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Hidromek is offering an improved excavator series and plans to introduce a new top-of-the-range machine later this year. Export manager Anil Bingöl said, “We are preparing a 50tonne class machine.” He added that this will be offered with a Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB emissions rating only, although full specifications of the machine have yet to be revealed. The new 50tonne class excavator will benefit from the latest Hidromek telematics package, which uses satellite communications to provide a continuous flow

Hidromek is commencing work on developing its new wheeled loader line. Export manager Anil Bingöl said, “We have started our wheeled loader project and we hope to have our first prototype machine this year.” This will feature a 3m3 bucket and will be the first in a range of wheeled loaders from the firm. Machines with bucket capacities of 4m3 and then 5m3 will be developed in due course. Testing of the first prototype will be carried out in Turkey and Bingöl said the firm intends to have its wheeled loaders

A special version of Hidromek’s HMK220LC excavator is now available for use in underground applications. This machine features additional reinforcement and protection to ensure its longevity in the tough underground application, as well as providing extra safety measures for the operator. The same Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB emission certified engine and hydraulics components are used as in the standard machines, although additional after-treatment systems are available to meet underground working requirement

From Bell Equipment comes a special version of its B30 truck in the shape of a 4x4 version of the B30D. Introduced as part of the firm’s VersaTruck programme, the 4x4 version of the B30D has been developed for a range of applications such as use in underground tunnel construction and underground mining, or quarrying. The shorter rear chassis and single rear axle means that the truck is able to manoeuvre in tighter spaces than the conventional B30 machine, suiting it to applications such as underground opera

The 30km long third phase of the Madinah-Tabuk highway, the old Madinah-Qassim Road and the third 25km ring of King Khaled Road are among major highways projects to be carried out in Saudi Arabia's Madinah province. A total of US$306.66 million (SAR 1.15bn) has been approved by the Saudi government for the province's transport and road projects during the financial year 2013. Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia's Transport Minister Jabara Al-Seraisry said that SAR 11bn would be invested in new road projects in

All toll-collection systems on Istanbul's Bosphorus and Fatih Bridges have been converted to HGS. The new system offers instant toll payment on roads and bridges without having to wait at counters thanks to a device attached to the vehicle's windscreen, as well as 20% discount on fares. However, there are concerns that a lack of counters on the bridges might cause problems for European drivers driving through Istanbul.

New research carried out jointly by the Lighting Research Center and Penn State have identified links between visibility and safety from roadway lighting. The results are said to hold promise for predicting the safety benefits of new lighting configurations. Identifying when and where to install roadway illumination is a challenge for transportation agencies. Estimating nighttime crash reductions from roadway lighting is difficult in part because lighting tends to be installed along with other improvements

New cameras designed for catching red-light beaters are being put on trial by the Singaporean traffic police. The state-of-the-art cameras are being tested at three sites: one in Victoria Street and two along Thomson Road. The new cameras are said to be able to react faster and capture sharper images. They also enable remote downloading, which helps ease traffic police enforcement efforts. Currently, the cameras that have been set up at around 240 traffic junctions throughout the city-state require physical

A key industry move comes with the news that Hemisphere GPS now has a new Chinese owner following a US$15 million acquisition. The deal was carried out by Hemisphere GNSS, a subsidiary of Beijing UniStrong Science & Technology (UniStrong), which purchased the Precision Products business and related GNSS technology and intellectual property from Hemisphere GPS. Meanwhile, Hemisphere GPS intends to change its company name to AgJunction. As part of the transaction, Hemisphere acquired the entire high-precision

A study by the Texas Transportation Institute has revealed that US capital Washington DC now suffers the heaviest congestion of any city in the country. Los Angeles in California and Houston in Texas have both been regarded as amongst the worst in the US in this regard, suffering long traffic delays due to jams, but the report shows Washington DC to be worse still. The Texas Transportation Institute’s Urban Mobility Report paints a damning portrait of congestion in the US capital. The American Road & Transp

New wheeled excavators are now available from German company Atlas Maschinen. New cabs, improved hydraulics and Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB compliant engines are key features. Stephan Theis director sales and marketing said, “We have a big reduction in noise levels at the operator’s ear.” Key new models for 2013 are the 140W, 150W and 160W wheeled excavators, with the larger 160W now coming to market and the two smaller units available at the end of the year. Theis said that the combination of the new engines