BICES remains a major Chinese event despite the slump

LiuGong has unveiled a 70-tonne excavator, the largest in its range, at the BICES show in Beijing, just one of 17 machines on show as the company celebrated its 55th year of operations.

The 970E is suited to large scale quarrying and mining operations and has been built with the latest component technologies and many advanced processes, said the manufacturer.

With an operating weight of 70,000kg, its Cummins QSX15 engine has gross power of 354kW, and a Tier II emission standard. Kawasaki hydraulic components add to strong digging and break-out forces, with a max digging depth of 7250 mm and a max dump height of 6960 mm.

In line with its product development process, LiuGong used finite element analysis technology and dynamic simulations to carry out fatigue analysis to all major structural parts of 970E including operating device, slewing platform, moving frame and bucket.

The 4.3m3 bucket capacity is ideally suited for large excavations, and LiuGong says that the 970E is part of its product line that demonstrates its technical capability in designing and manufacturing large-tonnage machines. Other examples include large-tonnage products like the 888 and 899 wheel loaders, the Dressta TD40E bulldozer and large mining dump trucks, with LiuGong now able to provide a comprehensive solution to large-scale mining, quarrying and construction customers.

Meanwhile the company was highlighting its length of service in the construction machinery industry, with its first machine, the Z435 wheel loader, produced in 1966. Notable milestones in the company’s history included a 20 year association with Caterpillar, starting in 1979.

“The partnership was a major turning point of LiuGong’s history,” said the company. “The mature R&D and operation philosophy from a multinational company influenced LiuGong’s every aspect of operation and the influence continues today.”