PRESS RELEASE
March 2007

KOBELCO CRANES TARGETING NEW MARKETS
WORLD PREMIERE AT BAUMA 2007: KOBELCO SL6000

KOBELCO CRANES is targeting new markets and is pleased to announce its participation at BAUMA 2007 International Trade Fair to be held in Munich, Germany from 23^rd up to 29^th April 2007. KOBELCO looks forward to welcoming relations and customers from all over the world at its booth F12/1202 in the Outdoor exhibition area.

KOBELCO has over 76 years of experience as a manufacturer of construction equipment (since 1930) providing equipment and services with true added value to relations and customers all over the world. KOBELCO cranes excel in Performance, Transportability, Versatility, Durability, Operating comfort, Low maintenance cost and Reliability. In combination with KOBELCO’s reputation of being a true worldwide crane brand this results in a high resale value and high return on investment making KOBELCO CRAWLER CRANES the PREFERRED CHOICE WORLDWIDE.

KOBELCO CRANES, the world’s largest supplier of multi-purpose lattice boom crawler cranes up to 250 tonnes for the fourth consecutive year with an estimated world market share of around 37-40% has successfully implemented several expansion strategies in order to further increase turnover and profitability, including market penetration, product development and market development. This is illustrated by the following:

At this year’s exhibition KOBELCO is presenting an impressive line of crawler cranes with at least 4 cranes on display, as follows:

• SL6000: the brand new SL6000 with a max. lifting capacity of 550 tonnes will make its world debut at BAUMA 2007. This world-class-crane model was developed in close cooperation with several key buyers around the world who are looking forward to getting the crane delivered as soon as possible. Max. configuration of this crane with SHL is 84m main boom with 84m luffing jib, resulting in an awesome 170m total boom length.
• BME800HD: the 80 tonnes Heavy-Duty, Multi-Purpose Foundation Crawler Crane. Another option on this BME800HD is the 2 cranes in 1 system as this crane can be used or hired out as a 80 tonner with full counterweight or as 70 tonner with reduced counterweight and lifting table when the 2 carbody weights of 3.34 tonnes each between the crawlers are left off, making the crane easier to transport and reducing transport cost.
• CKE600: the impressive 60 tonne Multi-purpose Crawler Crane equipped with optional tractor-type crawlers. Another option on the CKE600 is the 2 cranes in 1 system as this crane can be used or hired out as a 60 tonner with full counterweight or as 45 tonner with reduced counterweight and lifting table when the rear counterweight of 6.2 tonnes is left off, making the crane easier to transport and reducing transport cost and operating weight (also convenient when working on a barge) .
• CKE1800: another excellent multi-purpose Crawler Crane in the 180 tonnes class and the successor of KOBELCO’s famous 7150, best-selling crane in the 150-170 tonnes class.

KOBELCO’s drive and determination to build the best, most efficient and reliable cranes and the effect of KOBELCO’s direct sales, marketing and product support efforts in Europe and indirect sales through a network of independent KOBELCO crane dealers in other parts of the world are clearly reflected in the impressive increase in sales volume and turnover of KOBELCO cranes worldwide. The cranes on show are a clear example of the success the company is having in Europe and worldwide:

1. SL6000: The largest U.K. Crane Hire company WELDEX already ordered 2 units SL6000 with full spec SHL, 84m main boom and 84m luffing jib, while the crane was still on the drawing board. KOBELCO expects this brand new model is destined to be one of the world’s best-selling cranes in the 500-600 tonnes class as it also wants to be market leader in this class. Already several units have been sold around the world.
2. The CKE1800 has been sold to U.K. Plant Hire Company BPH Equipment who specialize in Dock, Harbour and Foundation Engineering. The crane on show will be equipped with a PTC vibrator. BPH now already owns 6 more KOBELCO crawler cranes. This 180 tonnes KOBELCO CKE1800 is the second largest crane in their fleet. The 250 tonnes KOBELCO CKE2500 is their biggest crane.
3. The BME800HD has been sold to U.K. company STENT PILING and will be used for earth boring, clamshell and other applications. One of the largest Spanish foundation companies SILSOIL S.L. has just ordered 2 additional BME800HD cranes which means soon they will be having 8 units Heavy-Duty KOBELCO foundation cranes in their fleet. SILSOIL will be using the cranes with Diaphragm wall bucket, Clamshell and other applications.
4. The CKE600 has been sold to U.K. Company STENT PILING.

Thanks to innovative engineering the KOBELCO brand name is the best guarantee for end-users worldwide for a long productive and trouble-free working life even in the remotest places and harshest working conditions.

The CKE600, BME800HD, CKE1800 and SL6000 are the ideal combination of heavy-duty performance, economical operation and tough durability with excellent duty charts. Main features of these fully loaded models are:

• Great operating comfort
  At KOBELCO we know that operator comfort is directly related to performance. KOBELCO cranes are famous for unrivalled smoothness while performing multi-function crane operations from an in 7-ways adjustable luxurious seat, providing the ideal balance between comfort and ergonomics. Full free upper and lower view. The beamless roof construction of the front window provides unobstructed upward field of view. Optional tilt-cab, up to 30 degrees, further enhances operating comfort.
• New powerful, fuel efficient and more environment friendly Stage 3 engine
  Powerful, fuel efficient, quite running Hino water-cooled power plant with direct fuel injection, intercooler and turbo-charger provides all the needed lifting, swinging and travelling power.
  The SL6000 is equipped with an extremely powerful 320kW engine. Max. Engine power in the CKE1800 and BME800HD is 247kW. The CKE600 is equipped with an engine supplying 159kW. All engines are in compliance with Stage 3 (EUR 3) American and European Emission regulations.
  Engine speed, hydraulic flow and pressure demands are coordinated by the computer-controlled Engine Speed Sensing (ESS) system, reducing speed changes in simultaneous operations to give smoother, more efficient performance.
• Doubled lifting performance of Auxiliary Sheave
  Lifting performance of the aux. sheave of the CKE1800 has been increased by 100% from 13.5 tonnes to 27.0 tonnes by using 2-part lines, instead of 1-line reeving.
• Easy, efficient transport and fast assembly / disassembly
  Crawler side frames and lower boom remain on the CKE600 and BME800HD during transport when the crane with a transport weight of 40.5 tonne of the CKE600 and 46.6 tonne of the BME800HD can travel itself on a trailer. Lower boom, translifters and 35 tonne hook block remain on the CKE1800 during transportation. When the crane with a transport weight of 43.5 tonne arrives at the jobsite. On the trailer, this crane is ready to lift itself clear from the trailer and to continue with complete self-assembly of crawlers, boom, jib and counterweight, without the need for an assistance crane.
  The fast counterweight self-assembly system of the CKE600 and BME800HD enables quick assembly of the machine, and after stacking up its own counterweight the CKE1800 assembles the rear counterweight, by hydraulically lifting it immediately into position.
• Inching speed for precise control
  Inching control reduces the machine’s hydraulic functions to 1/3 of normal speed, excluding for swing, for excellent precision in manoeuvrability.
• Powerful Heavy-Duty winches on the BME800HD with oil-cooled multi-disc brakes
  KOBELCO’s main and auxiliary full hydraulic winches are first in its class with extremely powerful max. line-pull and max. line speed to handle the toughest jobs. While the oil-cooled wet-type, multi-disc braking system provides safe, quiet and dependable control with minimal maintenance. With the introduction of this innovative, multi-disc braking system on the BM700HD in 1998 KOBELCO is the first and for many years the only Japanese crane manufacturer to have successfully developed and implemented this system in its cranes with an excellent track record.

• Free fall
  Optional free fall system on main and auxiliary winch of CKE600 and CKE1800. Free fall is standard on the BME800HD.

KOBELCO is renowned for smart engineering increasing versatility and flexibility and also for engineered technology and therefore you will find productivity-boosting technical advances everywhere you look: from our advanced winch system to our self-diagnostic multi-display monitor.

At KOBELCO we know our dedication to designing the highest quality systems provides our customers with the competitive edge and top performance all the way.