News

Volvo Penta and Sandvik are co-operating on engine supply. Under the terms of the deal, Volvo Penta and Sandvik Mining and Construction have an agreement intended to boost the long-term competitiveness of Sandvik products. With rapid advances in technology and emission legislation, not only the choice of technology but also the choice of engine supplier has become an important issue for equipment manufacturers for the construction industry.

Ammann’s new range of lightweight tandem rollers includes 13 models with operating weights from 1.2-4.5tonnes. A dedicated 4.5tonne model at the top of the range avoids the need to add ballast to smaller models to increase their operating weights. With better integration between Yanmar engine and Rexroth hydraulic system components, Ammann said the new models can operate at lower engine rpm without compromising on compaction performance. The result is improved fuel efficiency and lower working noise level

Hyundai used INTERMAT to show its 22tonne hybrid excavator – the 220LC-9. Designed and developed in-house with electric components from the company’s electronics division, the Hybrid 220LC uses an electric motor for its slew functions, enabling a smaller engine to be fitted.“This combination means we can use a four-cylinder 98kW engine in the hybrid compared to a six-cylinder 118kW engine in the conventional R220LC-9,” explained Hyundai product engineer Joachim Van de Perre.

Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) has a new president and CEO in Moriyaki Kadoya, who started at HCME at the beginning of April, 2012. This is the second time that he has worked for the manufacturer in Europe. Speaking at the launch of seven new machines on the firm’s INTERMAT exhibition stand, Mr Kadoya said the European market remains important for Hitachi, with signs of recovery in many countries.

Chinese manufacturer Zoomlion will have a full range of CE-marked flat-topped tower cranes by the middle of next year. Following its buy-out of JOST’s flat top crane technology in 2011, Zoomlion is planning to market CE-marked range of 20 tower cranes. The first to market is the mid-sized T320-16, which was launched at INTERMAT. This will shortly be followed by a small-sized crane and then by the extra small crane at the end of the year, with the full range becoming available by June 2013

Lombardini, part of the Kohler Group, used INTERMAT to reveal its latest KDI engine series that meets forthcoming emissions regulations without the need for a diesel particulate filter. The KDI series – Kohler Direct Injection – currently includes a 1.9-litre three-cylinder, and four-cylinder 2.5litre engines. A larger 3.4litre engine will follow. Without a DPF, Lombardini said service intervals are 500hours, extendable to 750hours depending on application – an improvement of up to 350hours compared to a DP

With the market launch of the new H series, there are now five compactors including the H18i, H18iP, H20i, H20iP and H25i. These models have an operating weight of 18, 20 and 25 tonnes. The ‘i’ in the name stands for intelligent emission control and reflects the fact that these machines are powered by a future-proof internal combustion engine with ‘Tier 4’ technology. The frame construction and engine cover design provides an unobstructed view of the surface to be compacted. The operator spends his working

Terex launched three compact excavators at INTERMAT – a micro TC10 and the reduced radius TC15 and TC19. All three have been developed in co-operation with an Italian manufacturer. The TC10, which weighs just 1 tonne, has a travel width of 760mm, allowing it to pass through a standard doorway. Hydraulically extending track frames offer a digging width of 990mm for maximum stability.

Hamm has launched the smallest combination roller in the HD CompactLine roller range, the HD10C VT1m. With a working width of just a metre and weighing 1.5tonnes, the new model is being launched with a permanent all-wheel drive as standard.

The Power Curber 5700-C series has been engineered and designed to provide customers with an easy-to-operate, reliable and productive machine, which the company claims is the number one seller. The 5700-C is compact, providing the operator with an excellent view of the concrete as it exits the mould and any activity around the machine. A direct drive high torque auger conveyor is preferred to a conveyor belt, providing faster movement of concrete regardless of the incline of the conveyor.

More than 200 companies are preparing to take part in INTERMAT Middle East being held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from October 8-10 2012. Guy Woodford spoke to the ambassador of the UAE to France and senior figures in three exhibiting companies about the significance of the event and what they are looking to achieve through it.

Swedish firm Combi Wear Parts is aiming for a bucket-load of new business by showcasing its wide range of bucket protection products at INTERMAT. “Our biggest sales market is in Germany followed by the US,” said Niclas Wechselberger, the company’s marketing manager. Wechselberger said many companies are using their products, including teeth and lip, side and heel shroud protectors, on construction machines engaged in dredging applications.

Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) is evaluating demand for its ZH200 Hybrid excavator in Europe. The 20 tonne excavator, which is already sold in Japan, uses a hydraulic/electric swing motor to generate electrical power under braking, which is stored in a capacitor alongside the machine’s cooling pack. The electrical power is used to boost slew speed and also feeds a secondary hydraulic motor, to assist the diesel engine when there is a demand for hydraulic power.

Liebherr’s new Mobilmix 2.5 is a container-mounted mixing plant system developed for large construction sites. This plant offers a capacity of 110m3/hour of compacted concrete and is designed for mobility. The plant’s components are housed in modular containers that can be easily transported and linked together on-site. Once erected, the container modules form a weather-proof structure that can be equipped with additional insulation for use in severe climatic conditions.