SED 2008 roundup: Site Equipment Zone

The Site Equipment Zone once again greeted visitors to SED with a host of innovative new machines. These are just some of the latest models to catch the CJ/PMJ roving eye.

Plant giant Terex is assessing customer interest in the ASV range of rubber tracked loaders from the USA. With a patented undercarriage system, the ASV machines boast low ground pressure and improved operator comfort.

There are four models, the PT-30, PT-60, PT-80 and the PT-100. While the three smaller machines are designed to work with a variety of attachments, the PT-100 is primarily built for forestry work and is equipped with a mulching head and cab guards.

Chinese manufacturer Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group (XCMG) has arrived in the UK and Ireland, through Irish dealer Cannon XCMG and Hampshire operation William Wheatley. Wheatley will concentrate on the firm's range of wheeled loaders, selling throughout England as far north as Liverpool. Cannon will sell loaders in the north of England, Scotland and Ireland, as well as the full range of other XCMG machines across the UK.

Limited exports

XCMG manufactures a wide range of equipment in China, but has to date CE marked a limited number of machines for export. These include five wheeled loaders (6-30t), a motor grader and two truck-mounted cranes at 25t and 50t capacity.

Doosan Infracore has filled the gap between its successful DL400 and DL500 wheeled loaders, with the introduction of the DL450. Based on the DL500, but weighing in at 25.5t, the DL450 uses a 4.5m³ bucket and is said to be an ideal match for on-highway tippers.

Doosan has also boosted its reduced radius midi excavator range with the launch of the DX60R and the DX80R. The company had conventional midis at 5.5t and 8t, but this is its first foray into the larger reduced tailswing market. Both the new excavators come with full size cabs and air conditioning.

Takeuchi has replaced its 3.5t TB135 with the TB235 and promises faster cycle times in hard digging operations thanks to the more powerful (21.4kW) Tier IV Yanmar engine. The excavator features a larger ROPS/FOPS and TOPS certified cab that can be tilted forward for service access. Offering better visibility, more storage, an adjustable seat and optional air conditioning, the cab should prove popular with operators, though the all-glass door does look slightly vulnerable. The machine will be available from July.

Case showed a number of new machines including the 580 Super R Series 3 backhoe loader with a choice of Tier III engines. The standard machine has a mechanical injection engine offering 72kW, while the Super R+ gets high pressure common rail and electronic control. Though the electronic engine offers the same output, it has an extra 13% of torque, producing 453Nm.

Fuel saver

Case has also completed its B series excavator line-up with the CX130B. At 12.6t, this crawler machine has a Tier 3 engine producing 71kW and offers a 15% a fuel saving thanks to the common rail injection.

At the lighter end, four 1.5t Series 2 mini excavators made an appearance. There are two versions of the CX15B Series 2, with single- or two-speed tracking and with cab or canopy. The CX18B has a variable width undercarriage, and the CX17B ZTS offers variable track width and a zero tailswing.

Also showing a host of new machines was New Holland. Its upgraded B110B backhoe loader gets pilot controls and the new version of the D150B hydrostatic dozer has a more powerful that is 10% more fuel efficient.

There was also a chance for UK customers to see the E235B with New Holland's integrated noise and dust reduction system (INDR). This uses a single flow of air through the counterweight to cool the engine, reduce noise and keep dust in the cooling pack to a minimum.

Hanix reported strong interest in its prototype H08D micro excavator. The 870kg machine is powered by a Kubota engine and offers a 1.6m maximum digging depth. Despite being such a compact design the machine, which will be on sale in the fourth quarter, is equipped with servo levers to control the boom functions.

Customers for JCB's 3CX and 4CX backhoes now have a third choice when it comes to backhoe controls, with the launch of EasyControl and Advanced EasyControl. While manual control levers remain the most popular option in the UK, JCB also offers a full servo system called Advanced Precision Control that uses flow sharing hydraulics.

EasyControl combines the two by using the servo levers with the manual machine's valve block, to give the feel of the conventional machine with the relaxed driving position of servos. EasyControl machines retain a manual lever for the front loader, while with Advanced EasyControl the front loader is controlled by the right hand servo.

EasyControl is optional on 3CX and 4CX models with the 68.8kW and 74.5kW engines. Advanced EasyControl is only available on the 74.5kW versions of the 3CX Contractor and the 4CX.

Italian construction equipment maker Eurocomach was on the lookout for a UK distributor during its first appearing at SED. The company is based in Bologna and was keen to promote its range of mini excavators, backhoes and skid steer loaders at the show.

Its E245K is much like any other articulated loader but it can be fitted with a backhoe capable of digging down to 3m. Power is provided by a 37kW Kubota engine and hydrostatic drive. Fitted with a 3-in-1 bucket, the loader lifts 1.6t to 2.5m.

Gehl also has a new pivot-steer loader, to replace the Weidemann unit it offered previously. The US-built range includes models from 1.4t to 3t powered by Yanmar engines developing between 20kW and 38kW, depending on the model. The transmission is hydrostatic and hydraulic output can be varied to suit slow-speed operations.

Ammann Yanmar has developed an integrated quick hitch for its Universal Vio 50 and 57 excavators. Whereas most hitches extend beyond the normal dipper stick end, altering the machine's digging geometry, Yanmar's system uses a shorter dipper, so the bucket pin is the same as on a machine without the hitch.

Once proven on the 5t and 5.7t models, the hitch design will be extended across the whole Yanmar range.

Diesel addition

Diesel engine options have been added to the Boxer range of compact loaders launched at last year's SED by Barrus Compact Power. The 322D and the 532DX both use Kubota engines and a diesel version of the 400 series machines will be available in October. In addition Barrus has developed a remote-control option for the 532DX aimed at military and demolition applications. The machine can be used in full remote control, with a wander lead or in conventional operation.

Barrus has also added a mobile welding set, which is driven by the Boxer machines, to its range of more than 50 attachments.

Barford Site Dumpers has further extended its range of machines with the production version of the BigTrax 10, the addition of the BigJaw and a revised skip on the SK10 forward tip dumper (the SK10+) with a deeper profile and a higher front lip to increase capacity.

The BigTrax 10 is now ready for production. Riding on four large triangular tracks, the machine offers low ground pressure for access in the worst site conditions. Following testing, Barford reengineered last year's prototype machine with a hydrostatic box and has since completed more than 760 hours of operation, moving in excess of 16,000t of material. Managing director Niall Wordsworth says the system may be made available on smaller models in the future.

Barford is also using the 10t chassis as a mobile power source, by mounting a crusher attachment on the front chassis section. The BigJaw has a hydraulically-driven helical crusher that can process around 30-55t/hr with a variable jaw size offering finished product of 15-200mm. Aimed at demolition and small groundworks applications, the BigJaw can be loaded with material before the crusher is activated, so can carry the material across a site prior to crushing.

NC Engineering (Hamiltonsbawn) has joined the 10t site dumper market with the ST10. The machine is powered by a JCB 444T Dieselmax engine and drives through a powershuttle transmission. NC has also added a 1.5t high tip model driven by a Deutz water cooled engine and hydrostatic transmission.

Latest addition to the Thwaites offering is a 1.5t powerswivel dumper, which will be available from November. The machine is powered by a Yanmar diesel engine and drives through a hydrostatic transmission.

Cabbed dumpers proved big attraction on Neuson stand with one customer ordering a 9t unit (the 9001) and three 10t units (the 10001+) all with cabs. The company's latest 6t unit was also on show alongside its range of skid steers.

SED hosted the UK debut for a battery-powered tracked dumper. Built in Italy, the

Hinowa HS400 mini dumper uses a 12V battery and 2kW electric motor to provide the muscle in place of the petrol engine usually found on mini-dumpers.

Main advantage of this is said to be that the unit can be used in confined spaces without choking the operator with exhaust gases and is very quiet. Load capacity is 300kg or 0.12m³ and the unit will squeeze through an 800mm wide doorway. The HS400 will run flat-out for six hours and recharges in three from a conventional 13Amp socket. It is available in self-loading or high-tip lift versions and prices start from £6,500.

Expanding

UK auger manufacturer Auger Torque celebrated its 10th anniversary at the show and is moving to new premises that are three times the size of its existing site in Cheltenham, Gloucester. It has a new range of augers for 3-5t mini excavators (the 3000, 3500 and the 4500 Max), with larger gearboxes to produce hole diameters up to 900mm and drilling depths of 3-4m.

HPC Kaeser has replaced its Mobilair M12 compressor with the M13 and the M17. Both models are easy to transport with quiet operation, and the M17 boasts a 15 bar maximum working pressure. The compressors are powered by an air cooled Honda petrol engine, to keep weight to a minimum.

Concrete breaking could become a whole lot safer with GenSet's low-pressure system. The lightweight Sullair Pac 80 uses a Honda petrol engine and compressor to pump out just 1.4 bar of pressure.

That means the breaker itself is of lightweight aluminium construction and the danger of high-pressure blow-outs is gone. Additionally, it doesn't freeze up in cold weather and, because vibration levels run at just 4.5m/sec², it can be used for up to eight hours.

Looking more like a human cannon, the Dust-Fighter also pulled in the crowds at GenSet's stand. It's the latest weapon from the US to tackle dust problems on site and is claimed to be able to fire a mist of water up to 70m.

A fan provides a tornado-strength blast of air and nozzles around the outlet spray water into the airstream. This almost atomises the droplets, which is said to ensure they travel cover the whole site with a fine, even mist.

EasyCabin, a subsidiary of UK Generators, took the opportunity to exhibit an eco-friendly site cabin - the EasyCabin Solar. This uses the sun's rays to provide power for lighting, heating and hot water in the main mess-room/kitchen, toilet and drying-room. Solar panels on the roof charge 12V batteries and a methanol fuel cell provides back-up power. At approximately £24,000, it commands a 20% premium over the company's standard road-towable welfare units (although running costs are lower) and can be supplied in 3.6m and 4.8m lengths.

Plant hire company Speedy Pumps is now offering 4' and 6' bentonite pump for use in the piling industry across the UK. The firm has also taken on the PT90 dewatering pump. This German machine is said to run for up to 15 days on one bunded tank of diesel.

Bobcat celebrated its 50th birthday at SED displaying two of its latest mini excavators, a man platform and its compact telehandler, the T2250.

The new E08 and E10 minis have a 1.82m dig depth and measure 710mm wide while and the tracks can be expanded to 1m and 1.1m (respectively) for stability when operating. Its new man basket attachment is fitted with a load indicator and remote controls and has a 500kg maximum capacity capable of carrying three people.

'Three machines in one' is how Bobcat describes its T2250: a telehandler capable of lifting loads to 5.2m an articulated loader capable of lifting 2.2t and a skid steer loader able to carry one of twenty attachments.