NCE 2005: a class act except for visitors
THE inaugural National Construction Exhibition (NCE) 2005 was no doubt a world class show. The only dampener – expressed by several exhibitors – was the lower than expected visitor numbers. The Sydney show did get off to a slow start but appeared to have picked up somewhat later on.
John Gorton, Reed Exhibitions’ director, industrial, said that for a first-time event, NCE 2005 was an extremely strong exhibition, with the potential to become a truly national show. Initial unaudited visitor figures provided by the organisers showed that a total of 5,143 visitors came through the doors, with 85 per cent from NSW. Visitor numbers from outside the state included approximately 250 from Victoria, 210 from Queensland, 100 from New Zealand and 125 from other overseas countries.
Case Construction exhibited a revolutionary tracked backhoe – the first of its kind in the world. Case engineer, Larry Johnson, who was part of the team that developed the tracked backhoe, sais it was designed to add versatility to the loader backhoe line. “During ConExpo – the US exhibition at which the unit made its first appearance – contractors told us the unit looked like it would provide significant advantages in all types of applications, particularly where low ground pressure was required.”
The tracks result in less compaction and improved flotation and traction, which in turn mean less site damage, improved manoeuvrability and an increased working season because it is easier to work in wet conditions.
The tracked backhoe concept has been considered several times over the years, but only moved to the stage of a physical prototype just prior to ConExpo. The concept unit was fabricated over approximately six months. The project is now being evaluated in light of the positive feedback from ConExpo, with a production date yet to be set.
For marketing director, Karen Erenstrom, Layher’s Advance Guardrail System was the highlight of the German company’s exhibits. The system offers an effective way of preventing scaffolders falling during erection and dismantling of scaffolds. It works with any 48.3 mm tube system and is lightweight enough to be operated by one person. WorkSafe Victoria recently issued a Guidance Note for Fall Prevention for Scaffolders which recommends the use of the sequential method. This method has already been endorsed in Europe on the recommendation of Layher, said to be the world’s largest producer of system scaffolds.
Ammann Australia (Conplant ) gave visitors a sneek peek at some of their 2006 releases. One of them was the AV 100 articulated tandem roller which is based on two frames connected by double joint enabling a crab steering of 160 mm to both sides. The power train is situated in the rear frame and the double pump system drives both drums independently.
Also coming is the AP 240 H hydrostatic pneumatic tyred roller which boasts a new modular frame architecture. The main frame houses a water tank, operator position and engine plus a 3m3/14t removable ballast space that can be quickly filled and emptied. Drive power is transmitted via hydraulic circuit from a 74 kW Cummins engine.
Volvo Construction Equipment (CE) mounted a classy exhibit – a scaled down version of their mega stand at ConExpo in the US earlier this year. On display was the ECR short swing radius compact excavators with counterweights that turn entirely within their own track widths. The 5.5t ECR58 has a digging depth while the largest model, 8t ECR88, offers a digging depth of 4.87m.
Volvo CE’s L60E, L70E, L90E and L110E wheel loaders are now being offered with longer booms to be able to dump into the new generation of extra high-sided trucks or while feeding hoppers. The new booms offer between 420 mm and 520 mm of additional reach and dump ability and are suited for use with larger buckets.
Trimble had a carefully laid out stand which took visitors through the various stages from design through grading control. The Trimble GCS family of grade control systems provide upgrade options that deliver earthmoving contractors with the flexibility to select a system that meets their daily needs. Trimble also demonstrated their new version of RealWorks Survey software for surveyors and engineers that leverages the rich point-cloud data set provided by today’s advanced 3D laser scanners.
Trimble’s site positioning system is designed to provide the contractor with the tools for tracking, reporting, validating and controlling workflow from the receipt of initial designs to the completion of as-built measurements on a jobsite.
The system is engineered to deliver day-to-day functionality such as on-site surface modelling, volume computations, rapid site measurement from vehicles and trucks, real time stakeout with cut and fill checks anywhere on the jobsite, and the ability to validate, check and distribute data to machines on the jobsite.
The father and son team of Brian and Damien Carpenter demonstrated the Geocast 3 machine which can excavate and build a concrete wall in a single pass. The unique laser-guided machine can build a 300 mm wide, 6m deep retaining wall within 50 mm of an adjacent structure. The company is in advanced talks with Caterpillar for a possible mass manufacturing deal.
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15-May-2007