, readying for a more sustainable future. Of course, Kubota has already made strides in this field with its Smart Energy Solutions range that includes LPG and electric powered machines offering high levels of productivity, reduced downtime and low to zero emissions. Perfectly suitable for projects within low emission zones and city centres. Alongside sustainability, alternative fuels are expected to be high on forthcoming agendas, with reform and entitlement restrictions on the use of red diesel coming into law from April. This huge change to construction is anticipated by Kubota, who is well placed to help customers with this transition, further supporting the idea of partnering with a trusted, industry expert to negate challenges faced across the industry. A positive for the industry is the expectation of growth around public infrastructure works, which naturally fosters a demand for digging and mini-excavator equipment. This growth is fueled by regional and national infrastructure projects such as HS2 and National Highways construction plans, such as Smart Motorways, as the country continues its efforts to be better connected. Of course, the longevity of projects this size leaves availability for dealers to target the regionalised market to help with local requirements around civil and other works. So, with the hangover of 2021 to see off, and a wide range of expected fluctuating challenges expected throughout this year, Kubota suggests partnering with an industry expert like itself in order to be fully prepared and have the expertise and foresight needed to approach any difficulties faced. The additional benefit of such a partnership of course means having access to the latest innovative mini-excavator technologies from the number one trusted manufacturer in the U.K.... Read more...The Executive Hire Show returned with a bang after a two-year break16 February 2022EventsThe 15th annual Executive Hire Show took place on 9th & 10th February at the Coventry Building Society Arena. This year’s event comprised 155 exhibitors, with 42 companies making their show debuts. Unique visitor numbers totalled 2,751 over the two-day show. Visitors from the hire sector attended the event to expand their fleets with new products and to discover the latest innovations and launches from the diverse range of exhibitors at the show to help them succeed in the year ahead. There was a real buzz amongst both exhibitors and visitors who were eager to do business following the postponement of the Show in 2021. Sunbelt Rentals UK and generator supplier Shindaiwa UK announced a deal between the two companies, where Sunbelt purchased in excess of 100 Shindaiwa Eco Hybrid 300 welder generator machines, which offer 60% reduced fuel consumption and 50% reduced CO2 emissions. Engineering innovators and first-time exhibitors, Dragon Equipment, announced the appointment of Boss Plant Sales Ltd as its official dealer for London and the Southeast of England at the Show. Despite being a relatively young business Dragon Equipment is already making an impact in the market through its innovative products and a unique approach to the on-site recycling of concrete, brick, asphalt, and paving. Milwaukee and Speedy announced an exclusivity deal within the UK hire industry for the MX Fuel product range. As part of the new deal, Speedy will now invest across the low carbon MX Fuel product range, which includes the demolition hammer, cut-off saw and diamond core drill among a great many other MX Fuel tools. There were a record amount of new product launches at the show with a strong focus on environmental solutions including a huge increase in electric and hybrid machines on display. Those that explored new power options or introduced technologies that improved safety, security and productivity in the workplace were celebrated on the Innovation Trail: ECO Live stage, which was presented by construction industry specialist Peter Haddock. This year’s Innovation Trail was sponsored by MHM Group. Italian lighting manufacturer Trime was pushing the net-zero agenda. The company has been quick to embrace battery, solar and hybrid technologies too. All of which are embodied in the X-Solar Hybrid lighting tower it showcased on the Innovation Trail In combining a 335W solar panel, a 24V AGM battery and a fuel-efficient diesel engine, the new unit is able to run for an impressive 3000 hours before the 300 litre tank needs to be refilled. Even more impressive is the X-Solar Hybrid produces low noise and CO2 emissions, and it is able to illuminate an area of 2400sqm. JCB’s product selection was firmly focused on electrical equipment. Several such items were prominently displayed, and its substantial new battery-powered E-Tech telehandler took pride of place. As in previous years, the EHS team has spent the past few days qualifying and verifying attendance figures, removing non-exhibiting-suppliers, members of the press, and other visitor types. Commenting on the attendance of the Show, Chris Moore Executive Hire Show, publishing and events director said: “After going through the visitor list with a fine-tooth comb, we are delighted to confirm that the 2022 show attracted 1,901 relevant hire industry visitors, which is 23 higher than the 2020 show. All hire industry visitors were from national and independent operations, which is again consistent with previous years. This re-confirms the pivotal role of the Show and its continued ability to attract relevant, quality hire professionals.” Chris added, “It was great to be able to reunite passionate hirers with innovative manufacturers and suppliers. There was a real buzz around the show and, by the time it had concluded, many exhibitors were already reporting best-ever sales.” Lighting manufacturer, NightSearcher had a phenomenal event and had nothing left to ‘break down’ – all the contents on its stand were sold! Duro Yokota Ltd reported that it had had the best show in a decade and the quality of the visitors was fantastic. These comments were echoed by Demon international, who said the company had a fantastic show and thanked the organisers for putting on such a great event – and they are already looking forward to next year. And the praise for the 15th annual hire event didn’t stop there… Lee Harris Business Development Director Sany UK & Ireland said, “We are so grateful to all who visited us at Executive Hire Show. We have had a fantastic two days and were blown away by the response to our machines. It’s going to be a busy year for Sany UK & Ireland.” Snorkel reported that the show was great, Scott McCall, Net Zero Specialist & Business Development Manager at Snorkel said “We did an awful lot of business, not the pre-arranged show order type either, and met some new people. The whole team were really happy with the event. Kerry Jones, Business Development Manager IKAR GB Limited said, “ This was our first ever show and the attendance was very good. The right people came through the door – the decision-makers – who were happy to engage with us. We have done good business, therefore a good return on our investment, which is exactly what you want from a Show.” This year’s Passionate Hirer Awards was presented by publishing & event director Chris Moore. Congratulations go to Clements Plant & Access Hire for winning in the Outstanding Single Depot category, while Beaver Tool Hire achieved the Outstanding Multi Depot Hire Company accolade. Clements Plant & Access Hire Chairman Jim Longstaff commented on winning the single depot award, he said, “We are not the biggest hirer and have no aspirations to be. I’m honoured to have a fantastic team that are dedicated and focused on customer service. The EHS judges saw that we stood out from hundreds of fellow Hire Companies for our service, knowledge, attention to detail and customer care and I am humbled by this award as it is judged by fellow Hirers in the UK.” Jim continued, “As an industry-leading independent hire company, visiting the Executive Hire Show is an important part of our strategic fleet planning process. Being able to see the latest, most innovative equipment in one place allows us to effectively compare and select the most appropriate machines to stock. In turn, we can continue to supply the most up-to-date machinery available to our customers, whilst keeping ahead of our competitors.” Building on the success of the 2022 event, the dates have now been confirmed for the 2023 show, which will return to the Coventry Building Society Arena on Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 February 2023.... Read more...Mecalac Adds Seven Dealers to Growing North American Network11 February 2022Construction / EquipmentNORFOLK, Mass. (February 10, 2022) — Mecalac, a leading global designer, manufacturer and distributor of compact construction equipment for urban environments, welcomed seven new North American dealers to its growing network. Located in Virginia, New York, Tennessee, Idaho, Kentucky and Colorado in the U.S. as well as British Columbia in Canada, the expanded dealer network offers customers increased equipment access and support. “Mecalac is fully committed to expanding its presence in the market by continuing to add dealers who share our philosophy and give customers practical resources to help improve productivity,” said Peter Bigwood, general manager for Mecalac North America. “Expansion in these regions also allows us to grow awareness of Mecalac’s innovative designs and better serve our existing customer base.” Dealers that partner with Mecalac believe in the game-changing productivity Mecalac machines offer and share the vision of reshaping the way contractors work to increase safety and efficiency on every jobsite. Additionally, the company seeks to partner with dealers who share a passion for finding new solutions to common jobsite challenges, and by going the extra mile to service their customers. Here are the new dealers that have joined the Mecalac network throughout 2021. McClung-Logan Equipment Company: Fredericksburg, Virginia Located in Fredericksburg, Virginia, the McClung-Logan Equipment Company services the Mid-Atlantic region, including Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. ESSCO Truck & Equipment: Staten Island, New York ESSCO Truck & Equipment, located in Staten Island, serves the five boroughs of New York City, providing in-house service and parts to its region as well as delivery services. Kubota of Chattanooga: Chattanooga, Tennessee Kubota of Chattanooga serves several counties surrounding Chattanooga, Tennessee. Q Dig-It: Rathdrum, Idaho Q Dig-It is located in Rathdrum, Idaho and services Eastern Washington, Northern Idaho and Western Montana. Wilson Equipment: Lexington, Kentucky Wilson Equipment of Lexington, Kentucky serves areas across the state. Global Machinery: Boise, Idaho Global Machinery is based in Denver, and has expanded their dealership to Southern Idaho to support contractors in the Northern Rocky Mountain and Northwestern regions of the U.S. They also serve the Northwest Coast region with their location in Sacramento, California. Gear Equipment: British Columbia Gear Equipment, originating out of Ontario, has opened a new location in the province of British Columbia. Mecalac continues to support dealers with the tools they need to provide outstanding service to customers who are searching for efficient solutions. Many of the dealers feature Mecalac’s complete line of advanced machines — the MCR Series of crawler skid excavators, the MWR Series of wheeled excavators, AS Series swing loaders and dedicated rail-road excavators. Learn more about Mecalac’s full line of equipment at www.mecalac.com and find a dealer near you. About Mecalac Mecalac is an international manufacturer of compact construction equipment for urban sites. Known for its innovative, customer-focused technology, the manufacturer has sales companies, distributors and customers in more than 80 countries. Versatile and multi-purpose equipment is available through five product lines, including: excavators, loaders, backhoe loaders, site dumpers and compaction rollers. For more information: Mecalac North America, 282 Dedham Street, Norfolk, MA 02056; (508) 921 3076; mecalac.northamerica@mecalac.com; www.mecalac.com; Facebook; LinkedIn; Instagram and YouTube.... Read more...Hyundai HX140LC is first choice for Billericay Operator Training Firm11 February 2022Construction / EquipmentHyundai Construction Equipment paid a visit to Industrial Training Services, operator training site in Billericay Essex, to have a chat with Managing Director Alf Aldridge, to see how he was getting on with his latest Hyundai machine, a 14-tonne HX140LC, which has joined his training fleet! Alf and his team of eight instructors deliver CPCS and NPORS training for construction operators. Alf purchased the machine from local Hyundai distributor, Ernest Doe who he had a longstanding relationship, from when he was working in the agricultural sector. This is Alf’s third Hyundai in seven years – all purchased from Ernest Doe, based in Ulting Essex. The latest excavator has replaced an older 14-tonne machine and joins the Hyundai 25Z 9AK 2.5 tonne mini. Alf explained that he was looking at all the options, “ We did own and run a competitors machine before, but having tried the Hyundai – I liked it very much!” Alf added, “ The Hyundai was also priced right over the other brand, however, that was not the deciding factor. We had the latest HX140LC on trial here for ten days and the instructors and the candidates on the courses we run spoke very highly of the machine – so it wasn’t just price, it was also the quality of the Hyundai.” “The Hyundai performs better than its competitor in the same weight category and the fuel economy is better, probably by as much as 10% on our fuel costs. It’s more powerful than the other brand – but what influenced us the most, is it’s a smooth operating machine and is very operator friendly.” Continued Alf Alf also reported the cab is very good on the HX140LC, with plenty of adjustment on the seat, which is perfect for operators of all shapes and sizes! He also said that you could work in the machine all day, which they will do whilst training, apart from tea breaks, etc, and feel no fatigue. The machine also benefits from Hyundai’s AAVM camera system, which Alf also rates highly. He also pointed out that some machines are very ‘jerky’ but the Hyundai was particularly smooth and very good for precision digging. Alf was particularly impressed with the easy access for maintenance – as the students also learn to do their ’15 minute’ excavator check in the morning as part of the course. Alf prides himself on providing the machines in excellent order for his trainees, he said: “ A lot of training companies use older machines for their CPCS courses – we like to teach our students on the latest machines as this gives the operator a true insight into the machines working on the jobsite.” Although talking to one of the students, Tommy Howard, aged 23, who was attending the current ten-day course, reported that brand new kit on site was not necessarily the case! He explained, “This Hyundai is a lovely machine, my mate Alvin, who encouraged me to get my 360 ticket, his machine he operates onsite is beaten up as hell! This Hyundai is shiny and very comfortable. I thought I would struggle as I have never operated before and was very nervous. But all the controls are gradual and it’s all about finding a balance – I’m very confident in the Hyundai. And hope that when I get to operate – professionally I don’t get given a beat-up machine!” Tommy added, “The first part of our training we learn to operate with the AAVM cameras off – but as we get more experience of spatial awareness – we use them in the latter part – they are very good.” Hyundai also spoke with another trainee on the course, 36-year-old Daniel Bycraft, who is a supervisor at a local firm but wanted to upskill to operating. Daniel reported, “I have not operated before – but wanted to be able to turn my hand to operating on-site, as well as being a site supervisor. The Hyundai is a lovely machine – I find the controls so smooth – it feels so good to be in machine operating. The course shows every aspect of operating too – which includes machine maintenance.” Hyundai finally got to speak to ITS trainer Tommy Smith, who has been working as an instructor for the company for seven-years. He said, “I tried the HX140LC out for a week, it’s a good machine, nice and smooth and the controls are nice and tight with not a lot of travel on the controls. Tommy added, “It’s nice and basic inside the cab – so good for training and not too complicated like other machines – the quick hitch is a good example as some are really technical. The dash is nice. The ease of maintenance is good. Also, the Ad-blue has a simple indicator on the screen. This machine is no trouble at all.” The HX140LC and the smaller 25Z 9AK are in operation on most days and the firm, which was established in 1989, welcomes around 120 candidates per year, with an impressive 90% pass rate. Ages range from 16 to 65 and is a mix of brand new operators, operators that are upskilling, and others just renewing their ‘ticket’. ITS also provides training for blue-chip companies including Transport for London and UK Power Networks. Alf concluded, “The Hyundai is a quality machine and we are very pleased with the service that Ernest Doe provides us, but to be fair we have little or no trouble with them.” So it’s a thumbs up from ITS for both Hyundai and Ernest Doe!... Read more...New Doosan Wheeled Excavator Outstanding in Forestry Work9 February 2022Wheeled ExcavatorsKunz & Co. GmbH from Todtnau in the Black Forest region of Germany has purchased a new Doosan DX190W-5 wheeled excavator, specially modified for forestry work. Already in its first few weeks, the Doosan excavator has impressed in the timber harvesting, logging and excavation work carried out by Kunz & Co. Uli Thoma, Managing Director of Kunz & Co., purchased the new excavator from the Doosan dealer, Ummenhofer Baumaschinen GmbH, based in Pfullendorf/Schönau. The conversion for use in forestry work was carried out by Ummenhofer working with Wirkstoff Technik, an engineering consultant for construction and forestry machines, based in Constance. Performance and Stability Count The use of powerful excavators in forestry operations has increased significantly in recent years. This is because when they are appropriately equipped, they can be used not only in timber harvesting and processing, but also in road construction. These excavators can be used for a wide range of applications, thus ensuring high utilisation of the machines. In this environment, the external conditions place high demands on the machines. So the correct selection of the carrier machine, which is to be adapted to meet the individual customer’s needs through appropriate conversion measures, is of great importance. To find the right machine for himself, Uli Thoma turned to the Doosan dealer, Ummenhofer, and the specialists at Wirkstoff Technik. Requirements Fulfilled Uli Thoma had high requirements when selecting the carrier. It had to be powerful and have a high hydraulic output. From his point of view, there were many factors in favour of a Doosan machine: “We had had good experience with a Doosan excavator we owned, so when Ummenhofer became active as the Doosan dealer in our vicinity, it was a foregone conclusion for us to return to the Doosan brand. We also found that our good experience is mirrored by more and more forestry companies relying on Doosan machines as their forestry excavators.” A tracked excavator was out of the question for Uli Thoma, as the excavator had to be transported using the company’s existing three-axle low-loader. In addition, there were factors such as the engine, hydraulic power, the price and the dealer. The excavator also had to be particularly stable and manoeuvrable in the demanding conditions in forests. As a result, the Doosan DX190W-5 wheeled excavator was chosen. Strong Performance The Doosan DX190W-5 wheeled excavator has a powerful and reliable Doosan DL06P six-cylinder engine with an output of 129 kW. This is complemented by a high hydraulic output of 2 x 200 l/min as standard, which can be combined via pump summation. This means that an attachment with a high flow requirement can also be operated. This hydraulic output also meets the high performance requirements of processor-aggregate operations. The dozer blade and claw attachments also increase the stability. Extensive Conversion Forestry excavators work in a wide variety of areas at Kunz & Co. GmbH. One of the main tasks is as process excavators. Here, logs are measured, delimbed and cut to length in one step and thus prepared for further use. In addition, the machines are used for forest road construction. A number of conversion measures were necessary for this. In addition to the safety modifications required for a forestry excavator, such as the forestry protection shoring, a frame-mounted protective roof and the chain-shot-proof windscreen, a number of additional works were carried out in order to adapt the excavator individually to its future uses. These included an Oil-Quick quick coupler to change the various attachments needed, a conversion to bio-oil and 700 mm wide tyres. The core of the conversion was the P60 processor unit including Koller Forsttechnik controls. This weighs 1.6 tonne and delivers its optimum performance at a hydraulic output of 280-300 l/min. After the conversion, the excavator had a total weight of 24 tonne and can thus be transported on the low-loader. Worthwhile Investment After just a few weeks in operation, Uli Thoma is very pleased with the DX190W-5: “The forestry excavator has proven itself in a wide variety of application scenarios and has proved to be extremely reliable. The comfort in the driver’s cab and the sensitive controls are like nothing I‘ve experienced before.” Founded in 1980, Kunz & Co. GmbH is primarily active in the areas of logging, timber harvesting, excavator work and snow removal. The company employs a total of 12 people and has an extensive fleet of machinery ranging from special forestry tractors to excavators, self-propelled snow blowers and trucks. Wirkstoff Technik Wirkstoff Technik from Constance was founded in 2015. Wirkstoff Technik provides designs and developments for large OEMs, but also builds individual machines for end customers. The direct connection to the user is reflected in the designs. For this purpose, engineers, fitters, technical draughtsmen and service fitters work hand in hand. The high l
