Boom time for big kit at Hillhead 2014

Mon 19 May 2014

Boom time for big kit at Hillhead 2014

The most important thing for any visitor attending Hillhead to do first, is to get that impressive shot from the viewing area that looks down into the pit. This vantage point high up by the entrance, really whets your appetite for the long day ahead! Oh and if it’s hot don’t forget your sunscreen!

Hillhead regulars Bell Equipment will no doubt be displaying examples of their new E Series articulated haulers. The E-Series was officially launched into the UK market towards the end of 2013, although many of us had our first sight of the new B30E during Intermat in Paris as far back as 2012 as seen below. Also expect news on new Tier 4 emission compliant wheeled loaders from Bell.

Case Construction Equipment look set to have one of the largest stands at Hillhead this year, with a large selection of machines from the company’s range. Lookout for the latest C Series excavators ranging from the CX130C up to the CX370C and in addition a CX800B model is expected to make an appearance. Case’s new M Series dozer range will be represented by the 1650M and a selection from its wheeled loader line up including the 1021F model.

Caterpillar dealer Finning will be showing the M-Series wheel loader range and the 725 and 730 articulated dumptruck models, which the Digger Man Blog got hands on with during our visit to Malaga recently. The new 730C ADT is expected to be working on the live quarry face demonstration area throughout the show.

Doosan will be bringing new models to the famous Buxton quarry, with the new 52-tonne DX530LC-3 excavator and DL420-3 wheel loader making their first appearances in the UK. The DX530LC-3 is powered by the well proven Isuzu AL-6WG1X Stage IIIB-compliant diesel engine, providing 290kW (389hp) of power at 1,800 rev/min, while the Stage IIIB-compliant DL420-3 combines high engine power output and SCR technology with a new ZF transmission and several other features to minimize fuel consumption.

I am delighted to report that Hitachi will be exhibiting at the show this year, after being noticeable absentees at UK shows for some time. This is great news for Hitachi fans, many of whom have posed the question to me in the past as to just why we don’t see Hitachi at the shows. Expect to see examples from the company’s new Dash-5 wheeled loader range, Dash-5 excavators and rigid dumptrucks.

The Hyundai stand at Hillhead 2014 looks set to feature a total of nine machines including two brand new models – the 42.6-tonne R430LC-9A crawler excavator, which got its first UK outing at the recent ScotPlant show and the all-new 12-tonne R125LC-9A midi-excavator. Taking centre stage, the R430LC-9A is powered by a low-emission, low-noise Cummins QSL9 Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB engine which offers a power output of 231kW (310hp). Making its world debut, the R125LC-9A short-tail-swing midi-excavator is fitted with a Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB-compliant Perkins 1204E engine.

JCB will have an extensive stand at Hillhead and you can expect to be treated to live demonstrations of some of their products at the quarry face. Highlights expected will include the new 457 wheeled loader and the upgraded JS360 hydraulic excavator which are both aimed at the quarrying and mining industries and the latest machines from its new compact excavator range Claiming a fuel saving of around 16% compared with the previous model, the new 457 is the first machine from JCB to use the company’s CommandPlus cab which is said to offer 'the ultimate in operator comfort'.

Hillhead stalwarts Liebherr GB will use the show to launch three new products from the German manufacturer. The compact 14-tonne R914C excavator with a 1,600mm tail swing, which caught my eye at the recent ScotPlant event and the larger 22-tonne R922 excavator equipped with a Stage IIIB-compliant engine will be among the latest exhibits. Also expect to see the hydrostatically driven 22 tonne PR 736 bulldozer.

Marubeni-Komatsu always put on a show stopping display at Hillhead and we suspect this year will be no different. Look out for the Dash-7 wheel loader range, including the EU Stage IIIB-compliant WA320-7, WA380-7, WA470-7 and WA500-7 models, which all feature SmartLoader Logic, Komtrax and Komatsu CARE solutions. Also on display will be two machines from the company’s intelligent machine control range that we first caught a glimpse of during last year’s Bauma Trade Fair – the D61PXi-23 bulldozer and PC210LCi-10 crawler excavator.

Volvo Construction Equipment will be showcasing a large selection from its range of products. I expect to see at least one example of the company’s latest E Series excavators on the stand, which will probably be the EC380E model. Other products on show will include: a new 5-tonne reduced-swing compact excavator; the Volvo P6870C wheeled paver; and some of the latest models from the Swedish giants FMX and FH truck range.

Of course this is just the tip of the iceberg of products and services you will be able to see at Hillhead so don’t delay register today and we will see you down in the big hole!

The magazine for owners + operators

News

Digging deep into construction machinery news

Boom time for big kit at Hillhead 2014

Loads more

New Michelin tyres for loaders and dump trucks

Digger Guard at ScotPlant 2024

Sponsor for Scottish Plant Operator Challenge 2024

Subscribe to Earthmovers