What’s up in the dumps
Published 12/9, 2024 at 14:56If ever a machine was ready made for the realities of the 21st century construction environment, it’s the mini dumper. Their size makes them the obvious choice for small to medium sized jobs, while also turning what often had been manual labour tasks into more efficient and ergonomically friendly processes.
And with so many models powered by readily recharged batteries, mini dumpers offer a safe, environmentally sound, and low noise solution for nearly any jobsite setting, indoors and out. Here is a sampling of recent developments in this most intriguing and innovative of product categories.
Mecalac’s ‘Revotruck’ combines cab rotation with exceptional off road capabilities
Mecalac’s new Revotruck allows operators to rotate the entire cab 360° at the touch of a button to keep their vision and focus on the job and obstacles on site, while maintaining an ideal, comfortable position. Together with its other features, the Revotruck is designed to make material transport smarter and safer.
Two sizes are available: the Revotruck 6 offers a traditional 6t payload and incorporates the latest Mecalac innovations, drawing upon the extensive know-how and heritage in site dumper manufacturing and market. Revotruck 9 provides an increased payload capacity of up to 9t, and also embodies the performance and attributes of the 6t version.
To ensure stability and traction in all ground conditions, Revotruck features what is said to be an exclusive chassis with central oscillation. The two oscillating parts of the chassis follow the contours of the ground independently, ensuring stability and permanent traction on all types of terrain. Other features include switchable steering modes (‘2-wheel’, ‘4-wheel’, ‘crab’) enabling the dumper to work with agility in confined spaces and with a turning radius halved compared with conventional articulated dumper trucks. Four large access points at each corner of the driver’s cab are there for safe, effortless access whatever the orientation of the cab. Already the recipient of several European design awards, the Revotruck will be introduced to the U.S. market in October.
Another milestone for Messersi
Over the past six decades, Messersì has become one of the most important and active Italian companies producing compact machines. So it’s hardly surprising that Messersì offers what may well be the world’s largest selection of compact tracked wheelbarrows and dumpers, with payloads of up to 5,000kg. The latest step in Messersì tracked dumper projects was showcased earlier this year at Intermat - a new version of the popular 1.5t TC150d tracked dumper - featuring an updated chassis, bonnet design and improved dashboard. Two piston pumps and the servo assisted levers make the TC150d very easy to drive in every condition, while the 15.9kW three cylinder Kubota engine give the power to face the worst slopes full load. What’s more, the new version can accommodate an 18.5kW three cylinder Kubota engine for extra power.
The TC350d has a 3,500kg payload and is equipped with the 180° swivel skip with approximately 2m3 volume capacity. Controls are pilot assisted through joysticks assembled on the armrests of the driver’s seat, which rotates 180° to keep the operator oriented in the running direction. The TC350d has a 48.6kW Kubota common rail engine and diagnostic system to control all the parameters, being available with optional closed cab option and 450mm tracks.
Since 2013, Messersì has faced the challenge of electric propulsion with battery powered tracked dumpers with its ‘Zero Emission’ line. Its TC120e has a capacity of 1,200kg and fully electric transmission with two heavy duty electric motors. In the standard version, the TC120e is equipped with a bucket with front discharge and is also available with variable high dump bucket, self-loading shovel, and rotating bucket with 180° unloading. It can also be equipped with a radio remote control. For smaller applications, the TC50e has a 500kg payload and a width of only 660mm. Both Zero Emission models are equipped with a battery management system and can be fully recharged in seven hours.
The benefits of JCB’s battery electric dumpers
JCB offers five construction site dumpers, two of which are battery electric models, the ride on 1TE which has a 1,000kg capacity and the walk behind HTD-5E with a 500kg capacity. Designed for both outdoor and indoor jobsites, both machines are said to give a full day of operation on a single charge using 110V or 220V power. Just over 3.1m long and 1.1m wide, the 1TE can traverse almost any site conditions with its 263mm ground clearance. The high tip skip allows the dumper to unload material into dumpsters or large containers. The HTD5-E is just 710mm wide, allowing it to fit easily through any standard doorway. Its 1.45m load over height can accommodate skips or high sided vehicles.
While the 1TE and HTD-5E dumpers and their battery packs are designed to give users the same payload capacity and travel distance as their diesel or petrol counterparts, they offer several unique advantages such as no exhaust fumes and quieter operation, an increasingly important feature for demolition work around schools, hospitals, and urban settings. Other features include instant torque and response for improved cycle times and productivity as well as better operator comfort and less fatigue due to low vibration.
Electric pioneer HG Machines expands its horizons
HG Machines of Denmark has helped ease the transition to electric power by manufacturing what the company says are simple electric dumpers that perform similarly to or better than the traditional combustion engine alternatives. While the company also produces dumpers powered by conventional combustion engines, it nevertheless touts the environmental and health advantages of its emission free products, which include the 1t E1000, 2t E2000 models. Both are designed for reliability, minimal maintenance requirements, and user friendly operation in tight spaces. The 1t E1000 ‘High Tip’ version has the added benefit of unloading directly over containers and trailer rims up to 125cm high. All machines feature approximately 12h of run time, with only 90min required to recharge the batteries from 20% to 80% capacity.
The range will soon be available in North America through HG’s recently announced exclusive distribution partnership with Makinex. HG Machines CEO, Nikolaj Birkerod says of the new collaboration, “A significant step for HG Machines, as it expands our global reach and ensures that our mini dumpers are readily available to the American market.” Makinex will also distribute two of HG Machines’ gas powered mini dumpers, the 1t H1000 and H1000 High-Tip.
www.hg-machines.com
www.makinex.com.au
AUSA redesigns and improves its 6t dumpers
AUSA has launched two new 6t articulated dumpers, the D601AHG+ and D601APG+. Building on the success of their predecessors, the new models are equipped with new features to improve functionality and increase safety. The new rear styling combines design with practicality. The size of the bonnet has been increased to provide improved accessibility to the engine and maintenance parts. Air, oil and fuel filters, radiator, tanks are optimally positioned to keep downtime to a minimum. To comply with new European rollover protection standards requiring enclosed cabs for dumpers with an operating weight of 3,500kg to 4,500kg, AUSA provides three different configurations for the D601AHG+ and D601APG+ comprising of a folding ROPS protective structure with safety rails that are 96% larger than on current models, open cab, and heated enclosed cab.
In addition, the D601AHG+ and D601APG+ models will continue to be equipped with safety features such as a seat with a presence sensor, seat belt with buckle sensor, negative brake, and front view camera. To further help reduce operator fatigue, the new D601AHG+ and D601APG+ dumpers are equipped with a high comfort seat with built in suspension, ensuring comfort in the vehicle and reducing tiredness during long working days.
Earlier this year, US based Oshkosh Corporation announced that it had acquired AUSA, providing a new product brand to complement its JLG line of telehandlers and Hinowa manufactured tracked dumpers and forklifts to strengthen the portfolio of Oshkosh’s ‘Access’ segment. The companies began working together through a partner agreement in 2020, with AUSA manufacturing the JLG branded ‘SkyTrak’ 3013 compact telehandler.
DMI’s little electric helper
DMI says its E50 electric wheelbarrow is an ideal solution for all kinds of transport operations. Debuted at last year’s World of Concrete, the DMI E50 easily moves loads up to 500kg silently thanks to the pure electric drive, which includes a 100kW 48V brushless DC motor. An extremely slim design and compact dimensions allows the DMI E50 to pass through narrow gates, paths, and doorways. Motoring up to 5kph, the DM150 stops sharply using an electromagnetic brake. Along with a payload capacity of .24m3, the electric tilt function is designed to make any loading and dumping job easier. The 48V/32A lead acid battery lasts between eight and then hours depending on activity and can be recharged for another day’s work in about seven hours.
Twinca dumpers promote environmentally sound safety
Twinca’s ‘E-model’ mini dumpers combine classic machine elements with the latest available battery technology. According to the company, all models feature a safety device pre-mounted to the steering mechanism that reverses the direction of motion when activated. The tipping point is placed correctly in proportion to the front axle in order to support the stability and safety of the operator and prevent the mini dumper from falling over. The skip, made of high strength steel, is geometrically designed in a trapezoidal shape to allow material to slide freely during discharge.
The Twinca range begins with the E-500, with a load capacity of 500kg and a height of 950mm. Topping the Twinca range is the ES-800 model with a loading capacity of 800 kg, which is ideal for larger construction site tasks such as demolition. The ES-800 is equipped with hydraulic high lift. With an unloading height of up to 1,394mm, the ES-800 is designed to provide safe, easy and problem free unloading process. A fully charged battery can run the machine throughout a full working day and can be recharged within five to six hours.
Wacker Neuson DV45 is loaded with technology
Introduced last year, Wacker Neuson’s ride on DV45 ‘Dual View Dumper’ features a hydraulic swivel tip skip with a maximum payload of 4,200kg. At the press of a button on the right joystick, an electro hydraulic system rotates while stationary or in motion. Wacker Neuson says this feature allows the operator to work in a detailed and precise manner when backfilling trenches or navigating obstacles, preventing accidents and damage in the process. The DV45’s optional ‘Multi View’ mode provides the ability to work with a cabin turned to the side, allowing the operator to see the entire lateral work environment and empty the load accurately. Multi View mode also automatically reduces speed for greater safety. The skip can be automatically returned to the transport position at the push of a button, during which the machine can be operated normally.
Safety features include an inclination monitoring system and an optical and acoustic signal display of the speed limitation with the skip tilted in an unsafe position as well as an unstable machine position. The machine also includes an ‘Active Sense Control’ (ASC) radar system that warns the operator of approaching objects. ASC scans the machine’s surroundings in real time for possible obstacles. Where necessary, the system promptly slows the machine down and, if required, it will also bring it to a standstill. Even trailer operation or tight parking manoeuvres have been considered: the system can be switched to blind for a short time so as to not impede the operation.
