Sun Shines on Sunward at Plantworx

I’m back in the driving seat and fully refreshed following my outstanding holiday in Cyprus. With plenty of material to get through let’s start the week with a look at some of the star items on the Sunward Europe stand at Plantworx 2023.

There’s an exciting buzz around the Sunward brand at the moment, following on from a couple of faltering starts in the UK previously, a number of top well-known industry professionals have been brought in to establish the brand here and set up dealer networks across the UK.

The Chinese manufacturer has a significant European hub in Tessenderlo, Belgium, which houses plenty of machine stock and spare parts support for the European market, I will be making a visit there in due course for Earthmovers Magazine, where I am hoping to be able to get “hands-on” with a number of machines including the new high-spec SWE 155UF-2PB hydraulic excavator that really caught my eye.

The new short-tailswing model that was shown on static display at Plantworx, tips the scales at 15.6-tonnes and features a two-piece boom configuration, hence the -2PB and dozer blade. This example was also fitted with a Steelwrist tiltrotator, a fantastic addition which only further increases the machines versatility on the job site.

Power comes from an ultra-low emissions Stage V compliant 3.8-litre Cummins diesel engine producing a power output rating of 93kw. With the two-piece boom fully extended a maximum reach at ground level of 8370mm is achievable, while maximum digging depth is 5525mm, these figures would be increased with the Steelwrist on board.

On the demo plot a couple of machines were available to test drive including the 6-tonne zero tailswing SWE 60UF which we caught briefly in action during our visit to the stand. One has to say these latest Sunward models do look very stylish and capable pieces of kit, and as we have seen with other Chinese brands, they do listen to feedback from end users, especially operators who are the best people to talk to as they spend over half their lives in the machines!

The other star attraction on the stand, fresh from its appearance in Germany last October during Bauma, was the SWE 20FED which is Sunwards first battery-powered electric mini excavator, this will be another machine I’m hoping to test drive during my time in Belgium.

Checkout my You Tube Short video from the stand.