Demolition goes to Las Vegas

Advanced visitor registrations for the 2005 ConExpo-Con/Agg have already exceeded the number of pre-registrations for the 2002 and 1999 shows, suggesting that this year could be the exhibition's biggest yet. More than 2300 exhibitors are currently making the final design touches to their stands which will cover a total of 1.85 million ft2 (172000 m2) and many have announced plans to launch new equipment at the event. Visitors from the demolition sector will be spoilt for choice with a vast array of new products on display from some of the world's leading manufacturers.

Among the visitors to Las Vegas this month will be the first visit to the United States from the Iraqi American Chamber of Commerce and Industry. A party of 50 delegates, made up from the private sector in Iraq, will attend ConExpo. The delegation will be going to the show in search of partners and suppliers to help with the US$ 30 billion rebuilding of Iraq that will take place over the next two years. Following the exhibition, the delegates will spend a week in Los Angeles where they will host a conference on the rebuilding of Iraq.

Excavators, loaders and cranes

New on the Caterpillar stand will be the 22 tonne 345CL hydraulic excavator, which replaces the 345B Series II model. The 345CL features a Cat C13 engine, higher hydraulic system pressure and greater breakout force than its predecessor.

The six-cylinder C13 engine meets EPA Tier 3 and EU Stage IIIa exhaust emissions standards and produces 257kW (345hp) at 1800 rpm. The new auxiliary hydraulic system controls the hammer, thumb and tool control systems, eliminating the need for the operator to recalibrate the system every time a work tool is changed. The 7.4 m (24) long reach boom has three operating options; reach, long reach and mass excavation, and can be fitted with attachments including hammers, shears, thumbs, rotators grapples and crushers.

JCB will unveil the new 14 tonne JZ140, which it claims is the first zero tailswing excavator with a full size cab available on the market. Rear tailswing is 1420 mm, the smallest in its class according to JCB, and the machine is powered by a 72.8 kW (98 hp) engine. Maximum travel speed is 5.4 km/h and drawbar pull is 130 kN. Both these specifications are superior to machines from leading competitors, JCB claims.

As well as the launch of its new excavator, JCB has updated its 3CX and 4CX backhoe loaders (pictured) in time for ConExpo. Developments on both models include an enhanced Precision Control system, increased hydraulic pressure, improved serviceability, a new one-piece bonnet design and new JCB engines for European customers.

Link-Belt will show its new 9 tonne 80 Spin Ace minimum swing radius excavator for the first time at ConExpo, along with other products from its range of cranes and construction equipment. The new machine's undercarriage incorporates components from Link-Belt's range of heavy-duty excavators to improve stability and ground bearing pressure.

The excavator's upper carbody has been integrally welded to provide added strength and durability, making it suited to demolition applications. Main boom length is 11’ (3.3 m) and a 611” (1.8 m) optional arm is available separately. The hydraulic system has been fitted with a Nephron filtration system, which keeps it clean for up to 5,000 hours. This reduces general wear and tear on hydraulic components as well as minimising the chances of a hydraulic system breakdown.

A 52 hp 4 cylinder Isuzu CC-4JG1 engine, which is electronically controlled and water cooled, powers the new excavator. Visitors to the stand will also be able to compete in the Link-Belt Excavator Rodeo against current champion Mark Foyse. Contestants must move three basketballs from on top of safety cones into a basket using a Link-Belt 210 LX excavator.

The Mustang Manufacturing Company will be showcasing its new range of skid steer loaders, all wheel drive loaders and compact excavators at ConExpo. The three new skid steer loaders – the 2066, 2076 and 2086 – are all powered by Cummins Tier II diesel engines. The 2066 comes with a 45 kW engine, which gives an operating capacity of 2000 lbs (907 kg). The 2076 and 2086 are both fitted with 60 kW engines and have maximum capacities of 2200 lbs (998 kg) and 2600 lbs (1179 kg), respectively.

The company's newly upgraded loader range features four models with Mustang's own all wheel steer system that helps maintain stability while manoeuvring and tracking at up to 40 km/h with a full load. The ML28, ML48, ML48T – which has a telescopic boom – and ML68 come with a range of engine sizes and also have an optional EcoSpeed two-speed transmission system to take the top speed from 20 km/h to 40 km/h.

Mustang's new 5003ZT and 7503ZT compact excavators are zero tail swing machines, while the 6003 and 8003 have a short tail design to optimise lifting capacity and manoeuvrability. All four excavators have a side mounted engine compartment with a built in barrier, which minimises the noise and vibration transmitted to the cab of the machine.

Terex will also have its new zero tail swing machine, which is designed for working in confined spaces, on display in Las Vegas. The HR3.7 crawler excavator is powered by a 24 kW Mitsubishi four-cylinder diesel engine and has a hydrostatic drive system to improve manoeuvrability. The machine weighs 8157 lbs (3700 kg) and has a maximum digging depth of 11’ (3.35 m) and a reach of over 18’ (5.48 m).

Kanga Loaders will launch the its new 7 Series ‘Fat Track’ ride-on skid steer loaders and two new attachments for use with it in Las Vegas. The five models range in power from 13 to 24 hp. Models in the 7 Series are available with either a diesel or internal combustion engine, and are designed for both internal and external work.

The striking ‘fat tracks’ are non-marking and increase ground clearance by 194 mm.

New attachments available for the loaders are a vinyl stripper and a concrete breaker, both of which the company says have been designed primarily for indoor use.

Kobelco will launch the CK1000 and CK1600 model crawler cranes, which are the North American versions of the CKE900 and CKE1350 units that are available in Europe. The CK 1000 has a lifting capacity of 100 US tons (90 tonnes) and a maximum combined boom length of 76.20 m. The crane has an operating weight of 80.6 t a swing speed of 4 rounds per minute.

The larger CK1600's maximum lifting capacity of 160 US tons (135 tonnes) and a combined maximum boom and luffing jib length of 331’ (101 m). Operating weight is 143 tons and swing speed is 2.1 rounds per minute.

Both models are powered by 6 cylinder Mitsubishi 6D24 diesel engine, which Kobelco says was chosen for reliability, fuel efficiency and low sound levels.

Link-Belt will show six models from its range of rough, crawler and truck-mounted cranes. Making its debut in Las Vegas will be the 110 ton (99 tonne) capacity 218 Hylab HSL crawler crane, which is the first new crane to be designed by the Hitachi-Sumitomo-Link-Belt alliance. The crane has a 70 m (230) main boom and can be fitted with a 42 m (140) luffing jib.

Also on show will be the new 60 ton (54 tonne) RTC-8060 Series II rough terrain crane, which was released at the end of 2004.

Crushing and screening

New machinery on show on the Terex Pegson stand will be the 1412 Trakpactor, which is a track mounted primary impactor fitted with a four hammer rotor and replaceable fixed blowbars. Output is 600 tph and the addition of a hydraulic apron locking facility provides constant product size and protection against tramp metal. The crusher has been designed to open and adjust hydraulically, and a tilted feed plate has been added to aid blockage clearance. A PLC control system automatically regulates the feed to the crusher based on the engine load.

Powerscreen will have three new screening products – the Warrior H3S, the Chieftan 2100 Triple Deck and the Phoenix 1200 Trommel – on show. The Warrior H3S is capable of processing up to 800 tonnes of aggregate, coal, concrete or asphalt per hour and can be used to blend material. The Chieftan 2100 can process up to 500 tonnes per hour and has an optional tri-axle bogie system that allows the machine to be transported without a low-loader. The Phoenix 1200 has been designed for the reclamation, processing and stockpiling of topsoil and compost, and can be set up in less than five minutes.

Metso Minerals will be introducing its new Lokotrack LT200HP cone crusher and the ST352 mobile screen at ConExpo. The track mounted LT200HP is based on Metso's well known HP200 cone crusher and has been designed specifically for secondary and fine crushing. The machine can process up to 275 tonnes per hour and is powered by a 319 kW CT C-12 diesel engine. The Lokotrack ST352 mobile screen is suited to quarrying, construction and recycling applications that call for high production rates and fine screening of multiple products.

Brock will exhibit its remote controlled 180 demolition machine fitted with a CC 400 concrete crusher. The 1900 kg (4200 lb) machine is small enough to fit through a standard doorframe and can be fitted with attachments including hammers, crushers, scabblers and buckets. The CC 400 concrete crusher has a shearing capacity of 250 kN and can crush 400 mm (15 “) concrete and 16 mm (5/8 “) rebar.

Video presentations showing the capabilities of both mobile and stationary crushing, screening, recycling and handling plants produced by Grasan will be on show. The presentation will include details of the Grasan's newest development – a range of large track mounted primary crushing plants that are custom built to suit individual customer's needs.

Attachments

Two new attachments will be launched by Atlas Copco; the MB 700 Hydraulic Breaker Attachment and the CC 3300 Hydraulic Attachment. The MB 700 is designed for 10-18 tonne excavators carrying out light demolition work, foundation removal and secondary rock breaking. Maintenance time is kept to a minimum as the MB 700 has only two moving parts and no high pressure accumulator. A maximum of 800 blows per minute is provided from 32 litres of hydraulic flow at 2465 psi.

The CC 3300 is aimed at larger excavators in the 20-50 tonne class and is available with either universal or steel cutting jaws. The universal jaws open 40 inches wide and provide 441 tonnes of cutting force, making them ideal for heavily reinforced concrete demolition and material separation. The steel cutting jaws also have a cutting force of 441 tonnes but a smaller jaw opening of 17 inches.

Both models use easy to replace parts that can be changed on site and are fitted with a new capturing and positioning system – CAPS – that keeps the jaws connected after they have been removed and makes on site replacement faster.

Dynaset's ConExpo display will include its new 1600 bar hydraulic water pump, which can be used for hydrodemolition, water jet cutting, and tanks and ship cleaning. The high power to weight ratio of the machine means that it is very mobile and powerful enough to remove concrete without damaging the rebar. Dynaset will also be exhibiting its range of dust suppression systems and hydraulic magnets.

Indeco's display will include its latest excavator tool, the Multi, which comes with three sets of jaws to allow one excavator to carry out a variety of tasks on site. The demolition and pulverizer jaw sets can be used in the same way as a hydraulic crusher and rotating pulverizer, respectively, while the shear jaw set can be used to cut metal structures including steel girders. The tool has full 360° hydraulic rotation and is fitted with two large pistons to provide dynamic but balanced demolition power.

Arrowhead Rockdrill has promised a new range of vibra silenced hydraulic hammers, which the company promises will provide users with “financial and on-site benefits”.

Details of the hammers, dubbed the S range, were not available as D&Ri went to press but it is known that they have been fitted with a new compressed urethane mounting section that eliminates the use of cross bolts and therefore reduces wear and maintenance. Marketing manager Darrell Bendall added that the price of the new S range is “usually associated with grey imports or hammers bought at auction with no service back up.”

Power

Leading Edge Attachments will show Caterpiller versions of its popular SHARC (Shanks on an ARC), Multi-Ripper and Multi-Ripper Bucket. All the models can be used on excavators or backhoes above 6000 lbs.

Cummins will have its next generation four and six cylinder QSB diesel engines on public display for the first time in Las Vegas. Theses engines have been enhanced to improve performance, durability and reduce noise, and also meet the US Environmental Protection Agency's Tier 3 emissions requirements. Both the four and six-cylinder version have 18 % more torque than their predecessors and will produce between 82 and 205 kW.

Terex's recently introduced T45 Super Quiet Generator will be featured alongside the rest of the Super Quiet Generator product range on the company's display at ConExpo. The generator has been designed for quiet operation and offers a prime power output of 36 kW in variable voltages from 120 V through to 277 V as single phase power and from 208 V to 600 V as three phase power.

Ingersoll-Rand has just introduced two new compact portable rotary screw compressors – the AirSource and the AirSource Plus. The AirSource runs off a 49 HP Ingersoll-Rand diesel engine to give it an eight hour run time and allows for two-tool use. The AirSource Plus is designed for higher demand applications and is available with a 47 kW Ingersoll-Rand diesel engine or a 49 kW John Deere diesel engine.

Best of the rest

Piling equipment specialist BSP will highlight the company's recent success through its display and information about the recently launched rapid impact compactor (RIC) and new CX range of hydraulic piling hammers will be available. The RIC is designed around a modified BSP 357 hydraulic piling hammer and uses a 1.5 m diameter foot and high frequency drop weight to carry out ground improvement. The CX range are lightweight hammers that are available with ram weights of between 3 and 9 tonnes, and provide good performance and reduced noise.

Wirth will be exhibiting its PBA 612 pile top drilling rig, which can be used on or off shore, that comes with a 224 kW hydraulic power pack and can drive piles up to 2m in diameter. The PBA 612 is part of a range of six pile top drilling rig available from Wirth, the largest of which is fitted with can be used to drive 13’ (4 m) diameter piles.

Autec's whole radio remote controls range will be on display alongside the LK 8, its latest light hand held push button controller, and the new MK 10 and MK 12 controllers. The LK 8 has the same dimensions and tough ergonomically designed casing as the LK 4 and LK 6 but can cover a wider range of applications and weighs only 420 g, including the battery. The new MK models, along with the rest of the MK and MJ series, have now been certified as fail safe by TÜV in Germany and comply with Class 1 of EN300220-1.

Mikrofyn is launching a number of new products, including lasers, visual laser machine detectors, real-time exactor systems and a full range of 2D and 3D GPS/LPS automatic machine controls at ConExpo. The control systems are designed for use with earth moving equipment, pavers and milling machines, and are built to a rugged and durable design. According to Mikofyn, its systems were the first to introduce machine controls based on the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus interface and the company also developed the first laser with remote control electronic rotation of the optical axis.

The next generation of grade control systems for earth moving, site preparation and road construction work from Trimble will also be on show. The recently launched range uses the new Trimble LR410 laser receivers to provide control systems for single grade operations through to 3D control which includes a fully integrated GPS receiver and antenna. The systems offered by Trimble use CAN as a ‘backbone’ to connect the laser receivers, sonics or GPS sensors and the control box to the machine's hydraulics.