Develon Demo Days Hailed a Success

The latest edition of Develon’s (formerly Doosan) hugely successful Demo Days event took place from 13th-16th April 2026, at a new venue of the Háje quarry near Prague in the Czech Republic.

Nearly 900 customers, dealers and international media representatives attended the spectacular four-day event where the assembled guests were able to get “hands on” with the latest machines in a real-life working environment.

Unfortunately, due to a pre-arranged assignment in Finland, I wasn’t able to attend in person on this occasion, but we have had some feedback from visitors who did attend.

More than 25 Develon machines were assembled for visitors to experience with the highlight being the new Dash-9 Series hydraulic excavators that are certainly making an impact since they were revealed during Bauma 2025.

Series 9 Excavators Set New Standards

The 2026 Demo Days event was also used as a launchpad for Develon’s new DX360LC-9 (37-tonne) and DX400HD-9 (42-tonne) models. These machines build on a next-generation excavator platform featuring full electro-hydraulic (FEH) technology and integrated artificial intelligence, designed to deliver enhanced precision, control and efficiency.

Also present were the two models that were launched at Bauma, the DX230LC-9 and the DX260LC-9, the latter of which I was fortunate enough to get an exclusive test drive opportunity on in Finland last year with dealer local Real Machinery Oy.

Technology On Display

There were a number of live demonstrations at the event, covering several new safety and productivity features from Develon, including the groundbreaking E-Stop system, the first technology of its kind developed specifically for the excavator market. E-Stop is just one of several new advanced intelligent safety technologies that Series 9 machines can be equipped with, to significantly reduce job-site accidents and protect workers in high-risk environments.

Stephane Dieu, Product Manager for Develon Excavators in Europe, stated: “E-Stop technology is comparable to emergency braking systems used in the automotive industry, and has already attracted strong attention from operators seeking practical solutions to improve site safety standards.”

New autonomous machines were also demonstrated, a key highlight was a live demonstration of the Real-X system, developed in partnership with Gravis Robotics. Combining both companies’ expertise in AI-powered excavation and advanced construction equipment, the system represents a significant step forward in the development of autonomous excavation solutions.

Dash-7 electric powered hydraulic excavators were also demonstrated, along with new material handling machines and the new DD130 dozer was also available for test driving.

It was a shame to miss this event in person, and the fact that sister company HD Hyundai Construction Equipment, also ran an event across the same days in another country seemed like a strange move. It would make a lot more sense if manufacturers communicated with each other to avoid clashes of events in the future so we don’t miss out.

For a flavour of the event, checkout this video compilation from the team at Develon.