Lehnhoff joins the Komatsu Group

Worsley Plant are pleased to announce that LEHNHOFF, the supplier of their newest range of Fully Automatic Quickcoupler Systems – the Variolock, have successfully completed a deal with KOMATSU to become their new owner.

This transaction is a great move forward for the future of both companies. Whilst LEHNHOFF will be able to directly benefit from KOMATSU’s global presence and its financial and technological strength, KOMATSU can expand its product portfolio with LEHNHOFF’s innovative and ground breaking technology and product range.

“To evaluate an early and best possible succession plan for the company and its workforce was very important to my family and me. We are very fortunate for this important decision with KOMATSU, with whom we have been cooperating excellently for 30 years. We are convinced that Lehnhoff Hartstahl will continue to grow from its location in Baden-Baden and will sustainably access the international markets," remarked Peter A. Lehnhoff, current owner and CEO of Lehnhoff Hartstahl GmbH & Co. KG. "This strategic decision will ensure Lehnhoff Hartstahl are best positioned for the future."


The LEHNHOFF brand will remain a symbol of innovation in the field of construction and demolition equipment, providing trend-setting products for all manufacturers. Both companies will benefit from this merger by combining their expertise, technology and extensive distribution networks.

Sean Heron, MD of Worsley Plant, the UK distributor of the Lehnhoff product range added, “We are delighted with the integration of Lehnhoff with Komatsu. We see this as a positive step for the future of Lehnhoff’s products, allowing us to further penetrate the UK market with this market leading technology. The Variolock range is ideal for our range of high-quality attachments such as crushing and screening buckets, grabs, shears and pulverisers, and can work with other similar products on the market. We look forward to a great future continuing our work with the Lehnhoff team.”

The owner family LEHNHOFF, has sold all shares of the LEHNHOFF group to KOMATSU’s European subsidiary. A corresponding agreement was signed on November 6, 2015 resulting in KOMATSU being the new owner of Lehnhoff Hartstahl GmbH & Co. KG, subject to the approvals of the relevant merger control authorities.

North-East Regional Meeting this week

This week the North East Regional Meeting of the IDE will be held at the Komatsu UK factory.

The meeting begins at 11am on Thursday, 22nd October. The venue address is as follows:

Komatsu UK factory
Durham ROad,
Birtley,
Durham DH3 2QX

As you'd expect, Komatsu UK will be hosting the meeting and there will be an overview of Komatsu technology to enjoy, including a factory tour and chance to test drive the latest excavators.

IDE and Non-IDE Members are welcome, with the meeting accounting for 3 CPD hours. A buffet lunch and refreshments will also be provided.

If you'd like to attend then be quick and email the National Secretary at info@ide.org.uk. Alternatively you can call on 01634 816255.

Komatsu develop demining bulldozer for Afghanistan

The main threat posed by the Taliban in Afghanistan is mostly over with only pockets of resistance remaining. But, as with many past wars, the country it took place in is now littered with active land mines.

Redevelopment of the country requires those mines be removed so as not to severely injure or kill people in future. Finding them all is a very difficult task, and doing it by expert hand alone would take years. So, Japanese machine manufacturer Komatsu has come up with a better idea.

Komatsu has developed a demining vehicle based on the design of a bulldozer it seems. The huge machine can be remote controller and replaces the bucket on the front with a rotating drum. It is powered by a 244HP, 11-litre, 6-cylinder, turbo-charged engine, with reinforced metal plating fixed to its body. Anyone sitting in this thing is very well protected from a blast.

That 200rpm rotating drum is meant to churn up the ground, deep enough that if a mine is present it will be triggered and explode. Deploy a few of these machines, and large areas of land could be deemed mine free in just a few weeks of operation. A bonus of their churning up the ground is it also prepares the land for planting, allowing local farmers to start growing food more quickly and helping to feed families.

Source: Gizmodo

Komatsu training simulator in action

There are many areas of training required before an individual can work in the demolition or construction industry. A lot of the knowledge required can be learned through training professional such as our own training seminars. But when it comes to actually using machinery you need hands-on time.

If you're learning to drive there's an abundance of driving instructors willing to take your money in exchange for lessons and driving time. But when it comes to driving some of the larger and more complicated/expensive vehicles used in our industry, it's a lot tougher to both find a vehicle and then get training time in it.

So the key may be more use of computer simulations. Aircraft pilots rely on them heavily, so why not use them for machinery too? Komatsu does as the video above demonstrates. It's a Komatsu WA1200 3-wheel loader training simulator in action.

The driver gets an authentic cabin layout and and screens that depict the windows with an environment outside similar to normal working conditions. A few hours in one of these cannot cause any damage and doesn't stop a machine being used for actual work.

It definitely sounds like a good investment of training time and money to us.

Source: The Construction Index