Maintenance

A range of safety specific additions have been made to JCB's 8018 mini excavator after the company worked with leading utility contractors to develop a special industry-specific version of the machine. The largest of the three 801 minis, the 1.6tonne machine retains its digging capabilities and its powerful 14.2kW Tier III compliant motor, but the utility pack offers requested upgrades. For example, to prevent damage on site, the lower door window has been replaced by a steel panel and the rear counterweigh

The mini and midi excavator sector continues to squeeze more out of less, with some innovative engineering solutions being applied to zero- and short-tailswing models - Geoff Ashcroft investigates. It is a vicious circle - customers seek smaller, tighter, ever more compact excavators, leaving manufacturers with the challenges of squeezing greater levels of technology into what is all too often an even smaller machine.

High performance backhoe loaders from Hidromek can compete with leading brands on performance - Mike Woof reports

Chinese construction equipment manufacturer LiuGong Machinery announced first quarter earnings of US$93.35 million (¥612 million; ?66.03 million) from a net profit of $905.58 million (¥5.94billion; ?640.59 million) total sales revenue.

Mike Woof reports on equipment developments in the demolition sector. The hydraulic hammer is a tough tool used in a wide array of demolition jobs. Highly versatile, the breaker has evolved from a simple design based on rockdrilling equipment into a sophisticated and reliable piece of machinery. German firm Krupp and French company Montabert were pioneers of the hydraulic breaker, being followed into the market by a growing array of other manufacturers. Early breakers had the unfortunate habit of tearing th

Smaller construction equipment offers versatile options, particularly on highway repair and maintenance projects. Patrick Smith reports. Visitors to any highway construction site across the world will see a sizeable amount of utility equipment in action carrying out a variety of tasks. Indeed, because of its smaller, more compact size, such multi-task equipment is essential when repair and maintenance projects are being carried out, particularly in urban areas where space may be limited.

Turkish firm Hidromek is serious about its plans for the future and is gearing up production of its excavator range. High performance is claimed by the firm for its machines, which feature sophisticated electronics and hydraulics as well as the latest low emission engines.