SED review 2006 - Site equipment zone: Well equipped

At SED's main Site Equipment Zone there was plenty to see as usual, with new equipment everywhere you looked. Dan Gilkes was there to report on the action.

Site dumpers, tracked excavators, compact loaders, telehandlers and compaction equipment – this year’s show really did have something for everyone.

Thwaites was one of a number of site dumper manufacturers displaying a 10t capacity machine. An evaluation model was on show, equipped with a Perkins 1104C-44TA turbocharged and aftercooled engine providing 97kW (30% more power than the 9t unit). Power is transmitted through a JCB powershuttle transmission and Dana Spicer axles running on wider tyres – although within a 2.5m transport width – and a folding ROPS frame reduces transport height.

The 10t Alldrive model uses new chassis elements, the rear section being more than 100mm deeper in profile than on the 9t model. Lengthening the front chassis keeps the skip and centre of gravity as low as possible, maximising the operator’s visibility over the load. The 10t Alldrive should be available by the fourth quarter of the year.

Neuson Kramer has also added a 10t dumper – in fact the 10001+ has a capacity of 10.1t just to get ahead of the rest of the market. Based on the firm’s 9t machine, the 10001+ is powered by a 76kW Perkins 1004 engine. Neuson’s dumper marketing manager Matthew Warren said the 10t machine will not be a threat to the lighter model. “We don’t see this losing sales from the 9 tonners,” he explained.

The firm is also pushing a weatherproof cab with the 10t dumper, the option costing around £6,500. The cab is not a ROPS/FOPS structure, so it sits within the existing ROPS frame and has a rear window that opens with the engine canopy, to allow full service access.

Not to be outdone, Terex launched its own 10t machine, the PT10000, at SED. Powered by a 74.5kW Cummins motor, the dumper has a heaped skip capacity of 5,050 litres, which Terex claims is the biggest in its class. It should be available for sale by August of this year.

Having started the 10t dumper movement, Barford Construction Equipment unveiled the SKR10, a swivel-skip 10-tonner powered by a 94kW Iveco engine. The company claims its conventional tip 10t machine is selling well, offering a much cheaper alternative to a rear-tip ADT. At present, 60% of Barford’s 9t sales are for the swivel skip model, hence the development of the 10-tonner.

Spanish dumper manufacturer Ausa exhibited a redesigned 3t range, in the swivel-skip 300AMG and the forward-tip 300AM. The firm has opted for mechanical transmission (hydrostatic machines are seen as too expensive for the UK market) and Kubota engines are used throughout. Not wanting to be left too far behind, Ausa has plans for a 9t forward-tip dumper, to be launched by the end of this year.

Mini excavators
It’s not all about site dumpers of course and mini excavators are always going to be popular. JCB and Caterpillar both exhibited their recently introduced zero tailswing models and there were two new reduced tailswing minis to be seen on the Ammann Yanmar stand.

The new SV15 and SV17 replace the B15 and B18, although both lines will be produced together for the following year. They are aimed primarily at the UK plant hire market, their modular build allowing a variety of boom lengths and configurations. All models share the same boom castings at the main boom pivot point, the end of the main boom and both ends of the dipper arm. However, the square box section connecting the castings can be a variety of lengths to suit customer requirements.

Hyundai used the show to launch its conventional boom Robex 80-7 and the offset boom Robex 75-7 to the UK. Weighing 8t and 7.5t respectively, the machines feature engines from Yanmar and Mitsubishi. The 80-7 has a full-size cab, similar to much bigger models in the range, while the 75-7 tops the reduced tailswing line-up.

A tracked excavator specifically for the UK plant hire market, EC135B, was displayed by Volvo Construction Equipment. The machine is based on the high specification EC140BLC, but is better suited to the needs of the UK hire sector. The operating weight has been lowered to 13.8t, hose rupture valves are deleted on boom and dipper cylinders, and the hammer shear circuit is also consigned to the options list. However, the machine retains climate control air conditioning, quick fit hydraulics, a Miller Bug quick coupler and a full set of vandal guards.

“We’ve examined the competition very carefully and believe this new bespoke model in the 14t sector will give us and customers in segments such as rental, the edge to compete more effectively in a highly competitive area of the market place,” said sales director John Lines.

Taking the mini excavator market by surprise was Takeuchi, which unveiled a prototype electric version of its popular TB016 mini excavator at the show. Called the TB016E, the 1.5t machine is powered by Manganese Lithium Ion batteries sitting in a pack behind the operator’s seat. Takeuchi said the machine takes three to four hours to charge fully and will then work for an eight-hour shift, free of emissions of any kind, making it ideal for internal operation. The TB016E should be for sale sometime in 2007 and, at current rates, Takeuchi said the running costs would be approximately 10% of a diesel machine. There is no news on purchase prices.

Kubota exhibited an extended mini excavator range, including the new KX080-3, an 8t model that will be on sale by August. The machine is powered by Kubota’s V3800DI direct injection engine and uses the firm’s Intelligent Control System to prioritise hydraulic flow. The company claims the KX080-3 is the first machine of its size to offer adjustable maximum flow on its auxiliary circuit, to drive powered attachments.

The KX080-3 features a key-based antitheft system. Without the individually programmed key, the fuel, hydraulic and electrical systems are fully immobilised and any attempt to start the machine will activate an alarm.

Also demonstrating a new model was French manufacturer Mecalac. Its 712MC is an 11t tracked model powered by a 75kW Deutz engine that will be available from September. Mecalac claims the machine offers the power of an 11t excavator, yet has the compact dimensions of a midi machine.

There was “enormous interest” in the Blade Runner on the New Holland stand. Communications manager Jeanne Langton said: “We had an unprecedented number of enquiries from potential customers, several of whom wanted to take the show machine immediately. The Blade Runner will be demonstrated around the country and prospective customers will be given the opportunity to operate it themselves, and we are hopeful this will signal the green light for the machine to be released for sale in the EU.”

Wheeled excavators
Neuson also displayed additions to its excavators range. The wheeled 6503 replaces the 6502 and now features a 25km/h road speed (there will be a larger 8-9t wheeled model in the near future). Attracting interest was the firm’s smallest mini, the 935kg operating weight 803 powered by a 13.7kW Yanmar diesel engine. It has a 1,731mm maximum digging depth, a dig radius of 3,074mm, and comes with an adjustable track that widens from 700mm.

Also on the stand was Neuson’s new mini 1404, a 1.5t machine specifically designed for the hire sector. It features a wider cab, a Yanmar engine and comes with the option of adjustable width tracks.

Two importers of Chinese excavators exhibited a selection of CE marked minis and full size crawler machines at SED. Sany offers 6t to 50t machines, with a 21t crawler model arriving first to these shores. The machines are being imported by Harlow-based Transart, which is also bringing in a range of 22m-72m concrete pumps that can be mounted to various European truck chassis.

Joliet Technology is importing the Yuchai brand of compact machines. There are seven excavators from 1.5t to 13.5t in the Yuchai line. However, director Paul Brown said there will be a 25t machine coming in the next couple of months. The machines use Perkins and Cummins engines and Brown said 50 have been sold in the UK already. He has 12 dealers for the Yuchai brand so far, but is looking for a total of 30 across the UK, with a sales plan of 300 machines in the first year. Brown said the machines offer a substantial price advantage over more well known excavator brands.

Bobcat displayed examples of its new range of articulated wheeled loaders, which will run alongside the skid steers and the all-wheel steer loaders. The three articulated machines use Kubota diesels with limited slip differentials to ensure traction in all ground conditions. The AL275, AL350 and AL440 have heaped bucket capacities of 0.65m3, 0.80m3 and 1.0m3 respectively, with operating weights of 3.9t, 4.8t and 5.7t.

Also on offer was a three-year interest free purchase and operating lease for the firm’s latest 1.3t mini – the 319. The package includes delivery to site, three standard buckets and a three-year warranty. “The launch of the 319 mini excavator has been very successful and the new finance schemes will help to gain us more market share,” said regional manager for the UK and Ireland John Burton.

On show at Atlas Wheeled Loaders’ stand was a new compact wheeled loader – the Dutch-built Vano. There are seven compact models in the Vano 7 series, all around the 1t operating weight, and they are intended to be used as powered tool carriers. A wide range of attachments is available, as is a variety of hitches to allow the use of Avant and Digga attachments.

JLG used the show to push its telehandler range. Marketing director Malcolm Early said there had been particular interest in the low-height version of its 266 telehandler, dubbed the Lo Pro, which has a new compact cabin with a height of under 2m. “It means you get inside areas others can’t, where height is restricted,” he said.

Terex unveiled two new telehandlers at SED. The Telelift 4013 has a lift capacity of 4t with a lifting height of 13m, while the Girolift 4020 can lift 4t to 19.65m. “The Telelift 4013 is in the key 13m market, where we expect to grow considerably,” said Terex Compact general manager Brian Heathcote. “The Girolift 4020 is an innovative machine in the small, but growing, rotary segment.”

Other telescopic machines benefiting from upgrades at the show, included Manitou’s MHT860L, MT1435 and MT1440. The MHT860L can handle payloads up to 6t with a lift height of 8.1m, while the MT models can both reach a height of 13.6m, with capacities of 3.5t and 4t respectively.

Bobcat’s telehandlers have also seen some changes, with an integrated front-axle levelling system and a redesigned cab and engine cover for improved visibility. More efficient exhaust and piping layouts have reduced noise levels and the engine is said to be more accessible for maintenance.

Rollers
Examples of Ammann’s latest dash-2 tandem vibratory rollers were on show. The AV12-2, AV16-2 and AV20-2 are based on a compact chassis with drum widths of 80cm, 90cm and 100cm respectively. A larger chassis forms the base for the AV23-2, AV26-2, AV32-2, AV33-2 and the AV40-2, with drum widths of 100cm to 130cm. Both the 120cm and 130cm wide rollers are available in standard and heavy versions, the heavier models are capable of greater compaction than the lighter versions, meaning that they can meet the Brown Book specifications with fewer passes.

Hamm reported strong interest in the rollers it displayed on the Wirtgen stand. The HD8 takes Hamm into the popular 800mm-wide tandem market for the first time. Powered by a Hatz water-cooled engine, the HD8 features a very low centre of gravity for high stability. Not having an 800mm roller before has led to Hamm being left out of some plant hire fleet deals, but the company is confident that it can now compete on equal terms.

Higher up the range, Hamm showed its DV90 drum steered tandem. This unusual machine has an operator’s seat that automatically rotates 180° when the operator selects forward or reverse gear, taking all of the controls with the seat. This means the operator is always looking and driving forwards, whichever way the machine is travelling.

Also in the compaction market, Dynapac unveiled the LG300 reversible plate compactor at 282kg and the LG200 at 233kg. Both plates have an operating width of 500mm, though the LG300 has an optional 600mm-wide plate. The plate compactors have very low hand/arm vibration thanks to a new handle design and improved mountings. The firm’s LT5000 rammer is also improved, with a slimmer frame, a new engine stop system and a revised air filter assembly.

It’s a similar story at Belle Group, where the firm’s RT65 rammer, now just 345mm wide, was on display and now features side protection and a central lifting point. A range of foot widths is available and Belle has now fitted Honda’s GX100 engine to the rammer. The firm also displayed the 350X low hand/arm vibration floor saw, which uses new low-vibration engine mounts to cut vibration to the frame and the handle.

Customer demand led Selwood to introduce the D150 rapid response pump set. Weighing just 1.2t, the D150 is easily towable using a van or 4x4, making it quick to get to site for emergency operation. The rapid-response pump is a halfway house between its fully open pump sets and the heavier super silenced units. The super-silenced pump runs at 62dB(A), while an open set puts out around 78dB(A). The 150mm rapid response pump emits 69dB(A), and is almost 1t lighter than Selwood’s super-silenced equivalent.

The CC1700 combi cutter on Atlas Copco’s stand is a replacement for the CC1501. The demolition shear has a central jaw pivot (rather than two on the old cutter) reducing the time taken to change jaws from universal to steel cutting from four hours to less than one hour.

The accuracy of laser and GPS systems was demonstrated by Topcon using a grader to shave a few millimetres at a time off the mounds of aggregate it had created. Its full 3D system was in action on the Marubeni-Komatsu stand thanks to the partnership the two companies have throughout Europe. While reporting interest from the visitors at the show, the company would have like to have seen some of the larger fleet owners visit its stand.

Fellow exhibitor Leica Geosystems had no such reservation, reporting plenty of interest, especially in a Yanmar excavator instrumented with a system that ‘learns’ the job. The operator does the first section manually and the system will then repeat the contour. Good levels of interest were also reported by Trimble, which was exhibiting its new entry-level GCS600 grade control for excavators and its latest 3D system the GCS900 for dozers and graders.

In addition to exhibiting its latest generation of anti-theft equipment – the ECV+ – Kosran was also keen to tell SED visitors about its deal with Caterpillar to offer immobilisers as a line-fit option on the E Series backhoe and C series mini excavators. Demonstrated on the stand, and attracting a lot of interest, was the ECV+, which, beyond immobilising the kit, sends out an alert when the machine’s engine is due for a service and indicates its location.

Mike Jordan’s racing Honda drew visitors to Pirtek’s stand, but its 400th service van was the real story – it demonstrated the breadth of service back-up the company offers through its 90 franchisees.

Its vans now carry spill kits and the company plans to double sales in five years. Using the latest mobile technology, the company said it will attend a breakdown within an hour, get the machine running again within two hours, and send an invoice within three hours.

[Contract Journal, 1 June 2006, p36-39]