The compact excavator weighs over 10,957 pounds and provides the company with a true 5-ton excavator that is well suited for a plethora of applications.

The company’s proprietary Takeuchi Fleet Management (TFM) telematics system would come as a standard feature on all TB250-2 units.

Takeuchi Manufacturing (Takeuchi), a Japanese heavy machinery manufacturing firm, has reportedly announced the launch of its latest compact hydraulic excavator called the TB250-2.

Reports cite, the TB250-2, weighing in at about 10,957 pounds, provides the company with a true five-ton excavator that is specifically designed for a plethora of applications ranging from landscaping to rental and general contracting.

According to a report by Lawn & Landscape, the new compact excavator boasts of features such as a long arm that comes with an integrated thumb mount which gives the machine a maximum digging depth of about 12 feet 4.8 inches. Moreover, the excavator would also include the company’s proprietary Takeuchi Fleet Management (TFM) telematics system as a standard, the TFM system allows the machine owners to have remote access to the excavator’s vitals, performance, utilization, location, and maintenance data.

The machine’s four-pump hydraulic system facilitates a multi-function capability and its precision pilot-joy sticks allow for a smooth metered control. The excavator is also an outstanding attachment platform. The multi-function monitor feature makes hydraulic flow rate adjustment possible from the vehicle cabin and the multiple presets enable attachments to be swapped out easily & quickly.

The Director of Product at Takeuchi, Mike Ross stated that the company is thrilled to add the TB250-2 to its fleet of excavators and looks forward to offering contractors with a machine that would thoroughly exceed their expectations on the most daunting of job-sites. Ross further added that listening to customer needs is the key to the company’s success as Takeuchi incorporates customer feedback in all its products to ensure that the performance, value and the build quality is unmatched.

According to reports, the new excavator is available for sale and the company is already taking orders from interested buyers.

The world’s longest 3D-printed concrete pedestrian bridge has been completed in Shanghai. Designed by Professor Xu Weiguo from the Tsinghua University (School of Architecture) – Zoina Land Joint Research Center for Digital Architecture, the 26.3-meter-long bridge was inspired by the ancient Anji Bridge in Zhaoxian, China.

The single-arch structure was created using a 3D printing concrete system developed by Professor Xu Weiguo’s team, integrating digital design, cost efficiency, smart technology, and architectural dynamism. Enclosing the 3.6-meter width, the bridge’s handrails are shaped like flowing ribbons on the arch, creating a light, elegant movement across the Shanghai Wisdom Bay pond.

The bridge is constructed of 44 hollowed-out 3D printed concrete units, while the handrails are divided into 68 units. The bridge’s components have been printed from composite materials, containing polyethylene fiber concrete to match the structural performance of conventional materials.

The design process involved the construction of a 1:4 scale physical model of the bridge, built to demonstrate the scheme’s viability, and proving that the bridge could hold pedestrians crowding the entire surface. For the actual construction, concrete components for the bridge were printed by two robotic arms, over the course of 450 hours. The streamlined process is estimated to have produced savings of 33% when compared to a more conventional construction process – attributed mainly to the elimination of templates and reinforcing bars.

Embedded in the bridge, a real-time monitoring system provides data on vibrating wire stresses and strains. The results will allow for a greater understanding of the practical performance of new concrete materials, and the structural properties of 3D-printed components.

Concrete is not the only material undergoing major change as a result of 3D printing technology. Earlier this year, Columbia University unveiled a new technique for 3D printing and scanning, producing a timber lookalike with an authentic interior grain. Meanwhile, the world’s first 3D-printed steel bridge was recently unveiled at Dutch Design Week.