Spotlight

Compact wheel loaders

Designed for 3.5- to 8-ton compact excavators with hydraulic flows from 12 to 40 gpm, the FMX28 bull hog mulcher is optimized for those in the 3.5- to 5-ton range. This new mulcher model features 14 flippable knife tools on a bite-limiting split ring rotor to achieve a 28-inch cutting width. Aftermarket carbide tools are available for ground-engaging applications. Ideal as an entry-level vegetation management tool, the FMX28 can replace hand crews and workers wielding chainsaws, making the technology much safer and more productive, especially when working on slopes. The unique rear throat design ensures that no unprocessed material is left behind, maximizing productivity when sweeping along the ground. It is capable of mulching overgrowth, underbrush, and small trees to five inches in diameter.

John Deere Construction & Forestry

Three new G-tier compact wheel loaders, part of John Deere’s performance tiering strategy, include the new 184 G-tier, 204 G-tier, and 304 G-tier. These models come standard with limited slip differential which automatically engages if one wheel loses traction, providing enhanced safety for the operator and the machine. Optional ride control reduces spillage from the bucket when travelling over rough terrain, reducing job site cleanup, and improving ride quality for the operator. It can also be set to engage and disengage at certain speeds. The operator station is offered in either a canopy or enclosed cab configuration. The redesigned enclosed cab features a frameless glass door, floor-to-ceiling front windshield, and remounted machine display, providing a clear line of sight to machine surroundings. The right-side full glass window also swings out 180 degrees to further enhance overall visibility.

Screen plant

The PTSC2818VM portable high-frequency screen plant features an eight-foot-wide high-frequency screen. It is equipped with an 8- by 18-foot (2.4 by 5.5 m) top deck and an 8- by 12foot (2.4 by 3.7 m) bottom deck. Externally mounted vibrators at the ends of the tappets deliver aggressive screening action. This unique design creates a higher G-force and reduces heat load from material to motors as compared to single, centre-mounted vibrators. It also allows for easier maintenance and adjustments. The screen is equipped with hydraulic operating angle adjustment, a fines collection hopper, top- and bottom-deck discharge chutes, and an aggregate spreader. The chassis is fitted with manually operating support legs, outriggers for additional support, and folding walkways along the screen.

Excavators

Doosan Infracore North America has released its next-generation -7 Series crawler excavators in the United States and Canada. The initial launch includes four models, with more excavators to come. The first models are the Doosan DX140LCR-7, DX225LC-7, DX255LC-7, and DX350LC-7. Updates to the -7 Series excavators include a strengthened work group with reinforced castings and forged steel pivot points for withstanding high-impact work. A new Y-shaped seal at the end of the excavator’s arm provides better sealing to the bucket connection. Doosan added material to the excavator’s mainframe for higher performance and job site versatility. The excavator’s X-Chassis undercarriage further enhances durability and stability, while the track chain is sealed and self-lubricating for reduced maintenance. Caststeel sprockets are designed to stand up to challenging work environments while track rollers and idlers are provided with oil level check plugs to maximize machine uptime.

3D guidance retrofit kit

Contractors can now retrofit conventional Komatsu excavators with a Smart Construction Retrofit kit to enable 3D guidance and payload monitoring. Designed to improve grading performance and provide more time- and cost-management tools, Smart Construction Retrofit can bring 3D to most Komatsu excavators. Easily installed by a local Komatsu distributor, Smart Construction Retrofit is a low-cost guidance kit that gives operators in the field and managers in the office access to 3D design and payload data to help drive accuracy, control load volumes, and improve operations. Once a conventional excavator is fitted with Smart Construction Retrofit, operators no longer have to set up a laser or bench every time the machine moves. The global navigation satellite system (GNSS) can determine where a machine is on the job site and what the target grade is. The need for additional labour is reduced because the technology collects and delivers information directly to the operator, so fewer people have to be working on the ground, or in an open trench.