Dozers and graders provide finishing cut

Established players face increasing competition in the market for bulldozers and graders - Mike Woof reports

The world’s largest manufacturer of construction equipment, 178 Caterpillar is a company with a strong position worldwide and this has all grown from its track type tractor range. Caterpillar has long dominated the bulldozer market, as well as being involved in the grader segment since the inter-war period. The firm’s history ties it directly to the development of the crawler track with Ben Holt’s track laying machine innovation in 1904, as well as the first crawler tractors. The first bulldozers were crawler tractors with aftermarket blades fitted and, since Holt and Best merged in 1925 to form Caterpillar, the company has been a major player in the sector.

Caterpillar has had its competitors in the bulldozer market over the years though and while firms have come and gone from this segment, Japanese firm Komatsu and German company 718 Liebherr, as well as 1261 Chetra in Russia, have been amongst its biggest rivals worldwide in recent times. The market for graders has been somewhat more diverse and while Caterpillar has a strong position in this segment, it has had more rivals. In recent times these have included 1595 CNH, 257 John Deere, 233 Hitachi, 2300 Komatsu and Volvo.

But the global market is changing. Chinese manufacturers are now staking their claims in the manufacture and sale of bulldozers and graders. This is particularly apparent in the bulldozer segment. Chinese firm 1171 Shantui now claims to build more bulldozers in terms of units, than any other firm worldwide.

Comparing like for like is not straightforward though. Shantui’s largest bulldozer is currently the 65.7tonne SD52-5 and this is the biggest bulldozer built in China. However, Caterpillar’s top-of the range D11T weighs in at around 105tonnes (depending on specifications) and Komatsu’s D575A3-SD Super Dozer is larger still at around 153tonnes. To measure Shantui’s worldwide strength in the bulldozer market accurately against Caterpillar and Komatsu would require comparing sales figures from all three companies specifically for bulldozers. And it is unlikely the three companies would be willing to divulge such specific financial information.

Nonetheless, Shantui’s growth in terms of market share is notable and it now exports an increasing percentage of its production. The company formerly relied on its home market for the majority of its but is seeing increasing sales into developing markets. Shantui is also making steps to secure sales of undercarriage components and other spares, a particularly important business in the bulldozer segment.

At the 242 INTERMAT show in Paris Shantui’s vice president, Li Dianhe, made it quite clear that the company has plans to grow both organically and by acquisition. Although it is very strong in China, exports are an important part of its turnover and Russia is its biggest export market. Dianhe added that Shantui is considering building a factory in Russia, while it also has a strong presence in Latin America, Africa and Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Africa is another key market for Shantui and the firm has subsidiaries in Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.
Ghana has been a particularly good market for machines such as the SD22 and SD32 dozers, while road building in Algeria, Egypt and Morocco has delivered strong sales turnover. But the company’s SD10 and SD16 dozers are also now available in Stage IIIB/Tier 4 Interim compliant versions and Shantui is gearing up to sell these machines in Europe and North America, with units already sold into Finland, Germany and the UK.

However Shantui is by no means the only Chinese firm that is increasing its global presence in the bulldozer market. 269 LiuGong finalised its acquisition of the Polish HSW bulldozer range earlier this year. The HSW machines were sold under the Dressta brand, which traces its history back through Dresser Industries to Allis Chalmers. As a result, the 3420 Dressta bulldozers have been developed incrementally over the years and have a good reputation for structural design and quality, although they have lacked investment to develop the sort of advanced features now offered by Caterpillar and Komatsu on their respective bulldozer models for example. The situation will change though and LiuGong’s purchase of HSW will allow the Polish firm access to the finances required to invest in research and development. During the recent Intermat show in Paris David Beatenbough, vice president of Research and Development for LiuGong, said, “We’re seeing good results in Europe which has encouraged us to continue increasing our commitment. We have opened our European subsidiary, we have added a logistics centre, and a spare parts depot in Western Europe and expanded our production to include manufacturing in Poland.”

Clearly, Caterpillar and Komatsu, as well as Chetra and Liebherr, will face far more competition in the bulldozer market worldwide in years to come. And Chetra in particular, with its reliance on sales in Russia, the CIS and developing nations, will find Shantui and LiuGong becoming very tough rivals.
In the grader segment the market is more complex, with more competition and a much wider range of firms offering machines. However in this sector also, established players like Caterpillar, CNH, John Deere, Hitachi, Komatsu and 359 Volvo CE are seeing increased competition in developing markets from the Chinese firms.

Product development has been on-going in the bulldozer market, with various manufacturers launching new models during 2012. Caterpillar announced a Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB emission compliant version of its successful D6N model.

Power now comes from a Cat C6.6 diesel rated at 129kW and equipped with ACERT technology that includes a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and diesel particulate filter (DPF) with passive regeneration. The updated engine is said to allow the machine a 2% productivity boost due primarily to a sharper throttle response. It also features a selectable economy mode linked to second gear that automatically shifts the dozer into third gear when reversing, and simultaneously reduces engine revs from 2000 to 1700rpm. This system can allow fuel savings of up to 25% according to Caterpillar. The D6N has other improvements too and the cast blade tower offered previously has now been replaced by a fabricated and welded steel structure that allows for a ball-socket coupling, similar to that found on the firm’s D6T dozer.

From Komatsu comes an update to the D65 bulldozer which is now powered by an 8.9litre Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB compliant diesel delivering 152kW and offers fuel savings of up to 5%. The D65-17 dozer can be specified to suit an array of applications that range from heavy duty dozing to fine grading. Customers can specify the D65-17 with EX, PX and WX running gear, while features include the Sigmadozer blade and an automatic transmission that includes torque converter lock-up for further improvements in fuel efficiency.
For LiuGong the Dressta deal gives it a range of three well proven bulldozer models, the TD-14M, TD-20M and TD-40E. The TD-14M has an operating weight of 15.55tonnes and a blade capacity of 4.28m³, while the TD-20M weighs in at 23.65tonnes and features a blade capacity of 8.45m³. The top-of-the-line model is the 67.7tonne TD-40E, which has a blade capacity of 39.8m³. All three of the LiuGong Dressta bulldozers are powered by Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB compliant Cummins diesels that feature advanced electronic fuel injection systems and are said to deliver high torque and throttle response across the entire rpm range.

The modular powertrain is said to offer ready access to all components: engine, torque converter, transmission, steering drive and final drives according to the firm. This modular design is said to allow each part to be serviced separately in the field. The machines offer advanced electro-hydraulic steering systems with pre-set travel speed selection and automatic downshift as well as sound-suppressed cabs with pressurised air-conditioning and an adjustable, pivoting air-suspension seat.

Shantui’s SD16 bulldozer is an all-purpose machine that can be specified for use in an array of configurations to suit the working application. CE certified, it comes with a choice of engines and blade types to suit market requirements and customer needs. The European SD16-3 variant is powered by a 196 Cummins QSC8.3 diesel rated at 120kW and which meets current emissions requirements, with three speeds for both forward and reverse fitted as standard. This is a 17tonne class bulldozer, although specific weights vary depending on the choice of attachments such as blade type and ripper, as well as the width of the undercarriage track plates. The machine is available with a straight tilt blade, U-blade or angle blade, while a three shank ripper can be fitted if required. Both mechanical and hydraulic components are said to be rugged and efficient, to withstand tough site duties. Operator comfort is also said to have been catered for with an adjustable seat that reduces shock loadings, while all-round visibility is also said to be good.

The larger SD32 model shares various features with the SD16-3 and is also CE certified for sale into Europe. The larger SD42 and top-of-the-range SD52 are for the moment not being sold into Europe, although they are being marketed for export from China. The recently introduced SD52-5 is at present the largest bulldozer made in China.