Versatile machines offer improved efficiency

An array of versatile new machines from different segments is available for the rental sector - Mike Woof writes

The rental machine market continues to develop in many countries around the world. Equipment rental has a long history in the UK and the US and in more recent years has developed well in France also, while other countries are also benefiting from growth in this sector.

As with other machines, equipment for the European and US rental sector now has to meet tough exhaust and noise emissions legislation. These smaller units also have to meet tough requirements on working vibration. Manufacturers have had to work hard to ensure the latest models meet requirements, a major challenge too given the extremely compact nature of many of the items of equipment. Although the smaller engines powering these units do not require complex aftertreatment systems, installing the diesels inside compact equipment with little space for power modules has required innovative engineering, with the provision of sufficient cooling presenting a particular challenge.

Hand-operated compaction equipment is a key market for the rental segment and various new models are now available. 6791 Ammann has long been in this sector and claims high productivity and performance for its powerful new plate compactor. The newly-developed APH 110-95 widens the firm’s range of triple-shaft units and delivers 110kN, making it the most powerful vibratory plate compactor ever built by the company. This innovative unit is said to set new performance standards and features a fully hydraulic enclosed drive system with no V-belts and no centrifugal clutch, eliminating wearing parts in the drive. Smooth operation is claimed as a result, with power provided by a water-cooled 1265 Kubota D1105 3-cylinder diesel. The plate compactor offers a working speed of 37m/min and working widths of up to 950mm, allowing it to achieve surface coverage of 2,109m2/hour and equivalent to a 7tonne single drum roller. Weighing 825kg the unit offers a working width of 950mm, delivers a centrifugal force of 110kN and works at a frequency of 48Hz.
233 Hitachi has moved into this market for small compaction equipment fairly recently, introducing a number of new models The firm offers the TMR65KDS walk-behind roller, which is said to provide high performance due to the direct drive between the hydraulic motors and the drums. With a 650mm drum width, these lightweight machines provide good manoeuvrability, while a low height gives better visibility.

The firm has also introduced the ZV-R and lightweight ZV-RLS series of vibratory rammers. These can be used in a variety of applications, including foundations and trenches in soil or sand and are said to be robust and compact. The design makes the units easy to transport between job sites, while they are also said to be user-friendly with a high power output. Highly manoeuvrable, the products also offer powerful compaction force, suiting them for use confined working conditions. The ZV-RLS series features a lightweight body, easy-to-maintain engine oil and air cleaner, and engine protection.

The market for mini excavators and wheeled excavators is also highly competitive, with many new models being introduced. 7985 Atlas is unveiling its newest excavator, the 350MH-E, the all-electric version of its best-selling 350MH.

Atlas claims the electric version will have around 25% lower operating costs than a traditional excavator. But it uses 95% of the same parts as the standard model, keeping maintenance costs down. The 170kW motor gets its power through 80m of cable wrapped around a cable wheel at the rear of the vehicle. Power is through a 24V 40A transformer and total power of the machine is around 70kW.

The operator has a good view to the rear due to the low profile afforded by the electric motor. Atlas regularly updates its equipment and the new cabs now have LED interior lighting and a removable lower windscreen for better visibility and come with a sliding door. The 160Wsr short-tail wheeled excavator has the same equipment as found in the standard wheeled excavators.
1130 Bobcat has launched the rather more conventional E17, E19 and E20 compact excavators, which compete in the 1-2tonne classes. These new high performance excavators are said to offer high breakout forces, precise working and fast cycle times. The new models can be towed on trailers and feature expandable undercarriages, automatic slew brakes and advanced diagnostics and instrumentation. The new E20 2tonne model is a Zero Housing Swing (ZHS) excavator, which means that despite having a full-sized cab, it has Zero Tail Swing (ZTS) functionality with the front upper structure corners turning within the swing circle. The ZHS configuration in the E20 excavator allows 320° of free rotation when working close to structures, for use in confined areas.

Meanwhile 695 Doosan’s Stage IV/Tier 4 Final compliant wheeled excavators are said to set new standards for this segment. The 17tonne DX170W-5 and 21tonne DX210W-5 models are said to offer better comfort and controllability together with improved fuel efficiency, uptime and return on investment. There is also a focus on increased power, robustness and agility. The DX170W-5 has 10% more power, 5% more torque and 5% more traction force compared to the previous model.

The extra 220kg of the counterweight in the DX170W-5 coupled with respective increases of 40mm and 50mm in machine width and wheel-base are said to increase lifting capacities, while also improving stability. Other important aspects include the new cab suspension system which reduces cab noise and vibration.

The new DX210W-5 excavator is powered by a six-cylinder, turbocharged Doosan DL06P diesel rated at 141.2kW, a 17% increase over the previous machine. However fuel consumption has been lowered by 10%. 

From Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) come three mini excavators – the ZX17U-5, ZX19U-5, and ZX26U-5. Said to be user-friendly and offering high levels of performance, the new models suit use in narrow or confined spaces. The ZX17U-5 and ZX19U-5 are claimed to be more productive than previous models and rival machines of their size, due to higher hydraulic efficiency. The same high hydraulic efficiency is also said to ensure that the ZX26U-5 is more productive than previous Zaxis models of the same size.

The versatility of the new ZX17U-5 and ZX19U-5 is highlighted by the expandable crawler tracks, which can be retracted or widened depending on the requirements of the job site or for transport. Several new and improved features have been incorporated into the ZX17U-5, ZX19U-5 and ZX26U-5 to boost durability. The front of each machine, for example, is fitted with a boom cylinder guard and has a new V-shaped boom cylinder cover with two bolts for added durability.
Meanwhile 236 Hyundai is introducing its 1.6tonne class R17Z-9A mini excavator. Another revised mini excavator, Hyundai’s R25Z-9AK, is updated with a new Kubota engine. This is said to offer greater performance along with lower noise and emissions, while fuel consumption has also been reduced.

High versatility is claimed for the new 12MTX wheeled excavator from 2441 Mecalac, which the company says retains the basic characteristics and avant-garde design that made the initial version successful. Powered by an engine rated at 80kW and with a maximum weight of 9.7tonnes, the company says the 12MTX makes it possible to have an excavator, a loader, a forklift and a tool carrier in a single machine, and to augment the capacities of these functions due to the specific characteristics such as its articulated boom and frame, the lowered centre of gravity, the rotation of the superstructure, and the cab mounted on the right-hand side.

The versatility of mini excavators and wheeled excavators can be extended considerably by the use of quick coupler units, which allow different attachments to be used. 3772 Geith specialises in attachments and is filling out its quick coupler range to meet increased demand. Its hydraulic quick coupler range now covers the compact machine markets of 1-2tonnes, 2-4 tonnes and 4-6 tonnes. The company has traditionally sold most of its products in France, the United Kingdom and North America, in both Canada and the United States. But it is making an export drive, focusing on Australia and Latin America, with new distribution centres to open soon.
Of note is the combination of Geith Quick Couplers combined with a PowerTilt unit by Helac. This combination can be used to tilt a bucket or any other attachment up to 180°C. It is available for excavators from 6tonnes and upwards and can be operated totally from inside the cab. Geith also manufactures compact tilt buckets for excavators ranging from 1.5-9tonnes. The single-cylinder buckets can be tilted 45° left and right to tackle any slope. There is also a range of dual cylinder tilting buckets for excavators from 2-29tonnes.

Backhoe loaders can also benefit from quick couplers and Turkish company 230 Hidromek has developed a new range of models. These are designed to be versatile, mobile and productive, these new backhoe loaders offer increased performance over the models now being replaced. The new Alpha Series HMK 102 B backhoe loaders are manufactured at Hidromek’s factory in Izmir and area available in an array of models and configurations to best suit customer needs. The top-of-the-range model is the HMK 102 S Alpha variant, which offers equal size wheels. The standard model is the HMK 102 B Supra variant. Both variants are able to use a wide array of attachments, while being easy to drive, comfortable and featuring low noise, high visibility cabs. Different versions are available for sale into developed or emergent markets, depending on the noise and exhaust emissions regulations.

And these quick-coupling attachments can also be used to boost the versatility of compact tracked loaders or skid steer loaders. These machines are major sellers in the rental markets, with several manufacturers introducing new variants.

Bobcat has extended its compact tracked loader range with the launch of the new T450 model. Slotting into the range between the T110 and T590 models, the T450 is said to offer high power combined with efficient hydraulic and hydrostatic operation for good productivity. The T450 is powered by the Bobcat D24 45.5kW turbocharged diesel engine, which is said to ensure the T450 has the best performance and engine power to weight ratio in its class.
The high productivity of the T450 results from the increased pressure of the hydraulic system which provides increased attachment performance; the T450 can be matched with over 80 different attachments. The T450 is equipped as standard with the quick-change Bob-Tach attachment mounting frame. Customers can also choose the optional Power Bob-Tach system to change non-hydraulic attachments by flipping a switch inside the cab.

Equipped with radial lift boom arms, the rated operating capacity of the T450 is now 665kg, while the operating weight has been reduced from 2.99tonnes to 2.78tonnes. Thanks to its compact dimensions and lower weight, the T450 is said to be even easier to transport on a trailer towed by a light truck, 4x4, or all-terrain vehicle.

176 Case is a longtime contender in the market for skid steer and compact tracked loaders and is upgrading its range with five new models. These are said to offer more productivity and reduced operating costs than previous models in their size class. Exhaust and noise emissions have been reduced, along with fuel consumption with engine and hydraulic performance have been boosted. The company’s maintenance-free Tier 4 Final engine technology is said to deliver more power, higher torque and breakout force while using less fuel. The new additions to the line-up also expand the variety of applications Case is now able to serve.