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Dinggui Gao has been in post as president of Sandvik Construction since October 2013, and in that short time has travelled thousands of miles meeting customers. He and his team now have a clear idea of the company’s strategy up to 2020, a strategy that was finalised in the last quarter of last year. “To me the best value in meeting our customers is to understand their needs and understand how they operate their business,” says Gao, who is known by his initials, DG. Understood to be the first Chinese pers

Liebherr has unveiled its first Generation 6 dozer, the PR736. The hydrostatic drive machine has a service weight of 25tonnes and is powered by a 150kW engine. The driveline is electronically regulated and features an integrated eco function. The operator can choose between high performance and maximum economy, with the system automatically setting up the travel components. Proactive power control is also included on the Generation 6 machines, with travel drive settings being automatically adjusted as the o

JCB is to open a new India production factory complex as part of an ambitious global manufacturing and sales growth strategy. Speaking during JCB’s Conexpo 2014 press conference, JCB ceo Graeme Macdonald said, “We continue to invest for our future. Following the 2012 opening of our US$100 million factory in Brazil, we’re now planning to open later this year JCB’s $100 million factory complex in Jaipur – our fourth in India. It’s actually two factories, covering 700,000 square foot on a 114-acre site. It’s

Oerlikon has launched a new hybrid electric drivetrain for wheeled loaders that is predicted to reduce fuel consumption by up to 30%. The hybrid package is a complete electric driveline system. It starts with engine partner Cummins supplying its 12litre QSG engine that meets Tier 4 Final emissions regulations.

New Volvo Construction Equipment president Martin Weissburg hopes that the group’s US$160 million December 2013 acquisition of the Terex Equipment rigid and articulated hauler business will be finalised during the second quarter of 2014. It has been an important move for Volvo he said.

Sandvik Construction’s newly-developed CH540 cone crusher, the latest crusher in the series, was launched by the company at Conexpo 2014 this week. The all-new CH540, and the bigger CH550 (launched in 2013), are cone crushers that have endless combination possibilities, says Sandvik Construction, “being the perfect match for any aggregate plant or quarry looking to increase production capacity, eliminate bottlenecks, reduce operating costs, and/or to improve the quality of the end product.”

Caterpillar ceo Doug Oberhelman is cautiously optimistic that recovery in the global equipment market will continue throughout 2014. Speaking at Conexpo, Mr Oberhelman said that the company was in the best possible position to make the most of steadily growing demand, with a host of improved machines and technologies on show. “The North American market is showing the best growth signs in March that we’ve seen for four years,” he said. “This year the market is stronger, housing is better and we see a very

JCB chief executive Graeme Macdonald says the UK manufacturer’s 140% sales rise in North America since 2010 has been a “great comeback story”. “North America has been on a rollercoaster ride,” Macdonald said during JCB’s Conexpo 2014 press conference in Las Vegas this week.

Among new crushing and screening products showcased by Telsmith at Conexpo 2014 this week, a new 820 tracked screening plant was taking centre stage offering users high throughput volumes. The plant includes an 8203 Telsmith TL screen; 1,372mm feed conveyor, an 1,829mm under screen conveyor, all combined to process up to 907tonnes/hour.

Astec Industries, which is showcasing 45 pieces of equipment at this week’s Conexpo 2014, most of it new or upgraded, has outlined its plans for the future with president and CEO Ben Brock stressing that the group is going on a major export drive.

World demand for asphalt will grow by 3.6% annually until 2017, according to Cleveland market research company The Freedonia Group. This follows a decline in demand between 2007 and 2012 in North America and Western Europe, during the global economic crisis. “Gains will be driven by especially strong growth in consumption in China and other developing countries as they work to improve their transportation infrastructures,” said Freedonia analyst Mariel Behnke.

Sweden’s engcon, one of the world's leading tiltrotator manufacturers, is now increasing its efforts in the North American construction market.

SSAB has expanded its wear plate thicknesses to more closely meet the needs of its customers, the company announced at Conexpo 2014. Providing adequate thickness is a key challenge in the marketplace. SSAB says it now offers wear plate thicknesses that range from 0.7mm to 160mm.