FinnMetko Earthmoving Section Round Up (Part Two)

Continuing our lookback at some of the highlights from my recent visit to the FinnMetko exhibition in Finland.

Develon Europe dealers for Finland Real Machinery had various examples of the Korean built machines on display, most notably another example of a machine specced up for the rigours of forestry contracting. The DX160LC-7 High Track was once again sporting reinforced track guarding, and this example was sporting a Finnish built Marttiini MT19 tilting coupler with a v-ditch bucket. A very popular combination in Finland for cleaning ditches along forest tracks and roads alike.

Real Machinery are also dealers for Mecalac and for ALLU screening buckets whose facility in Lahti I had visited the day before the show opened for business. ALLU chose to demonstrate something a bit different on this occasion, with a Transformer bucket mounted on another iconic Finnish machine, the Wille 475 compact loader which was interesting to see in action.

A larger ALLU Transformer screening bucket was also presented on static display mounted on a Develon DL380-7 wheeled loading shovel from the W Rent fleet.

Konesilta are the main Kubota dealers in Finland, but they are also a big player in the used equipment sector in addition to their engineering work modifying machines for work on soft ground conditions. Compact wheeled loaders from Kubota were presented as were mini and midi excavators including the KX060-5 and KX085-5 models.

Also presented was the Huddig 1370 high spec backhoe loader, visitors to the stand were invited to take to the controls via remote joysticks to try and navigate a ball through a maze attached to dipper arm. These machines along with the Finnish Lannen's are often discussed on social media platforms in the UK, but we are yet to see one purchased here yet. We did have a Huddig down in Cornwall for a demo back in 2009 from a then Scottish dealer, but the price was seen as too much for the UK market at that time. 

Also spotted on this stand, but not sure if it was associated with Konesilta, was a new Chinese brand on me, JPC. Having done some research  over the weekend I notice that some of these machines have been going through the Euro Auctions of late. Three models were presented at FinnMetko, two with canopy’s and one cabbed version. One would have to say they did look rather bargain basement in terms of build quality, but could appeal to the small building or agricultural contractors.

Komatsu main dealer Suomen Rakennuskone Oy (try saying that without your teeth in!) brought along the WA475 wheel loading shovel, but for the theme of the event, was statically displayed with a heavy weight looking log grab, it was certainly an imposing exhibit on the stand. It was also a pleasure for me to finally meet Benita Puotila the Sales and Marketing Coordinator at SR Oy.

At the rear up on a mound they had a display of various excavators including the PC228USLC-11 which I have to say is a beautiful looking machine, I’m not sure if these excavators were available to try out, but I never saw one move personally.

At the top end of the display, they presented the new PW168-11 wheeled excavator. This example was fitted with a TAB two-piece boom, Engcon tiltrotator, Gjerstad bucket and was Xsite GPS ready.

Checkout our short video clip below. 

Lookout for more FinnMetko earthmoving highlights on Friday.