Growth in a versatile workforce

Some of the biggest names in the construction industry have released innovative new utility machines and equipment in the first few months of 2012. Guy Woodford looks at some of the latest models

To mark the 25th anniversary of the 1130 Bobcat compact excavaor range, the 695 Doosan-owned company recently unveiled a new limited edition version of the Bobcat E16.  The special 1.6 tonne model is said by the company to provide an attractive complement to the also new and enhanced versions of both the E16 and 1.4tonne E14 compact excavators.

Compared to the existing models, the upgraded E14 and E16 excavators are said to feature new exterior styling.  Inside the cab, the most important improvements are new ergonomic travel levers and pedals which Bobcat says have proved very successful on the larger E26 excavator model.

Optional features include a premium Bobcat radio; four tie downs; blade extension rubber pads; a suspension seat and an auxiliary hydraulic line on the dipper stick.

Also containing a retractable undercarriage, both the E14 and E16 excavator models are said to offer powerful performance, superior reliability and durability.  Bobcat says both machines smooth responsive hydraulics enable precise movements and fast cycle times.

Equipped with a heated cab, the E14 has an operating weight of 1500kg and offers a maximum digging depth of 2,301mm.

The E16 offers a choice of dipper sticks: a standard dipper stick and a long dipper stick. With standard dipper stick, the E16 has an operating weight of 1,744kg and offers a maximum digging depth of 2,422mm. 

Equipped with the long dipper stick, the E16 has a maximum digging depth of 2,602mm. Picking up and placing heavy objects is, according to Bobcat, easy with either excavator model as the E14 can lift more than 300kg, while the larger E16 can lift more than 350kg.

The models compact size and light weight means both the E14 and E16 can be transported on a trailer towed by a small truck, van or even a mid-size passenger car.

The auxiliary hydraulic lines and workgroup hoses are mounted inside the E14 and E16’s boom and arm for maximum protection and enhanced visibility. 

Attachments, which include a range of different sized digging and trenching buckets, grading buckets, hydraulic breakers, augers and the hydraulic clamp, are described as easy to mount.

Both the E14 and E16 are powered by the 3-cylinder 9.9 kW 1265 Kubota D722 engine.  High digging performance is said to be enhanced by the stability provided by the dozer blade and the low centre of gravity of the machines. 

A thick metal tailgate protects the rear of the excavators, said by Bobcat to be an important feature for demanding applications in equipment rental, demolition and the construction industries. 
With a new curvier look, enhanced cab ergonomics, and a 20% larger fuel tank to optimise on-site time, the new B-Series backhoe loaders from 2394 Volvo Construction Equipment (VCE) is seen by the Swedish firm as a significant leap forwards for customers in the building and utility sectors.

The new BL61B and BL71B models are said to contain the strength and simplicity of a VCE wheeled loader with the power and performance of a VCE excavator.

With an operating weight ranging from 7.1tonnes to 9.8tonnes, and gross power of 64kW to 74.9kW, VCE says the BL61B and BL71B were designed and built with power, strength, long life and cost saving efficiency in mind.


“The new B-Series backhoe loaders represent a quantum leap forwards,” says Kurt Deleu, product strategy director at VCE sales region EMEA (Europe – Middle East – Africa).

“Initial test results have exceeded our expectations and I think it is fair to say that the new B-Series backhoe loader clearly offers more for our customers.”

Customer needs are further met by varying levels of finish in the cab to suit the specific needs of individual customers. “This will enable customers to specify their machines to suit markets such as rental, owner operator or even large contractors,” adds Deleu.

The one piece chassis, loader arm and excavator boom are all made from high quality steel and robotically welded, which, says VCE, provides precise, constant weld runs for structural integrity.

The loader arm has a box-welded design and is reinforced with a cross tube. The larger excavator boom has a narrow, tall arch design that is inherently strong, and uses a closed box-welded approach with fewer components and welds, said to boost durability and performance.

The boom is also said to allow excellent visibility into the trench, as well as enabling closer proximity to the truck for loading.

The BL61B and BL71B also feature new controls. They are equipped with two floor mounted ergonomic levers to assist operators when manoeuvring the excavator. The right lever is fitted with a horn for safety, and the left lever can have an optional fingertip button. This button controls the two-way auxiliary hydraulic line required when using double acting excavator attachments.

The BL71B’s front loader is fitted with a single lever joystick for operating loader arm and bucket movements, multipurpose bucket opening and closing and also Forward, Reverse and Neutral transmission functions.

Fitted with either 46cm or 56cm front tyres, the machines have a small turning circle and are said to be extremely manoeuvrable, as well as easier to position onsite. The bucket can rotate 205° allowing vertical digging in all positions without repositioning the machine.

Stability is said by VCE to be enhanced by new rectangular stabiliser feet that have 30% more ground surface contact then previous models.

The BL61B and BL71B both feature VCE’s latest D5D four cylinder 4.8litre European Stage IIIA emission standard engines, with direct injection and turbo charging.

The torque converter on these machines is said to be one of the largest in the industry and has excellent peak torque and torque rise.

The redesigned VCE CareCab is said to have 15% more space and there is also a larger area to store personal items. The seat, steering controls and instruments are all designed to lower fatigue and keep operators alert and in control. Comfort can be increased further with multi-adjustable steering column and high performance heating and cooling systems.

A 30% increase in glass area combined with narrow pillars and a sloping hood bonnet design allow, says VCE, excellent all-round visibility when working.

Both ends of the machine can be equipped with versatile, easy-to-use attachments and quick couplers. B-Series backhoes can be also be configured with general or multi-purpose loader buckets, pallet forks, hydraulic thumb, standard and heavy duty excavator buckets, and hydraulic breaker attachments. Bucket loader capacities range up to 1m³ and the backhoe excavator buckets have a maximum volume of 0.33m³.

Service and daily maintenance is said to be made easy with the B-Series, with a one piece lifting hood and filters/service points all grouped together at ground level. Fewer greasing points and long greasing intervals also help to increase uptime. A tilting oil cooler in front of the radiator makes cleaning both the cooler and the radiator quick and easy.


A wide range of service plans are said to be available, as are analysis and diagnostics tools. Each backhoe loader can, as an option, be fitted with VCE’s CareTrack telematics system, which provides vital information on servicing, potential problems and location – allowing better planning and smarter working.

Both models are said by VCE to have gone through rigorous testing to ensure they measure up to the daily challenges of a variety of jobs.

Meanwhile, 1222 Terex has been busy launching three compact excavators - a micro TC10 and the reduced radius TC15 and TC19 - at last month’s 242 INTERMAT construction show in Paris.

All three have been developed in co-operation with an Italian manufacturer. Weighing in at just 1tonne, the TC10 has a travel width of 760mm, allowing it to pass through a standard doorway. Hydraulically extending track frames offer a digging width of 990mm, said to provide maximum stability.

178 Caterpillar has added three new models of wheeled loader to its range.  The 924K, 930K and 938K are said to share the same basic architecture, differing in wheelbase, axles, machine width and bucket capacities – the latter extend from 1.9-5m³.

The biggest change over the H-series models they replace is an all-new cab, said by Cat to offer a massive improvement in ergonomics and comfort. A wider, deeper front windscreen, climate control, seat-mounted joysticks and an ultra-low in-cab noise level of 66dB are among its features.

“Only the headlights and the bucket’s cutting edge remain unchanged from the out-going H-series,” says Cat’s wheeled loader specialist Dominic Bunting.

Bunting said the traditional torque converter powershift transmission on loaders of this size had been omitted in favour of a more sophisticated and efficient electronically controlled, four-speed Hystat transmission.


A C6.6 Acert engine with Intelligent Power Management is said by Cat to offer fuel savings of up to 30% for the three new K-series loaders.

4848 Ihimer, the joint venture between Japanese company IHI and Italian firm 6233 IMER, has added two skid steer loaders to its growing range of compact equipment.

The AS30 and AS34 have operating weights of 3,150kg and 3,500kg respectively, with rated working loads of 850kg and 1,020kg.

Power comes from a 50kW Kubota engine in the smaller machine and a 61kW 7139 Yanmar motor in the AS34.

The company already has a smaller AS12 model, and says it will launch AS18 and AS22 skid steers at next year’s 688 Bauma show in Munich. IHI also builds the CL35 and CL45 compact tracked loaders, and the company says that there will be more cooperation and sharing of technology between the two lines in the future.

1173 Sunward is looking to make great inroads into the European market with its new mini excavator range, which includes a sophisticated range of standard and zero tailswing models.

The SWE25 is a 2.6tonne standard mini excavator that features a 15.5kW Yanmar diesel and offers a dig depth of 2.4metres. The machine is certified for use in Europe and has the vital CE mark.

The SWE30UB, SWE40UB and SWE50B are all zero tailswing models weighing 3.5, 4.1 and 5tonnes respectively, with the smaller machine aimed specifically at the Italian market. Power for the SWE30UB and SWE50B comes from Yanmar diesels delivering 19kW and 26kW respectively, while the Kubota engine in the SWE40UB is rated at 24kW.

Meanwhile Sunward is also keen to increase sales of its innovative remote-controlled SWEROB unit. This 2tonne class machine is electrically powered with an 11kW motor and its battery pack offers up to 6 hours working on a single charge. Designed for use in unsafe working areas, the machine can be operated remotely at distances of up to 500m using its German-supplied control box. This is said by Sunward to suit difficult demolition or tunnelling applications, as well as sites where reducing noise can be a key issue.

Indeco grabbing broader market

237 Indeco has added a full range of demolition sorting grabs to its product line-up. The company started out in 1976 making breakers and has continued to add new types of attachment as operators increasingly look to use specific equipment for each application to cut times and costs.

“Hammers still represent our core business but dealers have been asking for a wider range of Indeco demolition attachments to serve customers,” said commercial director Michele Vitulano, who is the son of the company’s founder. This demand has previously led to the introduction of new models such as pulverisers and shears.

On display at the show is the IDG 1500 demolition sorting grab, which has a load capacity of 800litres and can be fitted to excavators with weights from 17tonnes to 28tonnes.

The new sorting grabs are designed to handle light demolition work as well as select and handle debris. Features include a heavy-duty structure, full 360° hydraulic rotation and a wide grab. The load jaws are interchangeable according to the material to be handled and the wear blades can also be changed and reversed.

Teeth can be mounted to improve efficiency and reduce maintenance costs. There are six models in the range, for excavators from 3tonnes to 45tonnes.