Earthmoving & soil compaction

With the Tier 4 interim/Stage IIIB emissions requirements due next year, further upgrades will be required for all wheeled loaders sold in Europe and North America. In the mean time manufacturers are focussing on improvements that cut cycle times, boost productivity and reduce downtime for example. From Doosan comes the DL420 wheeled loader, which takes over from the previous DL400 and is aimed at use in a range of materials-handling work. The DL420 features a 4m3 bucket and is a 22.3tonne machine that

New regulations and technology are driving change in the soil compaction sector - Mike Woof reports. The impact of the Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB emissions regulations has been hard on some machine sectors in particular. Sloping engine covers have been introduced in several equipment categories as a way of improving visibility for operators, including soil compaction machines. At the same time, new machine guidance technologies have been developed and introduced to the soil compaction market, boosting produc

Highway construction work is transforming Algeria, providing the country with a new network of highway quality road connections. Several sections of the new trans-Algerian highway are already complete and carrying traffic, such as the stretch near the town of Setif. When complete the highway will run 1,200km across the north of the country from the border with Morocco in the west to the Tunisian border, passing through 24 provinces. This makes it the biggest highway project ever undertaken in Africa, as wel

The authorities in Albania are planning to open a new tunnel that will form part of the Tirana-Elbasan highway. This new link is currently under construction and is due to be opened in early May 2012. The tunnel is 4.3km long and is around 66% complete.

Chinese manufacturer LiuGong Machinery has finalised its agreement to acquire Polish firm HSW (Huta Stalowa Wola) and its distribution subsidiary, Dressta. The agreement was signed by executives from both companies in Warsaw.

Moba’s MDS-2000 Drilling System is being used for the first time in a South American quarry. Used over two shifts by operators since September 2011 to monitor and control drill blast holes at a granite quarry in Vacamonte, Panama, Moba has equipped an HCR-1200 EDII type drilling device from FRD Furukawa Rock Drill with the drilling system in collaboration with B-B-S Bohrsysteme. The MDS-2000 enables drill holes to be made parallel to each other and to the desired depth and pre-set angle. As well as cost an

LiuGong Construction Machinery says doubling its North American-based equipment sales in 2011, compared to the previous 12 months, reinforces the company's goal of being among the world’s top ten equipment manufacturers by 2015.

Chinese firms are looking to develop overseas sales but are using very different strategies – Mike Woof reports. Aggressive expansion plans will see Chinese manufacturers boosting overseas sales in coming years. These companies are developing bigger sales profiles around the world, particularly in emergent markets such as Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. It is worth noting too that Chinese products continue to gain in terms of quality and performance. For LiuGong, Sany, Shantui, XCMG and Zoomlion

The earthmoving machine market is seeing major innovations for 2012 - Mike Woof reports. The early part of 2012 is seeing a whole array of new earthmoving machines come to market from a vast range of manufacturers. Companies from China, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Turkey and the USA will all be unveiling new earthmoving equipment at the upcoming Intermat exhibition, with innovative emission compliant engine and cooling technology.

Innovations in drilling and blasting and crushing and screening are bringing major economies of scale to aggregate production operations. Drilling and blasting is an area where new technology is offering major saving to quarrying companies. This is another important factor in the quarrying process, as inefficient drilling and blasting can have major financial repercussions.