Intermat 2018 Preview

First published in the April 2018 issue of Quarry Management

With the triennial international exhibition opening its gates in Paris this month, QM provides a brief glimpse of some of the new construction plant and equipment to be showcased at the event 

Later this month (23–28 April) Intermat 2018 – France’s triennial international exhibition of equipment, machinery and techniques for the construction and building materials industry – will take place at Paris‐Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre, close to Charles de Gaulle Airport. 

Over 180,000 visitors from around 170 countries are expected to attend the six‐day exhibition, while some 1,500 exhibitors will be using the event as a platform to showcase their latest products and service offerings. 

This year’s Intermat will have four key activity zones – Earthmoving & Demolition; Roads, Minerals & Foundations; Buildings & Concrete Sector; and Lifting, Handling & Transportation – to help make navigation simple, efficient and visitor‐friendly. 

Running alongside these clearly specified areas will be three special themed villages consisting of collective stands to highlight major technological innovations in the construction sector. 

The Start‐Up Village will be made up of 15 new businesses offering ground‐breaking solutions and/or products which, the organizers say, will revolutionize the industry. Located at the hub of the Buildings & Concrete zone, the Building Smart Village will bring together professionals from construction and infrastructure, addressing key topics such as digital tools for the worksite, automation, and robotic manufacturing and technology. 

The Demolition & Recycling Village (found in the Earthmoving & Demolition area) will be a focal point for companies from the demolition sector, with a discussion and exchange area (eg talks, round tables, presentations) covering relevant themes, including waste‐management, safety and dust suppression.

Not only will visitors be able to discover the latest technologies and meet and/or network with the right suppliers for their businesses, the exhibition will also feature a 30,000m2 outdoor demonstration area –known as ‘Intermat Demo’. Here, machines put through their paces will include excavators, loading shovels, crushing and screening plant, and demolition equipment.   

This year’s Intermat will also see the launch of the Construction Observatory, which offers an insight into the EMEA market opportunities for equipment manufacturers present across the exhibition’s four hubs of expertise. A selection of countries will be examined (eg national investment plans, main imports and exports of construction equipment) and there will be an exclusive analysis of some of the major construction projects under way and planned for the future from 2025‐2030.  

Among the exhibitors showcasing their products, services and expertise at Intermat 2018 will be a number of key equipment manufacturers/suppliers well known in the UK quarrying industry.  

Allu will be showing a selection of machinery attachments from their existing Transformer and Processor ranges, as well as a new ‘two‐way’ solution designed to maximize the customers’ investment through improved productivity, efficiency and profitability. 

The company’s Transformer series comprise three models – the compact DL and D buckets and the larger M attachment range. These excavator‐ and loader‐mounted units have been specially designed for use in the quarrying, mining and demolition sectors, catering for applications of all sizes and processing materials that can be screened, crushed, loaded and fed in one cycle. 

Bell will be highlighting their four‐wheel drive concept with the B30E 4x4 articulated dumptruck (ADT) on display. Suited to small‐and medium‐sized quarries, the 4x4 machine is a supplement to the company's renowned 6x6 ADT range, providing a practical alternative to customers who have had to choose between tipper trucks, rigid dumptrucks and 6x6 units. Also on show will be the company’s popular Bell B40E ADT model, powered by a 380kW Mercedes‐Benz engine with a seven‐gear Allison transmission system. 

Exhibiting at Intermat for the first time, British Steel will be introducing their broad range of bespoke earthmoving and materials‐handling products – developed to offer prolonged service life, superior surface quality and optimum efficiency for manufacturing processes. Products on show will include: track shoe profiles available in a range of sizes (eg long‐length super grousers); and cutting edge profiles which provide wear resistance and extended life for excavator bucket applications. 

A full range of products and service offerings will be displayed on the Case stand, reflecting the company’s heavy investment in machine development and the latest technologies. Among them will be: the CX750D crawler excavator, the largest and most powerful machine in the Case range; and the award‐winning seven‐model G‐Series range of wheel loaders (winner of 2017 Good Design Award for Design Excellence). 

An area of the stand will be dedicated to Case SiteSolutions, the services and technologies designed to complement the brand’s construction equipment. In this area, visitors will be able to learn about SiteWatch telematics and SiteControl machine control solutions that help fleet operators and site managers optimize plant operation, usage and maintenance.

Doosan will be using Intermat 2018 as the global launch pad for several new machines, including the Stage IV‐compliant DL280‐5 wheel loader. Powered by a Doosan DL06 diesel engine, which delivers an output of 128kW (172hp) and a maximum torque of 804Nm at 1,400 rev/min, standard features on the DL280‐5 include: powershift transmission with a torque converter; three working modes (eco, normal and power); and an auto engine shutdown system. 

The company will also be unveiling a new version of its DA30 articulated dumptruck, which has been specifically designed to enhance operator comfort and machine controllability. According to Doosan, the most important change is the suspension of the ADT which has been upgraded to a ‘hydro‐gas self‐levelling system’ to deliver high performance and superior shock absorption for better driving comfort.

Keestrack, specialists in mobile crushing and screening equipment, will be presenting their latest machinery solutions to the aggregates and recycling industry. Taking centre stage on the company’s stand will be the 33‐tonne R3 tracked impactor and R3e –a diesel‐electric hybrid alternative to the R3 model. Capable of processing material up to 250 tonnes/h, the units come with a highly efficient 3,200kg rotor and specially adapted crushing tools. The hybrid diesel‐electric drive concept on the R3e – which includes a Tier 4 Final Volvo diesel engine (235kW), a 330kVA genset and a 135kW/160kW electric drive for the crusher – provides reduced energy costs and ease of maintenance without comprising operational flexibility and mobility.   

Intermat 2018 will see the world premiere of three new mobile crushing and screening plants from Kleemann. Designed for the quarrying sector, the Mobicat MC 120 Z Pro jaw crusher – which has a maximum capacity of 650 tonnes/h – features an integrated double‐deck prescreen with an extra large screening area and a continuous feed system that regulates the material feed. 

With a processing capacity of 500 tonnes/h, the new MS 952 EVO double‐deck screen is suitable for natural stone and recycling applications, as is the Mobirex MR 110 Z EVO 2 impact crusher which comes with Kleeemann’s innovative Lock & Turn safety system. 

Liebherr will be unveiling a host of new products for the European market, including the worldwide premieres of their Stage IV‐compliant 914 Litronic wheeled excavator and L 518 compact loader. The company will also be showing a full range of tailor‐made equipment for the quarrying, construction and mining industries. Making its Intermat debut will be the 35‐tonne R936 crawler excavator, along with the latest additions to Liebherr’s concrete technology and engine ranges. 

Volvo CE, alongside sister companies Volvo Trucks, Volvo Penta and Volvo Financial Services, will be exhibiting the latest technologies, equipment and services on their ‘Building Tomorrow’ themed stand. Products on show will include: the P6820D and P7820D ABG pavers (both fitted with the new EPM3 central control system); a host of compact excavators (eg EW220E); and a full range of EU Stage V engine solutions.

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