Construction Equipment News

Contractors know that accurate numbers to track job site activity and topography can mean the difference between completing a project on time and on budget. With the addition of Smart Construction Field and Smart Construction Drone to Komatsu’s suite of job site technologies, contractors have two new tools to better manage projects.

Caterpillar now offers Cat® Grade technologies as an aftermarket option to owners of Cat next generation mini hydraulic excavators in the 6- to 10-ton class range. Available through Cat and Sitech dealers, owners can equip the excavators with Cat Grade with Advanced 2D or Cat Grade with 3D. The field kit’s modular components facilitate quick installation, while the technology seamlessly integrates into the Cat next generation excavator electronics infrastructure.

Built to deliver an improved customer experience, the new 4-tonne, Cat 304, and 5-tonne, Cat 305 CR, Next Generation Mini Hydraulic Excavators deliver more power to the pumps, higher bucket breakout forces and deeper standard digging depths to increase performance by up to 20% over their E2 series counterparts. Their industry-leading grease intervals and extended filter service life, combined with common components throughout the line and flat, easy-to-replace side panels, deliver up to 10% lower owner and operating costs.

Used in a variety of rock and concrete demolition applications from scaling a tunnel, to running a pedestal-boom on a quarry, or tearing out reinforced concrete abutments, breakers are essential tools. Designed and tested for compatibility with Komatsu excavators from the PC210 up to the PC490,  Komatsu’s new JMHB-V breaker series helps customers achieve excellent impact energy and performance in a variety of demolition applications.

Built to withstand difficult demolition of tall structures, the new Cat 340 UHD Ultra High Demolition Excavator boasts a more than 13% higher pin height than the 340F UHD to reach up to eight-floor structures. More UHD and Retrofit boom/stick configurations, along with a range of Cat demolition attachments, deliver increased machine flexibility to meet contractors’ jobsite needs to maximize machine utilization. Its unique coupling system allows for switching between two UHD fronts and Retrofit booms and sticks with no special tools in 15 minutes. Design updates have also increased transportation simplicity of the 340 UHD excavator.

John Deere is now offering SmartGrade Remote Support on its newest SmartGrade dozers, motor graders, excavators, and compact track loaders. SmartGrade Remote Support, which includes both Remote Display Access (RDA) and Wireless Data Transfer (WDT), will be available on most SmartGrade products for six years from the factory invoice date.

Loading and moving materials in as few passes and cycles as possible can help increase productivity, and reduce costly wear and tear on machines. Designed to be a three-pass match for loading aggregate and other processed materials onto highway trucks, the 299 horsepower (223kW) Komatsu WA480-8 yard loader can also be adapted for use in infrastructure, forestry and non-residential construction applications.

Vermeer has entered into a distribution agreement with Conmeq Construction Equipment & Machinery B.V., to supply Conmeq-branded electric mini skid steer loaders to be sold, serviced and supported through Vermeer industrial dealers in Europe.

The new Cat 568 Forest Machine features several design upgrades that are sure to lift the production of loggers and those with less time in the woods. Powered by a proven Cat 9.3B engine, the machine’s new electrohydraulic control system generates 10% greater swing torque and 14% more drawbar pull to make quick work of heavy logs. Smart mode automatically matches engine and hydraulic power to working conditions to help do that work with up to 5% less fuel consumption. With cold-start capability of -25˚ F (-32˚ C) and high ambient temperatures reaching 126˚ F (52˚ C), the 568 is capable of working year-round. It will operate without derating at altitudes up to 9,842 ft (3,000 m).

For work on roadways, bridges, urban areas, or anywhere space is limited, contractors need an excavator designed for confined spaces. Komatsu’s tight tail PC78US-11 provides an ideal combination of performance and versatility in a compact and easy-to-transport package. 

Vermeer is expanding its horizontal direction drilling (HDD) fluid management equipment line and launching its first electric-powered reclaimer with the new Vermeer R500 reclaimer. This is the first model released by Vermeer from the acquisition of electric-powered horizontal directional drilling (HDD) and fluid systems technology from Normag in 2020. The all-electric R500 reclaimer is a key part of the Vermeer strategy to meet growing demand for electric-powered jobsite solutions.

Caterpillar’s new generation of Primary and Secondary Pulverizers feature industry-leading technology to deliver up to 52% faster cycle times, producing more tons-per-liter of fuel burned. The new Cat Pulverizer line includes three new rotatable primary models – P318, P324 and P332 – which feature 360-degree rotation, and three new fixed secondary models – P218, P224 and P232. Both pulverizer series are designed to fit 18- to 50-tonne machines.

Hitachi Construction & Mining Division announced that customers will no longer need to renew their ZXLink connectivity service subscription. Plus, customers can enable ZXLink on compatible machines at no additional charge. Once customers enable ZXLink, they can select to automatically activate it on future compatible models to further streamline fleet management.

Starting July 14th, 2021, customers will no longer need to renew their JDLink connectivity service subscription and can enable their JDLink service on any compatible machine in their organization at no additional charge. Additionally, once customers enable JDLink connectivity, they can select to automatically activate all future JDLink compatible models, streamlining fleet management. With this update to the JDLink service offering, it is easier than ever before for customers to maximize machine productivity and minimize downtime.

Volvo Construction Equipment is entering the 50-ton class for excavators with two models — the EC530E and EC550E — that have digging and lifting forces normally found in 60-ton machines, giving contractors the performance they need to excel in heavy-duty digging, mass excavation and large-scale site preparation.

The Cat® D4 (formerly D6K2) Dozer has long been a favorite because of its power, precision and optimized balance for smooth grading performance. The latest D4 takes the value up a level with improved sight lines, reduced operating costs and the broadest choice of easy-to-use technology features to help get the most from the bulldozer. The D4 weighs in at 29,259 lbs. (13,272 kg), with a net power of 130 hp (97 kW). D4 LGP has an operating weight of 30,882 lbs. (14,008 kg).     

The new Cat M320 wheeled excavator optimizes performance and efficiency at the jobsite with up to 9% more swing torque than the Cat M320F to get work done faster. Its longer wheelbase increases operating stability and improves machine ride when roading to the next jobsite at speeds reaching 35 km/h (21.7 mph). From dirt to asphalt, this wheeled excavator meets contractors’ needs for efficient operation in a range of applications from utility work to trenching to waste handling.

Making no compromise on performance, the new Cat M319 wheeled excavator features a short front-end design and tail swing to efficiently work in confined areas. Delivering up to 15% more swing torque than previous models, this Next Gen excavator quickly gets the job done. A dedicated swing pump improves operating efficiency by providing more consistent power for better multitasking capabilities.

To better manage their businesses, construction operations teams need a go-to solution to visualize the status of their jobsites. With Komatsu’s Smart Construction Dashboard, they can.

Built to support the digital transformation of customers’ worksites, Komatsu’s suite of Smart Construction solutions leverages the power of IoT to help customers orchestrate construction planning, with the aim to better handle management and scheduling, streamline costs, and optimize processes remotely—in near real time.

Designed and adapted from years of experience in mining truck development, the T 274 is a true 305 tonne machine that provides fast cycle times, higher production rates, low fuel consumption, and a low cost per tonne. This new truck follows the same base design as the T 284, benefitting from its decades of field experience. Operators and technicians can expect to experience first-class comfort and safety while driving and servicing this truck. A wide range of options are available, not only providing maximum productivity even in the harshest conditions, but also catering to the evolving requirements of customers and mine sites.