Hidromek Introduces New

HiDROMEK INTRODUCES NEW GENERATION MACHINES

HiDROMEK has introduced new generation machines under the name of “HiDROMEK NEXT”. The new generation machines include HMK 140 LC, HMK 130 CS and HMK 680 MG.

HMK 140 LC crawler excavator is equipped with inclination sensor, swing sensor, e-dig wall and e-trench systems, together with LIDAR technology. The HMK 130 CS soil compactor and HMK 680 MG motor grader are also equipped with LIDAR technology. By examining operator habits, HiDROMEK has designed “HiDROMEK Opera” which is a new remote-controlling operator cab for backhoe loaders, hydraulic excavators, motor graders, wheel loaders and soil compactors. HiDROMEK Opera puts the operator into the centre and combines modern lines and technology with HiDROMEK design approach. It allows operators to use any HiDROMEK machine remotely at any place and time without sacrificing comfort. Meanwhile, HiDROMEK’s new, fourthgeneration backhoe loader family K4 Series offers powerful performance, versatility and comfort with its superior technology and unique design. Having joysticks integrated on the seat, K4 Series have an “autotilt” feature, patented by HiDROMEK, which enables the steering column to be lifted up automatically when the operator switches to backhoe side and rotates the seat. The mini backhoe loader HMK 62 SS with canopy cab, new mini crawler backhoe loader HMK 62TC, HMK 102B and HMK 102S machines all belong to K4 family. The HMK 62 SS with canopy cab, for example, can operate in working areas having a low ceiling height, while the HMK 62 TC mini crawler backhoe loader can work with many different attachments such as trailer, cylinder, wood chipper, auger, concrete mixer, rotary slasher, mulcher and cambridge roller. Crawler and wheel excavators belonging to H4 Series include the HMK 65 ZT, HMK 85 CP, HMK 140 LC, HMK 145 LC SR, HMK 235 LC SR, HMK 230 LC, HMK 310 NLC, HMK 390 NLC HD, HMK 520 LC HD crawler excavators, and the HMK 150 WR, HMK 210 W MH wheel excavators. The new HMK 85 CP (crawler platform) belonging to the H4 Series, for example, is a multi-purpose machine which can work with two different attachments as in telescopic loader and telescopic crane, providing versatility in different jobs. The new HMK 520 LC HD crawler excavator, meanwhile, offers the possibility of shipping the machine with narrower chassis. By using this solution, the width of machine could be mechanically shortened in a way to meet the road regulations during the shipment, and provides benefits of lower cost of shipment and faster transportation. Other machines in HiDROMEK’s extensive product portfolio include HMK 160 CS soil compactors, HMK 635 WL and HMK 640 WL wheel loaders, and the HMK 280 MG motor grader.

NEW DOOSAN DL580-7 PERFORMING WELL FOR IRISH SALT MINING

BY CHRIS MCCULLOUGH

AS you can imagine it’s a busy time at Irish Salt Mining based near Carrickfergus as the winter takes grip on Northern Ireland’s roads creating icy conditions.

Reliable equipment is essential at the mine to ensure the salt gets distributed to the customers around Northern Ireland and further afield into the Republic of Ireland and mainland UK. The Irish Salt Mining & Exploration Co. Ltd is a privately owned company that dates back to 1965 when it was started by three Irish American brothers. Today it produces around 500,000 tonnes of de-icing rock salt per year, and is one of only three salt mines in the UK and the only one in Ireland. The company’s latest purchase is a new Doosan DL580-7 wheel loader, complete with specially modified bucket, that is destined to spend its working life underground loading the blasted salt into dump trucks that haul it to an underground primary crusher. Buying a Doosan marks a return to the brand following a ten year gap during which the salt mines operated other brand wheel loaders. This time around a combination of features on the new Doosan, such as latest emission technology, fuel efficiency and a bigger bucket, helped seal the deal with Doosan distributor Northern Excavators Ltd. Alwyn McCreanor, Irish Salt Mining Co. Ltd company administrator, is well pleased with the Doosan purchase. “Our previous loader was approaching five years old and needed replacing. We were attracted to the Doosan DL580-7 because of the manufacturer’s five years, or 7,500 hours, warranty. “Some of our operators actually test drove a number of different machines at quarries and choose the Doosan wheel loader as the best one to suit us.” The new Doosan has been running in the salt mines since the end of September but had to undergo some changes at the dealership before going underground. Alwyn said: “The Doosan is performing very well according to its main operator Jay Davis. It is responsible for scooping up the blasted salt and loading it into 30 tonne trucks all 420m underground, so it is a fairly hard life for it there.

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MODIFICATIONS

“Due to the underground life we had to carry out a number of changes, mostly to do with fire suppression, to the loader in order to make it safer.” These changes included work to the oil and fuel pipes on the loader carried out by Dennis Stewart, the service manager at Northern Excavators Ltd. “Due to the machine working underground we had to fit the loader out with a fire suppression kit,” said Dennis. “This means we fitted emergency stop buttons around the vehicle as well as fuel and electrical shut off switches. “Other changes included covering the manifolds to protect against oil spraying on them in case of a leak and also at the turbo. We essentially protected all the areas where a leak could start a fire. STRONGER BUCKET

“Work was also carried out by Cooke Brothers in Newtownards to increase the capacity of the bucket, as well as strengthen it to ensure longer wear. “Cooke Brothers modified the bucket to suit the mine conditions adding Hardox steel to the mouth and sides of the bucket to make it stronger, and fabricating a lip at the top to prevent material falling off the back when in action,” he said. The new Doosan DL580-7 is a Stage V emissions wheel loader featuring a completely new design, providing higher performance, increased fuel efficiency and a much enhanced environment for the operator compared to the previous Stage IV model. It is powered by the six-cylinder 400hpScania DC13 engine and has an operating weight of 34,488kgs. Alwyn added: “The main benefits we are finding with the new Doosan DL5807 are that it has plenty of power, good fuel efficiency and operator comfort. “The big plus is with the newly modified bucket on the front. Each scoop of the bucket holds 15 tonnes of salt which means we can fill the 30 tonne trucks in just two passes whereas on the previous machine it took two and a half passes to fill the trucks. “With this advantage we are not only saving fuel but also generating less emissions per truck load,” he added.

INDUSTRY EXPECTATIONS GREATLY SURPASSED AT BAUMA 2022

A total of around 3,200 exhibitors from 60 countries and more than 495,000 visitors from over 200 countries came to Munich for bauma 2022, the world’s leading trade fair for the construction industry.

With the proportion of international visitors around 50 percent, the top 10 exhibitor countries were, in this order: Germany, Italy, Turkey, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Netherlands, France, the U.S., Austria, Spain and China. The share of international exhibitors was nearly 65 percent. Stefan Rummel, the CEO of Messe München responsible for the event, is pleased: “This bauma has again stoked enthusiasm and fascination! After the world fundamentally changed following the last bauma, we’re really thrilled that bauma 2022 demonstrates the trade fair remains a powerhouse of the construction-equipment industry thanks to our customer’s great variety of innovations, good business deals and many visitors from all over the world.” And this is because bauma displayed its usual strength even in these unsettled times, as Domenic Ruccolo, CSO of Wirtgen Group and Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Product Support for Global Construction Equipment at John Deere confirms: “The WIRTGEN GROUP’s joint trade show appearance with John Deere was a resounding success. The interest in our company and our innovative and sustainable products was simply overwhelming. Our participation in the industry leading trade fair bauma was the most successful in the history of the WIRTGEN GROUP.” Steffen Günther, a member of the Board of Directors of Liebherr, also expresses his satisfaction: “bauma proved to be a very successful trade fair for us. We generated a lot of enthusiasm among the large audience. The conversations were outstanding. We’re already looking forward to the next bauma trade fair now.” Fred Cordes, Chairman of the Management Board at Zeppelin (CAT), adds: “bauma was long overdue — as demonstrated by the overwhelming rush of visitors to our booth and the extraordinary interest in Cat construction machinery and Zeppelin services.” DEALS DONE

And in terms of business deals as well, bauma proved once again it is the platform for the industry. Alexander Greschner, Chief Sales Officer at Wacker Neuson Group, says: “Visitors flocked to our stand, and we had a lot of very good discussions. From the very first day we were able to achieve sales success on the same level as 2019 and beyond.” But bauma did not just showcase its strength as a business platform; the trade fair also lived up to its leadership claim in setting topics for the event. Franz-Josef Paus, Managing Director of Paus Maschinenfabrik GmbH and Chairman of the bauma Advisory Board says in summary: “We’re very satisfied with how bauma went. The trade fair was enormously popular among our customers and guests. Digitalization and automation are topics that dominate the trade fair, and this trend is irreversible.” Joachim Schmid, Managing Director of the Construction Machinery and Building Material Association of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) echoes this, saying: “The exhibitors are offering solutions to address current challenges related to CO2 neutrality as well as tackling the issue of skilled worker shortages with automation and digitalization. This is the future. You see this with the traditional companies and with the nearly 50 start-ups at the trade fair for the first time.” The next bauma will be held in Munich from April 7–13, 2025.