Bobcat’s new MaxControl remote control system has found one of its first customers in the EMEA region and the first in Spain in the form Obras y Construcciones Corbera, a construction and earthmoving company based in Corbera de Llobregat in Barcelona.

MaxControl is an exclusive hardware kit from Bobcat, which, combined with an iOS application, allows the operator to control Bobcat compact loaders remotely, using an iPhone or iPad.

Obras y Construcciones Corbera was introduced to the MaxControl system by Bobcat Of, the Authorised Bobcat dealer for the area. The company was very struck by the versatility that this application could give them, thanks to the total visibility of the working space that it offers and, above all, the safety and security provided by this new way of working.

This has been particularly useful in some concrete projects as the peripheral vision of the operator is considerably improved by being outside the machine. MaxControl has allowed the company to carry out special jobs that require greater safety, working in confined spaces and with little visibility. The system also helps in demolition and in finishing new pavements, providing the company with more precise finishes and in less time.

MaxControl has provided greater reliability and precision when loading and unloading machines onto trailers for transfer to other sites. Obras y Construcciones Corbera is convinced that the system improves safety, a factor that is more and more important every day on the job-site and offers direct benefits for both operators and employers alike. In addition, it helps to avoid damage to machines through collisions with objects, since by being outside the loader the operator can better see where they are driving.

A team of loaders from Bobcat have played a vital role in making possible Europe’s largest all-terrain event for two and four wheeled vehicles.

The 27th Kenny Festival, which took place last month in Reygades, France, saw an army of Bobcat compact tracked loaders (CTL), including a new T7X electric CTL, help build and maintain the various tracks and courses used for racing at the event. This also marked the first time that the T7X was used in Europe.

Festival organiser, JLFO Events, said that with the support of the local authorities and the municipality of Reygades, the 2022 edition of the Kenny Festival welcomed a large number of participants, the key to its success. More than 660 motocross riders took to the starting line, including many champions, and more than 1175 quad and motorbike riders.

Bobcat is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the factory in Pontchateau, France, that produces its telehandlers, including some models that are sold in the Middle East.

In an announcement of the 60th year celebrations of the factory, Bobcat said that the facility in the town of Pontchateau located in western France traces its history back to the early 20th century when Joseph Sambron transformed his school bench factory into a hub for farm machinery and bicycles.

By 1920, the factory employed hundreds of workers and produced flour mills and cider presses. Following Joseph's retirement, his son Maurice ventured into mini-dumper production, selling over 50,000 units and paving the way for the construction of the present-day Pontchateau plant in 1963. The new facility specialised in off-road dumpers and forklifts.

Bobcat added that today, the factory is renowned for its production of telescopic handlers, which commenced in the early 1980s under the Sambron brand and was then acquired by the Fayat Group. Under the new ownership, Sambron became FDI Sambron and introduced hydrostatic telescopic handlers.

In 2000, FDI Sambron was acquired by American corporation Ingersoll-Rand, which also owned the Bobcat brand. Consequently, FDI Sambron transformed into Bobcat France. In 2007, Bobcat was acquired by the South Korean group Doosan, and continues to operate as part of the Doosan Bobcat EMEA company.

Saudi Arabia’s Muadinoon Mining Company has recently invested in wet processing technology from CDE in order to enhance its product quality while lowering environmental impact.

Muadinoon mines high quality silica sand from sand deposit near Tayma, in north-western Saudi Arabia, selling the product as raw materials to several clients. The company said it has a “commitment to providing high quality products that meet the requirements of its customers, in fulfilment of their needs and in compliance with industry standards”.

The mining company added that it was founded with a vision of becoming the global leader in the mineral industry while championing environmental awareness for responsible mining practices. Muadinoon says its commitment to the environment is one of the company’s most important operating principles.

Recently, Muadinoon sought to improve the quality of its product offerings further through enhanced washing and cleaning of the mined sand. The company added that its “passion for protection of the landscape” in which it operates is reflected in its pledge that its operations will achieve maximum economic value while ensuring minimum environmental impact. Therefore, a suitable wet processing solution was required to ensure water recirculation and conservation of this precious resource in a highly dry region.

The company engaged CDE to visit the site near Tayma, to gain a better understanding of its needs and requirements and to embark upon a collaborative partnership. Muadinoon chose to partner with CDE the Saudi company’s senior management believed CDE had an in-depth understanding of the project at hand and was confident in its expertise.

CDE commissioned its EvoWash Evo101 sand wash plant and AquaCycle A200 water management system to run alongside the company’s existing dry screens that ensure the size fractions of the required product. Utilising CDE technology, the new plant will enable Muadinoon to produce 0-600-micron silica sand (frac sand) at a rate of 75tph.

CDE’s EvoWash will intake pre-screened material which has been sized to suit the client’s needs. The sand will be washed by cyclone technology, thus reducing the fines content to market acceptable limits and providing an in-spec product to the customer. The EvoWash’s sump and hydrocyclones provide a high degree of control of silt cut points and eliminate the loss of quality fines with significant commercial value.

CDE’s AquaCycle is an efficient water management solution, significantly reducing costly water consumption (both economically and environmentally) by ensuring up to 90% of the process water is recycled for immediate recirculation. The water treatment unit, consisting of a thickener and polyplant, reduces freshwater requirement drastically and helps to accelerate return on investment by maximising production efficiency, minimising the loss of valuable fines and reducing water and energy costs.

Caterpillar has updated its 966 and 972 wheeled loader series, raising productivity by up to 10% and lowering maintenance costs by up to 15% when compared to previous models by extending intervals for processes such as fluid and filter changes.

According to Cat, the updates bring a host of standard technologies to the 7-9t wheeled loader line, and the improved Cat 966 and 972 Wheel Loader series also boost operator efficiency. The 966 and 972 models deliver consistently high bucket fill factors to increase productivity by up to 10%. Their next generation design extends fluid and filter change intervals to lower maintenance costs up to 15% over earlier models.

Both models in the updated 966 and 972 loader series feature standard Cat Payload with Assist for accurate weighing of bucket payloads, so operators can load to target the first time every time. Real-time data is fed to the operator display and allows manual tip-off function to improve final bucket adjustments and truck load accuracy.
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The new Cat Autodig with Auto Set Tires delivers consistently high bucket fill factors for the updated medium wheel loaders. Fully automating bucket loading, Autodig improves fill factors and decreases loading time. Working in conjunction with Autodig, Auto Set Tires promotes proper loading techniques to significantly reduce tyre slip and wear.

Offering the ability to set customised profiles for customer-specific applications, new Application Profiles sets multiple machine parameters with the press of one button to optimise settings for the job. Selectable on-screen Job Aids, along with a streamlined new layout of the controls, facilitates loader operation, allowing operators of all experience levels to be more productive.

Optional Cat technologies help to further increase productivity and operation profitability of the updated series. Cat Advanced Payload with Assist offers Tip Off Assist to automatically adjust the final bucket load to match hauling unit target, enhanced lists management, site integration and extended scale features. The available Cat Productivity subscription provides detailed and comprehensive actionable information for the site off-board on your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

The Next Generation 966 and 972 series design extends hydraulic system maintenance intervals, so the loaders spend more time at work. An integrated optional Autolube reduces daily maintenance and increases component service life, while convenient access to hydraulic and electric service centres makes servicing the loaders fast and easy. Cat says that all of these design updates combined reduce maintenance costs up to 15% for the Cat 966 and 972 models.

Technology also plays a role in improving loader servicing. Helping to manage fleet location, hours and maintenance schedules, the Cat App provides alerts for required maintenance and assists with requesting service from the local Cat dealer. Remote Troubleshoot connects the machine to the dealer’s service department via the internet to quickly diagnose fault codes without on-machine cable connection. Additionally, Remote Flash ensures the wheel loaders are operating with the most up-to-date software without impacting the production schedule.

Two Comansa tower cranes are helping to construct a cable-stayed bridge in the Philippines that will join two vital islands, spanning the water between Cebu City and Mactan Island.

Cebu City is the second-largest city in the country while Mactan Island, is the location for the international airport that serves the city. The bridge being built to join the two places is a significant structure that will help alleviate the heavy traffic that currently travels through two existing bridges between the locations.

​Thanks to this new bridge, journey time will be reduced by up to 40 minutes and help streamline commercial and industrial travel, and facilitate the transportation of tourists landing at the international airport of Mactan, which is the main touristic hub of the country.

This is a key project for the region, awarded by CCLEC (Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation), a subsidiary of MPTC (Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation), to Cebu Link Joint Venture (CLJV), a joint venture between ACCIONA, First Balfour and DMCI.

​In order to meet the specific requirements of the project, two Comansa 21LC660 flat-top cranes from the 2100 series have been selected, owing to the 36-tonne models being “the perfect choice for maximum performance in projects involving particularly heavy loads, such as bridge construction”, says Comansa. Furthermore, the use of 80-metre long booms has made it possible to provide a wide and accessible perimeter on-site surrounding the two main pylons on which the bridge is being built.

​The project was divided into three sections: the Cordova viaduct and causeway, the cable-stayed bridge itself and the access viaducts on Cebu City side. Comansa’s tower cranes have been used to construct the main cable stayed bridge which, when completed, will span approximately 650m and be supported by two towers of 150m height each.

Tower 1 is located a distance from the coast and is not accessible by land, so the tower crane had to be erected using a crawler crane mounted on a boat. Tower 2 is also far from the coast, but in this case a temporary island/dock was made using fill material, allowing materials to be delivered and thus enabling the bridge to be built. The tower crane was erected using a crawler crane from this provisional island.

Develon has completed the launch of 19 excavator models as part of the company’s latest generation ‘DX-7M’ range of tracked excavators from 2 to 53 tonnes for Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets worldwide.

The company, formerly Doosan Construction Equipment, said the new excavators are designed for a wide range of markets, from construction, rental, recycling, waste processing and utilities to mining and quarrying.

The models are :-

- DX27Z-7M and DX35Z-7M (2-3t Mini-Excavators)
- DX200A-7M, DX210-7M, DX220LC-7M and DX220AF-7M (20-22t Crawler Excavators)
- DX225LC-7M and DX225LCA-7M (22t Crawler Excavators)
- DX300LC-7M, DX300LCA-7M, DX360LC-7M and DX360LCA-7M (31-37t Crawler Excavators)
- DX400LC-7M, DX450LC-7M and DX450LCA-7M (41-45t Crawler Excavators)
- DX490LC-7M, DX490LCA-7M, DX530LC-7M and DX530LCA-7M (49-53 t Crawler Excavators)

Develon said that from the smallest model in the range, the DX27Z-7M 2.8-tonne mini-excavator, to the largest, the DX530LC(A)-7M excavators, the ‘DX-7M’ models all offer significantly improved performance compared to the previous generation machines. This is due to many enhancements, including more powerful engines and new higher flow hydraulic systems.

The 10,000th articulated dump truck (ADT) to roll off the production line at Doosan’s Elnesvågen plant outside Molde in Norway was special for the company in more ways than one – not only was it a production milestone but it was also the first unit to officially carry the colours of the company’s new DEVELON brand in Europe.

Produced in February, the milestone unit also has an extra special design, harking back to the origins of the ADT range, said the company, explaining that
a Viking ship motif on the tailgate of the 10,000th unit a DEVELON DA45-7 model – was a reminder of the Viking ADT model, 12 of which were produced by the company Øveraasen, in the time before Moxy took over production, well before the Doosan era.

Doosan added that, over the years, a number of different ADT models have been produced at Molde, including the D15, 5222B, 6225B, 7235, MT40, MT41, DA40 and now the current models - the DA30-7 and the DA45-7.

Rosendal Maskin AS, the authorised dealer for Norway, has supplied ADTs since 1987, and has delivered a total of almost 500 of the 10,000 so far produced. According to Jan Roger Lindset, plant manager at Molde, the 10,000th ADT with production number 851951 has been purchased from Rosendal Maskin AS by the Rental Group in Norway.

Production began at the Molde plant in 1972 when the business was called Glamox. The brand has since had a number of names ¬- such as Moxy, Moxy Industrial, Brown Engineering, Moxy Trucks and Moxy Engineering. In 2008, the name changed to Doosan when the South Korean manufacturer bought the factory and the product. In 2021, Hyundai Heavy Industries bought the Doosan construction equipment range, including the ADT line, and the name of the business was changed to Hyundai Doosan Infracore (HDI).

Global powered access major Genie has reported great interest among Middle East rental customers for its S-80J boom lift after it concluded a ‘Demo Tour’ in the region with the machine, showing it off in live, in-person sessions to eight major rental companies based in the region.

Conducted earlier this year, the Demo Tour event saw the eight Middle East access hire companies getting a chance to see the Genie S-80 J first-hand, and in-person.

During the event, Genie team members provided demos that highlighted the quality and capabilities of the S-80 J boom lift, shared information about how the boom could help rental companies maximise their profitability, and answered questions about the boom’s features.

According to a statement from the Terex-owned AWP manufacturer, the Genie S-80 J boom lift has “a leading unrestricted capacity and lightweight, efficient design” which makes it “not only well-suited for nearly any work-at-height task, but it also is purposefully designed to lower ownership costs and improve ROIC for equipment owners”.

Sharbel Kordahi, Genie managing director and sales director for the Middle East region, said: “There’s nothing like getting a chance to see and operate a piece of machinery up close and in-person, which is why the Genie team was so excited to get a chance to meet with our customers in this type of format. We received such positive feedback from participants that we are looking into the possibility of expanding it to other markets in the Middle East region.”

Apart from Kordahi, the Genie Team leading the UAE S-80 J Demo Tour included Gary Cooke, regional sales manager, Middle East, Genie; Simone Manci, booms applications engineer; Corrado Gentile EMEARI product manager; Judith Henri EMEARI senior marketing manager; and Shekar Babu Pappula, technical services representative, Middle East.

Construction and industrial tools manufacturer Hilti has announced the launch of a new innovative range of tools called Nuron, which come with a more-powerful 22V cordless battery platform and provide “the construction industry with a fully-connected tool park experience”, according to the company.

Launching with more than 70 tools, Hilti said Nuron is the biggest launch in its history, covering areas including building construction, mechanical and engineering, interior finishing, heavy industry and steel and metal work.

The range has initially been launched in North America, Germany and other key regions for the Hilti Group, and is set to launch throughout Europe by the end of the year, before its roll-out in other regions.

According to a statement from Hilti, Nuron is “not just a new set of tools or batteries” but the future of Hilti’s cordless offering, with the power to make job-sites cordless across both light and heavy applications.

Launching with an entire ecosystem of 70 cordless new tools, and reengineered all-on-one 22V battery platform, Hilti said the Nuron is set to “change the cordless experience” for the construction industry forever.

Sebastiaan Groenhuijsen, head of Product Marketing, Northern Europe, at Hilti, explained. “We are very excited to bring this new platform to our customers. From customer feedback on what kind of innovations they would find useful, we know this will make a huge difference to their operations in many ways. We are proud to deliver the most comprehensive solutions to solving some of the bottlenecks of construction sites today, increasing productiveness, introducing state-of-the-art data-driven solutions and improving health and safety at the construction sites.”

Hitachi Construction Machinery Middle East (HMEC) has expanded its footprint in the Middle East and Africa region by signing up Ammars Company as its new dealer in South Sudan.

The step is in line with Hitachi’s quest to expand its footprint in the wider region by partnering with capable and reputable organisations in end-markets. Ammars Company, already an established name in the construction machinery and projects arena in the newly-formed country, will now offer Hitachi machines to the South Sudan construction and infrastructure sector, which is poised for an explosion of activity as the country rebuilds and develops.

Recently, the Distributorship Agreement for Hitachi products was signed in front of HMEC and AMMARS witnesses at the HMEC regional headquarters in Jebel Ali, Dubai. Ammars was represented by Bereket Petros, Managing Director, Ammars Company, whileManabu Arami, President, HMEC, signed on behalf of Hitachi. The Ammars delegation visiting the HMEC HQ were given an overview of the facilities, the parts and distribution warehouse and the machines on offer in Hitachi’s range that they would offer in South Sudan.

A counter visit also took place of an HMEC team to Ammars Company at Juba, South Sudan, led by Piet Van Bakergem and Aycan Akalin. The HMEC team found that Ammars as a company are well-equipped to meet HMEC’s standards.

On February 21st, Dubai officially opened the doors to one of the most iconic buildings in the region, indeed even the world – the Museum of the Future. There are few structures on the global architectural landscape that have captured the popular imagination as this marvel of design has. Not only has it become easily recognisable by inhabitants of the UAE, with its majestic presence looming large on Dubai’s main arterial Sheikh Zayed Road, it has also joined the pantheon of wonders that Dubai has built over the last several years.

And a wonder it indeed is. The 77-metre high structure has been envisioned as “a message of hope” by none other than Shiekh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Inaugurating the museum, Sheikh Mohammed said the museum “will be a forum for great minds, scientists, thinkers and experts from around the world”. He envisaged it as a place that will “shape a better future for all of us”.

But building the future is not without its challenges – and building a futuristic structure such as the Museum of the Future was an equally challenging engineering and construction feat. The unprecedentedly abstract and irregular design of the building meant that it demanded special construction materials and techniques – as well as equipment that could rise to the challenge. Enter Wolffkran – the tower crane specialist that supplied not only cranes but lifting solutions to the projects that use its equipment.

The tower cranes used in the construction of the Museum of the Future ever since construction began in 2017 have been Wolff cranes, with Wolffkran Arabia implementing a lifting plan for the project that involved three tower cranes which were erected and then changed to meet the construction needs.

As a crane solution provider, Wolffkran worked with the main contractor BAM International to design lifting operations for the project and keep the operations going through the various stages of the build as the structure’s shape gradually emerged and brought with it more challenges for crane tower operations.

To meet the construction plan and its emerging challenges, the cranes were put up in three phases and Wolffkran Arabia also provided the base design and procedures to erect and dismantle the cranes safely. The company facilitated this process with the SMIE anti-collision systems and in-house trained crane operators.