Swinging into action at Hillhead

Under the heading of new - well, Bauma wasn't that long ago - is the CAT D9R. The new machine delivers 302kW at the flywheel, 10% more power at a lowly 1,900rpm and a massive 44% torque rise from the 3,408 turbocharged and aftercooled 18 litre V8 diesel.

The transmission incorporates a Cat torque divider and three speed powershift box. The single stage converter with its output divider sends 75% of engine torque through the converter and 25% through the direct drive shaft for greater efficiency and higher torque multiplication for picking up and pushing heavy loads.

The D9R is now the largest Cat dozer to offer differential steering as an option. Uninterrupted power is directed to both tracks via the hydraulically powered planetary differential to give faster smoother and more drawbar pull when turning. Because both tracks are always driven, the unit can maintain a full blade when turning and it certainly increases productivity on pioneering projects.

Load sensing hydraulics ensure that power on demand is there when and where it is needed. The increase in hydraulic pressure gives faster and more accurate responses to both blade and any other attachments that may be fitted. The overall result of the increase in engine power, tractive effort and more efficient hydraulics is that semi U blade capacity is up by 13% to 13.5m3 and U blade to 16.4m3, an increase of nearly 14%.

Cat says that since the introduction of its elevated track drive system in 1978, more than 60,000 have been sold worldwide. The 47,5t D9R lays 3.5m of track on the ground and, says Cat, the suspended, oscillating running gear design reduces shock loads by 50%. At the same time, the high drive system provides up to 15% more ground contact, especially in hard or uneven conditions where traction is at a premium.

Other Cat plant that should not be missed are the 5080 face shovel weighing in at around 80 to 90t depending on spec, the all new D250E artic dumptruck and a 988F cab. The important part of the latter is that it contains Cat's latest thoughts on its STIC steering system which is probably the best available on the market.

Any operator who earns their living loading out trucks in a quarry will agree that putting the steering, powershift and forward and reverse controls on one lever is a quantum leap.

ESCO (UK) Ltd is showing its latest Super V tooth and adaptor system for hydraulic excavators, face shovels and wheeled loaders. Super V is available in 14 adaptor sizes with up to nine different tooth forms. The range covers machines from minis to 200t plus.

Also on show for the first time in the UK is the Esco Toplock shroud system which has been developed to improve tooth performance on wheeled loaders and face shovels. The Toplock system is supplied in kit form and can be easily fitted.

O&K may, or may not, have had the largest stand at Bauma to launch its equipment, but it intends to show at least six new models, the RH40E, 30E and 25E excavators, two rigid dumptrucks, the K40 and K45 and the L35B at Hillhead.

The largest item on the stand will be the updated 100t RH40E face shovel which features a redesigned and stronger undercarriage, a new cab which is similar to the bigger machines, a modular uppercarriage and microprocessor controlled injection pump. Also on the stand is the completely new 58t RH25E powered by a Cummins 389kW diesel and carrying a 3.9m3 bucket.

The O&K badged dumptruck range has proved to be a real success for the company and with the two mid-capacity units, it expects to do even better. The K45 is rated at 41t and is powered by a Cummins driving through an Allison ATEC transmission. The L35B wheeled loader is a modified version of the Project 2000 concept machine first shown to the public two Bauma's ago.

O&K claims the unit provides powerful performance with unparalleled ease of operation and maintenance. Load sensing hydraulics, hydrostatic drive coupled to multi-disc, self-locking differentials give excellent traction and bucket penetration in adverse ground conditions.

The sloping rear bonnet section affords better all round visibility than most and by tilting the cab through 70¼ sideways, then opening the two engine bonnets, instant and complete access is provided for all maintenance tasks.

INDECO is launching a new range of dismantling and demolition attachments following its appointment as UK distributor for Italian manufacturer, VTN Europe. The agreement means that Indeco is now able to offer concrete crushers, demolition shears and grapples as well as its own hammers.

'The specification, features and build quality of the VTN units is excellent and with a wide range of sizes, there is an attachment to suit all applications and excavators,' said Indeco UK general manager, John Jackson. 'The six model line up of concrete shears covers the 2 to 40t excavator weight class and this is backed up with five sizes of concrete crushers covering the 8 to 50t excavator range.

'The four model range of VTN handling and sorting grapples is matched to machines in the 10 to 41t class and are particularly suited to recycling and rehandling applications. With hydraulic rotation and interchangeable teeth, they can cope with a wide range of materials,' he added.

Indeco claims that it produced the first 'thinking' hammer back in 1986 and now has two more breakthroughs, the MES 621 Whisper and MES 553. When launched in 1989, the MES 621 was the first intelligent hydraulically and mechanically shock absorbed breaker for backhoe loaders. The company has taken the design to the next stage with the Whisper version, a silenced version of the same breaker.

Features of both new units include dual shock absorption systems. An internal hydraulic lock avoids metal to metal contact and an external mechanical device utilises two side and one upper rubber buffer. These separate the breaker and casing, reducing transmission of vibration back to the prime mover.

LIEBHERR is without doubt a world player in the construction, building and mining equipment sectors. What a pity the company will not have the 530t class 996 face shovel or one of its latest acquisition, Wiseda, dumptrucks on the stand. That would be a real talking point.

As it is, the company will still attract attention with its new version of the R984B Litronic excavator from the heavy end of the range. The new unit is both heavier and more powerful than its predecessor, the R984. Depending on bucket size and equipment and whether it is rigged as a face shovel or backhoe, the new machine weighs in at between 104 to 112t.

BELL-HAULAMATIC, a new name in the industry, yet one that has more than enough experience to make the competition sit up and take notice. The joint LH Plant-Heathfield Haulamatic stand will feature the B30B articulated dumptruck, just one machine from the eight model range, on show for the first time ever in the UK.

The machines are just one part of all the equipment developed by Bell Equipment Co of South Africa. The B30B will be marketed in the UK under the brand name of Bell-Haulamatic and will be engineered to ensure compliance with CE requirements. This will be an interesting company for users to keep an eye on, since Bell already has a presence in Europe and understands the market. Also, the company has articulated dumptrucks ranging up to 40t payloads.

TEREX has no intention of being missed at Hillhead and will have its new 40t 3340 rigid dumptruck as the centre piece of its Imaco Construction Equipment stand. Other new products on display will include the 25t payload 2566C artic dumptruck, plus the latest series 11 wheeled loaders bearing the Samsong logo and Samsong crawler excavator equipped with hydraulic breaker.

MARUBENI KOMATSU goes to the exhibition with a host of new equipment, not least being the D155AX-3. Weighing in at 39.2t with U blade and multi-shank ripper, the machine has plenty to offer. Powered by Komatsu's S6D140 14.24 litre diesel producing 225kW at just 1,900rpm and driving through the company's own Hydro-Mechanical Transmission (HMT).

The mechanical and hydrostatic transmission are arranged in parallel to provide a high efficiency, similar to direct drive. The company claims that the system allows full engine power to be used over a wide of both travel and working speeds. During digging and dozing the engine can be maintained at its peak output through all speeds to achieve high productivity levels. When ripping, the machine speed can be set via 'maximum speed setter' to match the material which then minimises the need for the operator to decelerate to eliminate track spin.

Power is maintained to both tracks during turns via the hydrostatic steering system which slows the inside tracks and speeds up the outer. Komatsu has its own version of suspended track rollers. The company claims its low drive undercarriage with long ground contact area and resiliently mounted rollers has added significantly to the drawbar pull potential of the machine.

The stand will also show two of the new dash 6 excavators, the PC210 and PC240, as well as dash 3 wheeled loaders, the largest of which is currently the WA470. The unit is powered by a Komatsu S6D 125 six cylinder turbocharged diesel sporting four valves per cylinder and producing 194kW at the flywheel. The transmission is fully automatic with four speeds in both direction giving a top road speed of 37kmph.

APS, or Automatic Power System refers to the hydraulics which are said to be 'intelligent' in as much as they can decide whether more speed or power is required to meet the demands of the operator. Fast hydraulics are needed on short cycle work and to achieve this the main and switch pump are combined to supply up to 416 litre/min to the loader circuit.

If heavy, difficult material is being handled, the switch pump is automatically taken out of the circuit leaving the main pump to deliver 297 litre/min at the higher pressure of 210 bars. Bucket capacities range from 3.8 to 6.5m3 and the machine is equipped with twin dampers in the loader circuit to control kangarooing. The dampers, one for loaded bucket and one for empty, automatically come into operation at speeds above 5kmph.

The WA470-3 weighs in at 23.1t with straight ahead quoted SAE tipping loads ranging between 17.8 and 17.95t. Fully articulated to 40¼, these reduce to around 15.9t. Maximum dump clearance at 45¼ is 3.0m with forward reach at 1.2m; breakout force is, depending on bucket, a healthy 201kN.

AVELING BARFORD will have machines both on static display and working on the demonstration area. The company will have two, one working and one on the stand, of its second from top model rigid dumptrucks, the RD55. There will also be an RD40 rigid, one of the UK's most popular units to complement the 13t ASG13 all wheel steer and all wheel drive graders.

R-B INTERNATIONAL will be showing its latest E type - no not the one that is beloved by petrolheads. This E type is an example of the company's CH50E and the E suffix relates to the machine being equipped for excavator bucket duty which includes dragline and clamshell.

The CH50E is a fully hydraulic dragline and features heavy duty winches that can deliver line pulls of 15t and speeds up to 70m per minute, a combination offering faster cycle times and higher sustained outputs. Boom lengths up to 24m are available and bucket capacities up to 1.5m can easily be handled at this range. The unit is fully convertible to lift crane duties when the maximum boom length is increased to 36m.

NORDBERG (UK) returns to the exhibition with its latest offering, the new Nordwheeler 100. Designed to meet the needs of both quarrying and recycling contractors, the 47.5t diesel powered unit is mounted on a three axle chassis. The unit on the stand is equipped with an S series 1,000 X 750mm jaw crusher with an hydraulically driven B10 vibratory feeder.

To be unveiled to UK customers, the Nordpactor NP 1315 SR is one of a new range of impact crushers, with features designed to increase safety and ease of maintenance combined with reduced cost per tonne.

Lokotrack is a name already well-known in quarrying circles and there are now 17 different models within the range with the Lokotrack 100 carrying the flag for them all. Finally, if you are into cone crushers, the company will have the HP300, one of its latest models on show.

BLAW-KNOX will be exhibiting two of its latest paver/finisher machines, the PF161 which will be demonstrated during the show and the PF451 which is doing stand duty.

The wheel mounted PF 161 weighs in at 12t and is capable of placing bituminous base, binder and surface course mixes, cement or lime stabilised sub base and graded aggregate materials. The unit is fitted with a vibrating only Omniscreed 1 of the latest type which operates at a basic width of 2.44m, extending to 4.0m.

The new PF 451 is a 106kW rigid rubber tracked 17t paver finisher capable of laying most bituminous base and wearing course materials, crusher run stone and dry lean concrete. The machine on show is powered by a Cummins 6BT diesel and is fitted with a tamping only Omniscreed V.



Hillhead will be held at Buxton, Derbyshire on 20-22 June.