Caterpillar, Volvo and more: 5 of the latest products from OEMs

World’s first trial of remote control high-lift wheeled loader

The world’s first trial of a remote-controlled High-lift wheeled loader over a 5G network in a complex forestry application has been carried out by Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE).

The Remote Timber research project is a collaboration between Volvo CE and the telecom operator, timber and paper manufacturer SCA, Mid University Sweden, Skogforsk and Biometria.

The tests at SCA’s timber terminal in Sweden have demonstrated that it is possible to tele-operate a Volvo L180 High-lift wheel loader, hundreds of km away.

Hitachi has announced its furst excavator built for North America.

First Hitachi excavator built for North America

Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas (HCMA) has revealed that the first medium-sized Hitachi ZX200-6 utility hydraulic excavator, built specifically for the North American market, has shipped from the company’s manufacturing plant of Tsuchiura Works in Japan.

Following the ending of the joint venture between Hitachi and John Deere, Hitachi has said that the ZX200-6 excavator will be the first of many Hitachi-built and branded machines soon to be available throughout North America and Latin America.

Prototype electric excavator developed by Yanmar

Yanmar Compact Equipment has developed its first prototype electric mini excavator, the SV17e, with the full commercial launch scheduled for Bauma in October 2022.

Described as an “important strategic step in the transformation of Yanmar”, the SV17e will be aimed at European customers and is powered by an electric drive and 48-volt batteries with fast charging capability.

Cedric Durand, Director Product Management EMEA, said; “Our prototype is significant because it demonstrates our capability to bring the quality and reliability of our highly respected conventional engine technology into the arena of electrification”

The 305 CR is one of two recently announced mini excavators by Caterpillar.

Cat’s latest mini hydraulic excavators

Cat has introduced two new mini hydraulic excavators that are claimed to offer increased power and performance along with lower operating costs, for the markets of North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

The new 304 and 305 CR models are the final machines to be reengineered to Cat’s “next generation” mini hydraulic excavator design.

The 4-tonne Cat 304, and 5-tonne Cat 305 CR mini hydraulic excavators are designed to “deliver more power to the pumps, higher bucket breakout forces and deeper standard digging depths to increase performance by up to 20% over their E2 series counterparts,” according to Cat.

New Trafic mount from Klubb

French aerial platform specialist Klubb has launched its new KL21B van mount at the Solutrans Lyon Eurexpo, organised by Renault.

Part of the manufacturer’s ‘Light’ range and mounted on Renault’s New Trafic van model, the platform has a working height of 11.40m and an reach of 6.80m.

Klubb said the model “combines interior comfort and all the technical innovations of the New Trafic”, such as the Easylink multimedia system and a folding centre back seat.