MARKET REPORT COMPACT PLANT


Kubota is busy developing both LPG and, as seen here, electric mini excavators.


Big things in smaller packages


Consultant Plant Editor Nick Johnson discusses the latest trends in compact plant design and usage in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic.


The big Bauma plant exhibition in Munich during April last year now seems a world away. Then the densely packed crowds of visitors from all around the globe were able to get up close to all the many new developments in compact plant on show.


Bauma revealed just how many manufacturers were working on new technologies designed to make many types of compact plant more efficient, safer to operate and more environmentally friendly. Many interesting prototypes were on show and the clear development trend for smaller compact machinery was electric drive with lithium-ion batteries.


Amongst the machine makers that have shown compact electric excavators or dumpers at exhibitions in the past are Ausa, Bobcat, Doosan, Ecovolve, Eurocomech, Doosan, Hinowa, Hitachi, JCB, Kato, Komatsu, Kubota, Morooka, Sany, Sunward, Takeuchi, Tufftruk, Volvo, Wacker Neuson and Yanmar. Many are still prototypes but others are already being sold.


These two Volvos were amongst the many new compact electric machines unveiled at Bauma 2019.


Volvo staged a high profile reveal at Bauma 2019 of its then prototype 2.5 tonne ECR25 Electric mini excavator and a 4.9 tonne L25 Electric compact wheel loader. The company intention is to replace its smaller diesel engined wheel loaders and mini excavators with new


electric versions. The new electric machines are now in production and dealer SMT GB is taking enquiries for them.


JCB has taken an industry-leading position in the development of innovative E-Tech fully electric construction and industrial machinery. The company has already introduced the increasingly popular 1.9 tonne class 19C-1E fully electric mini excavator and the 30-19E Teletruk industrial telescopic forklift. And earlier this year it introduced an electric version of its an electric version of its 500kg capacity walk-behind HTD-5 Dumpster high-tip tracked dumper.


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The new HTD-5e E-Dumpster is powered by a 48V lithium-ion battery pack that can be recharged in just two hours. The machine has been designed to provide a carrying solution for indoor work and other urban sites requiring low noise and zero exhaust emissions.


Kubota is another leading compact plant maker busy introducing more eco-friendly models. At Bauma 2019 it showed a prototype 1.8 tonne KX019-4 LPG powered mini excavator (due for release next year) and a 700kg capacity KC70-4e electric mini crawler dumper (available now). And, earlier this year, it used an exhibition in Kyoto City to unveil its latest 1.5 tonne class electric mini excavator prototype that uses large capacity lithium-ion batteries.


Wacker Neuson's range of compact plant includes the 1.7 tonne EZ17e zero tail swing mini excavator with lithium-ion batteries and the 1,500kg capacity DW15e 4WD high tip dumper with gel filled lead acid batteries. They form an effective emissions-free mini muckshifting team.


Meanwhile, Tufftruk continues to do well with its smaller electric drive Truxta B450E walk-behind micro dumper. This 450kg capacity 4WD machine can now be supplied with Power-Tip or the higher lift Power- Tip-Plus options as well as a new Poly-Skip made from polyethylene.


Tufftruk General Manager Andy Simpson reports that a new tri-fold ramp system has now gone into production. Able to be carried in the skip of the Truxta, it is easily assembled to allow the micro dumper to be driven up it and discharge into a builder’s skip whilst its operator remains standing safely on the ground.


Avant Tecno has been a pioneer of small electric articulated wheel loaders / tool carriers and its UK Sales & Marketing Director John


JCB’s growing electric machine portfolio includes the HTD-5e E-Dumpster and 19C-1E mini excavator.


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