BICES 2013 exhibition preview

This year, over 120,000 visitors are expected to attend the 12th bi-annual BICES construction equipment exhibition, which takes place from 15 to 18 October at the Jiu Hua International Exhibition Center in Beijing. The show will cover a record 210,000 m2 of exhibition space – up from 195,000 m2 in 2011, but a lot has changed since the last time the event took place.

Market research company Off-Highway Research estimates that two years ago 487,870 construction machines were sold in China. But shortly after that the market suffered a sharp drop and sales fell -34% year-on-year in 2012.

It seems the heady days of over +30% year-on-year growth in equipment sales in China are over for now, at least. Off-Highway Research forecasts a +3% rise in construction equipment sales in 2013, followed by +11% growth next year to 367,417 machines, then a further +3% in 2015.

Despite the current trough in the market, the scale of this year’s BICES show is greater than ever, with 1,500 exhibitors registered to attend, compared to 1,030 in 2011. As one of the two leading shows for the Chinese construction equipment sector, BICES is often the scene of some significant launches. The exhibition attracts all the big names in the industry, be they international players or big names in the Chinese domestic market.

Liugong, for instance, will launch its new 970E excavator at the show – 70 tonne class model targeted at the quarrying and mining industries. The 970E features a Cummins QSX15 engine and Liugong’s new electronic controller, which is said to ensure that the engine and hydraulics are matched to the application for fuel efficiency.
Maintenance points on the 970E are also grouped together for easy access. The machine features centralised, automated lubrication, and

Liugong said maintenance intervals had also been extended.
Meanwhile, Zoomlion said it would have over 10 new and improved products on its stand, covering the concrete, mobile crane, earth moving and foundation sectors. These include a 300 tonne capacity all-terrain crane and a new a four-axle truck-mounted concrete mixer, the 12 CBM, which incorporates technology from the manufacturer’s Italian subsidiary Cifa in its frame that is said to reduce vibration during travel.

In addition, the company said it would have two excavators on its stand, equipped with high-power Cummins engines and high-flow hydraulic systems. It said GPS technology had also been added to allow performance to be constantly monitored.

Other products on display will be a re-designed and improved V series rotary drill. Zoomlion said technology including engine cold start protection and an improved high-speed spin-off function had been added, aimed at prolonging the life of the rig and improving its efficiency.

Another new machine on the Zoomlion stand will be the VK Series crusher and mill, for manufacturing sand from hard materials such as basalt and granite. Zoomlion claimed the machine could achieve particle shapes that were superior to that of an impact crusher.
Shantui, meanwhile, plans to launch three new machines at the show.

These are the 10 m3 blade size SD32PLUS bulldozer, the 3 m3 bucket capacity SL50WN wheeled loader and the GT55 truck-mounted crane.

It said the SD32PLUS would be its centrepiece – part of a new line of PLUS dozers that it started rolling out this year. It said it was its most technologically advanced dozer yet, featuring an upgraded operator interface, a new 235 kW Cummins engine, and a more robust hydraulics system as well as electronic fault monitoring and diagnosis.

Meanwhile, the SL50WN wheeled loader a natural gas-powered machine, equipped with load-sensing hydraulics. And the GT-55 is one of the first machines produced by the Shantui-Manitowoc joint venture that was formed in January. It is a Tier III-compliant machine with a maximum lift height of 41 m.

Other machines on display on Shantui’s stand will include its SR14D-3 tandem electric vibratory roller, HJC5410THB-56 truck-mounted concrete pump and HZN40B concrete batching plant, which has a 40 m3/hour output.
Access equipment

From the access sector, Sinoboom will also be showcasing its latest new products at BICES, including the GTSZ30 spider lift. The machine can reach up to 30 m and boasts a wireless remote control device that works up to 100 m away.

Other on-board technology includes an outrigger auto-levelling system and a gradual control system with proportional joystick. In addition, Sinoboom said it had installed several emergency safety systems and a multiple interlocking protection system to ensure the safety of operators.

Mantall will also be launching new access equipment in the form of its re-designed W-Series scissor lift. The machine’s chassis has been redesigned so that it is now hollow, and a counter weight has been added to maintain stability. Mantall said the change reduced the overall weight of the machine.

In addition, the XDW180 self-propelled scissor lift will be on display. It has an 18 m working height features a wide areal work platform, four wheel drive and a diagnostics system to help pinpoint any maintenance issues. Other on-board technology includes a tilt level sensor and proportional controls. The XD140 RT, meanwhile, is a rough terrain model with a working height of 14 m. This machine also boasts a tilt level sensor and proportional controls.

Mantall will also have its HZ160D self-propelled articulated boom on show, featuring auto-levelling technology. It is also well-suited to rough terrain, and has a maximum gradeability of 45%.

Dingli, meanwhile, plans to launch a new self-propelled fork lift at the show, a model with a 5.5 m working height that has been designed for work in depots. It boasts a 500 kg capacity and an overall width of 860 mm. In addition, a self-propelled mast lift will also be on the stand, boasting a 10 m working height and an overall width of 760 mm – compact dimensions that Dingli said made the machine well-suited for operation in narrow areas.