CTT show report from Moscow exhibition

Moscow’s CTT exhibition reflected increasing confidence in the Russian construction market - Eugene Gerden reports

The Russian road building industry is steadily recovering from the consequences of the financial crisis and the overall financial uncertainty in in the country. One of the most evident facts for this was the record number of exhibitors at the recent 5848 CTT Expo for construction machines held in Moscow.   

The Expo took place at Crocus Expo, one of the world’s largest exhibition centres, located in Moscow. This year the number of participants at the Expo was was almost double that of previous events. At the same time a notable feature was the significant reduction in the numbers of Chinese manufacturers of road building equipment, compared to 2015. There was also a strong presence for domestic companies.

One of the most unusual exhibits was the model ZX330LC-5G excavator, which was presented by 233 Hitachi – a model, which is specially designed to work in a cold climate (down to -40°C). Production of the model began at Hitachi's Russian plant last autumn and the machine was exhibited in public for the first time at CTT. The heater is located in the space behind the cab and the machine is designed for use in Russia’s coldest winter conditions. The machine has four lights mounted on the cab instead of two as on the standard unit. The excavator has additional lighting fitted to the boom, which is important for working in Russia’s northern areas in wintertime when there are reduced daylight hours. The model is also equipped with a heated operator's seat, as well as additional protection for the frame.

Senzaki Masafumi, general director of Hitachi Construction Machinery Eurasia explained, "In the severe conditions of the North, an uninterrupted operation of machinery is an issue of particular importance. We received numerous requests from our customers for the production of such excavators, so we started the production of this model.”

At the same time 2300 Komatsu showcased its new PC210NLC-8 excavator.  According to Oleg Stepanov, CEO of a local Komatsu distributor ISTK, Russian customers have been waiting for this machine for some time. The new machine weighs 21.8tonnes and has an overall width of 2.54m. In terms of power and performance, the PC210NLC-8 lies roughly between the PC200 and PC220 models. Because of its quality and performance, the dealer expects that this model will establish itself amongst the top three in sales terms in its class.

In addition to the PC210NLC-8 excavator, the Komatsu stand at CTT also displayed the D65EX-16 bulldozer and the WB97S-5 backhoe loader.

John Deere meanwhile displayed its G-series skid loader and J-series crawler bulldozer. The firm has plans to expand the range available in Russia and at the end of the year will launch its new 30tonne 950K bulldozer. Alexei Zhurkevich, product marketing manager for 257 John Deere Russia, said that the firm is widening the range of attachments it offers. Starting from this year a quick-release for backhoe loaders will be included in the range. Zhurkevich also added that the latest model has been specially designed for the Russian market and allows the operator to change attachments quickly onsite, saving time.

The Chinese firm 1171 Shantui unveiled its new SD 32 tracked bulldozer. The new model has been specially designed to handle work in high altitude operations in mountainous regions. A spokesman for the company said that this has been achieved due to modifications to the turbocharger, which allows it to operate at altitudes of 3000-3,500m where the thinner air means that standard machines will lose power and can also overheat.

Japanese company 2714 Sumitomo presented the entire range of its sophisticated hydraulic excavators, three models of asphalt pavers, as well as crushers from partner company Nakayama. The firm has particularly high hopes for sales of its SH330LC-5 and SH210LC-5 model excavators in the Russian market, with both units having been shown at CTT.

One of the most interesting machines at the exhibition was unveiled by a local manufacturer. The 19tonne EO-33222A excavator unveiled by Uralvagonzavod is a notable development for the firm. At present the production of construction equipment is not a core business for the company, which has long specialised in building military machines. However according to Alexander Potapov, CEO of the company, Uralvagonzavod is currently looking to diversify its activities.

The EO-33222A excavator is driven by a YaMZ-534 engine that delivers 135kW. The machine has a modern hydraulic system that provides smooth control and allows up to three operations simultaneously. A range of buckets with capacities from 0.45-1.05m³ has also been developed.
In the meantime, Chinese company 5316 SDLG, the leader in the Russian market for wheeled loaders, exhibited five models, four of which are entirely new for Russia. Of these, three models form part of SDLG’s latest F-series. The new L953F, L956LF and L958F have bucket capacities of 3, 3.2 and 3.5m3 respectively. The company also said that the machines can be fitted with bigger buckets for materials handling duties on less dense soils. Each model is equipped with a 9.7litre 2731 Weichai WD 10 diesel. Compared to the previous generation loaders, the new models have improved hydraulics, ergonomics and reduced vibration and noise.

269 LiuGong has introduced its 920E crawler excavator to the Russian market. This competes in Russia’s most popular excavator segment for 20tonne machines. A key advantage of the new model is said to be its use of a 196 Cummins diesel, which delivers 113kW and is an engine that has a strong market appeal amongst Russian customers.

DST-Ural, one of the largest Russian manufacturers of road construction equipment, introduced a new bulldozer TM 10.11 GTS 12 12-traction class. The model is equipped with a newly developed hexagonal cabin and is powered by a German-made 201 Deutz BF 06M diesel that produces 179kW and drives through a sophisticated hydrostatic transmission from Bosch Rexroth. The engine, transmission and cooling system are controlled by a single electronic system, which fully synchronises operation, increasing output and reducing fuel consumption with increased productivity.

Also exhibiting, Slovak company Way Industries introduced its Locus 903 mini-loader. The model is equipped with a Japanese 7139 Yanmar engine, weighs in at 3.3tonnes and has a lifting capacity of 930kg.

The CTT exhibition has undergone a change of management and is now presented jointly with German organisation Messe Munchen.