First view of the S7X, the world’s first all-electric skid-steer loader, and other exciting concepts and new technology such as MaxControl with the new Kishi physical remote This year’s Bobcat Demo Days event is playing host to customers, dealers and the press from all over Europe, the Middle East and
Night-time operation in Warwickshire takes the giant ‘Dorothy’ Tunnel Boring Machine’s cutterhead back to Long Itchington Wood Tunnel north portal Impressive sight as the 160 tonne cutterhead was moved upright on a 12 metre-long, 48-wheel Self Propelled Trailer (SPT) on its 2.5 mile journey Once reassembled, ‘Dorothy’ will start her
First view of the S7X, the world’s first all-electric skid-steer loader, and other exciting concepts and new technology such as MaxControl with the new Kishi physical remote This year’s Bobcat Demo Days event is playing host to customers, dealers and the press from all over Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who have come to see the latest that Bobcat has to offer. This includes the first look at Bobcat’s S7X, the world’s first all-electric skid-steer loader, one of three new loader concepts being shown at the event. Visitors can also experience exciting new technology developments, including the exciting MaxControl system with the new Kishi physical remote. Bobcat Demo Days 2023 Highlights Blending established products with new developments, Demo Days 2023 provides an industry unique opportunity to try out the full range of Bobcat wheeled and tracked loaders, mini-excavators, telehandlers, light compaction products and attachments in working conditions. Bobcat is also showing how the recently acquired Doosan Industrial Vehicle forklifts and Doosan Portable Power products will look in signature Bobcat white and orange branding. Highlights of the product array at the 2023 Bobcat Demo Days Concept machines and technology Bobcat Wheel Loader Portfolio Continues to Expand Bobcat is showing both smaller and larger sized models in line with the company‘s commitment to become a compact wheel loader full liner in the near future. New L95 Compact Wheel Loader The new L95 model being previewed at Demo Days will be the next addition to the Bobcat compact wheel loader line-up, following on from the original L85 machine launched in 2021. The L95 is powered by a powerful Bobcat 75 HP engine and offers a top speed of 40 km/h and an increased lift capacity. Like the L85, there are multiple Bobcat loader attachments approved for use on the L95. Among the new attachments are a 1.0 m3 general purpose bucket and a 1.5 m3 light material bucket and new grapple bucket and tines attachments for agriculture. Other new features include an air-ride heated seat; DAB+ radio with phone connectivity and improved automatic ride control, high flow and quick tach systems. Bobcat Wheel Loader Portfolio Tests Market Interest With Two New Concepts At the smaller end of the range, the company is displaying a new concept machine – the L40 – in the 2-3 tonne category. The L40 weighs less than 2.5 tonne and is designed as a powerful load and carry, application-focused machine. Whilst it is simple, robust, and easy to operate, the L40 is designed for heavy duty applications such as road maintenance and construction. Bobcat is also showing the L35, a new small articulated loader (SAL) concept machine, which is an extension of the existing SAL portfolio to cover the market segment for high performance machines which are easy to transport on a trailer. The machine weight is again below 2.5 tonne, which allows easy transportation and a high lift capacity. The engine power on the L35 is 57 HP, which allows for higher travel speeds and pushing power. The L35 is designed to be a tool carrier machine with high hydraulic power available for demanding attachments such as snow blowers, sweepers or angle brooms and it is equipped with a telescopic boom as standard to ensure a higher working range. Jaroslav Fiser, Product Line Director Loaders for Doosan Bobcat EMEA, says: “With the new L95 loader and the smaller wheeled loader concepts, we are once again demonstrating our commitment to offer the most complete loader portfolio in the world. Demo Days also provides our dealers and customers with an exclusive first look at the new L35 and L40 concept machines that enables them to participate in the development process as well as provide us with their valued assessments and feedback.“ Demonstrating Super Flow on T86 Compact Track Loader One of the most exciting aspects of the new top-of-the-range T86 compact track and S86 skid-steer loaders is that both machines have for the first time three different auxiliary flow outputs, including a new, industry unique Super Flow function taking auxiliary flow to 159 l/min. At Demo Days, Bobcat is presenting the T86 in a forestry application that amply demonstrates the Super Flow function by equipping the machine with the new XT FRC extra torque forestry cutter. Supplied as a plug and play solution, the new forestry cutter with 2 m width is perfect for mulching tree sections into smaller chips. The XT FRC can even operate below grade to process mulch into the soil. Despite the power of the attachment, the compact size and manoeuvrability of the T86 allow the operator to easily move between trees and surgically cut only the damaged/unwanted tree sections. S7X: The World’s First All-Electric Skid-Steer Loader with 8 Hour Run Time Like the T7X, the world’s first all-electric compact track loader unveiled last year, the S7X prototype is all electric, as it is powered by a 60.5-kWh, lithium-ion battery, features electric drive motors and utilizes ball screw actuators for lift and tilt functions. Together, the battery and electrical powertrain generate incredible performance characteristics, with instantaneous torque that is as much as three times greater than traditional loaders. The powerful loader balances sustainability and performance with zero emissions and is equipped to outperform its diesel-powered equivalent. This all-electric skid-steer loader offers operators a smooth and comfortable experience with minimal vibration and nearly silent operation. “The S7X can operate for up to 8 hours on a single charge depending on the application, giving most operators more than a full day’s work when breaks and downtime are considered. A full charge takes approximately 10 hours,” adds Joel Honeyman, VP Global Innovation, Doosan Bobcat. Bobcat MaxControl with New Razer Kishi Gaming Controller Bobcat MaxControl Remote Operation provides convenient, easily accessible remote-control operation using an app on an iPhone. As is being demonstrated at Demo Days, Bobcat has combined MaxControl with the universal Razer Kishi mobile gaming controller designed to bring console-level comfort in controlling the machine. “At Bobcat, we like packaging complex solutions into
Night-time operation in Warwickshire takes the giant ‘Dorothy’ Tunnel Boring Machine’s cutterhead back to Long Itchington Wood Tunnel north portal Impressive sight as the 160 tonne cutterhead was moved upright on a 12 metre-long, 48-wheel Self Propelled Trailer (SPT) on its 2.5 mile journey Once reassembled, ‘Dorothy’ will start her second tunnel bore later this year Dramatic photos and video capture the night-time transportation of HS2’s Long Itchington Wood Tunnel TBM’s giant cutterhead back to the tunnel’s north portal site in Warwickshire. After HS2’s first tunnel breakthrough by Tunnel Boring Machine ‘Dorothy’ at the south portal site in July this year, the front part of the TBM has been dismantled and transported back to the tunnel’s north portal in a 24/7 intricate operation, managed by the plant and logistics team at HS2’s contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV). The cutterhead, weighing 160 tonnes and with a 10-metre diameter, was moved during the night of Wednesday 21 September. Standing upright on a 12 metre-long, 48-wheel Self Propelled Trailer (SPT), it was transported from the south portal site, along the A425, through the village of Ufton and onto HS2’s north portal site. The TBM’s 120 tonne tail skin, also 10 metres in diameter, was also moved in the same operation. The 2.5-mile journey took 180 minutes, with the loads arriving at their destination at 03.00 hours on Thursday 22 September. Eight other large pieces from the TBM’s front shield and middle shield, have already been transported by specialist equipment, which was used specifically to avoid any temporary alterations to the road layout through Ufton. The rest of the 120-metre long TBM will be pulled back through the one-mile tunnel by a special ‘caterpillar’ system, at a pace of 150 metres per day. Once all the parts are back at the north portal, the TBM will be reassembled before starting the second bore later this year. Tom Comer, Balfour Beatty VINCI’s Logistics Manager said: “This has been an intricately planned operation, using specialist equipment to transport these large, heavy pieces of machinery safely and carefully, over a 2.5-mile route, and onto our north portal site. The whole team was proud to see the operation culminate in such an impressive sight, as the huge TBM cutterhead completed its short journey. “We worked closely with the local authority, Warwickshire Police and British Transport Police, and would like to thank them for helping us ensure a safe operation, carried out at night to minimise disruption to the local community as much as possible.” Alan Payne, HS2’s Senior Project Manager said: “The BBV logistics and site teams have done a great job to make this a safe and successful operation. We’re now looking forward to the reassembly of the TBM over the coming weeks, and the start of the second bore of the tunnel later this year. When we celebrate the breakthrough next summer, this will be the first fully completed twin bore tunnel on the HS2 project.”
