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Hitachi Tests Remote Construction Equipment
Akihiro Komuro Hitachi Construction Machinery announced that a joint demonstration test will begin with Fukudome Kaihatsu in Tosa, Kochi Prefecture, using a ZX200A-7 20-ton class hydraulic excavator and a real-time digital twin platform. The test will be conducted in June 2026 at a river dredging project site in the Niyodo River Mochiishi District.
The platform integrates 3D terrain data, camera images, construction machinery, vehicles, and worker location information in real time, and reproduces the worksite in a virtual 3D space. The demonstration will compare remote operation under direct visual observation, remote operation using camera images, and remote operation using the real-time digital twin platform, in order to verify its effect on safety and productivity.
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Volvo Moves into Big Electric Equipment
Emiliano Marzoli Volvo Construction Equipment has officially transitioned the A30 Electric and A40 Electric articulated haulers into serial production at its Braås site in Sweden. Originally unveiled as prototypes at bauma 2025, these machines represent the largest electric articulated haulers currently available on the global market, boasting payloads of 29 and 39 tons, respectively.
Designed for high-utilization environments like large-scale infrastructure projects and mining, the haulers offer up to six hours of operation on a single charge, depending on the application. The first production units are scheduled for delivery to customers in the United Kingdom and Norway this month.
This move solidifies Volvo’s commitment to lead the heavy-duty transition, moving beyond compact machines into the most energy-intensive segments of the construction industry.
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CONEXPO Provides NA Market Outlook
Lorena Violante We talked with many industry representatives at CONEXPO, and we generally heard that the North American construction equipment market is performing relatively well and that it is expected to experience low single-digit growth in the near term, with demand remaining stable. Demand continues to be supported by infrastructure investment and ongoing construction activity.
OEM representatives said their cautious forecasts were affected by factors such as interest rates, inflation, tariffs…
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Construction Machinery Demand Could Hit 25,000 Units
Akihiro Komuro The Indonesian Heavy Equipment Distributors Association (PAABI) forecasts an expansion in construction machinery demand in 2026, with a potential total of 23,000 to 25,000 units. This represents an estimated growth of 5% to 8% compared to 2025, with a projected total market size of around US$3.62 billion.
According to the PAABI Chairman, the increase in demand in 2026 will be driven by the nation’s Strategic Infrastructure Projects (PSN), the ongoing construction of the new capital, IKN, and mining activities at major nickel and coal sites. These projects are expected to increase demand for heavy machinery, such as hydraulic excavators, wheel loaders, and bulldozers.
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Green Construction Equipment Sees Growth
Jack Hao In China this year, green construction machinery is seeing rapid growth, and demand across multiple scenarios is becoming unmistakable. EVE Energy is delivering full-scenario solutions for earthmoving equipment, aerial work platforms and specialized machinery. After six years of shipments in the construction-machinery segment, EVE Energy now ranks second nationwide; individual vehicles have logged more than 16,000 operating hours, and the company’s products are fitted to over 60 OEMs including LiuGong, SANY and Lingong.
According to data from the Construction Machinery Association, domestic sales of new-energy construction equipment are expected to surpass one million units by 2028, and the incremental market for green machinery is opening up rapidly—yet pain points remain: bulky batteries, short cycle life and complex assembly.
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Kubota To Build Excavator Plant in Germany
JAPAN REPORT
Akihiro Komuro Kubota says it plans to build a factory in Germany to manufacture small excavators. Production will begin in 2026, and the new factory will increase the local subsidiary's production capacity by 40%. Kubota will acquire a factory site near the current factory of Kubota Baumaschinen, which manufactures and sells construction equipment in Germany. In the fiscal year ending December 2022, sales of construction equipment in Europe accounted for 20% of the company's total sales…
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Komatsu Develops Hydrogen Generator
JAPAN REPORT
Akihiro Komuro Komatsu has announced the development of a hydrogen-powered generator that will be used to power an electric mini excavator. It can be transported to the job site, allowing electric construction equipment to be used in places where there is no electric power infrastructure. The system will be tested at customer sites by September 2024.
The generator was developed in cooperation with DENYO. The generator is 3.1 meters long, 1.1 meters wide and 1.7 meters high. It generates electricity by mixing up to 40% hydrogen with light oil. HVO fuel (hydrogenated vegetable oil), a type of biofuel made from waste cooking oil, can also be used.
Komatsu has developed hydrogen-blended combustion power generators for use in on-site power generation at factories and other facilities. The company sells seven types of electric construction equipment but is unable to supply power to sites where there are no power distribution networks, so it has been working to commercialize an electric power supply infrastructure.
Source: The Nikkei
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Electrification of China Construction Machinery Industry Accelerates
CHINA REPORT
Jack Hao The electrification of the construction machinery industry in China continues to accelerate. For example, CATAL and Longgong have signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Ningde, Fujian, a move that follows the January cooperation agreement between CATAL and Lingong Heavy Machinery. According to the agreement, both parties will expand cooperation in the development and production of construction machinery, the development of power batteries for construction machinery, and jointly research and develop adaptive products and market promotion to jointly explore the new energy construction machinery market.
More and more construction machinery companies are turning their attention to the electrification market. Domestic and foreign engineering machinery companies such as XCMG, Sany, Zoomlion, and Carter have developed and launched electric products such as loaders, excavators, and mixer trucks.
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