Engines, Components & Tyres

Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME) and Shell are now working together on testing the Shell GTL (gas-to-liquids) fuel in construction operations. The latest range of Hitachi Zaxis-5 excavators is being used to trial the innovative liquid fuel. This concept is being tested as a potential solution to environmental and quality concerns surrounding conventional crude oil-derived diesel. The test programme has been developed as a solution for cleaner burning fuel products. This is in response to th

Caterpillar’s hybrid excavator represents evolutionary rather than revolutionary technology - Mike Woof reports One of the key things to understand about Caterpillar’s hybrid excavator is that its fuel savings come not from a single technology, but from a range of features that have been integrated together. The sophisticated engine works hand in hand with the advanced hydraulics, with electronics governing the whole operation and optimising efficiency. And while none of these technologies is new in it

New diesel developments from JCB and Volvo Innovative diesel technologies are being developed by all the major engine manufacturers at present. New emission requirements have pushed the boundaries in terms of technology, with all the firms working on new systems to ensure their products meet requirements. And companies are also developing new engine sizes to broaden their range of offerings to the market.

Problem tyres played a role in nearly 15% of fatal passenger car and van accidents in Finland from 2000-2009, based on the accident database kept by the Finnish Motor Insurers' Centre. During the 2000s, passenger cars and vans have been involved in 2,647 fatal road accidents. In 393 of these, the accident was caused or at least partly caused by the installation of bad or wrong type of tyres. In some accidents, there was also found to have been problems with the tyre pressure.