Earthmoving & soil compaction

Efficient earthmoving builds new road links

February 7, 2012

Efficient earthmoving is allowing productive road construction in the Egyptian desert, Mike Woof reports. Despite ferocious desert temperatures, efficient earthmoving operations will help build new road links in Southern Egypt. Close to the Egyptian city of Assuit, the contractor Orascom is working on three key desert highway projects that will provide vital transport connections for the country's growing economy.

Wheeled loaders tackle costs, reduce emissions

February 7, 2012

Volvo CE says that lowering fuel consumption will tackle fleet costs and deliver environmental benefits for its customers, Mike Woof reports. Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is targeting fuel economy and performance with its latest generation of machines. The new L180F and L220F wheeled loader models are being fitted with the sophisticated OptiShift package, which will boost operation and driveline efficiencies and cut fuel consumption by 15%, and more in some instances.

ECT's sustainability in action

February 7, 2012

French company ECT (Enviro Conseil Travaux) has opted to take advantage of the Caterpillar Certified Power Train (CPT) rebuild service for two of its Cat 740 Ejector articulated trucks. These are the first rebuilds worldwide for articulated trucks, and both were carried out by the French Cat dealer Bergerat Monnoyeur. What you get with CPT: Restores power train to like-new performance, Covers radiator, engine, transmission, torque converter, final drive and axle, Approximately 200 tests and inspections of p

Cat machines on Russian summit site

February 7, 2012

The summit of APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) taking place on Russky Island, close to Vladivostok, Russia, in 2012 has prompted a myriad of construction projects in the area. The massive construction site includes hotels and a conference centre, airport reconstruction, highway construction and reconstruction, an opera and ballet theatre, sea facade including port structures and infrastructure, and the Eastern Bosphorus Strait Bridge (see World report, World Highways November/December 2009), which w

Long-life pumping

February 7, 2012

A Tsurumi pump is still providing good service after 22 years in the fleet of Dutch rental firm Verno, which focusese on the construction market. The LB250 submersible model, for which production stopped over a decade ago, is thought to be the longest-serving Tsurumi pump in Europe. However, Verno, says that the unit's long service record is a product of its versatility, robust design and build quality

PPP for Danish highway

February 7, 2012

Construction of the first public-private (PPP) funded highway in Denmark will see a new road in the south of the country near the German border. The Kliplev Motorway Group (KMG) is one half of Denmark's first ever PPP with the government, after winning the tender to build the highway. KMG is financing the whole project and the deal includes construction and ongoing maintenance when it is complete. KMG is the concessionary company for the project and is 100% owned by the Austrian company STRABAG, Europe's la

Winter task for Volvos

February 7, 2012

Four new Volvo L45F wheeled loaders have been supplied to Cambridgeshire County Council's highways department and deployed at four strategic depots throughout the county. The 8.5tonne wheeled loaders replace four outgoing 12-year-old loaders, and will primarily be handling and loading road gritters with rock salt during the winter months, rehandling used, crushed asphalt and other associated road laying materials as well as general yard duties. The machines have been allocated to Cambridgeshire Highway's de

Dozing performer

February 7, 2012

Case Construction Equipment is aiming two new mid-size dozers aimed at precision grading and heavy duty earthmoving applications. The larger 1650L and smaller 1150K feature high performance hydrostatic drives, which allow full power turns. The 1650L is driven by a Tier 3 compliant diesel rated at 107kW while the 1150K has the same model engine but rated at 88kW. In both cases peak torque arrives at just 1,400rpm, and has been developed for powerful low down torque characteristics, ideal for dozer applicatio

Atlas Copco's trio of new drills

February 7, 2012

Atlas Copco has launched three new heavy duty versions of its proven COP 1800 series hydraulic rock drills. The newcomers, COP 1638HD, COP 1838HD and COP 2238HD, are intended for face drilling in underground mining and tunnelling projects involving tough conditions. One of the main new features is a new side bolt design consisting of four front bolts and two at the rear. This minimises the risk of impact piston mis-alignment and secondary damages to internal parts. It also improves serviceability thanks to

Atlas Copco acquires Hartl

February 7, 2012

Atlas Copco Austria has acquired Hartl Anlagenbau, Austria, a company that manufactures and sells mobile crushers and screeners. By this acquisition Atlas Copco enters the growing mobile crushing and screening market. "The acquisition strengthens Atlas Copco's position as a leader within surface rock excavation and handling, as w