Features

Exports are crucial to XCMG’s growth and its aim to becoming a dominant player in the worldwide construction machinery market – Mike Woof writes One of China’s biggest construction equipment manufacturers, XCMG has a high profile, and particularly in the country’s home market. XCMG is a leader in key equipment categories such as concrete pumping and lifting technologies. The firm’s 4,000tonne crawler crane introduced two years ago has already proven its worth in a massive industrial construction appl

The Manitowoc Group is introducing new Potain tower cranes and Grove rough terrain cranes to the Chinese market at bauma China 2014. The two new topless tower cranes come from Manitowoc’s Potain brand and are products of the firm’s Zhangjiagang plant in China. Earlier this year the facility also celebrated the delivery of its 5,000th crane since production began in 2006. Meanwhile from the Grove range of mobile cranes will be the latest RT890E rough-terrain crane. Both machines will be on the firm’s booth a

SANY president Wenbo Xiang is confident for the firm’s future as a major international player - Mike Woof reports One of China’s biggest and most powerful companies, the SANY Group is looking to further expansion.

Zoomlion is confident of future growth in its share of the world market for construction machines - Mike Woof writes

The Wirtgen Group is exhibiting a wide range of its latest machines for the local market at bauma China 2014 in Shanghai. The firm is showing 11 innovations and no fewer than 13 products manufactured locally at the Langfang factory for the Chinese market, from its Road and Mineral Technologies divisions. There are 38 exhibits in total from the Wirtgen Group’s Wirtgen, Vögele, Hamm and Kleemann brands that are tailored to meet Chinese requirements. The Wirtgen brand is exhibiting its powerful WR 250 reclaim

A prototype of SANY’s new 40 tonne SAT40 articulated dump truck (ADT) is set to be a star attraction among hauler models at bauma China 2014. Powered by a 350kW MTU engine, SANY says the model will initially be available domestically before being made available to foreign markets next year. The 45tonne model is set to be followed by 35tonne and 20tonne SANY ADTs. Zhichun Cao, deputy general manager of SANY Group and general manager of SANY Mining Equipment, said: “This is the first ADT for us and it mean

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.

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.”

Mario Gasparri, head of the CNH Construction Equipment business for its new Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) business region, outlines his and the Group’s immediate and long-term priorities “The creation of Fiat Industrial by bringing together the three businesses of CNH, Iveco and FPT Industrial has resulted in a business operating on a vast scale: Fiat Industrial is one of the top three global groups in the capital goods industry. Because of the large scale of Fiat Industrial and the huge scope of our b

Roz Buick, vice president Heavy Civil Construction at Trimble, has highlighted some key technology introductions from the firm. The GCS Flex system is an important introduction for Trimble and Buick explained, “The idea is to install a less complex system. We want to attract customers from the smaller contractors.” Comparatively low cost for a machine-control system, the basic GCS Flex package offers entry-level 2D technology and it can be upgraded to what Buick calls a ‘2½D’ system.

A group of senior executives from Caterpillar spoke to journalists in a round table discussion, providing insight into the company’s future direction. Giving key talking points were: Rob Charter, vice president Excavation Division; Paulo Fellin, vice president, Global Construction and Infrastructure; Mary H Bell, vice president of Building and Construction Products; and Karl Weiss, vice president Earthmoving Division.

Market conditions are tough, according to Jean-Claude Fayat, executive managing director of the Fayat Group. He said, “From my point of view this crisis is not over. We have a slow recovery but this is a structural crisis and a new balance has to be found.” Despite the difficult conditions, the company is performing well and Fayat said, “Our group turnover is around €3.7 billion/year. We are a family group and we have never wanted to be on the stock exchange.” The European market has become less important