Tayside Contracts has purchased a new wheeled loader and excavator as part of a fleet of machines used in its quarrying, recycling and construction operations.
The Dundee, Scotland-based company bought a Doosan DL350-5 wheeled loader and DX255LC-5 crawler excavator from Balgownie, the local authorised Doosan dealer headquartered in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire.
The two machines can be moved around the various facilities run by Tayson Contracts, including both the quarries and the four recycling centres located in Arbroath, Forfar, Dundee and Collace.
The construction division of Tayside Contracts is a major civil engineering construction organisation in the Tayside area, employing over 400 people with a turnover of over £34mn. The new Doosan machines work mainly in its two quarries – Boysack Quarry near Friockheim in Angus and Collace Quarry in Perthshire.
A key objective of the construction division is to maximise the use of recycled material and minimise waste to landfill. As a result, all the recycling centres accept construction waste to produce a recycled sub-base and a recycled crusher run for further use.
Boysack Quarry produces Type 1 materials which are used internally and are also available for sale to external customers. Much of the product from Boysack Quarry goes to Collace Quarry, which manufactures a range of asphalt mixes including hot rolled asphalt, asphalt concretes, stone mastic asphalt, pre-coated chips and cold-mix for base/binders.
The Doosan DL350-5 wheeled loader has a bucket capacity of 3.5m³. It is made to meet a wide range of material-handling needs from loading and transporting granular material (such as sand and gravel) to industrial and quarrying applications. Powering the DL350-5 wheeled loader is a Doosan DL08 diesel engine, with an output of 202kW at 1800rpm. The DL350-5 at Tayside Contracts has a five-speed ZF transmission with lock-up and a hydraulic differential-lock front axle for low fuel consumption and excellent productivity in all conditions.
The Doosan DX255LC¬5 excavator is said to offer comfort and controllability with a focus on increased power, robustness and agility. While overall dimensions are similar to the previous DX255LC¬3 model, Doosan says the DX255LC¬5 combines higher power with a 500kg increase in operating weight. This results in up to 17% more lifting capacity over both the front and side and a one dBA sound level reduction.
Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has unveiled new enhancements to its H-Series wheeled loaders that it says will help reduce total cost of ownership.
The rimpull control system now comes as standard on all H-Series models. This function allows operators to minimise wheel spin and optimise the balance between rimpull and hydraulic functions. In turn, this helps reduce tyre wear and fuel consumption for more efficient bucket filling.
The L60H-L220H wheeled loaders were launched in 2014, with the larger L260H and L350H models following in 2017.
“Over the years we have built on experience and worked closely with customers to improve these machines,” said Volvo CE product manager Lars Eriksson. “Now, in 2020, we have introduced new features that take these machines to a new level of efficiency.”
The Volvo Co-Pilot monitor is now available on a broader range of machines from the L60H up to the L350H. The 25.4cm in-cab touchscreen provides access to several Load Assist applications (depending on machine model) aimed at optimising operator performance and site efficiency.
Firstly, there is a tyre pressure monitoring system that gives operators real-time information on the conditions of machine tyres.
A map application allows operators to get better visibility and understanding of the site layout and real-time site traffic situation, allowing them to adjust their driving behaviour accordingly. Weather, Calculator and Notes apps are also new, and these functions work similarly to those found on a smartphone and are pre-installed in the Volvo Co-Pilot.
Designed to help load the optimum amount of material, the on-board weighing app is upgraded to include two new task modes – stockpiling and processing – adapting the on-screen layout and information displayed according to the task at hand.
For increased convenience and safety, both the rear-view camera and radar detector system feature on the Volvo Co-Pilot display. Volvo CE has also introduced an operator coaching application. This tool is designed to enhance operator performance, helping them get the most out of Volvo wheeled loaders and thereby reducing operating costs.
Additional new updates are designed to optimise maintenance procedures, thereby minimising downtime and service costs. Firstly, there is the extended engine oil change interval, which will be 1,000 hours as standard for H-Series models equipped with Stage V engines from April 2020. A quick-fit connector on the hydraulic tank is standard on all H-Series models. This feature is said to result in quicker and easier hydraulic oil filling.
On the L150H up to L260H models, a new quick-fit option enables cleaner and rapid engine oil changes – in as little as 15 minutes – helping eliminate oil spillage and contamination.
Volvo CE has also added five new applications to the Load Assist system for its H-series wheeled loaders.
The five new apps are aimed at enhancing the ease of operation, safety and overall site efficiency. Tasks that had to be done manually or required operators to step out of the cab can now be automated from the cab.
The tyre pressure monitoring system app enables the Volvo Co-Pilot touchscreen to display tyre pressure and temperature in real time. Each tyre is monitored independently, and pressure limits (low/high) are set per axle. If any of the individual tyres go outside of the set parameters, the operator will be alerted – alarm limits are displayed as nominal values and percentages.
The map app uses the loader’s built-in GPS for positioning and the telecom connection on the Volvo Co-Pilot to communicate between machines. The new map feature allows operators to monitor on-site traffic in real time and proactively adjust their driving according to traffic conditions, especially in areas where multiple machines are operating close to each other.
The calculator app comes complete with basic calculation (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) functions. The calculator can also be used as a unit converter, quickly and easily converting six-unit types – length, mass, angle, time, temperature and speed.
The notes app is designed to remove the need for a pad and pen with a digital notepad, which can be used to write and save notes while in the cab.
The weather app informs the operator of current and upcoming climatic conditions so that they can adapt more efficiently and keep operations on track, whatever the weather conditions.
Several other existing features have also been upgraded. When the Radar Detect System is ordered, it is now integrated into the Volvo Co-Pilot, allowing operators to benefit from a rear-view camera and load information, which is all displayed on a single screen for increased convenience and safety when reversing.
The final update is the addition of two new task modes on the on-board weighing app. Operators can now choose from the trip meter, truck loading, stockpiling or processing mode. Each mode will adapt the Volvo Co-Pilot screen layout and provide relevant information for the operator to be efficient in the different applications.
Hyundai Construction Equipment Europe (HCEE) is continuing the rollout of the A-series with the HX300AL, a 30-tonne Stage V-compliant crawler excavator.
The HX300AL is suitable for infrastructure works and general construction. It features a new engine platform (Stage V), a new hydraulic flow regulation, improved operator controls with 2D/3D machine guidance and new safety features.
HCEE says the new machine offers improved uptime and productivity and incorporates some of its new technologies, including EPIC (Electric Pump Independent Control). By controlling the pump’s regulation independently, the machine is designed to offer improved fuel efficiency and controllability.
Other features include Auto Safety Lock, which prevents unintended operation/start of the excavator, which improves safety for the operator and on the job site.
Eco guidance indicates ‘inefficient operation’ status to prevent energy losses (fuel consumption, hydraulic power) by inadequate working habits which is displayed on the machine cluster.
MG/MC or Machine Guidance/Machine Control indicates the work status and automatically controls the attachment to assist the driver.
MG displays the position of the bucket tip and assists the operator with the use of positioning guidance. MC will automatically take over the grading with the bucket tip or face and has an automatic stop control: up, down, forward, and cabin protection.
“The new Electric Pump Independent Control is an energy-saving technology that reduces the pump flow rate during levelling and truck loading operation by controlling the pump’s displacement individually,” said Peter Sebold, product specialist at HCEE.
“Think next-level load sensing, a fuel saving of up to 8% daily average and general all-round operator and owner satisfaction, that’s just another win for this highly anticipated machine.”
