Fiat-Hitachi kit launched

Hammamet, Tunisia was the unlikely setting chosen by Fiat-Hitachi (F-H) to launch 18new models from skidsteer loaders via mini excavators to wheeled loaders and taking in both compact wheeled loaders and a trio of motor graders on the way. Not to mention its best-selling excavator range. And you thought excavators were all that Fiat-Hitachi made?

Think again, this is a new revitalised F-H which appears hell-bent to take-on its sister company New Holland (NH) since many of their ranges compete. Indeed some are simply badge-engineered. We know NH doesn't sell excavators or 'dozers and F-H doesn't sell telehandlers but all that could change fairly rapidly. Not that F-H managing director Fausto Lanfranco was going to comment on that particular conundrum. As he pointed out more than once: "This is a Fiat-Hitachi press conference not a New Holland one." So there.

Notwithstanding internecine Italian-American politics 18 new models is a meaty mouthful by anyone's standards. Let's start with the skidsteer loaders the SL25B which completes the six model line-up and is the smallest by far at 317kg operating capacity. Perhaps its greatest virtue is its width of just 914mm enabling it to go almost anywhere.

Next up is a trio of motor graders badged G140, G170 and G200. The smaller two feature Super Max-Trac diffs and 8+4 speed powershift transmissions, with the G200 having lockable diffs. UK grader sales are so low we won't dwell on them.

Mini excavators do sell, though, and F-H introduced a 1,750kg model the FH17.2 Plus powered by a Kubota 13kW three-cylinder diesel. As is becoming more common it features variable-width undercarriage. It comes with canopy or cab and will remind you forcibly of the Hitachi EX Series. It joins six other models in the range.

Midi excavators have yet to catch on in the UK, but F-H's new pair could change that. The EX60.5LC is a neat 7-8tonner (depending on equipment) and its sister the EX100.5 is just as svelte. The 60.5 has a Nissan 41kW diesel while the 100.5 has an Isuzu developing 59kW. The 60.5 is offered as a monoboom or swing-offset boom while the 100.5 has only a monoboom - but both feature four work mode settings on the engine/pump management system. Just like the big boys.

Compact hydrostatic drive wheeled loaders are very saleable in Europe, not quite so in the UK. F-H has launched four models the W50H, W60H, W70H and W80H with Perkins engines and bucket nominal capacities from 0.7m3 to 1.1m3. They look very similar to O&K's compact wheeled loaders - because they are built by O&K.

Excavators are added to by the new EX165, EX255 and EX285 which join the existing recently-introduced EX135 and EX215. Since they share all of the usual EX virtues it's certain that HM Plant will be selling them like hot cakes once deliveries start.

Wheeled loaders (the full-size variety) benefit from the design input of TCM and the line-up started with the W90/110 and 130 is now added to by the new W170, 190, 230 and 270. The new models have Cummins engines and TCM-designed transmissions with 4x4 forward/reverse powershift. Cabs are fully 25 per cent bigger than on the old FR models and noise levels very much reduced.