World of Concrete 2013 preview

Taking place from February 5th to 8th next year in Las Vegas, US, World of Concrete is a key exhibition and its organisers are optimistic it will be a productive show.

The Las Vegas Convention Center will host over 1,200 exhibitors for the 2013 show and it is expected to attract over 50,000 visitors – similar to last year, when the show attracted 52,088 visitors and over 1,200 exhibitors in more than 552,500 ft2 (51,330 m2) of exhibit space.

Technology is playing an increasingly important role in the concrete sector, and exhibitors plan to launch a raft of new, high-tech equipment at the show. Manufacturers are also increasing the flexibility, safety and productivity of the pavers, drills, excavators, loaders and attachments available on the market, with new models being introduced as well as tweaks to existing designs.

GOMACO will be showcasing new technology which aims to make life easier on site. It plans to introduce its G+ Connect control system for its GHP-2800 slipform paver and for mainline paving applications at the show.

The device – which is already compatible with the company’s T/C-600 texture/cure machine, IDBI dowel bar inserter, GT-3200 curb and gutter machine, 4400 barrier machine and GP-2400 paver – allows fast, two-way communication between all components on the paver, both the electronics and hydraulics, and the G+ controller, which features a 156 mm flat panel display screen.
Flexibility

Phoenix Curb Machines, meanwhile, will be showcasing its Phoenix 2500 and Phoenix 7500 slipform curb and gutter machines at the show. The Phoenix 7500 can now grade and pour in a 3 ft (914 mm) radius, thanks to a new auger positioned ahead of the rear tires. The 7500 can also lift its hopper without the removal of the mold, as well as slide its auger into grade position, grade, retract, lower the hopper and pour.

World of Concrete will also see the launch of Concut’s first ride-on slab saw – a 115 hp (85 kW) diesel engine. Other new products will also be presented by the company’s Wolverine Equipment division, including a hydraulic handsaw cart and a track saw system for handsaws.

Concut will also be showcasing additions to its growing line of walk-behind concrete slab saws at World of Concrete. The company said it was adding models to widen size options within the range, offering either diesel, gas or electric versions.

Reed Concrete Pumps, meanwhile, plans to unveil its new track mounted B50 pump, a self-propelled machine that can tackle rough terrain when relocating from one part of a site to another.

The B50 is attached to a piling rig, which allows the machine to drill down the entire depth of a pile in one go, then rise slightly and start pumping straight away. Reed said a 3ft (924 mm) diameter by 60 ft (10.3 m) deep pile could be completed in eight minutes from the start of drilling to withdrawal of the drill.

New designs

Minnich Manufacturing will also be present at World of Concrete, and plans to release several re-designs of its existing drills – tweaks it says increase safety and productivity. For
its A-1 Series, for instance, the company has added a 4 in
(102 mm) length to bring the handle higher so operators don’t have to bend over to reach the controls.

Doosan Infracore and its sister companies Doosan Portable Power and Bobcat will also be showcasing new machines. On Doosan Infracore’s stand will be its new DX140LC-3 Tier 4 Interim compliant excavator and DL200-3 Tier 4 Interim wheeled loader.

The 74.5 kW, 14 tonne class DX140LC-3 excavator will be showcased equipped with a coupler and hydraulic breaker. A plate compactor attachment which can be mounted on the model will also be on show at the exhibition.

The DL200-3 wheeled loader is powered by a 107 kW engine and has a bucket capacity of 2.0 m3. On the stand it will be equipped with a coupler and pallet forks attachment. Like the DX140LC-3 excavator, the DL200-3 also features a new cab design that is said to offer better visibility thanks to a wider front glass section and an extended wiper blade area.

Doosan Portable Power, meanwhile, will be debuting its new 25 kVA output G25 mobile generator at the show, part of the company’s new EPA Tier 4-interim compliant generator range running from 25 to 570 kVA.

In addition, the manufacturer will unveil the most recent addition to its range of light towers, the LSC, at World of Concrete. A range of compressors and light compaction equipment will also be on display at the Doosan Portable Power stand.

Bobcat will showcase its new sonic tracer grader attachment, mounted on a T870 compact tracked loader, as well as a new extendable arm option being shown on the Bobcat E35 compact excavator.

The company’s T750 compact tracked loader will also be on show, mounted with a concrete mixer attachment, while an E55 compact excavator will be present carrying a Bobcat HB1180 hydraulic breaker.

Largest skid-steer

And Gehl will use World of Concrete to introduce its largest skid steer loader, the V400, to the North American market. Designed for larger jobs, this vertical-lift model boasts a rated operating capacity of 4,000 lbs. (1814 kg) and a lift height of 144 in (3.65 m).

Powered by a 74 kW Cummins diesel engine, the V400 has an optional high-flow system for hydraulic attachments, while the standard Hydraglide ride control system allows the lift arm to float when transporting load – a system that is said to minimise loss of material.

Meanwhile, Caterpillar’s stand at the show will feature several machines, work tool attachments and design options.

These are set to include the company’s 272D HXP skid steer loader with cold planer, 930K wheeled loader with Aggregate Handler package, and the D5K2 dozer with Stable Blade and integrated AccuGrade grade control system – technology which is said to enable operators to reach target grade faster, with fewer passes and less manpower. Caterpillar will also have details of its equipment rental, financial and training services available for visitors to its stand at the show.

Allied-Gator will also be at the show, and plans to exhibit its MT Shear, MT Cracker/Crusher and MT Densifier attachments for concrete demolition and recycling.

Meanwhile, other new products on display will include new touch-screen technology from Smart-Use. On the company’s stand will be the S55 Table, which boasts a 55 in (1397 mm) display designed to allow annotating, manipulating, comparing, measuring, centralising and sharing of PDF plans. The device can be set up in the field or in the office to allow operators to access the latest version of full-sized PDF plans.

Spraylock will use the show to promote its concrete protection technology, Treat-Proof, which is said to provide rapid curing at the time of pour and ensure waterproofing.

Meanwhile, SMK Industries will be using the show to present its battery-powered, bucket-top sprayers, which have been two-years in the making. Powered by cordless tool batteries, the new sprayers are said to dispense their content in half the time of a traditional hand pump. The new sprayers allow the product to be dispensed directly from the original container.

This is just a preview selection of the many new products that will be on display at the 2013 World of Concrete, which promises to be an exciting and innovative start to next year’s exhibition season.