In all their glory

A busy Marubeni Komatsu stand saw several new models from its wheeled loader, excavator and skid steer ranges. After launching the PC290 and PC340 Dash-7 excavators, Marubeni was also able to show the smaller PC210LC and PC240LC machines which will be available for delivery in about eight weeks.

The 17.5t WA380 wheeled loader - the latest addition to the Dash-5 range - is also available. Komatsu has greatly improved cab comfort with 25% extra cab space to make the drivers life easier and quieter with internal noise levels down to 70dB(A). Also seen was the latest SK714-5 skid steer, the new Moxy MT26 articulated dump truck and the new FRD F100 hydraulic breaker. Designed for excavators weighing between 65t and 100t, the unit has an impact energy of nearly 16,000 joules.

Another new wheeled loader on display at the show was the Mega 500V from Daewoo, which the firm says has the best power to weight ratio in its class. The company exhibited the breadth of its range, with a skid steer loader and a new road-railer on show. The 13t base-unit road-railer has a Philmor bogie and has been designed to be able to turn round in tunnels.

Another new road-railer could be seen on JCB's stand. This is the company's first venture into this realm. The unit is based on a JS175W wheeled excavator and has an operating weight of 22t. The chassis, however, comes from a JS200W to support the machine's specialist drive rail gear and stabilisers - each rail wheel has its own motor drive, allowing a 23kph rail speed. JCB also exhibited its new backhoes and zero tailswing mini excavators, as well as a 650kg tracked dumper and a new telehandler with roof truss handling attachment designed for housebuilders - the 533-105 Loadall.

More new telehandlers were on view on the Manitou stand. The company exhibited its MT1033 HLT - another machine designed for the housebuilding sector - the 'ultra compact' MLT523T, which is less than 1.8m-wide and 2m-high, and the MRT1542 - supplied with remote control for use during blind lifts. Housebuilding has remained an important sector, and according to promotions manager Paul Bidwell, the company's own roof truss handler has proved a very popular attachment since its launch last year.

Rival telehandler manufacturer Merlo had a production version of the 101.10K on its stand, as well as its 45.21KSC. Although the UK market is historically small, the company says that production of 360û machines accounts for 15% of the company's current output, and 50% of machines sold into Germany.

New Holland Construction unveiled the prototype LM 1440 telehandler, one of three models to be launched officially in France in the next few weeks. The range includes the LM1340, the LM1440 and the LM1740 with lift heights of 13m, 14m and 17m respectively. Lift capacity will be 4,000kg and units will feature four-wheel drive and four-wheel steer. All functions will be controlled using a single hydraulic joystick.

NHC's new LS180 is the largest in its skid steer loader range and features a modified cab with joystick controls. The 50kW, American-built machine has an operating capacity of 1,159kg and should be available in the UK by the summer (June/July).

After almost four years in development, Volvo's show stopper was the new BL 71 backhoe loader. Designed from scratch and built by Volvo in its factory in Wroclaw, Poland, the 74kW, 8.6t, side shift machine has a 4.3m dig depth and a 2,350mm wide loader bucket with a 3.2t loader capacity at full height. Two new excavators - the 14t, 93hp, EC140BLC and the EC210BLC - complete the B series range, and the first models of the E series wheeled loaders - L120E, L150E, L180E, L220E and L330E - were also on show.

Thwaites continued its new range with the introduction of the 3t and 4t capacity manual transmission site dumpers and the 3.5t and 4.5t hydrostatic machines. All these new models are powered by the latest Yanmar engines. Ausa's new compact CH200 forklift was also joined on the stand by the new 150CMG tracked dumper with swivel skip. "This is the first time we've shown it in the UK and we've had a lot of interest," said Ausa's Ged Bibby.

More tracked dumpers were on display at the Filtermech Plant Sales stand. As well as IHI mini excavators, the company was exhibiting the IHI range of tracked carriers - from 2.5t to 10t - introduced this year. "These machines are proving increasingly popular in plant hire," said a spokesman.

International Tracked Machines also had a wide variety of tracked products, from dumpers to excavators. Pride of place for innovation, however, went to a demountable track-mounted access platform. The unit incorporates a Nifty 90 articulating platform (from Niftylift) based on a Hinowa 650 chassis. "This combination of chassis and a range of products - for example dumper or access platform - provides hire companies with much greater versatility and improved utilisation," said international sales director Richard Hunt.

NK Lifton unveiled new models in all three of its product areas: the Highwayman - a wheeled loader (based on a Kramer 318) with an on-board compressor (140m3/min powered by the machine's hydrostatic drive) designed as a pneumatic hammer carrier for resurfacing and road planing; the TD15 tracked dumper; and the Neuson 12002 Vario excavator.

The latter innovative machine has an eccentric slewing mechanism allowing the superstructure to be offset. Although based on a 12t machine, the fact that the counterweight can be offset to the rear endows it with performance comparable to heavier machines, according to the company. As an alternative, with the superstructure offset to the front the machine has zero-tailswing, and the company points out that this is without compromising the design of the cab or access to service areas. It also said that stability is improved on uneven ground, and that the ability to offset to the sides improves versatility in confined spaces. The Vario option is a prototype that is scheduled to become available later this year and will also be extended to other machines in the range.



SED saw Hyundai distributor Ernest Doe give a first showing of the new 14t Robex 140L-7 - an updated and slightly bigger replacement for the 13t Robex 130LC. More power, bigger cab and improved driver ergonomics complete the package.

The Finning/Caterpillar stand saw the new C series excavator range, boasting its integrated tool control system and new Stage II compliant Cat engines. The 312C was available for demonstration, as was the pilot control version of the 432D backhoe, which Cat claims has had unprecedented sales in the year since its launch.

Other new excavators in the mini/midi range were on display across the showground. Hanix used SED as the first show for two additions to its range: the H36R zero tailswing 3.6t unit, and the H75B 7.5t machine, both of which will be available in this country from October. The H75B comes with standard and two piece booms, and the company is confident that it will do well in what it sees as a buoyant 7.5t market.

Another company upgrading in the same market sector is Takeuchi - its SED stand displayed the first TB175W in the country. This 7.9t wheeled model is based on the company's existing tracked excavator, and Colin Moss, regional sales manager, said its improved manoeuvrability will allow it to target confined city sites. "The market is not massive yet, but we think it will grow," he said.

In its more traditional mini-excavator market, Takeuchi also unveiled a new 825kg model. The TB108 replaces the TB007 and the company has high expectations given the health of this market sector.

Not to be outdone, Kubota's stand saw its two latest additions to its -3 range - the KX121-3 and the KX161-3. These 4t and 5t machines follow the introduction of the smaller KX91-3 and KX101-3 models in January.

Although not new, having been launched last year, Hydrema used SED as the first show for its M1100 (11t) and M800 (8.8t) wheeled excavators.

IP Equipment Sales used SED to unveil a new range - selector grabs from Arden Equipment. With operating weights from 150kg to 650kg, the new Arden S150, S200, S400 and S600 selector grabs are particularly suited to mini excavators from 1.5t to 10t. "The mini attachment market is huge and includes a growing demand for grabs such as these," said IP Equipment Sales' Ian Gratton.

Exhibiting on the Plantforce stand, R&R Technical Equipment was attracting a lot of interest for its new stump grinder for mounting on mini excavators. Available currently in just one size - the 450mm wheel diameter SG1 - the unit is ideally suited to 1.5t to 3t minis. "The SG1 will take on dedicated stump cutters with engines up to 41kW," said director Robin Disney. "It is also safer and has the advantage of being able to reach over obstacles such as small walls and flower beds to get at the stump." The machine costs £3,500, but contractors can earn anything from £80 to £160 per stump, and an average stump takes about 15 to 20 minutes to remove.

The Ryetec stand saw another implement for removing unwanted trees and shrubbery - the Bird Eye Scrubbuster 1100. Owned by Homegrown Timber and the only machine its kind in the country, it boasts a 1,016mm rotating wheel with 40 cutting teeth for razing splintering trees. Ryetec itself also unveiled a range of rough terrain telehandlers - four models with lift capacities from 0.75t to 1.7t and lift heights of 3.8m to 5.2m.



It was the first time at SED for Aylesbury-based The Jolly Machine Company showing two new compact multi-utility, Italian-built, four-wheel drive machines. Largest is the 37kW diesel powered GT50 which features a telescopic boom capable of lifting 1t to a height of 3.5m. Both can be fitted with a range of more than 40 different attachments.

Mecalac was also touting for utility business with its new 14MBX (replacing the 14MXD). Although progress in the UK market has proved elusive with only 25 machines per year on average, the company produces 700 machines each year in total, with a market of 450 machines in France, and it remains optimistic about its chances. "If we target the plant hire market, there's no reason why we shouldn't achieve similar sales in the UK," said communication and sales promotion manager Martine Mercier. The company has also added Ahlmann's range of compact wheeled loaders, previously owned by Manitou, in a bid to provide a complete product range for urban applications. The inner city market also appeals to Avant-Leguan, which, with sole distributor BTH Plant Sales, demonstrated its LPG powered skidsteers.

Vermeer's sole UK distributor of underground and environmental equipment - B-TRAC Equipment - revealed several all-new products at SED including the 150mm x 220mm opening Vermeer BC150 European wood chipper, the short rod Navigator D33x44 directional drill rig with auto rod handling and the Air Impactor. The Air Impactor combines improved pipe bursting technology with the proven capabilities of directional drilling by utilising its existing directional drilling rig and compressor. Meanwhile Europe's largest and only Vermeer D150x300 directional drilling rig was to be seen on The Directional Drilling Company's stand. The 69t pullback and 41kNm of torque machine is capable of installing pipes up to 1.2km in diameter and more than 1km-long.

The centre of Utilx UK's stand was an Italian-built EGT directional drilling machine - the 17t pullback HD2017DR. The unit features two motors, one for the integral mud system and one for the drill system. On show was the smallest model in a range which has a maximum pullback of 400t; Oswald Record Plant Sales exhibited a new pipe burster which leaves the end of pipes exposed and has pendant control, and a new mole from AussieMole.

The Westquay stand was host to a redesigned TRS700B trencher from Tesmec, which the company said can load a six-wheeler in less than 13 minutes depending on ground conditions. Finnpave exhibited its ElectraPave BB660, which has an electric screed heating system with a heat-up time of 25 minutes and temperature control to within 1ûC. It also incorporates a 26kVA generator and a halogen lighting system for night work.

New for the show and launched to generate interest for next winter is the Maclight lighting tower. The unit features 4x1,000 watt metal halide lights, 9.15m mast and fuel tank for 60 hours operation. The show also saw a production model of a three-in-one compressor/generator/lighting tower from Compair aimed at utilities, combining a two-tool/7 bar compressor with a 12kVA generator and two, 7.5m high 2kW metal halide lights.

Weighing 2.5t and costing more than $15,000 (£10,295), Hill Engineering was experiencing a lot of interest in what it described as the largest hydraulic quick hitch in the world. Designed and built for the Kenco Corporation in Michigan US, the hitch will be on the end of a long-reach, 105t Komatsu PC1100 excavator used for dredging operations.

Viby Jern's new loader quick-hitch has been designed so that the distance from the pins to the bucket face is the same as when using a standard bucket. The unit is available in hydraulic and mechanical versions.

Geith used SED to show off its new quickhitch - the Claw - which boasts an autolock facility which secures both pins without having to leave the cab. Engcon, with its Tiltrotator, and Clark PowerHand, with its Rotatilt both used the show to promote the uptake of their excavator 'wrists' which have become almost standard attachments in Scandinavia.

The Selwood stand provided a first sight of the new canopy version of the Super Silent Storm pumps which include 3 inch, 4 inch, 6 inch and 8 inch sizes. The two-model hydraulic range, launched last year, has been extended with the addition of 3 inch, 6 inch and 8 inch units. Another first is the 10 inch 250ST high volume discharge pump capable of handling solids up to 150mm.

Another first time exhibitor delighted with the level and quality of enquiries for its new range of centrifugal pumps was Pioneer Pump. Winner of the Non-Operating Plant category of the SED Awards for Excellence, the company offers a complete range of dewatering and well-pointing pumps from 75mm to 400mm.

Sterling Fluid Systems added that its stand had seen a good volume of visitors and enquiries. These were primarily about its new Q-series range of six hydraulic submersible pumps available in three sizes - 100mm, 150mm and 200mm - designed for jobs including dewatering, drainage, well-pumping, over pumping, sewage handling, waste-spillage and flood relief.