Vive Le Intermat: 2012 re-visited

by Nick Drew | Tue 21 Apr 2015

Vive Le Intermat: 2012 re-visited

Intermat 2015 opened its doors yesterday offering visitors a chance to see the latest innovations & product’s from many of the world’s leading manufacturers. As I take a wonder around the exhibition today, I thought I would look back at some of the more unusual products I saw at the 2012 event.

Electric mini excavators have been displayed at plant shows in concept form for many years now and Intermat 2012 was no different with a number of manufacturers displaying prototype models. Among them was Takeuchi who displayed its TB117e model to a keen Parisian audience.

These eco-friendly “green” machines appear to have generated a lot of interest over the years from company’s who are working in environmentally sensitive areas and confined space sites, but it’s fair to say that the cost of such equipment does come at a premium. At the moment it appears that Wacker Neuson’s award winning 803 dual power version, is winning the race towards acceptance of these machines, as it offers the end user the option to run the machine under its own diesel power too. Check out this video of the machine being demonstrated a year earlier at the ConExpo show in Las Vegas. [youtube width="725" height="344"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMOFH5oqsaM[/youtube] One of the biggest highlights at Intermat 2012 was the unveiling of Hyundai’s 120 tonne class excavator the R1200. The machine was initially partially covered but was eventually revealed to an eager gathering with all the usual razzamatazz of loud music and dancing girls!

It will be interesting to see what Hyundai have up their sleeve this time around, though I suspect we will not see anything this large from the South Korean manufacturer. I am looking forward to checking out the new HX excavator range. Something you don’t see every day is the Galotrax 800. Looking very much like a creation from the mind of Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson, this machine is said to be the world’s heaviest forestry mulcher. Manufactured by Plaisance Equipements, this 26,300 kg tracked monster is powered by a 765hp Cummins engine and is ideal for heavy duty grinding work in the most hostile of environments, including heavy forestry on steep slopes and marshy ground with its low ground bearing pressure.

Another aspect of these shows that I really enjoy, is the opportunity to see kit from other countries that are not seen on UK shores, like this Turkish built Cukurova 888 backhoe loader.

One can also expect to see an increased presence from the Chinese manufacturers this year with the more well know company’s like LiuGong and Sany having large stands. But there are many more less well known Chinese brands out there, like Lishide who were displaying at the 2012 event with a rather dated looking SC60-8 midi excavator.

And finally in this batch a rarely seen brand in the UK. Italian manufacturer Eurocomach had a wide variety of machines on display at the 2012 event, including the impressive looking 9.5 tonne class ES 950 TR which featured the very useful two piece boom arrangement.

Needless to say I will be on the lookout for the more rarer makes and models at this year’s event, which I hope to share with you all here on the Digger Man Blog over the coming weeks.

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