Postcards from Intermat 2024 (Part Two)

Taking another look at some of my highlights from last weeks Intermat 2024 show in Paris.

Volvo Construction Equipment had a number of interesting machines on display at Intermat 2024, and among my favourites was the 24-tonne class EC230, we have seen this before at Conexpo, but its always great to take another look at it.

The Volvo EC230 Electric is powered by a 600-volt battery back with a battery capacity of 264 kWh, the big question that everyone always asks with these machines is how long will it run for?

Volvo suggest a run time of up to 4-5 hours depending on application but can be easily topped up during break times. I think like so much modern technology a different mindset needs to be applied to how you run these types of machines, and enabling yourself to be able to top up the battery at any given opportunity.

Another 20+ tonne class excavator is LiuGong’s 922FE, which alongside an entire raft of electric machines on the stand, was sporting a distinctive green livery, a sign of its environmentally friendly standing in the industry.

The 922FE medium-class excavator is powered by a 430kW battery and is said to be able to work a full 8 -10-hour shift. Described as a high-performance machine, the 922FE’s electric motor delivers 140kW of power, which LiuGong says is around 24kW higher than a comparable diesel model and similar to a 26tonne-class machine.

Another but much smaller electric powered excavator was discovered over on the Yanmar stand.

The SV17e mini excavator was one of a trio of electric powered machines being showcased by the manufacturer at Intermat. With an operating weight of 1,955kgs, the compact but powerful machine is powered by an 18.3kWh battery and features two operating modes, enabling the end user to optimise the battery life by selecting the power level required for specific tasks in hand.

The machine has formidable digging forces of 9.9 kN and 8.9 kN from its short and long arms, respectively, and is further bolstered by a potent 16 kN bucket force.

The SV17e measures 2.33 meters in height and has a variable width undercarriage expandable from 0.98 to 1.32 metres. The machine features a maximum digging depth of 2.62 meters, a reach of up to 4 metres, and a maximum dumping height of 2.675 meters.

Enhanced features that include an LCD interface, and an optional fast charger for quick replenishment with a slow charging time (20-80% SOC) of approximately 4 hours and a fast-charging time (20-80% SOC) of about 2 hours.

Long established British site dumper manufacturer Thwaites chose Intermat to introduce their new ROPS + concept, a new safety solution for those customers who still prefer to have an open driving platform on their dumpers. This concept ensures operator safety and standards compliance, with manufacturing standard EN474 2022: part 6, effective from spring 2025.

The standard refers to front mounted dumpers, with an operating mass of over 3,500 kg & under 4,500kg. This concept will also feature on the company’s stand at Hillhead and it will be interesting to see how it is received by visitors.

So many stands this time had some form of operator challenge and on the Kobelco Europe stand it was no different. A constant stream of competitors lined up for a shot at this one, which saw them at the controls of an SK28SR mini excavator negotiating a plunger around a course suspended on a chain on the Q-Hitch.

It was great to see people of all ages attempting this challenge including the youngster above who was rewarded with some Kobelco merch for his efforts!  

In the video below an older guy takes on the challenge, which is trickier than it looks, as the plunger tends to get stuck quite easily!