lmost 100 of the exhibitors at Intermat 2006 gathered in Paris recently to give the trade press a preview of what will be on show in April at what is probably the world’s largest construction equipment trade show for this year. Leading the way was Caterpillar with a over 20 new machines comprising introductions to their ranges of mini and compact excavators, backhoe-loaders, excavators, wheel loaders and scrap handlers. Throughout, the cabs have come in for further refinement.
They tend to be more spacious, with larger glass panels for improved visibility. The highlights include the 301.6C, 301.8C and 302.5C – three new C-Series mini-excavators. These models feature a dozer blade float function and more powerful Mitsubishi engines to gives a significant increase in breakout force. Another benefit of the new engines is extended service intervals.
The 303C CR, 304C CR and 305C CR are replacements for the current compact radius machines. The range has been further enhanced with a 3.7t model, the 303.5C CR. Again, a Mitsubishi engine gives increased performance and reduced servicing needs. The E-Series backhoe loader has been given many minor modifications such as adjustable work lights to the front and rear, better grouped service points and a larger cab, improvements to hydraulics and the option for the operator to change from ISO to DIN pattern with the pilot controls.
The range now benefits from the addition of the 343E and 444E models – two new equal-sized wheel models. By contrast, has only issued news of one new model at Intermat, the CX700, which, with the new Tier III engine package actually has performance characteristics almost equal to the larger CX800, until this mode is upgraded. The new model can be configured as a standard or mass excavator.
Case claim that the new model offers the highest output of any similar sized machine currently available. The company was non-committal on other introductions, which usually means that there will probably be other announcements at the show.
JCB sales managing director, Francoise Rausch said “Intermat promises to be a very busy show for JCB with the introduction of new machines across the compact and heavy lines.” So far, JCB has announced the JCB 8040ZTS and JCB 8045ZTS mini excavators, the JS190 and JS330 tracked excavators, the JS 175W wheeled excavators and the 426 and 436 wheel loaders. Once again, the focus is very much on the cab, with the new wheel loaders featuring a cab 50 per cent bigger than previous models. Showing that “life goes on” despite the ongoing recession in the German market, will use the event to unveil a new generation of wheel loaders to replace the existing range of models with tipping loaders of over 15t. The new models will deliver more power, improved driver comfort and additional safety features. As with many of the new introductions from all manufacturers, the enhancements are a direct result of the introduction of the more fuel efficient, electronically controlled Tier III engines. However, it is also interesting that many manufacturers are continuing to introduce new models with Tier II engines. Liebherr is pushing its Tier III engine technology.
Also new from Liebherr will be two new models to the Litronic wheeled excavator range and the premier of the R944 C Litronic crawler excavator. They claim this to be totally new concepts. The new model can be configured in various ways to give an operating weight for the 944 ranges from 37.8t to 42.7t. In other divisions, Liebherr is to introduce a 40t mobile crane – the LTM 1040-2.1 – with a 35m telescopic boom, a new 160t. mobile crane – the LTM 1150-5.1, which is a successor to the earlier model.
At 62m, the telescopic boom is 6m longer than on the pervious models and lifting capacity is increased by as much as 30 per cent. The EC-B Flat-Top tower cranes make their debut on the Liebherr stand. The completely new series of cranes with no upward-projecting tower comprises 13 models with ratings from 50t to 280t. Manitowoc will be competing with new cranes from Grove AT and RT mobile cranes and Potain tower cranes. New Holland is to unveil a completely new range of compact tool carriers to replace the current series of compact wheel loaders. By configuring the new series as tool carriers, which share the same attachments as the company’s skid-steer loaders, New Holland is trying to open up the market demand for these versatile work units.
Latest seat technology
Although is introducing wheel loaders with a longer boom option and an entirely new family of motor graders, the company is emphasising the development of additional options to enable customers to better spec their machines. For instance, the BL70 backhoe loader can be specified with excavator pilot controls positioned on control columns that are also fully adjustable. Other options include protective equipment to increase durability in tough applications such as recycling operations. “CareTrack” is a remote monitoring system, which Volvo says will revolutionise contractors’ operation management of machines in the field. The new system involves an interactive exchange of information over a wireless network. This enables precise monitoring of machine performance out in the field. Where machines are located in remote areas, this should assist in better diagnostics and prior to a service engineer visiting the machine.
Another introduction that will appeal to contractors and operators of all mobile equipment is the latest seat technology from Sears. The new VMS seat monitors and logs vibrations to the operator. The system can be modified to suit different requirements. It can simply log vibrations for download to a computer or it can also store information on a memory card/stick with which the operator can log into different machines. Sears is claiming that its other seats; the VEMS (an OEM fit seat) and VRS (retrofit solution) reduce vibrations to the operator to well below the requirements of the European Union directive on whole body vibration.
They also claim to be the only seat manufacturer to be able to virtually eliminate vibration to the operator. are introducing a new generation of Lokotrack track-mounted mobile crushing plant. The new range will include two models with Nordberg jaw crushers and two models with impact crushers. The company is also to introduce new cone crushers and the Trellex LS300 modular screening systems. Other major players such as , , , Merlo and, of course, the newer manufacturers from Korea and China will also be vying to attract attention from the 200,000-plus visitors.
Roger Lindley, Construction Contractor’s UK-based correspondent, looks at recent developments in Europe that may impact on the Australian market.
Source: Construction Contractor