Companies showcase latest trends in construction machinery

New products, processes and solutions are at the heart of every trade fair. Needless to say, this is especially true of bauma, the largest trade fair in the world. The coming edition of the world’s leading trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines, construction vehicles and construction equipment—the 31st—will take place from April 11 to 17, 2016 in Munich.

One of the current market requirements for the most diverse types of construction machinery is efficiency. Among its cold milling machines, therefore, German manufacturer Wirtgen is also offering a “Compact Class”. Its existing range of machinery has now been supplemented by the W 150 CFi front loader. According to the company the W 150 CFi, with a working width of 1.5 m and a milling depth of up to 330 mm, is particularly suitable for larger construction sites where space is limited, such as in city centers.

The two new EZ80 and EZ53 excavator models from manufacturer Wacker Neuson are also designed for work in confined spaces. As so-called ‘zero tail’ excavators, they have no rear overhang. According to the company, they can achieve high levels of excavation performance even in hard to reach places. Finally, the smaller EZ53 model, with an operating weight of around 5.3 tonnes, is claimed to be one of the most powerful excavators in its class.

It’s not only in city centers but also during handling operations that space can be restricted. With the new edition of its Pick & Carry 730 rehandling excavator, Sennebogen is launching a machine aimed specifically at timber handling. With a tail swing radius of 2.76 m and a width of 3.30 m it is designed to be very compact and, at the same time, highly stable. With a working radius of 10.5 m, the excavator achieves a working load of up to 4.2 tons. And, thanks to the 360° infinitely rotatable upper carriage, it can always be driven forward out of sorting lanes.

There is a continuing expectation for modern construction machinery to help speed up production processes on construction sites. This is where automatic controls integrated at the factory come into play. Caterpillar and Zeppelin, for example, are showing a new assistance function with semi-automatic shovel control for chain excavators at bauma. Using the “CAT Grade with Assist” system, the driver references his shovel cutting edge to a known height spot, enters a height offset and can begin to prepare the fine level automatically with centimeter-perfect accuracy. Throughout the process the shovel is carried along at a constant cutting angle.  This saves unnecessary additional excavation of material and follow-up work.

Komatsu Europe is also assisting drivers with automatic solutions: in Munich it is introducing the new D85EXi/PXi-18 dozer with intelligent machine control. Using this equipment, both the rough cut and the fine leveling can be carried out in automatic operating mode. The system senses and controls the load adjacent to the blade and automatically optimizes the penetration depth of the blade. In contrast to the retrofit solutions available on the market, this technology too is integrated into the machine back at the factory.

For drivers, automatic controls also mean comfort. Working comfort in the cab is increasingly becoming the focus of attention for manufacturers. In the experience of British manufacturer JCB, the CommandPlus cab in its wheeled loader flagship 457, has proved suitable in practical conditions. This is why the company has now also equipped its medium-range machine segment with it.  “Command Driving Position” is the name given by JCB to the driver position with its re-engineered pedals, an adjustable steering column and seat-mounted hydraulic levers. Full-color LCDs show the operator screens of the loader and act as a monitor for a rear-view camera.

To combine new developments in a visionary cab, last year independent OEM suppliers and scientists banded together to form the “CAB concept cluster”. Together they designed the “genius cab”. The model cab is claimed to set standards in terms of safety, comfort and design. Not only will it be on show for the first time at the Munich trade fair, it has also been nominated for the bauma Innovation Award in the “Design” category.

In the “Components,” a new high-strength fiber rope for lifting applications has been nominated. Liebherr developed this with Austrian rope manufacturer Teufelberger. It is up to 80% lighter than steel ropes and has a longer service life. Due to the weight reduction, working loads can be increased with no change in the gross vehicle weight. Fitting and removal is also simplified, as the fiber ropes can often be fitted by hand and without auxiliary reeving winches on the crane.

Among other products, the American company Terex, which specializes in lifting and materials handling, is showing its new “Boom Booster kit” for the Superlift 3800 crawler. The welded steel structure consists of up to seven sections, each 12 m long, for direct mounting onto the crane. The Superlift 3800 crane has a maximum hook height of 174 m and, in this configuration, lift loads of up to 80 tons.

Last year, German manufacturer Wolffkran opened a new branch in the USA. To coincide with their expansion the Heilbronn company developed US versions of its two luffing cranes, the Wolff 355 B and 700 B. At bauma, Wolffkran is showing the smaller 355 B US model.

In the first quarter of 2016 Manitowoc Cranes will break away from The Manitowoc Company. bauma will be the first large specialist trade fair attended by Manitowoc Cranes as an independent company. Among the innovations it has announced is the MDT 389 tower crane. The new development is the largest of a new range of topless cranes from Potain which are all equipped with the Manitowoc crane control system (CCS).

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