There isn’t a lot to be said about the Euro market now – but the level of launches at this trade show gives hope for us all
This year no-one was expecting a lot from Intermat. Rumors of no delegates registering to come circled, as well as the ever growing list of no-shows and firms that cancelled their stands, as listed in our news briefs column. While it was true that a number of firms were absent, visitor numbers were relatively high, better than most people expected, with delegates from our region. In fact, Case president and CEO Jim McCullough, Case president and CEO Jim McCullough noted “We’ve had an excellent turnout from our dealers and from the Middle East, in particular.”
What was most surprising about the show, perhaps has the number of new, or heavily improved products seeing the light of day. Hybrid excavators, of course, were in evidence with companies such as Hitachi determined not to get left behind as the world moves towards carbon trading and ever-more stringent pollution laws.
However, existing tech saw some refinements, with improvements to grapples and coupling from Caterpillar, while there were completely new machines from the likes of Bell, Potain and Ammann. There were even some unusual new items at the show, such as the radial rubber tracks from Solideal.
Cummins
Cummins has used Intermat as the launch-pad for three new engine series that meet interim Tier 4 and Stage IIIB emissions legislation which is being intoduced in Europe.
These include the new QSL9, 8.9litre six-cylinder diesel engine and the smaller four-cylinder QSB3.3 and QSB4.5, with capacities of 3.3litres and 4.5litres respectively.
The QSL9 diesel uses an integrated air-intake to exhaust after-treatment system that combines exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), variable geometry turbocharging (VGT) and diesel particulate filter (DPF) to achieve this clean-burn status.
The QSL9 offers power outputs from 170-283kW, with the potential to reduce fuel consumption by up to 5%.
In the lower-powered 56-119kW sector, the four-cylinder QSB4.5 and QSB3.3 engines have now reached interim Tier 4 and Stage IIIB emissions status by adopting similar technology to that employed on the QSL9.
“A cooled EGR system and particulate after-treatment unit have both been developed specifically for the four-cylinder platform,” said Steven Nendick, Cummins’ communication director.
Power ratings for the QSB3.3 extend from 56-82kW, while the QSB4.5 occupies the 82-119kW power band.
Ammann
Ammann Group says its family of articulated asphalt rollers is now complete with the new AV 70X and AV 80X models in the lightweight segment joining forces with the heavy vibratory tandem rollers AV 110X (10.5tonnes) and AV 130X (13tonnes).
The high-performance compactors are characterised by a very compact design, and are manoeuvrable and adaptable thanks to their split drum design and steplessly adjustable crab steering.
The engine is positioned at the rear of the chassis area to provide excellent servicing access, and the driver’s cab insulation affords effective protection against noise and heat.
The AV 70X has an operating weight of 7,100kg and a working width of 1.45-1.75m with amplitudes of 0.62/0.3mm and 48/63 Hz, while the AV 80X4’s operating weight is 8,000kg; working width (1.6-1.9m) and it offers the same ‘amplitudes’ of vibration as the AV 70X.
Potain Crane
Manitowoc Cranes group company Potain has launched its largest MDT topless tower crane.
The MDT368 is available in two versions. The MDT368L12 has a 12 tonne maximum lift capacity, while the MDT368L16 can handle up to 16 tonnes. The company has also patented a folding jib design on the cranes, which is said to make life easier for contractors in certain construction applications.
“Our customers like the fast erecting and dismantling times this crane series offers, and we have included those capabilities on the MDT368,” says senior tower crane product manager Carlos Monteiro “But because of the applications the larger crane is designed for, we’ve also built in some interesting new features including a folding jib, which is perfect for applications such as constructing cooling towers on nuclear power stations.”
The folding jib helps with one of the big problems when building cooling towers, which is dismantling the crane once the cooling tower is complete. Because of the radius of the cooling tower it is often not possible for crane companies to “climb down” the crane without the jib hitting the tower. The folding jib on the MDT368 provides a solution to this problem.
In addition, the 21.7m counterjib, which is too long to be transported on a normal road trailer, can also be folded Maximum jib length on both versions of the crane is 75mm with a maximum under hook height of 93.7m. There are a choice of trolleys and hoist for both models.
Solideal
Track and tyre manufacturer Solideal is using Intermat to make its first ever foray into the market for radial tyres with the launch of its new Solideal Radial General Purpose (SRGP) range.
“Our heritage has been in solid tyres and then in cross plys for material handling, but for some applications radial tyres are better,” explained Kurt Verbrugge, OEM sales director.
“In construction environments, for example, radial tyres are often used to provide longer tyre life and for rougher applications.”
Accordingly, the SRGP range, which incorporates five models from 17.5R25 to 29.5R25, is designed for use in the construction sector on wheeled loaders, articulated dump trucks and graders, among other machines. “We’re also targeting ports and container handling operations,” added Verbrugge.
Also new at Intermat is the company’s Hauler SKS2 tyre designed specifically for skid steer loaders. Better grip and reduced vibrations are the claimed benefits of the new design.
Another innovation comes in the form of the Solideal OTT, a track designed to be mounted over existing tyres on skid steer machines. “It’s another option in our portfolio for those who use the machines to go into wet or muddy environments,” said Verbrugge.
The company has also updated its track offerings for construction machines under 14tonnes with its new Triple S range. “The chassis vibrations of the machine are cut by up to 80% compared to conventional tracks,” said Vincent Van Houtte, marketing product manager, construction tyres. “Triple S thus minimises the harmful effect of vibrations and noise on the driver’s health and lengthens the lifecycle of the machine’s wear parts.”
Solideal is also launching its CTL tracks for tracked compact loaders. Made of natural rubber, high-strength steel wire and Crossfix links, the tracks – manufactured in joint-free circular moulds to meet the requirements of their working environments – are designed to reduce vibration, be self-cleaning and improve flotation and traction.
Cat grabber
Caterpillar has unveiled a demolition version of its 328D LCR excavator and claims that it is the world’s first short tail swing excavator aimed at this market.
The machine has already proved popular in the tunnelling and urban sewer construction markets but is now available with specific demolition equipment.
“The machine is very stable due to the size of the undercarriage that it is fitted with,” said Caterpillar tunnelling and demolition consultant Michel Jenny. “The unit has a specially developed demolition front end and added protection to help it meet the demand for urban demolition applications.”
Jenny explained that the need for such a machine was raised by the European Demolition Association’s meeting in Istanbul last year. “Many of the contractors talked about the challenges of carrying out demolition in restricted spaces, especially after earthquakes when access can be limited,” he said.
The 328D LCR can be specified with a demolition boom and a single or two-piece stick to give it a 14m reach. In two-part configuration, the machine can operate an attachment up to 3tonnes. With a three-piece arm, it can operate a 2.6tonne attachment, unless a blade is fitted, which allows the operating weight to be 3tonnes.
“The machine is perfect for use with the hydraulic quick coupler CW45 or the multi processor MP20,” said Jenny.
Bell Truck
Bell Equipment has unveiled its new 45tonne articulated dump truck at Intermat.
The company said that the B45D has been designed from scratch and fills a gap in the quarrying market.
“The B40 is a well-balanced machine that is popular with the quarry market and the B50 is a mining machine, but there is a need in some quarries for a slightly larger ADT to cope with longer hauls,” explained Bell European managing director Marc Schürmann.
“Other manufacturers have opted to meet this demand with modified 40tonne trucks but we wanted to introduce a completely new machine based on feedback from our customers.
“The new model is based on a B50D chassis but has a wider bin than the B40D so load distribution and loading are not compromised. Operating a 45tonne machine can be more cost-effective than a 40 or 50tonne machine in some quarries.”
The machine has a low centre of gravity to improve safety and features the same diff ration and final drive as the B50D. The rod and barrel of the tip cylinders are also the same size as the larger truck. Wet disk braking and an active front suspension has also been added.
Bell said field testing has been undertaken in the UK and South Africa and Schürmann added that the company’s order book is already filling up with orders from its South African customers.
Schürmann also said the company is working on the development of a larger truck, which is “based on the ADT concept” but is aiming to take some market share of the rigid dump truck market. “We hope to bring the machine to market in one or two years and, although it is aimed primarily at mining, it will be a useful tool in high production quarries too,” he said.