Go to any construction site and the thing that is instantly catches the eye is a true heavyweight machine that possesses that enviable combination of size and power. It is not only impressive to look at but extremely effective; the fact that it can be found on most sites, on tracks or on wheels, is not just down to its sheer power and dependability but its increasing ability to perform a wide range of tasks through a whole host of attachments. Exemplifying the meaning of heavy machinery, the excavator is undoubtedly a signature item for many fleet owners across the Middle East and continues to make a significant contribution to both the earthmoving sector and the industry as a whole.
Catering to demand in the Middle East region, CASE construction increased its offering recently by introducing the CX220C LC HD, adding to the growing list of heavy equipment being manufactured at its state-of-the-art Pithampur Plant in India.
Boasting a Heavy Duty (HD) configuration as standard, the CX220C LCHD excavator is a classic example of a powerful machine that gets the job done with a minimal effort. The machine includes the Heavy Duty Boom, Dipper Arm and bucket link with an operating weight of 22 tonnes and 117.3 kW, six cylinder engine. Adding to a heavy duty machine structure the machine is equipped with a super tropical cooling package with a class leading ambient working temperature of +55°C, further improving machine reliability in the harshest of working conditions.
“We have looked at every aspect of this machine and tested it across a number of really challenging working applications. With all this research and development we have created a machine capable of delivering on any worksite,” says Zane Barnard, CASE product marketing manager. Our Pithampur plant where the CX220C LC HD model was created and tested is a testimony to the company’s efforts to nurture the best technology and organisational practices under one roof,” the manufacturer says.
Multiple excavator models from CASE construction are regularly seen around the region, carrying out construction and maintenance work, and the last twelve months have been no different. The manufacturer points towards the rehabilitation and extension of the Dubai-Al Ain road, which widened the road from three to six lanes in each direction over 17km and was officially opened earlier this year.
Several other projects, meanwhile, have been keeping CASE excavators very busy in the last several months including the Valley Community project by Emaar, maintenance and infrastructure on Umm Suqeim road, Etihad Rail and Al Saadiyat Lagoon in Abu Dhabi.
With any heavy-duty equipment but especially the excavator, which tends to be quite capital intensive, the issue of machine ownership is becoming an increasingly important consideration for owners in the region. It is also something that Caterpillar dealer Al-Bahar is keenly aware of and in the last year the company has taken more steps to make machine ownership as attractive as possible for the end user.
The most recent addition to their line-up of Cat excavators, the 320 GX, was introduced earlier this year offering “lower fuel consumption, lower maintenance costs, and a convenient initial purchasing price,” says Samer Ismail, Product Manager – Earthmoving and Excavation, Al-Bahar.
Further shining the spotlight on the kind of value that can be provided, the dealer recently launched a series of promotional offers to make machine ownership even more manageable.
“We currently have an ongoing promotional campaign namely ‘Get-It-All’, wherein we are offering an all-inclusive support package, with select Cat Machines, including excavators. The offer aims to give hassle-free ownership enabling our customers to get better performance from their machines,” Ismail says.
He adds adds, “The offer comes with a comprehensive support package including free Customer Value Agreement (CVA) and Equipment Protection Plan (EPP), as well as free Cat® Connect. All the mentioned support solutions included in the promotion will be valid for 2 years or 4,000 hours. In addition to this, the offer includes the Fuel Promise Programme offering guaranteed consumption savings.”
Among the dealer’s comprehensive excavator fleet including new, used and rental, its recently added GC and GX Series, such as the 320 GX high on the popularity list.
“Demand for the right machine has always been there and will continue to be there,” Ismail explains. “New projects and growth are inevitable. It is all about tapping into this demand with the right product and a legacy of support excellence, and at Al-Bahar we have a rich legacy of more than eight decades of serving our region.”
As Caterpillar explains, in recent times GC models have become the standard Cat offering. “Customers are looking for simply reliable, economical, fuel competitive and durable excavators with Roll-Over-Protection-Structure (ROPS), low fuel consumption, cost per hour and low owning/operating costs all critical,” the manufacturer says.
Among the large, heavy-duty range of excavators that continue to show popularity in the GCC region, however, is SANY’s SY365, aptly named to portray the performance it delivers 365 days a year in a wide range of conditions and terrain.
“This is the one that construction companies have wanted the most,” Tim (Leashine Chen), Sany’s UAE country manager tells CMME. “Most construction sites in the region,” he says, “want a strong machine with high efficiency and stability and this excavator gives them that.
The company points towards several good references from previous customers as well as comparisons that have revealed low levels of fuel consumptions, adding value in a time where diesel prices remain sky high, both in the Middle East and around the world.
The SY365 comes with a powerful and robust powertrain and hydraulic components for long life in demanding applications, the manufacturer says, highlighting its high-performance cooling system equipped with electronic control fan clutch for clean and quiet operation and a range of selectable working modes that match machine performance to the application. In doing so this helps maximise productivity whilst reducing operating costs.
Speaking about the ability of the machine to excel in conditions specific to the Middle East, Tim explains that it is more than 15 years since Sany moved to the Middle East, during which time they have paved the way for further Chinese manufacturers to enter the region. Even with this experience one of the things the company does each year is assess the suitability of different kinds of machinery for the specific jobs and conditions that they are required to operate in.
“The excavator that we sell in the GCC, for example, is completely different to what we sell in China,” Tim says, highlighting three main areas where a Sany excavator is specially customised for the Middle East region: first the engine that can avoid over heating and function to capacity even during hot summers, then the special paintings on their machines that do not disappear in sandstorms and finally special designs that help give better cooling.
“The excavator is not necessarily something that is typically high-tech. But every year Sany puts about 5% of sales revenue into R&D. We always get the same question about our key components, and we always say the same thing. We are using a Mitsubishi engine and Kawasaki system for the hydraulic system. When Sany purchases those key components from outside China we do not simply purchase and then put this inside the machine. We do the adjustments on the performance of those components first.”
Elsewhere in the Middle East region Komatsu has seen further evidence of customers looking for large bucket size with low fuel consumption technology, with its PC500LC-10R Excavator offering just that.
“It was December 2019 when this model was first launched,” says Yuki Sugiya, Product Marketing Manager. “We believe this machine has pleased our customers by providing additional productivity to one of the largest segments in the region, the 40-tonne class excavator. In the region, we can see our machine in mega projects like NEOM, while it is also popular in the quarry industry. Continued demand for new equipment is expected due to ongoing infrastructure projects throughout the region.”
