Showing off

At its first exhibition as an independent company, Hitachi showed the breadth of equipment it has not previously imported to Europe. On the stand was a Dutch-built 19.2t to 21.5t material handling wheeled excavator with an elevating cab as well as a concept 7t tracked dumper, which can rotate its complete upper structure. Also attracting interest was a Zaxis 80SB LC, on which the kingpost and cab move forward, giving increased operator visibility.

Fiat Kobelco displayed 36 new products including short-radius (SR) excavators, the Evolution series of tracked excavators, wheeled excavators, wheel loaders, backhoe loaders, mini excavators and telehandlers. Completing the display were examples of the company's dozers and graders.

Hydrema revealed its new 922C six-wheel articulated dump truck (ADT). According to the company the design priority was optimising the machine's power-to-weight ratio. The result is a power output of around 186.5kW and an unladen weight of less than 14t. Plus, the 922C comes with a low-ground pressure tyre as standard.

Freshly rescued from bankruptcy by Brian Thompson and Gordon Brown, Moxy Trucks exhibited a new 41t ADT, the MT41. The unit has the new rounded cab seen on the lighter trucks and the old 14-litre V8 engine has been replaced by a 330kW, 12-litre straight six. UK distribution is passing to Western Plant in Manchester, a company owned by Simon and Tina Brown, the son and daughter of the manufacturer's joint owner.

Gallmac took advantage of the flexibility of its multi-function machine to unveil the WMW115, a trenching attachment designed to facilitate work on road verges.

New machines abounded on the Liebherr stand, such as the PR734 series 4 dozers, B series crawler loaders, the 18.5t to 21t standard-class 900 C Litronic excavator and an A954 materials handler with a 1.2m tower and a lifting cab. Also on display was a new R934B VH-HD demolition machine with an 18m reach and a quick-change mounting.

On the lifting side was a new 400t mobile crane fitted with seven axles rather than eight, and a 90t capacity four-axle all-terrain unit. Further highlights included the EC-HM tower crane series with its externally-mounted cab (and remote control option) and the 130t capacity LR1130 crawler crane.

Hyundai made a big statement at Intermat with its 770-7 and 760-7 wheel loaders and -7 series Robex excavators (320LC, 360LC and 450LC). By the end of the year, the 250 LC will get the 7 series treatment too. In addition to stage 2 engines, the update includes a new viscous-mounted cab offering improved visibility. The company said the situation regarding Ernest Doe, its East Anglia dealer, is still unclear.

Komatsu used Intermat to announce a new European strategy that will result in a move away from a product-by-product approach to a country-by-country orientated strategy, aimed at centralising contacts for distributors. Komatsu Europe chairman Yoshinori Komamura said: "This will also help reduce the differences between the performance of our distributors."

The company also unveiled a host of updated machines from dozers to excavators as well as promising a range of telehandlers for September/October this year.

Caterpillar's roll out of new mid-sized dozers was illustrated by a D5N and there were examples of its new vibratory soil compactors in the 6.8t to 18.8t range. Accompanying these was an improved 345B series II ultra-high demolition excavator along with additions like the CB-534D and CB-534D XW vibratory asphalt compactors. Bitelli exhibits included the new RB4650VB screed and the SF102R and SF102CR cold planers.

In addition to showing its new generation excavators, JCB displayed its updated Loadalls including a new small unit, the 515H. New compact excavators (2t, 3t, 4t and 5t) were also on display with the latest kingpost design 8080 midi and the 20t capacity 722 ADT.

Volvo president Tony Helsham painted a relatively upbeat picture of the construction equipment market. "We see things with perhaps a greater degree of optimism than some of our competitors," he said, adding that the US market had reached the end of its decline and western Europe was returning to growth.

He also re-emphasised Volvo's aim to become the third largest manufacturer of construction equipment through a programme of continued dealer development and more new products: a range of reduced tailswing excavators is in the pipeline.

French multi-function machine manufacturer Mecalac has launched a 14t conventional excavator based on a standard wheeled or crawler chassis. The machine retains the traditional Mecalac three-piece boom, but dispenses with the company's parallelogram mounting, using instead a system of asymmetric rams to maintain performance levels at extremes of reach and height.

There was a new CX330 demolition rig with a quick-change high-reach/standard dipper arrangement on the Case stand. Other highlights were an ejector bodied ADT and the new telehandler range (12.45m, 14m and 16.6m lift heights). The company is in talks with unions regarding ending production at its Crepy-En-Valois plant.

Making a surprise appearance on the Ingersoll-Rand Bobcat stand was a prototype zero tailswing 4.5t excavator. What had been expected was the 4WD Toolcat 5600, which has a loader/attachment carrier front end and a dropside tipping rear. Also new was a pair of telehandlers - with 14m and 17m lift heights.

Upgraded 1805 and 2005 rubber ducks from Atlas were nesting on the Terex stand. Changes include an updated cab, a bolted front undercarriage that allows the blade to be replaced by front stabilisers and the nomenclature. Also on display was the latest generation 7 ADT and limited-edition Centurion Terex Fermec backhoe loaders - production of which is moving to the company's new factory in Coventry.

Merlo exhibited new 17m and 25m additions to its telehandler range. Centre stage was the Roto 40.25 KSC - a machine fitted with a new five-piece, chain-driven boom and capable of lifting 1.5t to 25m. The P40.17K has a four-piece, 17m boom and shares the same chassis and features as the 16m machines. There was also an 18m machine (P45.18K) specially adapted from the 10t industrial unit for waste handling duties and a track-mounted machine with a Roto upper structure.

The latest F156.6A motor grader graced O&K's stand. Beneath the rounded rear cover is a Stage 2 engine pushing out 118kW (against 112kW on the previous model) with torque up by more than 38% to 680Nm. Also on display were new and upgraded wheel loaders and crawler excavators sporting the latest Stage 2 engines.

Alongside its new ES series of electrical scissors, a new 15.5m boom and an uprated version of its Easi-Cladder handling system, JLG exhibited its new Triple-L trailer. The trailer base can be lowered to ground level for easy access and is then raised, remaining horizontal, for transport using an onboard battery.

Takeuchi used the show to exhibit two new models of excavator, including its largest machine - the 13t TB1135. It also launched the 2t TB20R zero-tailswing machine and showed off one of its tracked loaders.

A whole host of manufacturers from a variety of countries, not all previously associated with the production of construction machinery, used the show to try and attract new dealers.

Turkish backhoe manufacturer Hidromek is looking to introduce its 75kW, two-wheel and four-wheel steer machines into the UK and hopes to have sold the first machines within the next month. Czech roller producer STA is also looking to establish a network of dealers to sell its machines under its own name, while Chinese manufacturer Liugong is soliciting interest for its excavators and wheel loaders. n