Features

The grader market may be comparatively small but it is still fiercely fought and while Caterpillar holds a strong market share worldwide, other firms are also increasing their presence in the sector. John Deere hopes to capitalise on its share by installing the new G-series graders with the firm’s PowerTech, Tier 4 Final compliant engines. The engine update has also allowed engineers to install a number of other upgrades. The G-Series still includes 12 models, with power ranging from 164-214kW and six o

The wide array of crawler excavators on the global construction market has led to strong competition between suppliers, each of which is keen to stay ahead of its rivals. All the major international manufacturers are introducing new models in North America and Europe for 2014, with key performance upgrades. From Doosan comes the 22.5tonne DX225LC-3, which is said to offer increased performance and lower engine emissions and is aimed at one of the most highly competitive segments of the market. The machine

In 2014 Zoomlion-owned Cifa plans to manufacture a further 15 of its innovative hybrid Energya 8 and 9 plug-in truck mixer prototypes to add to its two existing models. The globally renowned concrete equipment sector firm also aims to sell the first of these new plug-in truck mixer models next year. Among the new machines and equipment resulting from a €2 million-a-year R&D investment in Cifa and Zoomlion products over the last five years, the Energya 8 and 9 models, the latter of which was launched at bau

Key manufacturers are introducing new excavators and ADTs featuring the latest diesel engine technology, while there are developments too in the grader sector - Mike Woof reports The start of 2014 was always going to be a key year for the construction equipment sector, given the commencement of the Tier 4 Final/Stage IV emissions regulations for North America and Europe. This phased introduction of ever tougher emissions regulations has been a long process, as well as a very costly one in terms of resear

Driveline technology continues to develop rapidly, with many manufacturers at this year’s Conexpo exhibition showing Tier 4 Final emissions solutions, along with a host of fuel saving transmissions and hydraulic systems, all aiming to reduce operating costs for the customer. However, while there was certainly a hybrid presence at the show, things haven’t perhaps moved forward as fast as many had expected.

Highway construction in the vast and varied Australasian landscape can be fraught with difficulties. Distance, extreme weather conditions and topographical challenges can all play a part in creating significant obstacles for design engineers. BarrierGuard 800, a state-of-the-art lightweight steel road safety barrier, is said to be proving invaluable in two ongoing projects setting new benchmarks for their respective regions. The US$895.7 million (AUS$1 billion) Gateway WA Perth Airport and Freight Acces

Caterpillar senior executives Edward Rapp and David Bozeman have pinpointed “systems integration” as one of the equipment giant’s future targets. Speaking at Conexpo 2014 this week, Edward Rapp, Caterpillar group president said that the introduction of Tier 4 Final engine technology has been a landmark moment for Caterpillar but added that emissions systems are not the answer in themselves to improved performance. “The secret sauce is not the Tier 4, it’s the systems integration” said Rapp.

CNH Industrial Construction Equipment is determined to expand its heavy machine lines to exploit growth opportunities in the light quarrying and infrastructure sector.

XCMG is increasing its presence in the North American market, emphasised by the fact that the machines on its stand at Conexpo 2014 are already sold. Yansong Wang is vice president and chairman for XCMG and said, “All the machines have been ordered by customers.”

Cutting-edge Sandvik Construction equipment is said to be giving ambitious Argentinian quarry firm Canteras Amadeo a commercial advantage .Starting life as a one-quarry enterprise in Córdoba, Argentina, in 1999, Canteras Amadeo is a flourishing business with additional operations in Cordoba and Santiago del Estero. Key to its success is said to be its owners’ embrace of technological improvement, and their choice of Sandvik equipment to improve their processes.

Cutting-edge Sandvik Construction equipment is said to be giving ambitious Argentinian quarry firm Canteras Amadeo a commercial advantage Starting life as a one-quarry enterprise in Córdoba, Argentina, in 1999, Canteras Amadeo is a flourishing business with additional operations in Cordoba and Santiago del Estero. Key to its success is said to be its owners’ embrace of technological improvement, and their choice of Sandvik equipment to improve their processes.

The market for milling machines is highly competitive and there is an array of firms offering equipment to the global market. German company Wirtgen is the worldwide market leader and has an enormous range of models available, but other companies too are keen to grow market share, with Caterpillar and Roadtec strong in North America and BOMAG, Dynapac and Caterpillar are also pushing hard to build share in Europe for instance. Other companies too are keen to grow their shares of global sales and several of

The award for a key stretch of the Moscow-St Petersburg highway has been awarded - Eugene Gerden writes As expected by analysts, Mostotrest, owned by the Rotenberg brothers, won the tender for the construction of the sixth and longest section of the Moscow-St Petersburg highway. Under the conditions of the tender the company will build 209km of the highway (334-543km), which will pass through the Tver and Novgorod regions of Russia. The cost of construction is 144.6 billion Rubles (US$4.51 billion), 16 bill

Shem Oirere discusses a new road connecting with a wind farm development in Kenya The African Development Bank will provide 45% of the funding needed for the rehabilitation and rebuilding of a new 200km road which leads to Africa's largest wind farm project, located in northern Kenya. The bank said the $13.5 million grant for rehabilitation of the existing Laisamis – Ngurunit – llaut - South Horr – Loyangalani road- will be provided by the Government of the Netherlands. The bank says works on the road will

Egypt is developing its road network – local reporting and images by Egypt correspondent Mohammed Elsayed Tantawy. Egypt is now gearing up its road construction activity, with a view to reducing congestion and improving traffic flow. The country’s main highway connecting capital Cairo with the port city of Alexandria has already seen a major widening programme, but other important routes are also now being upgraded and improved. The road development programme started in earnest some years ago but was delaye