Successful industry demo for new Develon -9 series crawler excavator

- Focus on groundbreaking safety features of the new Develon -9 series -

DEVELON, formerly Doosan Construction Equipment, has announced a successful field demonstration of the new DX230LC-9 23-ton crawler excavator and the company's smart safety technologies, including the groundbreaking E-STOP-system, at a test site in Compiègne, France.

This demonstration was organized by OPPBTP (the French professional organization for the improvement of health and safety in construction and civil engineering) and took place on the construction site of the Seine-Nord Europe Canal project, carried out by Bouygues, a leading global construction company. The OPPBTP consists of industry health and safety experts who provide daily support to professionals and stakeholders in the construction industry. Its goal is to develop measures that prevent occupational accidents and illnesses, thereby improving the health and safety of workers.

Stéphane Dieu, Product Manager for Develon excavators in Europe, said, "It was a great pleasure to accept OPPBTP's invitation, giving us the opportunity to demonstrate our innovative technology that reduces the risk of accidents on earth-moving sites. Many thanks to Sébastien Marie of OPPBTP and also to Société du Canal Seine-Nord Europe (SCSNE) for the opportunity to test this innovation on the Canal Seine Nord construction site, and to Bouygues Travaux Publics for conducting the tests and their positive feedback on the E-STOP system."

In addition to Bouygues, representatives of four other major international construction companies - including Eiffage - attended the event, as well as representatives of the government, the Seine Nord Europe Canal Company and the FNTP (Fédération Nationale des Travaux Publics), the French national federation for construction and civil engineering.

E-STOP: the first safety system of its kind standard on an excavator

Develon's machine was deployed to demonstrate both its core performance and advanced smart safety features, including E-STOP: the first system from a crawler excavator manufacturer that stops machine movement as soon as a person is detected within 4 meters.

Stéphane Dieu continued, "The new Develon DX230LC-9 excavator used during the demonstration was equipped with a range of smart safety technologies such as collision warnings and an all-around view monitor. Among these features, the E-STOP system - similar to emergency braking systems in cars - attracted the most attention from operators and attendees. Develon plans to further develop the E-STOP system and introduce it in Europe starting next January."

The OPPBTP was established in 1947 to address high accident rates in the construction industry. Since 2022, the organization has been implementing the joint industry project "Stop Collision," which aims to prevent accidents between machines and pedestrians. The recent demonstration with Develon took place as part of this project.

Star of the Bauma 2025

First presented at Bauma 2025, Develon's new generation -9 series represents the latest phase in a proud legacy at Develon that dates back to five generations of excavators, starting with the Solar series in the 1980s.

With the -9 Series, Develon aims to set a new standard for future products and technologies in construction equipment. Like all models in the -9 Series, the DX230LC-9 achieves this by introducing ten breakthrough technologies and sets new standards in productivity, safety, ease of use and durability. The -9 series underscores not only Develon's forward-looking vision, but also its commitment to innovation and excellence in the construction equipment industry.

Safety and smart features of the -9 series machines

The Smart All-Around Viewing Monitor (SAVM) is an AI-based object detection technology that effectively recognizes both moving and stationary people in the vicinity of the machine. Upon detection, the system immediately alerts the operator via visual signals and audio signals on the monitor, increasing awareness of the surroundings. The innovative E-STOP and Virtual Wall-functions prevent accidents of which operators are unaware. The area around the machine is clearly divided into zones: a yellow warning zone (Zone 2) and a red danger zone (Zone 1).

The SAVM and E-STOP systems use 6 cameras and 3 radars and operate in three phases with a detection range of 6 meters and 330°. The system is active only for people and can distinguish between people and objects:

1. Visual detection of persons by the HD cameras
2. Warning and speed reduction from 6 meters
3. Stopping the machine from 4 meters (turning and reversing)

The E-STOP system is an essential safety feature designed to control or stop machine movement in hazardous areas to ensure operator safety. The Virtual Wall feature increases safety by restricting machine movement to predefined areas where there is a greater risk of collision.

Learn more about Develon: https://eu.develon-ce.com/en/ and watch the video: