International Construction's ConExpo Stop Press

ConExpo-Con/Agg takes place from March 4 – 8 in Las Vegas, US. It runs on a three-year cycle, alternating with Bauma in Munich, Germany and Intermat in Paris, France, so the last time it was held was 2011.

As the major global construction equipment show in the first half of the year, ConExpo will be the launch pad for numerous new machines. As iC reported last month, much of the new equipment coming onto the market has been developed in response to the US Tier 4 Final and European Stage IV exhaust emission laws, which will start to have an impact this year.

But as shows like ConExpo offer such a huge international audience – some 130,000 visitors are expected this year – companies use these events to launch other new machines, regardless of the shifting legislative landscape.

For example, new models from KPI-JCI and sister company Astec Mobile Screens will include the new-generation SuperStacker, Kodiak Plus K500+ Cone Crusher, the Series 9000 Dewatering Screen, the High Frequency Screen for the Industrial Sands Market, the FT2650 Jaw Crusher with pre-screen option and the new-generation 3055 Vanguard Jaw Crusher.

The 170 ft (52 m) SuperStacker is the company’s latest telescoping stacker, which features a new lower maintenance drive system and the company’s Wizard Touch control automation system.

Meanwhile the new Vanguard Jaw Crusher has been designed for reduced maintenance and higher performance. The company says increased stroke, toggle angle and flywheel inertia provide up to +25% more production, while one of the options available allows the closed-side setting to be adjusted on the fly.

The Kodiak Plus K500+ is a new 500 hp (373 kW), remotely adjustable cone crusher. Refinements over the previous generation include a new base frame design, the ‘MILO’ automated control system, a new patented liner retention system, patented thread locking ring and anti-spin cone brake, among others.

WS Tyler will launch a portable version of its Hydro-Clean system for washing aggregates and other materials. The company says its machine use -75% less water than traditional washers and -15% less energy.

The company added that up to 90% of the water that is used for washing can be recycled so the Hydro-Clean’s fresh water requirement is also low. This can be a useful factor when it comes to complying with environmental and waste water regulations.

The unit is available in a range of sizes, from 26 kW to 225 kW, with throughput capacities ranging from 18 to 360 tonnes per hour.

Junttan will launch three new models in its X-Series of pile driving rigs. The large PMx26, PMx27 and PMx28 complement the smaller PMx20, PMx22, PMx24 and PMx25 already on the market and have maximum leader capacities of 20, 23 and 25 tonnes and maximum pile lengths of 24, 25 and 28 m respectively. Junttan says this makes the PMx28 the biggest and most powerful, purpose-built pile driver ever built.

A new load-sensing hydraulic system is governed by Junttan’s X-control system, which is designed to be easy to use and to keep the rig’s fuel consumption low. Among the features that reduce fuel consumption are thermostatically-controlled engine and hydraulic oil coolers with an optimised air circulation system, together with a streamlined main hydraulic oil circuit with extended hose diameters.

The company also said that integration between the different on-board systems had led to reduced emissions, improved performance and improved fuel economy without compromising machine performance
Power for the 73, 80 and 90 tonne rigs comes from Tier 4 compliant Cummins engines. Junttan said that these diesels, combined with its Pile Cruise control feature, which helps to remove human error from operation, have helped decrease energy consumption by the rigs by as much as -20% compared to previous models.

BSP will launch of its new hydraulic piling hammer, the 103,000 ft-lbs (14 tonne-metre) CXL140, which has been developed for the North American civil engineering market. It fills a gap in the company’s range between the CX110 and the heavy duty CG180.

The 14.5 tonne unit has a slim profile and 11 tonne dropweight. It can be fitted with a variety of guides and is suitable for driving a range of piles with power from either a BSP hydraulic power pack or a suitable leader rig. The hammer is being displayed on the Jinnings Equipment stand, BSP’s long-standing US partner.

In addition to the new hammer on the Jinnings stand, BSP will have a booth of its own in Central Hall highlighting its wider range of equipment.

US launches

Wirtgen will be using ConExpo-Con/Agg for the North American launch of its W 250i cold planer. The machine on display will feature an extra-large milling drum for a working width of 12 ft 6 in (3.80 m) – +70% more than on a standard machine. The show machine will also sport a camera system and the Vacuum Cutter System (VCS), which reduces the amount of fine dust emissions.

The machine can mill to a depth of 14 in (350 mm) at a high advance rate. This allows it to remove either complete road sections in a single pass, or individual layers. The intelligent WIDRIVE machine management system offers three milling drum speeds and the W 250i also features Wirtgen’s dual engine concept.

This design offers both economy and performance according to Wirtgen. For heavy-duty jobs, both engines are engaged for a total of 1,005 kW of power. However, for lighter work, only one is used, providing 608 kW.

The standard milling width of the W 250i is 7 ft 3 in (2.20 m). This can extended to 8 ft 2 in (2.50 m), 10 ft 2 in (3.10 m), 11 ft 6 in (3.50 m), 12 ft 6 in (3.80 m) or even 14 ft 5 in (4.40 m). For milling drum units with working widths greater than 7 ft 3 in (2.20 m), the W 250i is equipped with extension elements. At 7 ft 3 in (2.20 m), the W 250i is available with FCS Light, a system for quick milling drum changes to allow adaption to a variety of applications.

The WIDRIVE on-board management system automates many processes and simplifies machine control for the operator. It features logically arranged operating function groups with language-neutral symbols and an optional camera system with two or six cameras is also available. The operator can view as many as six working areas on the control display. Wirtgen’s parallel to surface (PTS) system, meanwhile, automatically aligns the W 250i parallel to the road.

Komatsu will have 24 machines on display, including a line of intelligent machine control (iMC)-equipped dozers and new Tier 4 Final-compliant equipment.

Its stand will include four iMC dozers, nine excavators, five wheeled loaders, two trucks, two larger dozers, one tracked log loader and one forklift.

The iMC dozers feature an integrated sensor package that eliminates the daily hassles of installing and removing GNSS antennas and cable from the blade. Komatsu said its integrated approach boosted rough dozing efficiency up by up to +13% compared to tested models with add-on machine control systems.

The iMC dozers can perform rough dozing as well as finish grading in automatic mode, because of the fully automatic blade control.
Ausa’s stand will feature its T144HX4 Plus compact telehandler and C500HX4 rough terrain forklift.

The T144HX4 offers 3,000 lbs (1.36 tonne) lifting capacity and a 13 ft 1 in (4 m) lift height. It is fitted with a quick coupler for easy attachment changes. The company says its dimensions makes it comparable in size to a skid steer loader, but with the advantages of a telehandler – easier entry to the cab for the operator, less wear & tear on the ground due to its conventional steering and greater reach.

In contrast, the C500HX4 rough terrain forklift is the largest in Ausa’s range, offering 11,000 lbs (5 tonnes) of lift capacity and lift height of 22 ft 4 in (6.8 m). The machine includes Ausa’s Full Grip system which allows the machine to work in two-wheel drive, with four-wheel drive being engaged only when the ground conditions dictate it. This save unnecessary fuel consumption and tyre wear.

Ausa will also have machines from its site dumper range on show.

Atlas Copco will launch new electric submersible pumps in the shape of the LR60Hz - units designed to worth on North America’s 60 Hz electricity for drainage, residual and sludge pumping. The range consists of the Weda 04 and Weda 08 drainage pumps, the Weda 04B residual pump and the Weda 04S and 08S sludge/trash pumps.

The 04 and 08 offer a maximum flow of 86 gallons (326 litres) per minute and a maximum head of 50 ft (15.2 m). They have polyurethane semi vortex impellers, designed to handle water with a very low risk of clogging.

The 04B residual pump draws water down to 1mm. With the built-in non-return valve, the pump can be moved without spilling or losing suction. A rubber-coated bottom avoids damage to tanks and pools.

Meanwhile the 04S and 08S sludge/trash pumps are sand and mud-resistant. Designed with a vortex cast iron impeller, particles and debris with a 1 in (25 mm) diameter can go through the pump housing with minimal wear.

Engine technology

ConExpo will see the US launch of the Hatz 2-litre 4H50TIC compact diesel engine. Unveiled as a prototype at last year’s Bauma exhibition and now going into production, the unit offers maximum power of 75 hp (55 kW) and a maximum torque of 240 Nm, which is available from as low as 1,600 rpm. Including starter and alternator, the engine weighs just 381 lbs (173 kg), which the company says is 198 lbs (90 kg) less than its nearest competitor, giving it the lowest power to weight ratio in its class.

The new intelligent Hatz Advanced Combustion Strategy (iHACS) for the combustion process and an optimised combustion chamber geometry, combined with a Bosch common rail fuel injection system help cut particulate emissions. This allows it to achieve the US EPA Tier 4 final standards without the use of a diesel particulate filter.

Hatz added that the new engine would also make for savings for machine owners. At its most efficient point the 4H50TIC offers 205 g of fuel consumption per kWh and also has service intervals of 500 hours.

John Deere Power Systems (JDPS) will display Final Tier 4/Stage IV off-highway diesel engines, featuring a variety of aftertreatment and emissions-reduction component combinations. Marketed as Integrated Emissions Control system, John Deere offers three configurations for the latest round of legislation.

For the 36 to 55 kW band, the company uses an exhaust filter that contains a diesel oxidation catalyst/diesel particulate filter (DOC/DPF) without cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) or selective catalytic reduction (SCR). In the 56 to 104 kW category, the PowerTech PWL 4.5L engine is equipped with cooled EGR and an Integrated Emissions Control system configured with SCR and a DOC. Engines in the 93 kW and above power feature cooled EGR, a DOC/DPF and SCR.

The company will also display its range of Funk drivetrain components, including transmissions, axles, pump drives and planetary drives.

Attachments

New products from Allu at ConExpo will include is DL series screening buck for compact carriers and a 3D positioning system for mass stabilisation work.

The new DL Series includes three new models featuring the company’s Top Screen technology. This is designed to ensure good throughputs, even with wet material, and the attachments are suitable for 4 to 14 tonne excavators or 2 to 8 tonne loaders.

The addition to Allu’s mass stabilisation equipment, meanwhile, is a 3D positioning system that helps to ensure the mixing head is correctly located. The system comprises a computer module, touch screen, base station and GPS antennas. Using this system for accurate positioning of the mixer head when binder powder is being added to the ground being stabilised, there is a homogeneous result and only the amount of binder required for the job is used.

Paladin will highlight the newest additions to its range, the JRB Power Latch coupler with new Power Fill bucket, along with its Grapple and the Smart Loc couplers for excavators, the cast wheeled loader coupler, the Roll-Out bucket and tilt bucket for wheel loaders.

The company’s Bradco product line will be represented by the new FME40 Flail Mower mini-excavator attachment, extreme duty Ground Shark brush cutter, rock trencher and cold planer. The Sweepster heavy duty hopper broom and VCS vacuum sweeper will be displayed along with a Harley power box rake and a McMillen auger system.

Of course with 2,400 exhibitors taking part in ConExpo-Con/Agg, these machines and those featured in last month’s iC represent only a fraction of those being launched at the show. As ever, the best way to find out the latest innovations in the industry is to visit ConExpo-Con/Agg for yourself.