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Volvo’s two compact hydrostatic wheeled loaders, the nine and 10 tonne L45 and L50, have been upgraded to G-series specification. It means the compact loaders get a transversely-mounted, four-cylinder D4H engine that gives 74-86kW, and drives a twin-range hydrostatic transmission with 100% locking differentials on both axles.

Case Construction Equipment has expanded its F Series wheeled loader range with the introduction of the 521F and 621F. Using a central cooling pack design and rear-mounted engine layout, Case said these two models bring new levels of performance to the loader market. With bucket capacities of 3.2tonnes and 4.3tonnes

With a bucket capacity of two cubic metres, the DL200-3 is another in the Doosan line that benefits from a stage IIIB emissions compliant engine. And with it, Doosan has taken the opportunity to freshen up the 12,200kg loader. In addition to the 118kW DL06 engine, the loader gets a new cab offering better visibility, a revised hydraulic system with load sensing, and ZF axles with limited slip differentials.

Sumitomo Construction Machinery intends to continue boosting export markets – a project that has been in hand for three years – according to vice president international sales Ichiro Shimada. “Sumitomo is dominant in Japan and we have 70% market share. But the market size is limited, maybe 400 units/year. We’re putting a lot of effort into the Chinese market,” said Shimada. Europe is another key market for Sumitomo and the firm is focussing on countries such as France, Poland and Switzerland, while it has a

Terex boss Ron DeFoe has spoken about the company’s expanded global strategy and confirmed his thoughts about the threat represented by Chinese manufacturers. “This year has started well for the Terex organisation and we are confident that our markets are moving into an extended cycle of economic growth right around the globe. As a result we are forecasting a significant growth in sales from US$6.5 billion (2011) to US$8.5 billion,” he said.

Komatsu Europe is keen to develop its customer base in developed markets by using ideas like the diesel particulate filter (DPF) exchange programme. New Komatsu Europe managing director and CEO Keiko Fujiwara explained, “When we introduced the Stage IIIB models a lot of customers were concerned about initial costs and the care required for the DPF. That’s why we decided this exclusively for our Stage IIIB customers.”

Sunward is keen to further develop its dealership coverage within Europe, which the firm sees as being crucial to increasing its sales. The company is already present in the European market and is actively boosting its profile, as Dr He Qinghua, chairman of the Sunward Equipment Group and also director of the company’s research and development centre, explained. He said, “We have some dealers in Europe and we are planning to enlarge the number of them.”

Josh Meyer, region manager for Caterpillar’s paving products in EAME territories, says the firm expects to see considerable sales growth. “The paving business is back in the mode of expansion. Even in Europe we’re starting to see growth in spending in infrastructure and growth in the paving business,” said Meyer.