For Wacker Neuson, the focus was on customer benefits in this unusual year. With new innovative products and the expansion of its zero emission series, the company helped customers find suitable solutions to their construction site challenges.
2020 was dominated by the spread of the coronavirus. Wacker Neuson reacted quickly to the new situation and found solutions to continue to be there for its customers.
In the third quarter, the UK improved its performance markedly. This was primarily fuelled by continued strong demand for Dual View dumpers, which more than compensated for the restrained investment behaviour among major rental chains. Dual View dumpers allow the operator to change seating position by rotating the entire control and seat console 180 degrees.
“Our dual view dumpers are a real success story – and not without reason,” says Richard Harrison, managing director of Wacker Neuson UK. “Right from the development stage, we closely involved our customers and brought a product to market that is precisely tailored to our customers’ needs – from practice for practice.” This is also confirmed by the international European Rental Award, which was presented to the dual view dumpers this year.
In August of this year, Wacker Neuson took part in a virtual event organised by rental chain Sunbelt Rentals as a pioneer in the zero emission sector. As part of the presentation of various key topics, Alexander Greschner, CSO of the Wacker Neuson Group, spoke in a video on the topic of “Developing electric construction machines: motivation, aim and future prospect”.
The emission-free construction site is a reality
In 2020, the company expanded its zero emission range to include the electric EZ17e mini-excavator. Thanks to its proprietary battery technology, flexible charging management and high performance, the compact excavator can be used in as many ways as a conventional model in the same class. With its integrated lithium-ion battery, the machine can be used either without a power cable or also, during stationary activities, charged in ongoing operation. The excavator already won the SaMoTer Innovation Award in Italy in early 2020 for its efficiency, optimal integration of the electric drive into the Zero Tail concept and its performance.
The zero emission series by Wacker Neuson currently includes three battery-powered rammers and three battery-powered vibratory plates, a dual power mini-excavator that can be operated with an electro-hydraulic drive unit in addition to the diesel engine, an electric mini-excavator, an electric wheel loader, electric track and wheel dumpers and an internal vibrator system for concrete consolidation that won multiple awards in 2020. With this broad portfolio, a typical inner-city construction site can already be operated completely emission-free and extremely quietly. The emission-free solutions were also convincing in the design of a desert and jungle house for a garden exhibition: Only emission-free construction machinery and equipment were considered for this green construction site in order to protect the operators inside, as well as the exotic plants, while still being able to work efficiently.
Compamatic: time and cost benefits through digitalisation
There was also news in the field of digital solutions at Wacker Neuson in 2020: with Compamatic, Wacker Neuson is combining its proven compaction control system with a telematics solution. Compamatic is now also available for the heavy-duty reversible and some of the heavy-duty remote-controlled vibratory plates. This makes compaction progress traceable and allows for completely documented quality control. From their desks, those responsible can check whether all the work steps planned for the working day have been carried out, whether the planned areas have been compacted and whether the degree of compaction is sufficient everywhere.
 Innovations that make everyday work easier
Other product highlights include the WL34 and WL110 wheel loaders, which have been available since spring 2020. Since the fall of this year, the WL28 3-ton wheel loader and the TH412 telehandler have been making everyday work on the construction site easier thanks to their ideal combination of high performance and compact dimensions. The two new tracked excavators in the 4- and 5-ton classes ET42 and EZ50 respectively enable even more efficient and comfortable working – a boost for every construction site.
