A RETURN TO PARIS

Intermat’s organisers have shortened this year’s trade fair to four days, aiming to save energy and reduce emissions

Intermat, which usually takes place every three years, was cancelled in 2021 due to Covid-19. The show has now been rescheduled to run from 24 to 27 April 2024 at Paris Nord Villepinte near Paris, France.

The exhibition is aiming to host approximately 1,000 exhibitors. They will present construction materials, equipment, and solutions for major worksites, public works and the building industry.

A key focus of will be sustainability. The show will focus on the theme of low-carbon and have four key themes, namely innovation, energy, new equations, and CSR commitments.

In terms of product offerings, Intermat will offer five main categories: lifting and handling; earthmoving, demolition and transportation;tation; roads, materials and foundations; building, civil engineering and concrete; and the fifth element, new for Intermat 2024, is new technologies and energies.

In addition to the indoor and outdoor exhibitor stands, there will be a demonstration area where machines can be operated in real-world conditions.

A snapshot of what's on show

BOBCAT is set to unveil its new RogueX2 autonomous loader concept, which is the second iteration of the original RogueX system showcased at last year’s ConExpo in Las Vegas.

RogueX2 is an all-electric, autonomous concept machine that features a lithium-ion battery, electric drive system, and electricactuated lift and tilt kinematics with no hydraulics.

The machine also eliminates the need for an operator and as a result has been designed and built without a cab.

Bobcat will also show a new range of rotary telehandlers for the first time at Intermat. The new range offers nine Stage V powered models for the European market (for lifting heights from 18 to 39 m) and four Stage IIIA machines for sale in the Middle East and Africa (covering lifting heights from 18 to 26m).

Cummins B6.7H hydrogen engine

PHOTO: CUMMINS

Engine OEM CUMMINS has already previewed its B6.7H hydrogen internal combustion engine, part of the company’s fuel agnostic engine range.

However, at Intermat 2024, the company is set to unveil a version of the new H2 IC engine which has specific changes to support use in off-highway applications.

Changes to the engine, which has a peak power/torque output of 216kW/1200Nm, cover a series of newly developed components intended for heavy-duty work cycles, with engine peripherals also upgraded to be more robust in harsh environments.

According to Laurent Di Vito, manager of Engine Sales for Application and Production for Cummins France, the plan is to launch all variants of the B6.7 engine range over 2026 and 2027, which will likely coincide with new Stage 6 emission regulations.

Paris Nord Villepinte

PHOTO: © FREE USE, COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG/W/ INDEX.PHP?CURID =2355343

EVENT DETAILS

WHEN? 24 – 27 April 2024

WHERE? Paris-Nord Villepinte, France

HOW TO GET THERE?

By plane: Two international airports serve the show.

Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport: The Parc des Expositions is located just 5 minutes from Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport. Take the RER B – direction Paris Get off at the first stop: “Parc des Expositions”.

Orly airport: Take the Orlyval (automatic, light metro), change at Antony and take the RER B – direction Roissy-Charles de Gaulle. Get off at the “Parc des Expositions” station.

By car: The Parc des Expositions de Paris-Nord Villepinte is at the crossroads of the A1, A3, A86 and A104 motorways.

By train: A TGV station at Paris-CDG airport is located just a few minutes’ from the exhibition centre offering connections to other destinations in France.

Along with this new off-highway variant of the B6.7H ICE, Cummins will also show its new NProxx hydrogen fuel storage system. For delivery of H2 fuel to machines fitted with both H2 ICEs and fuel cells, the tanks store fuel at 700 bar and dispense at 10 bar. The tanks can be setup at remote sites and then removed for refilling before being returned.

Swedish firm CELSICOM has developed a system designed to measure humidity in concrete, plus a series of other key data points, including temperature, material strength and carbon dioxide or radon levels.

To measure the humidity/ moisture content of concrete, two thermocouple wires are attached to pole screws in the TC603 base unit, with one located within the concrete mould and another on the edge of the material to measure ambient conditions. The received signals are then interpreted by the remote system and displayed on the device via the Celsiview system.

The unit has a SIM card compatible with networks around the world, allowing data covering time, temperature and even concrete type to be sent anywhere. The user can also insert a preset threshold which, when reached, can automatically send an alert.

DEVELON (formerly known as Doosan Construction Equipment) will hold the first demonstration in Europe of its Concept-X 2.0 cabless, remote-controlled (autonomous) construction equipment at Intermat.

The new Celsicom TC603 base unit

IMAGE: CELSICOM

Kobelco will give a European debut to its new SK520LC-11E heavyweight crawler excavator

PHOTO: KOBELCO

Develon unveiled the first iteration of the innovation, Concept-X, in 2019 and demonstrated it in Korea that same year.

Intermat will feature the updated version, Concept-X 2.0. Both an autonomous DX225-CX crawler excavator and a DD100-CX dozer are set to operate in the display area. Among the new updates being demonstrated are:

■ Autonomous driving and blade control based on global navigation satellite system

■ Automated 3D grading with tiltrotator accessory

■ Enhanced machine-learning-based auto digging and loading

■ Advanced E-Stop safety technology

KOBELCO’s new SK520LC-11E heavyweight crawler excavator will dominate the company’s stand, as it makes its European debut.

At 53t, the new machine is heavier than its predecessor, the SK500-11, which Kobelco says gives it improved stability, as well as offering increased bucket and arm force for better overall lifting performance.

Also new is the SK380SRLC-7, Kobelco’s largest short radius excavator, which replaces the 380SRLC. It has 6% more power, using a 210kW Isuzu engine, and the replacement interval on the diesel particulate filter (DPF) has been increased from 4,500 hours to 8,000 hours. Kobelco’s stand will include a dedicated area for its short radius excavators.

The company – which highlights its new ‘built for performance’ tagline at Intermat – will also show several mini and midi excavators.

KOMATSU is promising to display two new, as-yet-unannounced prototypes for the first time, as well as a ‘Virtual Stand’ that will offer a glimpse into innovations that the giant Japanese OEM will launch in the near future.

Electric machines are also set to feature heavily. Komatsu will show off its new PC138E-11 – an electric version of its 13t PC138 excavators. It will be one of 30 machines the OEM will bring to the French capital for the show.

Alongside the PC138E-11, which will be fitted with a Smart Construction 3D Machine Guidance kit, Komatsu will also give pride of place to its 20-tonne class electric excavator equipped with lithium-ion batteries, the 210LCE-11, and a world-premiere cabin version of its PC33E-6 electric mini excavator, also equipped with lithium-ion batteries.

Also on show will be its recently launched PW168-11 and PW198-11 wheeled excavators, both of which have reduced tailswing.

Outdoors, larger machines including the latest PC950-11 excavator, the HD605-8 rigid dump truck, and the PC390HRD-11 High Reach Demolition machine.

LIEBHERR will be giving a world premiere to its LTR 1150 telescopic crawler crane, following the expansion of its range to a 150-tonne model.

The new crane offers 50% more load capacity than the LTR 1100 and in a first for telescopic crawler cranes, it features Liebherr’s VarioBase, which the crane control uses to determine the best possible load capacity, depending on the track width and angle of rotation.

It is one of around 20 machines and a host of technology on display from Liebherr at its booth, spanning the product segments of tower cranes, mobile and crawler cranes, components, earth moving technology, deep foundation machines and concrete technology.

The booth will not be structured by products but will focus on three topic areas: drive technology, digitalisation, and service.

Liebherr will be displaying a range of different power technologies, such as the Liduro Power Port, a mobile energy storage system for supplying power to construction sites in remote locations which do not have an adequate e-infrastructure.

A host of electric machines will be displayed including the MK 140-5.1 mobile construction crane; the first electric Liebherr wheel loader, the L 507 E; a new electric truck mixer, the ETM 1205 featuring electric drum drive; and the T 33-10 telescopic handler that has three drive options.

Chinese OEM SANY, which established a French subsidiary business south of Paris last year, will give a European debut to a trio of telehandlers and an excavator at Intermat.

The three Chinese-made telehandlers are 7m, 14m and 18m models. The two larger machines – the STH1440 and STH1840 are being shown as prototypes at Intermat but will be in full production by April.

Also new, will be a 36t demolition excavator to add to the 50t SY500HRD model seen at the Bauma show in Munich in 2022.

Part of the Fayat Group, SECMAIR is a French company which specialises in development and production of road maintenance equipment.

At Intermat Secmair will introduce The Box, the first in a range of pure-electric, selfcontained units specifically designed for road construction/maintenance. In this case, the equipment is intended to deliver asphalt spray as a top seal layer when resurfacing roads.

This new development is said to offer a series of benefits over previous versions. For example, new levels of tank insulation mean that the system has twice the thermal efficiency of competing machines. This helps maintain the temperature of the asphalt mix, reducing related energy consumption and emissions.

The onboard electrical system can deliver up to eight hours of continuous operation; this is further extended by standard solar panels.

VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT is to showcase what it calls an “all-inclusive decarbonisation pathway” for the construction industry, featuring battery-electric equipment and commercial vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell prototypes, and efficient charging solutions.

The hydrogen fuel cell prototype in question is the HX04 articulated hauler, first unveiled in 2022. It will appear at Volvo CE’s stand alongside other innovations like the 23-tonne EC230 electric excavator and the new L120 electric wheel loader, as well as some smaller machines like the EC18 electric excavator.

The OEM plans to place a strong emphasis on services, displaying technologies like Connected Map and Task Manager, its Equipment as a Service model, and its Parts and Uptime Services.

WIRTGEN GROUP will be showing a series of “environmentally compatible” machines and technology aimed at reducing the construction industry’s carbon footprint.

Highlights will include the Kleemann Mobirex MR100(i) NEOe mobile impact crusher, and Hamm’s battery-electric 2.7 t HD 12e from it HD CompactLine range of tandem rollers. Both will be appearing for the first time at an industry show in France.

Vögele’s Mini 500 and Mini 502 road pavers, will also make an appearance at the show, ahead of their electrically powered counterparts the Mini 500e and Mini 502e becoming available at the end of this year.

The latest generation of Benninghoven burners, capable of running on 100% green hydrogen, will also be at the show in Paris.

IC

Kleemann’s Mobirex MR 100(i) NEO mobile crusher

PHOTO: KLEEMANN