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COMPACTION
Germany (pavers), Sweden (rollers), Brazil (rollers),
China (rollers, pavers) and India (rollers), each with
itsownengineeringdesign team.
The company has set itself some ambitious targets
for the 2014-16 period, with the aim, it says, of
retaininga “lead”positiongloballyon rollers, staying
at number two in pavers, and working to reclaim a
leadingplace in theplanermarket aswell.
At a recent product launch inSweden, thecompany
mainland Europe, the 400E has a plate width of 380
mm and centrifugal force is 11 kN. Mr Neilson says
it was an enquiry from a major European rental
company that ledBelle todevelop theproduct.
The new machines reflect continued investment
in the business since its acquisition by Altrad in
2008. The company has doubled production staff at
the factory to around 110 over the past year, and is
increasing in-housecontent of itsproducts, including
thenew twin-drum roller.
Mr Neilson says this reflects both an upturn in
market demand – including from the UK, which still
represents half of all sales – but also improvements
in its product range; “Our range of rammers is
now in a different league – we’ve got a better,
more reliable product. In the past they were nice
machines, butdidn’thaveenoughpower. The rammer
redevelopment hasbeenhuge for us.”
Thebusinessgrew itssalesbyaround 10% lastyear,
to around £30million, andMr Neilson says this year
could see similar growth, although it could bemore.
Belle’s parent, Altrad, has been growing even faster,
from revenues of around €300million five years ago
tomore than€700million last year.
Atlas Copco investment
Also investing in its compaction products is Atlas
Copco Road Construction Equipment, which is
now making machines in five countries worldwide:
said new machines were being designed with three
main criteria in mind – they have to be better
than before, conform to the ideals of sustainable
productivity, andbe safe.
“We have to make sure the new product is doing
better than before, with enhanced productivity, but
needing less energy and producing less emissions”,
saysHermanMattyssen, vicepresidentmarketing.
Environmental issues are important, he says. “We
always have to be one step ahead, and so we are
alreadyworkingwith Tier 4 Final engines. Also noise
is very important.” This is for operator comfort and
tobeable towork in cities.
With ergonomic changes to the cabins, operators
can stay fit all day, he said, adding that this was
important in places like Scandinavia when there are
extended shifts in the lighter summer months as a
result of the shorter roadbuildingand repair season.
New from the company is the Dynapac CG2300,
adding to its articulated CC machines. The CG2300
is 3.99m long – important for manoeuvrability - and
2.99mhigh. Insteadof central articulation,machines
in the Dynapac CG roller range traditionally have
steeringon thedrums.
The cabon theDynapacCG2300hasbeendesigned
with the operator in mind, and drum edge visibility
is described as excellent thanks to an extended
sideways sliding seat and steeringassembly.
A standard ECOmode reduces fuel consumption by
more than 15%. Thecompany says theECOmodewas
the resultof closelymonitoring the fuel consumption
of the new Dynapac CA2500 – 6500 soil compactor
The 11 t VM117 is one of two new soil compactors from JCB.
Volvo CE’s new
soil compactors –
including the SD75
and SD135 pictured
here - offer a 30%
reduction in fuel
use over previous
models.
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