A good grounding

This year the Showground is host to many modified machines, new products and demonstrations. Find out who is showing what and where you can find them.

Perhaps the most eagerly awaited exhibitor at SED 2003 is Fiat Kobelco, the new joint venture attempting to combine Italian flair with Japanese engineering prowess.

Since its inception last year the company has made much of its full line capabilities, offering more than 70 base models across 15 product lines. Two of these will take pride of place at SED this year (stand J134): the E series range of crawler excavators will be represented by the E165LC and the E215LC, which the company says have been specially modified for the UK market; and the new line of telehandlers will be unveiled prior to being available for purchase in July.

Telehandlers will also be an essential, although not exclusive, part of the Manitou (stand 26). In addition to the launch of three new access platforms (the 120AETJ electric articulating boom, the 80VJR vertical boom and the 81XE compact scissor lift), the company will reveal a "new concept" in telehandler design. The pocket maniscopic SLT415 is a three-wheeled compact telehandler designed for use in confined spaces and to compete with skid steer loaders.

First time SED exhibitor John Deere (stand 130) will exhibit its 3000 series of rigid chassis telehandlers (as well as its all-terrain 6x4 utility vehicle, the Trail Gator), and regular participant Merlo will have its range of telehandlers on show (stand 55). This will include the latest in its Panoramic series of rigid chassis telehandlers to receive the new K cab, with the P35.13K and P60.10K shown in the UK for the first time. Another Italian manufacturer - Dieci - will be exhibited on the Alan Milne Tractors stand (58).

Back to excavators and perennial SED exhibitor Kobelco (stand 42) will make its traditional big splash at the show - not least in the demonstration area, as usual. It will also use the show to launch the new addition to the Dynamic Acera range of excavators - the 17t SK170LC, designed to fill the gap between the SK135SRLC and the SK200SRLC - as well as showing a version of the SK80MSR modified following input from the European market.

The Euro Daewoo (stand 46) will also see a host of excavators, including three new models - a 7t midi (the Solar 75-V), a 17t crawler machine (the Solar 175LC-V) and a 25t model on demo (the Solar 255LC-V).



Variations on a theme

A variant on the traditional excavator theme will be on show on the EH Hassell (stand L187). This comes in the form of the official UK launch of the telescopic boom Gradall.

Case excavators will be exhibited on the CRMS (stand 221) with three models on show: the CX75 and CX135 short radius machines and the new CX180. Other dealers at the show include: BTE Plant Sales (stand M237A), exhibiting among other things machines from Terex, and Ernest Doe & Sons (stand 204), distributors for Hyundai, O&K, Barford, Komatsu utility, Winget, Manitou and, most recently, Fiat Kobelco. Or try Leach Lewis Plant on stand 175, and Oswald Record Plant Sales on stand 106.

Kubota (stand 28) will use the show to unveil its full range of zero-tailswing machines from 1t to 5t. This includes the launch of three new U-3 series machines (the 990kg U10-3, the 2.24t U20-3 and the 2.54t U25-3) to complete the range and complement the 3.5t and 4.5t models unveiled recently. There will also be a fourth new machine - the 850kg K008-3, which replaces the K008a.

Also new to Europe will be the AX-Series 3 range of mini-excavators from 780kg to 5t from Airman (stand 31). The company will also be showing two zero-tailswing models (AX29U and AX50U), as well as PDS compressors, SDG supersilenced generators and ancillary equipment.

The Ammann Equipment (stand 229) will feature two new products, including the innovative B7 Sigma mini-excavator with its three-part articulated boom. The stand will also see the launch of the C50R-3 track carrier.

A new "tracked vehicle" (no more details available as CJ went to press) will also be unveiled on the Takeuchi (stand 53), where the company's range of mini excavators will be on show along with the TB175 wheeled excavator launched at last year's show.

Another full range of machines (from 800kg to 7.5t) will be displayed on the Hanix (stand 107), including a two-piece city boom mounted on an H75B,

Fellow compact equipment manufacturer Bobcat (sharing stand 181 with parent company Ingersoll-Rand) will have three machines making their SED debuts - the 463 and S300 skid steers and the T300 tracked loader, on show alongside the company's MT50 mini track loader. The stand will also see the launch of a new IR lighting tower designed specifically for the UK market, as well as four new portable compressor models and the GenPowerSource range of diesel powered generators.

Avant Tecno will use SED 2003 to launch a new skid steer - the Avant 320+ hydrostatic all-wheel drive machine, and a new articulated loader - the Avant 520L (see stand M232).

The Lewis Steerkid will be on show on the Lewis Equipment (stand 20), and Gehl (stand 33) will also exhibit its range of skid steer machines.

More compressors to be visible at the show, including the M26, a new, compact, single tool portable compressor will be launched by HPC Kaeser (stand 6), and generators and lighting towers will also be widely represented.

Arc-Gen (stand 235) will use SED 2003 to unveil the latest versions of its Power Tower lighting tower first launched at the show in 2001, as well as exhibiting its range of welder generators.

LCH Generators will show its wares on stand 262A, and Genset (stand 223) will launch four new product ranges at the show: PowerComm, a range of specialised generators for self-contained site accommodation units; PowerCell, a range of very-long run secure generator packages for remote operations; SuperLight a 9m lighting tower; and Quadpod, a freestanding light tower.

Back on the CRMS stand, the Dynaset range of hydraulically powered generators, welders, dust suppression systems, pressure washers and magnets will be on show for the first time.

Returning to operated kit, dumping and loading vehicles will be prominent at the show. Atlas Wheeled Loaders (stand 12) will replace its current 32E machine with a new model, the 35, and two new 0.3m3 to 0.4 m3 and 0.5m3 to 0.9m3 wheel loaders from NK Lifton (stand 236) will be launched at the show. Also on the stand will be the company's new range of dumpers from 850kg to 5t.

Fellow dumper manufacturer Thwaites (stand 200) will exhibit its range of machines, including the recently launched 2t Alldrive model, and Spanish producer Ausa (stand 226) will use SED 2003 to show-off its new range of compact articulated dumpers: 850kg, 1t and 1.2t, all less than 1m wide.

HE Services is also enticing visitors to its (stand 513) with the launch of the much heralded SuperTrack universal tracked carrier (fully amphibious, with a maximum speed of 55kph and a carrying capacity of 4t). On the Multoplat stand (G64) visitors will be able to see a system for attaching tools, platforms and skips onto a dumper skid unit.

The Herbst Machinery (stand 76) will see the launch of three new products - a gravel trailer, a mini dump loader and commercial drawbar loader. The recently launched 912C dumptruck will take pride of place on the Hydrema (stand 23). Nevertheless, there will be just enough room left over for a possible sneak preview of the three axle 922C ADT.

A tracked Power Dumper, Micro Dumper and High-Performance Miniveyor will be unveiled by Seddons (Plant Engineers) on stand L208.

The Case 621D wheel loader will also be seen on the CRMS demonstration plot, as will Case's 330 ADT. The stand will also witness the first showing of a Bagela tarmac recycler, which reprocesses tarmac lumps by reheating them - it takes one gallon of red diesel to reprocess 1t of tarmac. Proteus Equipment will be showing new asphalt hot boxes on stand N265, and Marini UK will be exhibiting pavers and planers as well as Breining bitumen sprayers and can be found on stand S518.

Wirtgen will also be present at the show (stand 511), exhibiting a range of equipment including Wirtgen planers, Vogele pavers and Hamm rollers, as well as information about the company's soil stabilisation and recycling equipment.



Going green at SED

SED 2003 will see two new small scale recycling machines. The Red Rhino, a mini, mobile jaw crusher capable of producing between 10t and 20t/hr of 20mm to 100mm aggregate, will be on show on the TSM Technology (stand 59), while the Global Construction Plant and Equipment (stand 74A) will reveal a mini-crusher from Italian manufacturer Guidetti, which will be making its UK debut. Taylor Construction Plant (stand 30) will also show the Hi-C40 compact jaw crusher which weighs 380kg and can recycle at a rate of up to 5t/hour, as well as its Hi-T500 tracked dumper and the Terex Amida range of lighting towers.

The B-Trac Equipment stand (79) will see the launch of three new Vermeer machine ranges - four models of horizontal grinder, two small stump cutters and three walk behind trenchers. On the TT UK (stand 174) the Grundomat pneumatic hammer range for trenchless pipe installations will be on show.

A variety of site equipment will be available on the ACE Plant stand (510) which will be exhibiting its new Hydraulic Water Spinner Unit for use in dust suppression. The Brendon HM3000 hot, mobile diesel-driven powerwasher will make its debut at SED on the Brendon Powerwashers stand (276), while a range of bunded bowsers and powerwashers will be on show on stand 220, where you can visit Major Equipment.

MRE Multisweep (stand 171) will exhibit its new 300 skid steer version with universal backplate, and Pike Signals' extended range of portable signalling systems will be on show following its acquisition earlier this year of Faronwise and Robo Sign (stand 116).

SED 2003 will also witness the first appearance by Mainway Engineering (stand N278), designers and manufacturers of mobile diesel and water bowsers.

If you need your site levelling or planing, try the Trimble stand (19), where you'll be able to see the launch of the LM180 Layout Manager, while a new range of construction lasers will be exhibited by Topcon (stand 143).

Other ancillary kit available includes the launch on the Manuli Hydraulics stand (169) of its Frigostar and Frigoclick air-conditioning products and BIO wire spiral hose for use with bio-degradable hydraulic fluids. Hollandse Bandenmarkt will exhibit its new railwheel tyre at stand 93, while the services of RAC Auto Windscreens can be found on stand 510A.

Pirtek (stand 4) will use SED 2003 to reveal its total oil management, intelligent filter cart and hose disposal service as the latest additions to its range of fluid transfer solutions, and Parker Hannifin's Hose Doctor service will be exhibited on stand 7.

The production version of the concept concrete mixer launched by Hymix at SED last year will grace the company's stand (242) this time out, and Imer Direct's earthmoving subsidiary IHIMER will reveal the Carry 103, a tracked material transporter, while the new MB1400/150 hoist will be displayed in conjunction with Maber Costruzioni (stand 412C).

The "unique" backhoe loader mounted Duplex concrete mixer will be on show on the Kilworth stand (36). Also concentrating on concrete is the Belle Group (stand 228), which will exhibit and demonstrate its reversible and single direction plate compactors as well as its new SF460 soil compaction plate. The latest version of Wacker's rammer will be on demonstration along with the newest member of its VP range of vibratory plates (stand 406).



Revolutionary hand tools

On the hand tools front, Norton's "revolutionary" Mini-Clipper block pavior saw will be launched on the Saint-Gobain Abrasives stand (J118), which will also host the new Modulo CST masonry saw and three of the latest Clipper drill rigs. Other "revolutionary" products on show will be two new petrol powered, chain-based concrete cutting saws (the 613GC and 633GC) and the LP6500 pedestrian controlled double drum roller on the Redband stand (201).

The Makita stand at SED 2003 (557) will see the first exhibition for two new products - the HM1304/1 heavy duty breaker and the four-stroke EM43402 brush cutter - as part of what it says will be a "huge display". FEIN Power Tools will also exhibit its range, including its electric/pneumatic pipe saws, as well as demonstrating its oscillating tool range (stand 172).

A range of power tools and attachments will be seen on the DeWalt Power Tools stand (244): this will include a pair of mitre saws, a self-levelling laser and a new range of hammers and breakers. Meanwhile, Peterborough-based Hammertech (stand 63A) will use SED 2003 to launch the first models in a range of "revolutionary" excavator mounted hydraulic breakers.

The show will also see the launch by Arrowhead Rockdrill of its Urban 6T and 10T hydraulic breakers on to the European market (stand J132A). Two new models of demolition and sorting grabs for 6-13t excavators will be exhibited by NPK (stand 124), while a comprehensive selection of Mantovanibenne hydraulic attachments (along with crawler undercarriage attachments, Metalogenia bucket teeth and Avon rubber tracks) will be exhibited on the Inmalo stand (13). The MK210 and MK250 breakers will be presented on the Sullair Europe stand (2), and buckets and attachments for loaders from Ulrich Attachments will be represented on stand 168.

Last year's innovative tiltrotator will again be on show on the Engcon stand (15), while more conventional quick-hitch and attachment systems will be exhibited by Geith (stand 221A) and Hill (stand 246). The Whites Material Handling stand (H75) will witness the launch of the "revolutionary" Klac Coupler System for mini-excavators.

Finally, a range of complementary services will also be on offer. SED 2003 will see the launch of an Anti-Theft and Insurance Advice Centre from theft deterrent specialists Thiefbeaters and Lincmaster (stand 137), and specialist asset finance company Sovereign Finance will be found on stand 186.

The National Construction College (stand 205) will provide information on all its courses as well as putting its students through their paces on a demonstration plot. And last but not least, the Lighthouse Club's stand (600) will witness not just a collection of nostalgic kit but also the chance to own one - as long as you bid high enough for the 60-year-old Caterpillar R4 that will be up for auction. n