Earthmoving equipment: A market on the move

Earthmoving equipment, covering mini excavators, loaders and dozers in this article, remain an important tool in the armory of the generalist rental company, especially those that count the construction industry as an end market.

And, while the last few years may have been a good period for innovation, sales in the global construction equipment market have declined slightly since the highs of post-pandemic 2021.

That’s according to a report by research and analysis specialists Off-Highway Research, which says drivers for demand in construction equipment have largely cooled in the last two years.

Chris Sleight, managing director, Off-Highway Research, says, “This year is seeing an overall slowdown in global sales of construction equipment after the high volumes seen in the pandemic years. Although the threat of high inflation in the aftermath of the pandemic has now clearly passed, like old generals fighting the last war, central bankers around the world continue to obsess on this.

He says interest rates are also too high for the current environment, which is “suppressing much-needed house building, choking-off economic growth and maintaining the cost of financing equipment at painfully high levels.”

Rental applications

The latest report from Off-Highway Research states that typical rental applications such as crawler excavators accounted for almost a quarter of global construction equipment sales in 2023 (24%), followed by mini excavators (23%) and wheeled loaders in the 59kW and above range.

Of course, the mini excavator is the unit of choice for many rental companies around the world due to their compact size and versatility.

HD Hyundai Construction Equipment Europe unveiled eight new models to form a 12-model range, with operating weights of 1.7 to 5.5 tonnes.

Take for example, the new lineup of mini excavators from HD Hyundai Construction Equipment Europe.

Back in February, the company unveiled eight new models to form a 12-model range, with operating weights of 1.7 to 5.5 tonnes.

While all models have compact dimensions, those with a ‘Z’ suffix feature a zero-tail swing design.

The company says that the zero tail swing machines can be supplied with additional counterweight if required, to increase stability during heavy lifting operations. Variable-width undercarriages on the smaller models are also available to deliver maximum stability for heavy digging and lifting tasks.

Safety valves are standard on all boom, dipper arm and dozer blade hydraulic cylinders. The boom arm and bucket cylinders also come with guards, to protect the hydraulic rams. All machines can be supplied with optional quick-coupler piping.

Electric models

The mini range is also one of the most popular in terms of electrification among OEMs.

For example, in June Case Construction Equipment unveiled the 12EV electric compact wheel loader,

Case CE unveiled the 12EV electric compact wheel loader in June.

which is said to be suitable for operating in restricted areas, residential construction, tunnelling, and sensitive environments such as agriculture, horticulture, urban construction, and areas that require quiet operation, like residential buildings, hospitals, and night-time operations.

Weighing 3.8 tonnes, the loader features as much power as its diesel counterpart, the company said, and is equipped with a 23kWh cobalt-free lithium-ion battery pack, enabling a payload with pallet forks of 1.15 tonnes. 

The 23kWh battery provides the 12EV with three to six hours of operating autonomy, depending on the application. It comes with a standard 230V charger, which can replenish the battery overnight, or an optional 400V fast charger that takes just one hour to charge the battery from 20% to 80%.

A 17kW motor delivers drive to the axles, while a 22kW motor powers the hydraulic system for the loader arms and bucket cylinder. It offers three drive modes – Energy Saving, Standard, and Power – allowing the operator to match the machine to the task at hand to prolong battery life. A fourth operating mode allows the operator to customize the response and tailor the energy consumption to the actual job site.

Another OEM looking to electric is Volvo CE, which unveiled the L90 Electric and L120 Electric wheel loaders at its Volvo Days event in May.

The company said that both the 20-tonne L120 and 15-tonne L90 are designed to support customers’ fossil-free ambitions and offer a cleaner, smarter choice for customers.

Volvo CE unveiled the L90 Electric and L120 Electric wheel loaders at its Volvo Days event in May.

The L90 Electric can last for approximately 4-5 hours of operation across most medium duty applications and a full working day in lighter applications.

It can charge zero to 100% in about 70 minutes using a 150kW DC fast charger or PU500 mobile power unit, while its AC on-board cable can power up in 6-7 hours for overnight charging.

Other features include dedicated electric motors for propulsion and hydraulics, a Volvo-designed transmission and an interface that integrates the Volvo Co-Pilot and rearview camera.

Dozer debuts

In the dozer range, Develon marked its entry into the European segment with the launch of the DD130-7 back in July.

Powered by a 17kW engine and with a 15-tonne operating weight, the dozer is said to offer a wide range of features that offer “productive fine-grading solution for residential and light commercial construction projects.”

Develon marked its entry into the European dozer segment with the launch of the DD130-7 back in July.

Develon said its biggest differentiator between other models is its visibility of the blade, with a narrower design of the front engine making it easier for the operator to see. The front engine compartment offers a narrower design to make it easier for operators to see their work.

For further visibility and safety, a standard rearview camera provides operators with an additional view of the dozer’s surroundings. The full-color, 8-inch Smart Touch display shows the feed from the rearview camera.

Technology is also a key feature, with the DD130-7 coming with 2D grading system (dozing assist) and telematics as standard which enables remote monitoring and maintenance of the machine.

This year has also seen the company unveil a new mini-excavator, the DX10Z-7 1 tonne zero tail swing model.

The model, which replaces the DX10Z, is powered by a Kubota D722 engine that supplies an output of 7.6kW.

For transportability, the machine has a width of 730mm when the tracks and the front blade are fully retracted, allowing the machine to pass through doors.

Bobcat at the Motocross World Championship A Bobcat T76 compact track loader has been used at the sixth round of the 2024 Motocross World Championship. Held in the city of Lugo in Spain May 11-12, 2024, the 1700m track required maintenance and preparation work in tandem with another machine which was used for flatter sections. Bobcat said the organizers chose the unit, which was delivered from the rental fleet of Bobcat dealer Talleres Turquino due to its operating weight of 4.6 tonnes. A Bobcat T76 compact track loader has been used at the sixth round of the 2024 Motocross World Championship. It said the weight ensured sufficient compaction of the track, as well as providing the agility needed to redistribute the surface material loosened by the passage of the motorbikes, placing it again in the most difficult points in the layout. To enhance the compaction capabilities to the rubber tracks, the company also added counterweights. Bobcat said the loader’s low ground pressure track system provides the ability to work on soft, sandy, wet or muddy surfaces.