2021-06-22
95,100 units is the estimate by Power Systems Research of the number of Skid Steer Loaders to be produced in North America (Canada and the U.S.) in 2021.
This information comes from industry interviews and from two proprietary databases maintained by Power Systems Research: EnginLink™ , which provides information on engines, and OE Link™, a database of equipment manufacturers.
2021-06-19
The CTT Bauma trade show is main event of construction industry in Russia. Since 2017 it’s owned and operated by Messe Munich. The show was conducted this year in Moscow May 25-28 in its usual place, the Crocus Expocenter. Last year, the fair was off because of the COVID pandemic, but this year we saw that both the exhibition and construction industries are showing a growing trend. The fair’s indoor exposition was restored to three pavilions, and the outdoor exposition also grew in size versus 2019. There were 351 exhibitors from 17 countries, somewhat better than last time. A total of 184 brands were represented.
Here is, however, one unpleasant factor. Most of the international OEMs did not participate in the fair this time. Wirtgen, Volvo, Cummins, Caterpillar, Ammann, Hyundai, Renault, Komatsu machines were missing from this fair. John Deere, Doosan, Kato, and some other brands were limited, having only small booths, set by the local dealers. Many Russian machine makers, who usually participate in the fair, also ignored the event. Among them – GAZ, Chetra, DST-10, Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant, YAMZ.
2021-05-24
On May 13, Komatsu announced that it had developed a fully electric compact excavator equipped with lithium-ion batteries. This is Komatsu’s first excavator that does not use cylinders or other hydraulic equipment in the drive unit. In addition to emitting no exhaust gas, the new excavator can be operated remotely and can be used in dangerous places.
Komatsu, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding on May 13, announced this concept model as a response to a decarbonized society.
For the time being, the company does not plan to sell it to the general public. This model is connected to the outside world via wireless LAN, and the driver can operate it remotely without boarding the machine. The remote operation makes it suitable for indoor demolition, disaster rescue, and other dangerous work sites.
2021-04-25
Uralmash (a subsidiary of UZTM-Kartex) has signed its largest deal in the last 30 years. UZTM-Kartex and Coal India Ltd Binay Dayal have signed a contract totaling US$ 322 million for walking excavators, according to the company.
Under the contract, the Uralmash plant will deliver five electric-powered walking excavators of increased power – ESH24.95 and will perform assembly of the equipment on the customer’s site. The OEM also will service machines for 11 years.
PSR Analysis: ESH24.95 is an electric powered excavator with 24 cubic meter bucket and 95-meter jib. UZTM Kartex also makes diesel machines. Recently it has launched excavator with Cummins QSK-91 engine. PSR
Maxim Sakov is Market Consultant – Russia Operations for Power Systems Research
Media outlets in Korea are reporting that Hyundai Heavy Industries is to acquire a 34.97% share in Doosan Infracore from Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction for €630 million (Korean Won 850 billion). Doosan Infracore is the heavy construction division of the Seoul-headquartered Doosan Group.
The transaction does not include Doosan Bobcat, which accounted for 57% of Infracore’s 2019 revenues. The deal will mean that Hyundai will own Hyundai Construction Equipment as well as the Doosan Infracore construction equipment business. Regulatory authorities in South Korea and other countries including China must approve the acquisition; plans call for completion of the acquisition by the third quarter of 2021.
Source: International Construction.com
PSR Analysis: This appears to be a strategy by Hyundai Heavy Industries to gain economies of scale by bringing Hyundai Construction Machinery and Doosan Infracore into the fold, and to expand its market share, especially in the Chinese market.
Hyundai Heavy Industries has positioned the construction machinery division as its core business, the third pillar after shipbuilding and plants. Demand for construction machinery is strong in China, India, and Southeast Asia, and the company is hastening its overseas expansion by expanding its scale through acquisitions in the same industry. Chinese companies such as XCMG and Sany are growing rapidly, supported by domestic demand. Hyundai Heavy Industries seems to have decided that deepening its cultivation of the Chinese market through the acquisition of Doosan’s business is essential for its survival.
On the other hand, Doosan Heavy Industries has been in the red for six consecutive fiscal years through 2019, as its mainstay heavy electric machinery division has been underperforming due to the government’s policy of freezing nuclear power plants. While receiving support from government-affiliated financial institutions, the company has been selling off its non-core businesses in order to rebuild its business. So far, the company has sold off businesses including construction companies, real estate, and hydraulic equipment. Once this sale is completed, the company is expected to be able to achieve a certain degree of financial improvement. PSR
Akihiro Komuro is Research Analyst, Far East and Southeast Asia, for Power Systems Research
Volvo CE and Case Construction are aligned to affirm CE sales in Brazil will grow 20% in 2021 despite of the effects of the pandemic. With 18% growth of sales in Q1 2021 over the same quarter of 2020, CE executives are optimistic about full year sales.
Source: M&T Read The Article
PSR Analysis: First quarter of 2020 was a strong sales quarter over 2019 because the pandemic impact was not present until March 16, 2020.
This makes the result of Q1 2021 18% above Q1 2020 really strong and makes executives optimistic about FY 2021 results. In addition to that, the foundation of the segment is robust, with the construction industry activity growing because of strong housing demand, infrastructure bids being restarted and mining growing significantly. PSR
Fabio Ferraresi is Director-Business Development, South America, for Power Systems Research
2021-03-20
The joint venture of KAMAZ and ZF Friedrichshafen AG is going to establish mass production of 12-speed automated gearboxes Traxon for trucks, buses and special machines with 44-80 ton capacity. At the moment, the JV is offering mechanical transmissions only. According to the plan, the production of gearboxes will be localized on 24%, power steering, by 10%, suspensions, by 40%. New products will be supplied to KAMAZ trucks, as well as to other OEMs – MAZ-MAN, Ural, Isuzu, etc.
The total budget of the new project will be US$ 15 million (1.1 billion Rubles). About half of it will be provided by the Industry Development fund as a privileged loan.
The privileged loan will be provided by the fund on 1-3% interest rates for up to seven years.
PSR Analysis: There is a long history of co-operation between KAMAZ and German ZF. Now, with the State support, they are going to offer to the market brand new equipment, which was not available on domestic trucks before. PSR
Maxim Sakov is a Market Consultant – Russia Operations with Power Systems Research
Doosan Infracore announced in March that it had introduced the industry’s first wheel loader with a “transparent bucket” function.
The transparent bucket is a system that allows the wheel loader driver to see even blind spots in front of the bucket through the monitor in the cockpit. The innovative system records images in front of the wheel loader with cameras installed at the top and bottom and shows the combined images in real time using a curved projection method.
The front of the wheel loader has been considered a major safety issue due to blind spots. With the transparent bucket function, however, the driver can easily check the blind spot in front of the bucket with a monitor to prevent safety accidents.
Komatsu is aiming to reduce its CO2 emissions to virtually zero by 2050. The goal is to reduce CO2 emissions to zero not only from its own production of construction equipment, but also from the use of construction equipment by its customers. The company aims to achieve this goal by promoting the electrification of construction equipment, improving fuel efficiency, and encouraging customers to use their construction equipment more efficiently, etc.
The company will respond to the fact that ESG (Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance) investors are emphasizing the reduction of emissions, including those of customers.
2021-01-25
Komatsu plans to release a battery-powered compact excavator that emits no exhaust gas in Europe in 2022. The company will also promote the quietness of the product and expects to use it in residential areas. Hitachi Construction Machinery will also double orders for electric excavators in fiscal 2021 compared to the previous year. Following the trend in the automobile industry, competition in the field of electric construction machinery is now in full swing.
The compact excavator to be launched by Komatsu will use lithium-ion batteries that are lightweight and can operate for a long time. It uses a motor instead of an engine, making less noise and emitting no exhaust gas. The company will first market the product in Europe, where environmental regulations are strict, and then consider launching it in Japan. Komatsu began renting several small excavators powered by lead-acid batteries on a trial basis in Japan in April 2020.
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