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Two of the leaders in the concrete paving sector are broadening their range of technology, with new systems now coming to the international market The concrete paving market is a niche segment of the construction equipment business, with only a few specialist firms competing. North America is the home of concrete slipforming technology and it is no surprise that all but one of the leading firms in the sector are based in the US. The technology is used worldwide however and with asphalt prices at a high, c

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.”