The 30 tonnes TA 230 Litronic combines the compact transport dimensions of a 25t machine with the payload of the next-higher category. Its transport width is under 3 metres and with a 19m³ dump body volume, the TA 230 is the largest in its class with a shape specially designed for rapid dumping action.  

The three strongly constructed rigid axles are the basis for an extremely high-performance 6x6 driveline, with automatic transmission and torque converter. The ADT on display will feature a 10.5-litre 270 kW Liebherr D936LA6 diesel engine, which conforms with Stage IIIA / Tier 3 emission limits; Stage IIIB / Tier 4 interim will start at the end of 2012.

With this powerful engine, the dumptruck can attain a travel speed of 57 km/h on a level surface. Four reverse gears are provided, with the travel speed limited electronically to 16 km/h. The dumptruck has an ideal oil-cooled wet brake system acting on the front and centre axles for maximum safety.

The Liebherr TA 230 Litronic cab design provides maximum operator comfort and convenience and complies with the ROPS/FOPS safety standard. The large window area ensures an excellent all-round view. The seat is ergonomically designed and can be individually adjusted to suit the operator’s size and weight.  

Lookout for more coverage on this machine in our series of Hillhead round up reports after next month’s event.

The new machine was supplied by Cat Compact dealer Britcom International, and the deal was organised by Britcom’s plant sales executive, Michelle Tate. The team from A1 Infrastructure had recently visited the Caterpillar UK facility at Desford in  Leicestershire, and had been given the opportunity to test drive the 8 ton class machine out on the extensive demonstration ground. During the demonstration and test drive period, the team noted some significant advantages in the performance of the machine when compared to their existing competitor’s product.

Following on from the successful test drive at the factory, a deal was put together with the old trade-in model, and an order for the new 308D CR was placed. A1 Infrastructure’s Managing Director, Michael O’Boyle was very happy with the build quality of the machine and opted for the long stick version and additional hammer pipework, which gives them much greater flexibility on the jobsite.

A1’s General Manager Kieran O’Boyle said “We have had this machine for just over a month now, and have been extremely pleased with its performance on site. We would recommend this machine to anyone looking for a machine of this specification”. I can echo those sentiments from the stick time I have had on the 308D and E models that I have test driven during my Digger Blog visits to Desford over the past couple of years.

On the strength of the 308D deal, another example from Caterpillars compact range in the shape of a 1.5 ton class Cat 301.6 machine was recently taken on for a demonstration period, which was once again arranged by Britcom’s sales executive Michelle Tate.

Following the Cat mini’s successful demonstration period, the company were more than happy with the little machine’s capabilities and it has now been purchased as an addition to the fleet.

This was a mystery that needed investigating, so I made contact with our good friend Mark Gunns, a former Poclain employee in the UK, and Philippe Fritz, vice-president of Generation Deux, the association that was formed by former Poclain employees in France to preserve the history and machines of the onetime world leader of hydraulic excavator technology.

Philippe told us the machine is indeed a TCS model, which was probably sold around 1973/74. It was not likely to be a prototype model as both Mark and I initially thought, but would have been what Poclain called “a special adaption” model made specifically for the Swedish market.

Philippe said “Our friends at the Poclain subsidiary in Sweden (Swenska Poclain), used to modify the units locally to make them more saleable in their country, they used to change the colour scheme to make them look like the new range. They also changed the TCS name to 70, which signified the rated horsepower of the model. They also modified the controls on these machines, replacing the regular 4 “piano” style levers with 2 joysticks for all digging actions and two short levers for tracking control as you can clearly see in this photo”.

The first TCS models were built in 1965, with the last ones rolling of the production line around 1974. During the production run, the model had several   significant upgrades. The S in TCS stood for “Super” with more weight and more power than the previous TC45 models.

In many other countries this model was marketed as the 700C, with the 700 standing for 700 litre bucket capacity as seen in this marketing brochure.

Commenting on this old machine, Mark Gunns said. “The boom looks like it has been plated at some point, as there should be a torque tube in the mid-point in between the anchor points for the boom and dipper cylinders. If I remember correctly it was a 4.85m boom. The dipper is authentic, but a majority of TY’s and TCS’s that came into the UK were often fitted with grab arms for magnet or 5 tine scrap grabs”

Robert Carlsson said “I would really like to save this old classic from the scrap yard, but sadly I just haven’t got the time to spend on another old machine right now”

I wonder if anyone will step in to save this machine after reading this post, I for one sincerely hope so.

The operator in question is Phil Ely, a highly experienced driver who has operated Ford and New Holland backhoe loaders all his life. Phil wasn’t keen on the latest Case machine he test drove, as in his opinion the changes that have been made to the back end have made it slightly heavier than the previous models.

Matt Lugg commented “its early days with the machine yet, but our operator is already in his element with his new mount, the machine is powerful and strong with exceptional reach. The banana style boom is also a great feature, as it makes loading trucks and dumpers over the side so much easier.

MJL Contractors have recently opened another new office in the Exeter area, and currently has a booming order book with more new sites starting in the coming weeks. With the current workload the company’s plant fleet looks sure to expand even further and we will report on any additions here on the Digger Blog.

Mark spotted this re-conditioned Caterpillar 825C sheep’s foot compactor for sale at a used plant sales yard in Bangkok.

You don’t see many of these Komatsu WB97S backhoe loaders about in the UK, but according to Mark there are a number of them at work in Pattaya.

Here is another classic shot from Thailand, with machines working away with no evidence of protective barriers between them and members of the public. A JCB 3CX and a Komatsu PC200 are seen hard at work putting in a new sewer line in preparation for a new road construction job in Jomtien.

Here is another great UK exported JCB 3CX working in Pattaya, this example is a two wheel drive model with a canopy style cab structure.

Yet another 20 ton machine this time from the Kobelco stable. This SK200 machine was working on a new boat marina that was being constructed at Bali Hai, near Pattaya.

This shot shows the local Volvo construction equipment dealerships premises, somewhere in Cambodia, which is randomly located in amongst some apartments and shops.

Finally on our machinery spotting tour in Thailand, Mark spotted these two Kobelco excavators at work during the construction of a new hotel in the back streets around Phuket. And there is no truth in the rumour that he was just taking a photo of the young lady in the foreground!

We thank Mark for sharing his photos with us on the Digger Blog, and remind readers that if you have material you would like to see on the blog please don’t hesitate to send it into me at the usual digger blog email address.

The company has an ongoing maintenance contract to clear any debris and build up around the banks of the pond once a year. In addition to the 5 ton class 50Z3, seen here, the company has also invested in a 1.5 ton class 1404 model.

In water work is always interesting and challenging, both on the operator and the machine, but the new Wacker Neuson appears to be doing swimmingly.

The salty sea air in the far North of Scotland has certainly taken its toll on this old girl cosmetically. But the machine is set to be put back into regular use shortly, when it is going to be mounted on a barge to perform dredging work.

Once mounted on the barge, the machine will dredge and enlarge the berth at the Gills Bay ferry terminal to allow the ferry to turn around in the bay rather than turning out in open water, as it currently does on its way back from Orkney.

Looking at the sorry state of the old Akerman it seems difficult to believe that this machine is still a runner!

The 54 ton Akerman H25C series excavators, were first launched back in 1979 and had a ten year production run, during which time 148 machines were manufactured. Production continued from 89-90 with the machine being fitted with an all new “comfort cab” with a further 8 machines being assembled. They were powered by a 326hp Volvo Penta TD120C engine.

We thank Mark, and service engineer Neil Bruce who took the photos, for sharing them with us. It would be great to follow this story up once the machine is at work on the barge and dredging has commenced.

The machine features D7 size track components and a hydrostatic drive system that offers two speed ranges in both forward and reverse. The “Suptronic” system guarantees optimum driving speed depending on mulching head loads. A clever anti-stall system also assists the operator to get the best production capacity from the machine.  Check out this video and watch in awe at the machines capability to take down entire trees in its path!

As one would expect, the cab is well appointed with full air-conditioning and easy to use single control joystick; but most importantly the operator is protected from flying debris by the inclusion of Margard anti-projection windows which are 12mm thick.

I think you will agree it’s a bit of a beast!

The exhibition was staged by an association called Generation Deux, that was established in 1989 by a group of former Poclain employees. Today the association is actively involved in preserving the memory of Poclain, the famous French company, who at one time were the world leaders in the design and manufacture of public works equipment and in particular hydraulic excavators.

Generation Deux have a large selection of old Poclain models, many of which are owned by association members and which have been saved from a date with the “gas axe” at scrap metal yards around the world. A small selection of these machine’s were on show at Intermat.  

One of the company’s earliest models was the Poclain TU, which was a limited slew, tractor towed excavator, which was powered from the tractors PTO and weighed around 6,400lbs. These machines were produced at the company’s Le Plessis-Belleville factory from 1951 until 1958.

One of the company’s most famous machines was missing from the event. The TY45, which was its first full-slew model and went on to become a best seller around the world.

Next machine in the line-up in Paris was an unusual face shovel version of the popular Poclain 60CL model. These machines were produced in the company’s Crepy-en-Valois factory from 1976 to 1982. They were powered by a 62.1 hp Deutz F4L912 air cooled engine. These machines were marketed aggresively in the UK market in the late 70’s and early 80’s and they seemed to be on every site I worked on back in those days! I spent some time on a conventional backhoe version in the early 80’s and at the time they were way ahead of anything else on the market.

Back in 1981 the company also entered the mini excavator market, with the 35CK, an 11,000lb machine c/w dozer blade, the machine which I believe was affectionately known as “The Little Ant” was powered by a 37.5hp Mercedes OM615 engine, and had a bucket capacity of ¼ yd³. These machines were built at the company’s Spanish facility in Saragossa, from 1981 until 1985.

Next up was this fine example of a European favourite, the Poclain 81P wheeled excavator (rubber duck), which was manufactured in Crepy-en Valois from 1986 to 1989. This model was powered by an 84.8 hp Case 4T390 engine. The Case influence was becoming ever more prominent by this time, and these models went on to become the core foundation for the Case 88 series in later years.

The final machine on display was indeed a rare model. Manufactured between 1972 and 1974, the CMC (Constructions Mecaniques  de Carvin) C11 was a hydrostatically driven, rear engined tracked loading shovel, that was way ahead of its time. The machine was powered by a Deutz F6L912 engine, which is the same motor that was fitted in the 60CL, but with a rated power output of 106.5hp. It had a top travel speed of 6.85 mph and a bucket capacity of 1 ¾ yd³.

This machine and a larger C21 model were primarily designed by CMC but the company had limited production facilities and as such they approached Poclain to assist in manufacture of the models. The machines were fitted with Poclain hydraulics, motors and other components. Production figures are rather sketchy, but I believe no more than 50 models were ever produced.

A really great display from the team of Generation Deux, and it was an absolute pleasure to meet the vice president Mr Philippe Fritz, who is kindly helping the Digger Blog out with the identification of another rare Poclain that has been discovered in Sweden, by our friend and regular Swedish contributor Robert Carlsson.

I believe that Scott Girvan, a good friend of the Digger Blog and Finning engineer is likely to be featured in this video. Hopefully Scott will let us know what part of the process he was involved in.   

The 316 ton monster, that wields a 16.5m³ (21.6 cubic yard) bucket, will tower above a host of other Cat products on the stand, which will also incorporate customer experience zones, seminars and another official public first, with the launch of the new Finning “Finsight” monitoring service.

The newly formed Finsight team will also be demonstrating the innovative industry first monitoring service. Visitors will be able to see how Finsight incorporates Cat Product Link GPS data with servicing information, fluid sampling and much more, improving performance and saving customers money.

Industry Specialists will be on hand to explain the advances in Caterpillar equipment, with the new Stage IIIB engine technology and a range of new Caterpillar products, including the exciting K series wheel loader, off-highway trucks and excavators will be revealed on show day.

But without doubt the main attraction is sure to be the new Cat 6030. The Digger Blog had hoped to get up close and personal with one of these massive machines before Hillhead, but it looks like we will be joining members of the public, as we all clamour to get our first “In the Iron” preview.

I for one am now very excited at the prospect, and I look forward to covering next month’s event here on the Digger Blog.    

Back to the smaller end of the market now with the new 1 tonne class Terex TC10. This is the company’s first entry into the micro excavator market. Narrow enough to fit through tight gateways and doors, this machine gives the small builder and landscaper another choice option when deciding what brand to purchase.

Intermat was also Hyundai’s launch platform for the new and upgraded Dash-9A machines, with two models on show in this shot. The new Dash-9A machines feature new engines which are Tier IIIB compliant and offer reduced exhaust emissions and improved fuel economy, and further improvements to the operating control systems and cab layout, which to be honest I found very impressive on the original Dash-9 series. In this shot we see two models the R 260-9A and the R380-9A.

Isn’t all this social media technology a great thing! Whilst I was at Intermat, I was tweeted by the team at Geith through my @TheDiggerBlog Twitter account, to go and take a look around their stand, when I arrived the guys were very busy talking to potential customers so I never got to speak with anyone, but one thing that did catch my eye was their tilting bucket assembly. These buckets have of course been around for donkey’s years now, but it just made me think it might be something for those that aren’t yet brave enough to go the whole hog and invest in a tiltrotator? It goes without saying that the Geith quality was well represented on the stand, I have always been a fan of their attachments.

Backhoe loaders next and the latest model from Case the 580ST. The new T series of backhoe loaders are fitted with Tier 4 Interim compliant engines, automatic ride control system, a choice of transmissions and faster backhoe boom positioning. These improvements are said to offer lower fuel consumption, reduced emissions, increased operator comfort, higher breakout force and greater lift capacity. The 580ST is powered by a 72kw (97hp) engine.

Our friends from Turkish manufacturer Hidromek also displayed one of their latest backhoe loaders. This prototype HMK 102S model is fitted with a Tier 4 Interim emission compliant engine and in addition the company’s research and development team have worked even harder to further enhance the cab interior, in what from my experience was already a superb cab layout on the previous model.

Also on display on the Hidromek stand an example of the company’s 14 tonne class machines the HMK140LC which was displayed fitted with the useful dozer blade assembly. These striking looking and award winning machines in their distinctive looking black &white livery, feature the Gen Series cab which features the state of the art control panel and a whole host of features to make the operating experience a pleasurable one. This would be a very popular machine for the company to enter the UK market with, but as yet the company say they have no short term plans to export to the UK. I personally would like to see them do so in the future, as their products are of good quality and a lot of thought has gone into them to make the operator’s job a lot easier.

Finally from Intermat a nice looking 30 ton class machine from Case, the CX 300C.

One of our readers and a big Case excavator fan Graham Centini, was wondering if the cabs on these new machines could possibly get any better than the previous B series machines, well I think Graham will be a happy man when he eventually upgrades to a new C series Case. The cab that was already a winner is now even better! Judge for yourselves..

Next stop on the show circuit for the Digger Blog will be MaskinExpo 2012 in Sweden at the end of this month. I just know I am going to be in tiltrotator heaven up there. Lookout for my report on that visit at the end of May

The machine is owned by Roy McCullough, who also owns the quarry and is also involved in the earthmoving, and demolition sectors, Stuart says “Roy still has some very old equipment lying around in the quarry, he has owned this old Hymac for over 30 years now, in fact this machine and another one like it, both worked on the construction of the famous DeLorean car factory in Dunmurry nr Belfast which started around 1978”

It looks like the machine has thrown a track off in the past, (and as anyone who has operated a Hymac in the past will tell you, they did that for sport), and has been left like it ever since. Stuart seems confident that the machine would still start if a battery was fixed into the old girl. Sure would be great to see and hear that engine roar back into life, as this machine is crying out for someone to restore it to its former glory.

Check out the cab interior, and to think we used to think this was luxury in those days! I always used to think it was a bit dodgy having those tracking levers that locked into place as opposed to the dead man’s levers that we are more familiar with today, and look at the front screen demister vent with the pipe coming up from the heater. 

Also lying at the same quarry, is fairly tidy Caterpillar D9H complete with a single shank ripper. Apparently this machine has recently had an engine overhaul.

The big old Cat was used in conjunction with some Terex TS24 motor scrapers two years ago on a major road job in the area, but has not done much since.

Talking of Terex, lurking in the bushes is this old dozer from the same company, which could be an early 82-30 model, looks as though it has seen better days.

And finally in this machine resting place, an old towed scraper box that has been towed out from its original resting place since Stuart last visited, it has had its tyres blown up and apparently has been sold to a customer for a potential restoration job.

The Digger Blog thanks Stuart for sharing his photos of these old classics with us.

The EW140D was proudly displayed sporting a tiltrotator system, which are continuing to gain popularity all over Europe, as end users finally begin to get the message about these fantastic pieces of kit. I was told by an industry insider at the show that many manufacturers are now fitting the specialist joysticks required for tiltrotator systems as standard, this was evident in a number of machines I sat in at the show.

Volvo also showed a number of examples from its D series middleweight tracked excavator range. There are currently 5 models in this weight class, which spans from 13 to 25 tonnes, which are the EC140D, EC160D, EC180D, EC220D and the EC235D. Here is a shot of the stunning looking EC220D model.

Volvo also chose Intemat for its European launch of the G900B series of motor graders. First launched into the North American market in 2011, these machines feature new engines, rugged frames, and sophisticated transmissions. The model on display in Paris was the G946B, which is the second largest in the four model range and features all wheel drive. It is powered by a Volvo D8H engine that develops 173KW (232hp).

Outside on the JCB stand two new mini excavators were launched, the 8018 CTS, which competes in the popular 1.7 tonne class and the 8026 CTS which weighs in at 2.7 tonne.

Both machines are conventional tail swing machines (CTS) which many end users still prefer, depending on what kind of work they are going to undertake. The 8026 CTS is claimed to be more efficient than the existing 8025 model, thanks to the lower power rating of the 3 cylinder 18kw (24hp) Perkins engine, which drives a “Nachi” variable displacement hydraulic pump. This new machine was put to good use in the stunning display that we witnessed in front of the stand!

Over at the New Holland stand a prototype machine was attracting a lot of attention. The E140C SR 14 tonne class short radius machine looked to be a useful piece of kit. And as usual it was getting a lot of interest from our camera friendly Chinese friends!

I found it quite amusing the way they all take photos of every little minute detail, from door hinges to close ups of welding on a whole host of machines on display at the show!

Talking of short radius excavators, over on the Case stand the two new C series models were on display, the 14.3 tonne CX145C SR and the 24.1 tonne CX235C SR. According to Case, these machines have been designed and built in Japan to meet the specific requirements of European operators and feature the latest in Tier 4 Interim engine technology, which are said to offer a 17.5% fuel consumption saving over previous models, with up to 7% faster cycle times.

I have operated quite a number of Case CX machines over the years, and have always found them to be excellent machines. Hopefully I will get to try out one of these latest models in the not too distant future.

Always great to see machines featured on TV, let’s hope the series about H.E. Service’s day to day dealings with customers, Danger Diggers at Work, makes a swift return to our screens soon.    

“As far as I’m concerned it’s all there,” exclaims Sam. “The ECR28 has a good roomy cab, it’s comfortable to operate, responsive and easy to maintain. The zero swing capability is an absolute must for working in tight confines -It’s certainly been a good decision.”

The ECR28 is powered by a Volvo 1.2 litre low emission engine developing 18.1hp which in turn is coupled to a closed centre load sensing hydraulic system. This gives simultaneous control of slew and offset movements and provides faster, more precise performance due to the right joystick control lever that features an electronically proportional roller. This allows the operator to accurately adjust hydraulic flow as needed. All hydraulic functions are performed in total independence for more control and less delay when handling multiple tasks. An automatic two-speed travel system engages when operating in high speed mode, automatically shifting gear from high to low according to the travel load. Another feature for increased efficiency is the standard auto-idling system that lowers engine speed to idle if a control is not used for five seconds.

The engine reverts to the pre-selected speed almost instantly when any control is moved. This system delivers lower fuel consumption, longer engine life and less environmental noise. The ECR28 features Volvo’s industry-leading comfortable cab for less fatigue and more production. The ergonomically-designed cab offers greater leg and foot room, making it one of the most spacious in its category.

Sam Marles Plant Hire is a family run business which has an established reputation for providing a quality service operating within the South West Commercial and Domestic construction market for over 8 years.

Plant & Engineering Services Ltd of Beare near Exeter is the dealer for Volvo utility covering the south west of England.

The stricken Hitachi, which incidentally was fitted with extra wide track pads for working in soft ground conditions, has to rely on the assistance of an old Hymac 580D, which is fitted with special lightweight swamp pads to help in the machines extraction.

The Digger Blog thanks the lads for sharing these cracking photos with us.    

The popular event is taking place at Star Farm, Marshfield, Wiltshire, SN14 8LH, from 25^th to 26^th April from 9am till dusk. Those attending will be able to try out products from Atlas Copco, Bomag, Merlo, Messersii, Takeuchi and Thwaites.

Despite the inclement weather today, the event was well attended and even more keen plant and machinery men and women are expected to make a visit tomorrow. One of the most popular attractions today was the best selling 8.5 ton Takeuchi TB285 midi excavator, with many customers keen to take to the controls in its allocated dig zone.

The ever popular Thwaites dumper range was well represented, with the latest 1 ton Hi-Tip model attracting a lot of interest.

If you are in the area tomorrow why not pop along to Star Farm, to sample some of the action yourselves. A warm welcome awaits you from the CBL team, and there is even food and refreshments available during the day. 

Speaking about their latest ADT reincarnation, which has been in development for the past 5 years, Bell Equipment’s Chief Executive Gary Bell said “We believe that our D-series has successfully met the challenges of the world’s job sites and has many strengths and features across the range that our customers would like to see carried forward in our product advancement. Therefore we have adopted an evolutionary approach to the E-series, to build on the legacy of the D-series generation and our decades of experience in design and manufacture, rather than a revolutionary clean-sheet design. We’ve stuck to our design principles of delivering weight optimised, high production trucks with superior tractive effort but looked at ways of doing things smarter to provide customers with an even greater competitive advantage in their businesses.” 

Bell equipment has built up a reputation over the years for pioneering industry firsts, and many new innovations have made their way into this latest generation of ADT, these innovations include standard on board weighing, keyless ignition, HillAssist, skip tip prevention, auto park application (APA) and standard turbo spin protection.

The E series model is said to offer a greatly enhanced ride quality, thanks to the improvements made to the new trucks suspension system. Likewise the cab has improved ergonomics with a full colour monitor display, reduced noise levels and better interfacing with the trucks management systems.

Joining the new E Series machine on the stand was a current top of the range model, Bell B50D      which was carrying Vinci Construction Group signage.

According to Bell’s Head of Engineering Peter Goosen, Bell has been developing the E-series for the past five years and is currently in the final stages of durability testing, having enlisted reputable independent national and international test facilities for additional verification.

Development has followed a well-structured process that has included customer interaction, concept vehicles and prototypes to ensure a strong, reliable product. Extensive testing formed part of the process and engineers used structural analysis and dynamic analysis along with a rigorous testing programme on some of the harshest mine sites in the world to ensure that the E-series is worthy of taking the Bell marque forward.

The Digger Blog intends to take a closer look at this new model at Hillhead in June.

.

T     

.

LiuGong also had a large selection of wheeled loaders on display and this 418 III motor grader certainly looked the part.

LiuGong’s offering in the popular 13/14 ton bracket is the 915DIII. This machine is powered by a 82kw (110hp) Cummins engine, which was always a popular motor with UK customers when fitted to other manufacturers machines. I have to say this machine looked like a fairly decent piece of kit, and it would be very interesting to have one of demonstration for a week or so to see how they compare to more well established makes.

Also on stand were 3 examples of bulldozers from the Polish manufacturer Dressta, that LiuGong acquired in a deal that was finalized in January this year. Largest dozer in the range is the TD40-E which was proudly displayed on the stand.

Other Chinese manufacturers displaying products included Cheng Gong who displayed two examples of wheeled loaders in the form of the 948H and this 956H model.

Also on display was this Cummins powered backhoe loader model, the 862H which I felt looked very similar to another global brands product!

Another Chinese manufacturer that I had not heard of was Lishide, who displayed this small 6 tonne class SC60-8 machine.

This little Yanmar powered machine looked rather dated I thought, but a brief perusal of the company's website shows that thier larger models are slightly more modern looking. The team on the stand seemed very interested in the Digger Blog and they even suggested a  visit  to the company’s factory and proving ground in China. I think that would be a very interesting experience if it ever comes off. If it does then it will make for a fantastic post here on the blog.