TKD 2025: besides crowds and lots of sunshine, a fair full of firsts

With 16,350 visitors, 192 exhibitors and a site of no less than 250,000 m² with over 1,000 machines, the 29th edition of the Technische Kontakt Dagen (TKD) was an unprecedented success. From June 12 to 14, the Ratelaar in Sint-Oedenrode turned into the largest active construction equipment spectacle in Western Europe.

After several editions in Almere, this year the TKD was a guest in the country of Brabant for the first time. Partly thanks to the beautiful weather - on Friday it was already 30 °C in the morning - and the new set-up with a route along all the lots, the visitors and exhibitors can look back on a successful fair. A record number of 16,350 professionals from the earth-moving, recycling and infrastructure sectors came to this three-day spectacle. Including exhibitors and many curious local residents, the number of attendees even exceeded 21,000. On a record area of 250,000 m² (the equivalent of 35 soccer fields), around a thousand working machines were on display (another record), as well as equipment and innovative technologies or services.

The biennial machinery exhibition, whose next edition will be in 2027, is an initiative of the TKD Foundation with BMWT, Cumela and Bouwend Nederland. The three industry organizations value the fact that in addition to a demonstration of power and technology, the event provides a platform for knowledge sharing and cooperation. Consequently, there is plenty of networking, knowledge exchange and inspiration to be gained, thanks to the handy trade fair app and varied program full of networking activities and live demos. Today, sustainability is a priority. Exhibitors presented many zero-emission or low-emission technologies, including hybrid, battery-electric and hydrogen, many of which interested parties could experience for themselves in a realistic practical situation.

Intelligent machines

It is impractical to mention all the new models in this bauma year, so this article limits itself to the novelties and innovations that caught our eye. Starting with Komatsu, which introduced the first model in the Dash-12 series with the from A to Z new "intelligent" PC220LCi-12. The extra-wide cab guarantees a sea of space and the engine plus hydraulics ensure 19% lower consumption. Develon presented the first member of the latest generation with the DX260LC-9. Under the name Smart Crawler Excavator, it offers ten innovative technologies for even greater efficiency and refinement. The DX160WE-7 is the South Korean manufacturer's first in-house (well, jointly developed with ETEC) electric wheeled excavator.

Also at Liebherr, we saw - in addition to the ultra-compact A911 - two all-electric models on tires (A913) and tracks (R914 Compact), developed by Liebherr, importer Wynmalen & Hausmann and DENS Powertrains. "For both machines, a new battery was designed from the cellular level so that the 280 kWh battery pack fits exactly within the contours of the superstructure," says DENS' CEO Tijn Swinkels. Hitachi showed a whole line of zero-emission models, including the new ZE150W and ZE225. Tomach was able to test drive the 10-ton ET2100 based on a Takeuchi TB290. Staad showed off a completely emission-free offering, including the brand-new STAAD 17W prototype. This first mobile excavator developed entirely in-house is a gem to behold. Especially impressive is the low height of the superstructure.   

More from China

At every TKD it is once again noticeable that Chinese manufacturers are steadily advancing in machine country. In addition to the more familiar brands Sany, LiuGong, XCMG and Zoomlion, visitors in Sint-Oedenrode were also able to get to know such relatively new players in Europe as SDLG, Shantui and we are undoubtedly forgetting a few more. The manufacturers from the land of the rising sun are focusing mainly on electrification in order to offer demanding European users a cheaper alternative in a still relatively unexplored segment. MACO Equipment surprised with the SDLG E6215H of about 21.8 tons, while DNL Machines (Sany) and De Heus (XCMG) already showed a fairly wide range, with a mini-excavator, 20-ton crawler excavator as well as a large wheel loader. 

On the shovel front, there was also plenty of electric to spot, including Ahlmann's es1000, the 6.5-ton Shantui LE20X5 and a cartload of mini loaders. Even though sustainability is and remains an important theme, emission-free models were still drowned out at TKD by the diesel versions in terms of both noise and presence. For example, Gebr. Geens introduced the largest Knikmops ever with the 3.6-ton KM350, and Van der Schans unveiled a prototype closed cab for the Relly 1.8E. At Tobroco-Giant, for once it was not an articulated loader but the 1-ton wheel dump GD10H that attracted a lot of attention. The same was true of the Techno L25s on the Inter-Techno stand, where among the compact Bobcats a 2.5-ton mini loader developed in-house could suddenly be discovered.

Kubota on tires

There was more compact news, but in the field of mini and midi-excavators, from the three leading manufacturers. For example, Meerman Vlaardingen showed a retrofit kit to convert existing diesel versions of the Kubota KX019 and U27 to fully electric as well as two bauma novelties, namely the U18-5 (successor to the popular U17-3) and the 9.5-ton KW095 (Made by Liebherr) on tires. Takeuchi brought three (for the Netherlands) new models to Sint-Oedenrode in the form of the electric TB10e plus TB35e and the 7-ton TB370W tire crane. On the Yanmar stand, most attention was focused on the new SV100-7 2PB in the eye-catching Tuytel Group corporate design. A second newcomer is the 3.4-ton indoor loader ViO38-7.

The TKD is more than just looking at machines; as the largest live demonstration exhibition in Western Europe, it is precisely the charm of this event that everyone can - with or without supervision - test-drive different machines. An excellent opportunity to experience a particular brand or type of machine for yourself by sitting behind the joysticks or the steering wheel. On the large demo track it was mainly trucks and dumpers that did their rounds. Right next to the track, MAN showed the hTGX, the first hydrogen truck that will go into series production this year, while Ludo Pauwels showed a MAN with e-PTO for the electric Fliegl skidding system. Veldhuizen Trucks made mention of a Scania 8×4 and 10×4 with air-suspended Wide-Spread and low chassis height.

Compact Protector

Besides machines and vehicles, TKD was again the scene to see and experience all kinds of equipment and other accessories. BMair, in addition to the compact new Protector (resulting from the merger with Freshfilter), showed how an overpressure system works in practice. For recharging emission-free equipment, ETEC unveiled a mobile hydrogen generator: the W-TEC Box. Of course, there was again a lot of interest in the rotary tilt attachments and automatic quick couplers from engcon, Rototilt and Steelwrist. A newcomer in this segment is Germany's Tibatek, which launched a relatively inexpensive conversion kit with the Tibalok to automate a CW20 to CW55 type hydraulic quick coupler. Buckets or demolition tools thus do not have to be converted.

Two notable absentees from the 29th TKD edition were Hyundai (which still does not have a new importer in the Netherlands) and Dehaco. The specialist in attachments for demolition and recycling went bankrupt rather unexpectedly at the end of May. Meanwhile, the MACO Equipment of Cor Nell and Marinus Nijhof (both ex-Dehaco) has been appointed Benelux importer for Mantovanibenne. For those looking for an alternative to the Dehaco demolition hammers, Hyreco is now also a dealer for Montabert, and under the brand name STM Europa, Saes introduced a new line of demolition hammers for mini and midi-excavators at TKD. The CSB series delivers impressive performance in a compact solid body design and is considered a more economical and simpler alternative to Epiroc's hammer line.