Capital Equipment News December 2018

Hyundai CE and Cummins develop electric mini excavator prototype

Cummins Inc. and Hyundai Construction Equipment (HCE) have announced that they have jointly developed an electrically powered mini excavator. “As electric vehicles continue to expand their share in the automotive market, we are simultaneously seeing the electrification of commercial power systems being pursued by many as both an environmentally friendly and economically sustainable solution for construction equipment,” says D. S. Kim, HCE Senior Executive Vice President & CTO. “HCE anticipates mini excavators, which operate in urban workplaces close to residential areas, will be a prime candidate to electrify to meet zero-emission and low noise requirements in the near future,” adds Kim. Based on the long-term productive partnership of the companies, HCE and Cummins agreed to collaborate on the design and development of electrically powered mini excavators for the market. Powered by Cummins BM4.4E flexible battery modules (4,4 kWh each), the 3,5-t excavator is designed to operate for a full eight-hour shift and charge in under three hours. The machine eliminates all gaseous emissions and substantially reduces noise, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) recently marked two decades of producing its globally renowned range of excavators in Changwon, Korea. At an event at the factory, Volvo CE President Melker Jernberg thanked the 2 200 employees, business suppliers and customers for their commitment over the last two decades, and highlighted the importance of excavators to the future success of the company. Volvo CE acquired the construction equipment business of Samsung Heavy Industries at a difficult time for the Korean economy. Shaken by the after-effects of the Asian Financial Crisis, the outlook was far from certain. But neither the company nor the workers had any reason for concern. Since the acquisition Volvo CE has surpassed its original objective to triple production – today production is four times higher, while profitability has jumped five times. “The foundation of Volvo CE Korea 20 years ago is regarded as one of the most successful acquisitions in Volvo’s history,” says Volvo CE President Melker Jernberg. “Not only did it boost South Korea’s economic credibility at a time of global

The prototype machine will be used for testing to optimise the performance, prove the structural integrity and enhance the marketability.

• 3,5-t operating weight • Contains eight BM4.4E modules connected together • Total energy of 35,2 kWh

making it ideal for use in urban and sub- urban construction. “The electric mini excavator is an exciting celebration of the future of electrified construction equipment – combining the strengths of HCE’s versatile excavator with Cummins’ lithium ion battery solutions and machine integration expertise,” says Julie Furber, executive director – Electrified Power at Cummins. “Cummins is committed to pioneering the future of electrified power, and we look forward to continuing to partner with companies like HCE to design and test

the industry’s latest technologies.” The excavator contains eight BM4.4E modules connected together in a series string to provide a total energy of 35,2 kWh. Mounted in the base of the excavator, the Cummins-designed and built battery modules utilise Li-ion technology to achieve a higher energy density and proprietary control technology to maintain the battery state-of-charge for a longer zero emission range. The modular design allows the system to be built up and aligned to the duty cycle of the excavator. b

Volvo CE celebrates 20 years of excavator development in Korea

financial uncertainty, but it established Volvo CE’s position as a market leader in excavator production. Since that time, we have grown the business to unprecedented levels with innovation, technology and productivity at the heart of our operations.” Volvo CE now exports excavators

to 120 countries worldwide from its Changwon Plant, a factory that accounts for more than half of the company’s global excavator production. As of June 2018, the plant had produced 200 000 excavators, and exports have surged 10- fold since 1998. b

Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Bill Law (right) and Volvo CE President, Melker Jernberg.

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