Case is a frontrunner in the 20-tonne excavator segment in the Middle East, where the CX210B is its best-seller, says CNH Industrial Construction Equipment, which owns the construction equipment brand.

“The 20-tonne class machines are still the largest selling products in the region and our Case CX210B, which sits competitively in this market, is our best-selling model,” Franco Invernizzi, senior business director for Africa and Middle East, CNH Industrial Construction Equipment, tells Gulf Construction.

In addition to the 20-tonne class, there is movement in heavier excavators in the 30-, 40- and 50-tonne classes as well, he says.

Invernizzi admits that the excavator markets continue to be subdued when compared to the peak volumes seen in 2015, adding that customer confidence in purchasing excavators is low under the prevailing market conditions, and this is further exacerbated by the pessimistic view regarding future contracts, delayed payments for work completed, and the fact that existing machinery are underutilised.

“Furthermore, with oil prices remaining low for the foreseeable future and government budgets expected to be limited in 2018, a significant upturn in the market is not anticipated,” he says.

Franco Invernizzi, senior business director for Africa and Middle East

Invernizzi  points out that rental options are certainly on the increase, particularly where the customer has a contractual requirement for equipment for just a year or less, with no further agreed/prospective projects.

Customer purchasing decisions in the region, he says, are driven by the financial solutions available – which is the most important – and distributor capability and support. Customers generally seek finance solutions with standard warranty terms, according to Invernizzi.

Elaborating on Case’s best-selling model in the region, a spokesman for the company says the award-winning Case CX210B in the 20-tonne class has been built with durability in mind. It was awarded the Good Design Award by the Design Academy of Japan and won the 18th Energy Conservation Award by the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy at the Ministry of Economy and Trade of Japan and Industry and Energy Conservation Centre, Japan.

The upper-structure of the excavator, redesigned to match increased hydraulic performance, ensures Case’s legendary durability and reliability even in the toughest conditions. The certified fuel-efficient powerful engine meets Tier III emission regulations, granting reduced fuel consumption.

The CX210B’s advanced hydraulic system has three working modes offering higher breakout force, improved swing speeds and greater swing torque, resulting in faster cycle times and a five per cent increase in productivity. The electronic management of speed and power lowers fuel consumption and offers considerable productivity benefits in terms of outputs.

The CX210B features a proven four-cylinder common rail engine. The compactness of the engine ensures extended durability for all components. The lower engine speed combined with the high-capacity exhaust muffler provides five per cent less noisy output and 20 per cent more fuel saving.

A large fuel tank, combined with low consumption, results in about a two-day work period between refills. An optional high-flow refuelling pump with automatic cut-off reduces downtime for regular fills.

All Case B series excavators can be equipped with a cooling system (Tropical Package) to withstand temperatures above 45 deg C, the spokesman says.

The CX210B features a variable control hydraulic pump, which maintains optimum engine rpm during heavy load work. A synthetic fibre hydraulic filter is provided as standard, protecting valuable components and prolonging hydraulic oil service life up to 5,000 hours.

For operator comfort, the widen cab structure offers more leg and foot space, while the extensive glass surface contributes to give an impression of aperture to the operator. Four positions consoles with return to pre-set modes will suit all operators’ needs. All-round visibility in the cab is provided by a wide glazed area with a single-piece window on the right hand side for an unobstructed view.

Regarding attachments, Case customers can choose from a variety of main booms and dipper arms to suit different applications, Invernizzi says. With a wide choice of booms and dipper sticks, along with a range of buckets from 0.47 to 1.43 cu m, there is a configuration to meet the requirements of every customer’s job site. All of them feature heavy-duty steel box sections with internal baffles to increase torsional rigidity. Deep groove welding ensures that the booms and arms can withstand the stress of high breakout forces, heavy lifting and attachments such as hydraulic breakers, compactors, demolition shears and crushers.

About the excavator attachments market, Invernizzi says most excavators use buckets and breakers, while trencher wheels are also becoming popular for fitting to machines for trenching applications.

“Most customers have a preferred brand of breaker and generally won’t take an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) solution due to price and having a preferred source already in place,” he says, adding that it certainly is advantageous to be able to fit and work with a range of attachments.

Other popular machines in the B Series crawler excavators range include the CX240B, CX290B, CX350B, CX370B and the CX470B.