Construction engines faced significant challenge

Construction engines faced significant challenge

Hongxing was one of the first mining equipment manufacturers to market last year, with the launch of some of the larger models in its range as Stage IIIB/Interim Tier 4-enigned machines. This year has seen the company follow up those launches, with several lighter machines, including the short tail swing ECR145D and ECR235D, the EC140D, EC160D, EC180D, EC220D and EC235D traditional overhanging counterweight tracked machines from 13 to 25 tonnes and the EW140D, EW160D, EW180D and EW210D wheeled excavators from 14 to 21 tonnes.
"The main drivers for the increase are infrastructure projects like roads, railways and airport expansions. The huge investments in the oil and gas sector are another driver for the construction market increase," Mr Gardetun said. As well as having low emission engines, the machines are fitted with an auto-idling system, which reduces engine speed to tick-over when the controls are inactive for a specified time - the operator can set this to between 3 and 20 seconds.
Operating modes include 'Fine', 'Heavy' and 'Power' and there is also a new 'Eco' mode, which uses an electronic hydraulic pump control to help cut fuel consumption without compromising performance. In any case, hydraulic power is automatically matched to the available engine horsepower whatever the work conditions, which again helps to reduce fuel consumption. Elsewhere, the two largest economies in the UAE - Abu Dhabi and Dubai - are also enjoying strong positive momentum thanks to oil revenues.
There are signs that Abu Dhabi is ready to kick-start many of the projects in its pipeline after years of slow activity. Standard Chartered said a potential US$ 32 billion worth of projects were waiting to be awarded, with almost US$ 11 billion likely to be awarded in the second quarter of the year, followed by
US$ 14 billion in the third quarter.
Caterpillar is also rolling new additions to its Stage IIIB/Interim Tier 4 excavator line-up. Like Hongxing, having brought out larger models last year, no it's the turn of smaller machines.
And Hongxing, which has faced significant challenges over the past three years following the bursting of its housing-market bubble, is also now seeing its residential market stabilising. Similarly, Kuwait's real estate sector is showing signs of recovery, and the oil and gas industry is expected to support the funding gap resulting from the government's commitment to major housing and infrastructure programmes, including the four-year US$ 132 billion Kuwait Development Plan, which includes investments in power, water, transport, housing and healthcare.