As coronavirus sent countries worldwide into lockdown, a fate on the near horizon for many American states, the construction industry came together for the triennial Conexpo in Las Vegas in March. Show registration exceeded 130,000 people, and the AEM says fewer than 1% of those cancelled.
Organizers generally were pleased to see the construction industry come together in a big way. Despite growing concerns about Covid-19, the show’s management worked closely with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and the Southern Nevada Health District. They certainly made sure that all the exhibitors, vendors and attendees were provided with heightened cleaning services and hand sanitizers to help reduce the spread of germs and enable show participation to stay healthy at the show.
“The crowd was much better than expected under the circumstances,” according to IFPE show chairperson David Price, global marketing manager of HydraForce.
More than 2,300 exhibitors attended the show, which comprised a record of 2.7 million-plus net square feet of exhibits. Organizers were also keen to point out US buyer attendance increased 8% from the 2017 show, and total buyer attendance improved by almost 5%, while contractor and producer attendance grew by 14%.
“We refer to Conexpo-Con/Agg as the ‘heavy metal’ show, but it’s more than that. It’s also small equipment, education and technology. And that was reflected in every way this week,” said Mary Erholtz, vice president of marketing at Superior Industries and Conexpo 2020 show chair. “This has been one of the best editions of Conexpo-Con/Agg ever,” Erholtz adds.
Conexpo Product Launches and Other New Innovations Across the Sector Brokk
Brokk unveiled its Atomized Water Mist System. To combat harmful silica dust and other airborne particles created by the demolition process, Brokk’s new dust suppression system produces atomized fog that effectively binds dust particles in the air while also providing ground-level dust suppression.
Additionally, the mist dissipates, rather than forming puddles, for a safer, cleaner jobsite. Available for all Brokk remote controlled demolition robots, the Atomized Water Mist System offers an ideal solution to mitigate hazardous dust in demolition applications such as concrete cutting.
“Safety has always been paramount for Brokk, which is why, for more than 40 years, our engineers have constantly produced machines, attachments and technologies that allow operators to step away from the most dangerous and backbreaking operations,” said Martin Krupicka, president and CEO of the Brokk Group. “However, silica dust remained a concern because it is difficult to contain. Previous dust suppression methods helped, but we wanted to find a more efficient solution that optimized safety without the mess.”
Health and safety organizations have identified silica dust as a significant hazard and have enacted regulations that limit the permissible exposure for workers in the construction and demolition industry. Meeting these regulations has taken several forms on the jobsite. Some contractors choose to use spray systems, hoses, sprinklers, and water trucks to combat silica dust.
However, these interventions are often inefficient and, in some cases, ineffective against crystallized silica dust. The problem stems from the size of the water droplets, which are much larger than the silica dust they are meant to trap. Silica particles range from 0.1 to 1,000 microns while traditional methods produce water droplets that are 200 to 1,000 microns in size. The size and velocity of these larger droplets cause air and silica particles to flow around them in a phenomenon known as the ‘slipstream effect’. Hose and water truck spray methods are the most inefficient because they produce the largest droplets, but even the smaller onboard systems produce large droplets that can deflect silica particles, which can then be breathed in.
Since silica particles are more likely to bond with water droplets of similar size, Brokk engineered the dust suppression system to produce 10-micron mist droplets. This creates a fog of atomized water that captures dust particles in the air and spreads along the ground for optimal dust suppression. The system is incorporated into the tool mounting instead of the tool itself like previous systems, allowing operators to provide silica dust protection with any Brokk attachment including breakers and drum cutters. A hydraulic water pump is attached to the machine and can be fed with a freshwater hose or water tank.
In addition to providing superior dust suppression, the Atomized Water Mist System requires less water than other methods — just 6.76 ounces per minute (0.2 liters per minute) — making it significantly more economical and environmentally friendly than most other spray methods. This conservative use of water also eliminates the puddles and slurry left behind by alternative methods, reducing the need for cleaning at the end of the day and reducing slips and falls, ultimately resulting in a safer, more efficient jobsite.
Chicago Pneumatic
In March, Chicago Pneumatic Power Technique announced it has updated the CPG 250 and CPG 330 generators in its lineup to include a more powerful John Deere 6090 engine. These machines were built with overall product quality, ease of serviceability, user friendliness and economical operation in mind.
They can be used in several applications including construction, the oil field and special events. They carry over the same characteristics of the CPG line.
Now equipped with a John Deere 9-liter, 6-cylinder Tier 4 Final diesel engine, the CPG 250 has a rated prime power of 250 kVA/200 kW and operates at 290 horsepower (hp). With a rated prime power of 330 kVA/264 kW, the CPG 330 runs at 390hp.
Built with powder-coated steel, the CPG units are corrosion resistant and offer a foam and layering system inside the doors. This keeps water out and improves sound attenuation at 73dB(A). The CPG 250 and CPG 330 are environmentally sensitive and have 110% fluid containment.
An internal 385-gallon fuel tank runs for 34 hours at 75% load on the CPG 250 and 26 hours at 75% load on the CPG 330. The fuel tank provides safe diesel storage while eliminating tank corrosion contaminants from being introduced into the fuel system.
With integrated fuel-water separator and filter, the system is designed to help maintain cleanliness and provide diesel supply to the engine for reliable trouble-free operation. To increase safety measures, both of these units were manufactured with an emergency stop. Additionally, a remote signal start and stop allows connection as a critical backup unit via a two-wire dry contact connection in the distribution panel.
Dressta
LiuGong’s Dressta debuted its new TD-16N dozer at Conexpo. The company says the design team’s brief was simple – create the best all-round dozer for the customer. The Red Dot award winning team is headed by Edward Wagner, executive director of New Technology who says: “We literally started with the operator, the blade and the tracks and then built everything around them without compromise.”
The result is a dozer with all-round visibility encompassing 309 degrees. According to Gary Major, executive director of Industrial Design: “We set out to create the best visibility in class – I think we’ve achieved that, but the real test is to put a seasoned operator in a cab and ask him.”
Dressta invited a select group of operators to preview and test the machine prior to Conexpo. Equipment owner and dealer Rob Winmill, reports: “The visibility is second to none. Floor to ceiling glass, no obstructions, you can’t do better than that.”
The dozer features a mid-cab design over a mid-mounted automatic, dual path hydrostatic drive train. It comes with a standard six-way angle blade and it is compatible with 2D and 3D grade control systems. Controls are easily accessible, intuitive, and easy to use with electro-hydraulic joysticks. Also, the machine has an operating weight of 19,090kg (42,090 lb) and net horsepower of 170hp (127kW).
The TD-16N dozer has a special undercarriage design, which uses a single-track gauge for all track shoe widths. This allows the dozer to be reconfigured at any point in its life, from standard to LGP undercarriage, by changing the track shoes and the blade. Dressta says this feature increases versatility and will improve resale values by allowing future owners to reconfigure the machine to perfectly match their needs.
While visibility and performance were high on the design team’s agenda, they were not the only consideration: operator safety was also a priority. According to Major: “Every operator out there has a story about falling off the tracks… this is the first machine where you don’t have to get onto the tracks.”
Firstly, the team designed nonslip steps at the rear of the machine totally negating the need to step onto the tracks. Complete with safety handrails, these steps allow easy access to and from the cab with three points of contact maintained at all times. The TD-16N is the only dozer in its size class with this type of ‘no tracks’ access. Secondly, they ensured that all the access points for daily checks, maintenance and fuelling were reachable from ground level.
GHH
The German manufacturer of heavy machinery for civil engineering, tunnelling and mining is a full-range supplier for rock logistics and has launched its new MK-42. With up to 45,000kg payload, 19-24m3 dump volume, maximum drive power, great turning radius, large dumping angle and excellent ergonomics and safety, it received the Red Dot Design Award.
The 460kW Mercedes OM473 forms the engine basis, fulfilling the latest emission standards according to Stage V. GHH also offers Tier 3 and 4 versions. Alternatively the Volvo TAD1651 or 1671 is available. The vehicle rests on Kessler axles with an oscillating articulation and front axle suspension. The power is transmitted by a converter and gearbox combination from the Dana 8000 series. The MK-42 with payload up to 45 metric tonnes, is designed for use in harsh environments, especially in underground hard-rock mining applications.
Its dimensions are surprisingly compact at 3062 x 10,535 x 2,719mm (WxLxH). Thanks to the large dumping angle of 68 degrees, high efficiencies in productivity are fully supported by improved cycle times.
Special emphasis was placed on a safe and simple design in the best sense of the word: low maintenance and repair costs are a core discipline of the manufacturer, with operator safety and comfort in mind through the entire design process: the ROPS/ FOPS-certified cab is ergonomically designed to be spacious, quiet, pressurized and effectively airconditioned, to ensure maximum operator comfort while minimizing fatigue. And the strategically placed trainer seat provides for effective operator training, maximizing the outputs and minimizing time spent on training.
Hyundai
Hyundai introduced new and enhanced models for several products, including two prototypes of electric-powered compact excavators.
The Hyundai HL930A wheel loader, HX210A crawler excavator, HX85A compact excavator, and HW250MH wheeled material handler made their first public appearances at the show, along with the HL975CVT, a new version of the HL975 wheel loader with a continuously variable transmission.
“CONEXPO-CON/AGG offers the world’s largest stage for highlighting new and advanced construction equipment technologies,” according to Stan Park, vice president of distribution and marketing, Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas.
Electric-Powered Compact Excavators Offer Clean, Quiet Operation
At its indoor exhibit, Hyundai will show a prototype of the R18E, a Hyundai electric-powered compact excavator. The outdoor exhibit will feature a prototype of the Cummins electric-powered Hyundai R35E compact excavator which offers a variety of benefits, including no carbon emissions and quiet operations.
A-Series Includes Wheel Loader and Excavator Launches
As the result of a collaboration between Hyundai and Cummins, Hyundai introduces several A-Series wheel loader and excavator models that feature Cummins Performance Series engines, which are designed to achieve compliance with the international Stage 5 emissions control standard.
“The Cummins Performance Series engines, combined with the engineering and product design expertise of Hyundai, will enable our customers to achieve substantial performance gains from a smaller, lighter power package,” Park said. He added: “Customers will experience more than a 10% increase in power and a nearly 20% increase in torque compared to previous engines, all the while using less fuel.”
A Hyundai HL960A wheel loader – an A-Series upgrade of the HL960 model – demonstrates a prototype remote control system, enabling the machine to be operated from any appropriately technology-enabled remote site. Hyundai says that it expects the remote-control wheel loader to be used in severe or hazardous-duty applications – typically areas where a human operator could be exposed to danger.
