Develon DX300LC-7 customized to perfection

With the purchase of an approximately 32-ton Develon DX300LC-7 adds Arno van den Dungen to its equipment fleet. The crawler excavator, painted in striking corporate colors, has been fully customized at Staad's workshop, giving the Brabant-based company from Heusden, the Netherlands, brute force at its disposal for demanding demolition and earthmoving work.

Love at first sight

On Valentine's Day, it was gleaming on a job in Oud-Beijerland. The brand-new Develon DX300LC-7 had just been delivered by Staad and was ready to be used for the most demanding projects. It's an impressive sight, not only because of its size, but also because of the striking corporate colors and the series of modifications that make the 32-plus tonne crawler excavator ready for the daily business of Arno van den Dungen Demolition & Earthworks.

The Brabant-based company began in 1988 as a trade in wood from construction and demolition waste. With that, the apple didn't fall far from the tree, since Arno's father and brother were also active in demolition. Meanwhile, the activities have expanded greatly: in addition to demolition work, the focus is on earth moving, soil or asbestos remediation, container rental, recycling and trade in used building materials. "That circle fits nicely with our CB concept - Circular Building Materials," explains Bart van den Dungen, who forms the management together with his brother Daan and father Arno. "Our new DX300LC-7 plays an important role in that."

Customized to perfection

The Develon plays a key role primarily on challenging demolition projects, although it also regularly rotates in earth moving. "The body is completely tailored to our work," Bart reports proudly. In Staad's workshop, the DX300LC-7 was tinkered with extensively. Protective grilles were installed for the roof and front windows, a glass skylight with wiper was fitted and breaker piping with filter on return line, quick-change lines, Cleanfix reversible cooling fan, DropsaVET automatic grease lubrication and OHT overpressure preparation including carbon filter was chosen. Comfort has also been considered; the luxury cab has seat heating plus cooling, tinted windows and a 360° camera system.

What stands out is the wide applicability of the machine. "Thanks to the OilQuick system, you switch at lightning speed between demolition/sorting grab and concrete shears, pulverizer, scrap shears, drum sieve, magnet or vibrating block. An additional pump is then also installed for demolition tools that require a lot of gallons." The machine is equipped with weighted torque arms for the bucket cylinder, chamfered ridges on the track plates, extra working lights, extra idler rollers, bumper strip on counterweight and bumper blocks all around. All in all, this makes the DX300LC-7 optimally prepared for rougher work.

Ready for any job

Just when we find the machine on an earthmoving project. In Zaltbommel, Van den Dungen is working for Heembouw on the construction of a construction road and soil remediation on the Plieger site. All preparatory earthworks are also being carried out for the realization of a sprinkler tank with pump room. The construction pit has been filled with mixed granulate so that the piling rig can work safely, and a new culvert has also been installed to drain rainwater into the previously constructed waterway. The new Develon will be joined by three Doosans: a DX340LC, DX170W and DL320 wheel loader - all familiar faces in the Heusden equipment fleet. "In addition to these machines, we also have an older type DX300LC, and before the construction season a new 20-ton DX190W-7 mobile excavator will be added."

Regular operator Nick took his first seat behind the joysticks of the sturdy Develon 30-tonner on Valentine's Day. It was love at first sight. "It's his first new machine, which is largely set up according to his wishes," Bart says. "As a result, he is super satisfied, and so are we. The comfort is top notch and in terms of performance it really is a class better than what we were used to. In fact, we don't even dare hang the universal swivel tilt attachment on it, for fear the machine will pull it in half."

Reliance on Staad

The cooperation with Staad plays a major role in the success of this investment. "Service is incredibly important to us," Bart reveals. "Staad delivers customization, switches quickly and keeps appointments. We once made a brief foray into another brand, but we quickly came back to that. The lines are short at Staad, the prices are in line with the market and the contact is pleasant. This allows us to focus on what we are good at." Arno van den Dungen works with a team of nearly thirty people, supplemented by a flexible pool of freelancers, road workers and asbestos cleaners.

"Our machines average 1200 to 1300 running hours per year, partly because we have more machines than operators. Still, especially in the demolition business, reliability and maintenance are crucial. Fortunately, that sits well with Staad." The Develon DX300LC-7 is more than just brute force. It is a well thought-out, comfortable and multifunctional powerhouse that fits perfectly into Arno van den Dungen Demolition & Earthworks' future-oriented way of working. "With this machine we are ready for the next step," concludes Bart. "Both in the field of demolition and for our work with circular building materials."