The standard GP bucket has a capacity of 2.1m3, and dump clearance is 2.95m.
KUBOTA has released the first of its Series 3 mini excavators; the conventional 3.3t KX91-3 and 4t KX121-3, and the 3.6t zero tail swing U35-3. The machines have new pump systems with increased hydraulic flow and pressure; a stronger boom; hinged side panels for easy service access and new cabs.
CATERPILLAR has released a new 83.5t 382kW model 385B hydraulic excavator designed for high production trenching, pipelaying, excavation and loading work. A longer undercarriage version (86.43t) is also available, as is a long reach boom that allows a digging depth of 11.75m.
The machine has extended service intervals of 500 hours for engine oil and 4000 hours for hydraulic oil.
Caterpillar’s electronically controlled pumps and proportional priority compensating valves direct flow according to the operator’s joystick input, avoiding the need for manually set work modes, but there is a press button heavy lift facility that boosts lifting capability and improves control. An additional hydraulic valve is standard to allow a high pressure circuit to be added for attachments such as thumbs, hammers, shears and crushers. The machine can be programmed with flow settings for up to four attachments.
CATERPILLAR has released the new 28.72t 253kW model 824G Series II wheel dozer. The machine features Caterpillar’s advanced modular cooling system (AMOCS) and an extreme duty planetary powershift transmission (4 sp. fwd/rev) with electronic clutch pressure control. The machine now has steel front guards and hood for durability.
A single heavy duty joystick controls all blade functions, with blade options including the standard straight blade, a coal blade, woodchip U-blade and extreme service U-blade.
A throttle lock feature (like a cruise control) allows the operator to set engine speed, which is maintained without accelerator pedal pressure, and interrupted by pressure on the brake pedal.
All daily maintenance can be done from ground level. Batteries are maintenance-free and U-joints are lubricated for life. Oil change intervals have been extended from 250 to 500 hours. The oil cooler and air conditioner condenser swing out to facilitate cleaning. The operator station can be removed in around 45 minutes without the need to disconnect hydraulic lines.
At the opposite end of the market two new compact radius excavators, the 67kW, 14.81t 314C CR and 41kW, 8.04t 308C CR, have been released. Each machine has two stick size options and a choice of buckets sizes and blade widths. Tail swing radius on the 314 is 1.48m while for the 308 it is 1.29m.
WORMALD has released the Wormald Light Vehicle System (WLVS), a foam suppression system for preventing and suppressing fires in the engines of light vehicles. It is an adaptation of a fire suppression system used extensively in turbocharged 4x4’s in the WA mining industry.
This complements the Heavy Vehicle Fire Suppression System recently released for earth moving trucks, bulldozers and excavators.
The WVLS supplied to Kimberley Clark has an electrically operated fire suppression system with an engine shutdown override. Once activated, the fire suppression system shuts the vehicle down and discharges a foam solution for approximately 40 seconds. The solution is made up of 94% water and 6% AFFF concentrate, and the system delivers 4 l/min per nozzle. There are visual and audible low-pressure alarms, and the system can be fitted with mechanical external activation or an integral automatic detection system if required. Cost starts at $2000.
Further information Ph. 02 9497 7928.
BONFIGLIOLI Transmission (Australia) Pty Ltd has released the 500 series of compact, planetary hydraulic drives for truck mixers of 1-12m3 capacity, covering torque ratings from 3000Nm to 75000 Nm. Redesigned from the ground up, the new drives feature:
o Large main bearing with wide contact angle for high rigidity and tolerance of thrust and radial loads from the drum
o Tilting output flange, external to the main bearing and connected to the gear case via a spherical coupling, that allows for bending of chassis during travelling
o Torque transmission via a crowned, twin-spline shaft connecting gearing to a rotating output flange
o Planetary gears of two or three reduction stages (depending on model) for reliability in operation under extreme duties
o Hydraulic motor mounting pattern to SAE J744C standard
o Power takeoff for water pump on right or left side
o Optional pickup for speed sensing
o Same mounting pattern onto truck frame, drum and water tank for maximum standardisation.
Email simonjamieson@bonfiglioli.com.au or phone 02 8748 4400.
KEMMPI Welding Machines Australia Pty Ltd. has entered the welding helmet market with a product range combining high levels of safety with design specifications to aid productivity gains for its operator.
The Kemppi BETA range of welding helmets for arc welding, carbon arc gouging and plasma cutting protect the welder’s head, face, eyes and ears while providing high levels of comfort. There are two standard welding helmets and three auto-darkening helmets with LCD (liquid crystal display) filter. The helmets are compact to allow the user to work in confined spaces that most helmets cannot accommodate.
A spatter rim ensures any weld spatter that hits the helmet runs down a peripheral rim and away to safety, rather than onto the operator. A throat protection feature safeguards against ray burns from arc.
Further details Ph. 02 9605 9500
RMD has introduced Alshor Plus to its Alshor range of aluminium shoring systems. The new system increases the leg load capacity to 125kN/leg from the 80kN/leg of the original system. Apart from higher load capacity, the new system provides greater versatility, enhanced safety and improved on-site productivity and speed of construction.
Potential applications include static slab support and mobile tables, towers and high reach birdcage assemblies, props and back propping and flying tables. The fully integrated system can be combined with primary and secondary beams to provide cost-effective support for soffit formwork.
Variable ledger frame positions and a greater propping range ensure improved high and low level support, while an extended selection of short and long jacks further boosts system flexibility. A simple single action connects and secures all four blades simultaneously, making Alshor Plus what is claimed to be the fastest frame to erect. The system requires a minimal number of loose parts, significantly contributing to its cost effectiveness. It incorporates safety features such as aluminium/ply access platforms, integral access ladder and ledger frame pockets at 500mm centres that allow the use of additional handrails. Aluminium spigots provide fast, secure connection between outer legs, while the blade-and-pocket connection between legs and frame allows the frame to be installed or removed while assembled. Other innovations include extended grooves in the long screw jacks that provide self-cleaning for easy operation and the availability of trolleys to relocate soffit tables.
View www.rmdaustralia.com.au.
SOLATUBE has released a new 21 (525mm) SolaMaster skylight suitable for commercial, industrial and residential buildings. Capable of producing a light output equal to two standard 3-amp fluorescent light fixtures (12,000 lumens), they can flood wide spaces with natural light from simple mountings in suspended ceilings, hard ceilings or open ceilings, and are designed specifically to integrate with T-Bar ceiling systems as well as hard ceilings.
The performance is increased with high-performance Spectralite solid aluminium tubing with 97% specular reflectance, permitting deep light penetration into two-storey buildings, buildings with steeply pitched roofs and apartments and duplexes requiring routing of the light around obstacles. SolaMaster’s patented Light Intercepting Transfer Device increases daylight collection and light harvesting at low sun angles, resulting in increased light output.
Phone 07 3847 7896.
CONSTRUCTION Equipment Australia (CEA) and JCB have shown they are serious about the wheel loader market in Australia by winning two major national supply deals. CEA has supplied four 411BHT and seven 426BHT loaders with parallel linkages to the Rail Infrastructure Corporation, and is in the process of supplying eleven 426BHT loaders with 5.6m3 buckets to the Australian Wheat Board, with the option to supply a further six machines at a later date. These machines are fitted with a quick hitch so that they can be used out of season for clean-up work around the depots.
The deals were won on a combination of support, specification and price, against strong competition from all the major brands on the market. CEA has been in business under the same ownership for 22 years, and is using its JCB agricultural dealers to provide a national network of service and support for construction equipment, giving it a network coverage equal to any in the country.
The JCB wheel loader range covers sizes up to 3m3, and CEA complements this with the larger Daewoo wheel loaders that have developed a reputation for ruggedness and hard work at a number of sites in Australia.
HAVING hosted many successful conferences for the construction and earthworks industry, including the Crane Industry Association, Toro Wheel Horse and Australian Premix Concrete, the Radisson Resort Gold Coast believes that it has the ideal venue for conferences and product launches.
Voted amongst the top 10 conference facilities in Australia, the Radisson, with its 13 meeting rooms, is amongst the largest conference resorts on the Gold Coast.
Located at Palm Meadows Golf Course, the resort features 308 accommodation rooms, a restaurant, bar, 2 swimming pools, 4 floodlit tennis courts, a fitness centre and beauty studio, providing the perfect place to mix business and pleasure.
Readers holding a conference or product launch at the Radisson Resort Gold Coast in 2003 will receive $2,000 hotel credits or 20 free rounds of golf at Lakelands Golf Course.
Contact 07 5555 7703 or view www.radisson.com/goldcoastau.
VERMEER has introduced the CS418 core saw as an alternative to conventional cutting tools for a variety of materials such as asphalt, concrete and reinforced concrete. It allows access under pavement for utility locating, jacking, patch repair and core sampling. Vermeer claims that a radial hole retains its structural integrity, and has no stress riser compared to a square hole. Cores can be pre-drilled and left in place ahead of excavation.
The unit can be truck- or trailer-mounted, and is available in a range of diameters from 10-45cm, and up to 61cm deep. The unit has hydraulic mast up/down and sideshift functions for positioning, and can be stowed for transport. It is powered by a 18.6kW Kohler engine, has variable speed, reversible rotation and water lubrication.
SWEDISH company PCE Engineering Oy AB has launched the Elematic jaw magnet fastening system that offers time and labour savings in precast concrete manufacture. The system can be used for casting façade elements, walls, panels, beams, fences and flooring products. Mould connections are reusable and do not damage the mould. A range of re-usable side forms in light steel or aluminium and a range of accessories allows considerable flexibility. Each jaw magnet has a holding force of 1.5t, thus resisting forces from vibration and the concrete itself.
The complementary track-mounted ELiLASER allows CAD drawings to be projected to set out mould elements, with trials showing 70% savings.
View www.elematic.com