The ELB Equipment team receiving the awards are Melanie Pienaar, national parts manager, Keon Kardolus, divisional director: EMC, Desmond Van Heerden, CEO, Gerrit Kapp, commercial director, Lance Constable, aftermarket director. (Image source: ELB Equipment)

Within a year of becoming the exclusive distributor of LiuGong’s complete equipment portfolio in southern Africa, ELB Equipment has achieved top recognition at the LiuGong Annual Dealer Conference in Liuzhou, China, securing the prestigious president’s Award

When the distribution agreement was signed last year, ELB Equipment CEO Desmond van Heerden highlighted that success would depend on the rapid development of technical capabilities to support the expanded product range, alongside a significant effort to build inventory across the company’s 11-branch national footprint. As a result, much of late 2024 and early 2025 was dedicated to establishing local stockholding of key capital equipment, including wheel loaders, excavators, graders, backhoe loaders, skid steers and mining trucks, while simultaneously strengthening support for LiuGong’s existing customer base.

Just a year later, this investment has delivered global recognition. At the dealer conference, attended by more than 1,300 delegates and over 500 dealers from around the world, ELB Equipment received four awards: Best New Dealer, Outstanding Total Sales, Excellence in Compact Equipment Sales and the headline President’s Award.

“This recognition confirms that our strategic decision is working. Our expanded product portfolio now gives long-standing customers access to a full spectrum of world-class equipment backed by our extensive established aftersales abilities. At the same time LiuGong owners in South Africa now benefit from a support structure built on decades of industry experience and sub-dealer coverage across key industrial centres throughout southern Africa.”

LiuGong southern Africa sales manager Pu Yonghua reaffirmed the region’s importance to the manufacturer, noting that ELB Equipment’s strong customer-first approach is strengthening the brand’s presence across the market.

Reflecting on the past year, Van Heerden said the partnership has progressed rapidly from setting up supply chains and building inventory to outperforming global competitors within the LiuGong dealer network. With further consolidation and expansion planned for 2026, the collaboration is positioned as a long-term growth partnership aimed at capturing an increasingly significant share of the southern African heavy equipment market.

Construction of Bishoftu International Airport begins

Ethiopian Airlines Group, Africa’s largest airline, has officially launched construction of Bishoftu International Airport, marking a major milestone in the continent’s aviation development

Construction commenced on 10 January 2026, following a formal groundbreaking ceremony attended by His Excellency Dr Abiy Ahmed, prime minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, alongside ministers, senior government officials, industry leaders, stakeholders and Ethiopian Airlines executives.

During the ceremony, Ethiopian Airlines also revealed the airport’s architectural design and confirmed the successful completion of the resettlement and livelihood restoration programme for communities affected by the project.

Prime minister Dr Abiy Ahmed, senior government representatives and Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew jointly unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the official start of construction.

Commenting on the occasion, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said, “This is truly a proud moment for Ethiopian Airlines and for all of Africa. We are embarking on a new chapter with the groundbreaking of Bishoftu International Airport that will redefine the continent’s aviation ecosystem. As we celebrate 80 years of service, this project stands as yet another milestone, underscoring our commitment to shaping the future of the African air transport industry, while supporting the growing demand for our passenger and cargo services. Bishoftu International Airport is a major step towards addressing the infrastructural gap in Africa and a key player in implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and at Ethiopian we are committed to realize the completion of this project.”

In his address, prime minister Dr Abiy Ahmed described the groundbreaking as a landmark moment in Ethiopia’s path toward modernisation and economic growth. He highlighted Ethiopian Airlines as a symbol of national pride, not because it has been without challenges, but because of its resilience, ability to overcome obstacles, and pioneering role in African aviation. He further noted that the airline’s strength is rooted in its corporate culture, which prioritises safety and security, encourages leadership driven by creativity and hard work, is supported by a workforce of more than 26,000 employees who identify strongly with the national carrier, and is reinforced by a continuous commitment to learning and capacity building.

Bishoftu International Airport is set to become a transformative infrastructure project for Ethiopian and African aviation, strengthening trade, tourism and connectivity across Africa and beyond. Phase One is scheduled for completion by 2030, with capacity to handle 60 million passengers annually. Once fully developed, the airport is expected to accommodate up to 110 million passengers per year, positioning Ethiopia as a leading global aviation hub.

Bobcat's state-of-the-art RogueX (Image source: Bobcat)

Bobcat has unveiled a suite of new technologies at the CES 2026 trade show designed to transform how construction gets done

The new solutions integrate artificial intelligence (AI), electrification, autonomy and connectivity into a scalable system of solutions designed to support operators, technicians and fleet owners alike and revolutionise compact equipment.

“For nearly 70 years, Bobcat has led the compact equipment industry by solving real problems for real people,” said Scott Park, CEO and vice chairman of Doosan Bobcat. “As workforce needs change and jobsites become more complex, we’re responding with intelligent systems that empower people to accomplish more, faster and smarter. These innovations aren’t concepts for the distant future; they’re advancements that are shaping how work gets done right now.”

At the centre of Bobcat’s CES 2026 announcement is Jobsite Companion, a first-of-its-kind, AI-enabled feature for compact construction equipment. This prototype technology will provide real-time support and automation for everyday machine tasks.

Operators simply ask a question or state a command, and the system responds through voice and display interactions — adjusting attachment settings based on environment, offering operational recommendations and automating more than 50 functions without taking hands off the controls. Powered by Bobcat’s proprietary AI large language model, it runs entirely onboard the machine, enabling real-time responsiveness without reliance on cloud connectivity.

“Jobsite Companion lowers the barrier to entry for new operators while helping experienced professionals work faster and more precisely,” said Joel Honeyman, vice president of global innovation at Doosan Bobcat. “It’s not just smarter technology; it’s a smarter experience that puts expert-level guidance directly in the cab.”

Bobcat also announced Service.AI, an AI-powered service and support platform designed to minimise equipment downtime by giving dealers and technicians instant access to the company’s full repair expertise. With Service.AI, Bobcat dealers and technicians can instantly retrieve repair manuals and warranty details, receive real-time diagnostic guidance, and leverage an extensive archive of historical cases for faster troubleshooting.

In addition, Bobcat unveiled its prototype Collision Warning and Avoidance System, which it called the first and only system in development for the compact equipment industry designed to actively slow or stop a machine before a collision occurs. The system uses advanced imaging radar to track the position, direction and speed of surrounding objects in real time — if a potential hazard is detected, the machine will automatically alert and even slow down or stop the machine.

The company’s Advanced Display Technology, a MicroLED, transparent, auto-tint, touch-enabled display concept seamlessly integrated into the cab door or machine window, was also showcased at the US trade event. This overlays critical operational data directly onto the operator’s field of view, allowing them to see both the jobsite and machine insights simultaneously.

“It’s not just a screen,” Honeyman said. “It’s a smarter window into the work, delivering clarity, control and confidence.”

Bobcat also flagged RogueX3, which it calls its most advanced fully electric and autonomous concept machine to date. The version showcased at CES featured an electric powertrain and can operate remotely or autonomously without a cab.

Powering Bobcat’s electric future is the Bobcat Standard Unit Pack (BSUP), a fast-charging, modular battery system engineered for rugged jobsite conditions. By enabling flexible, cleaner and quieter operations, BSUP will serve as a foundational building block for the next generation of electric construction equipment.

Together, these technologies and solutions form an integrated system of solutions set to redefine what’s possible on the modern jobsite, according to Park. “We’re not just imagining the future — we’re engineering it,” he said. “By combining AI, autonomy, electrification and connectivity, Bobcat is creating technology that empowers people, simplifies work and sets a new standard for the industry.”

Products and technologies featured at CES are showcased as prototypes or concept models, highlighting the innovation shaping the future. While not commercially available at present, several are advancing toward commercialisation.

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Palfinger’s new PK 720 TEC crane in action. (Image source: Palfinger)

Palfinger has introduced a new addition to its TEC range of loader cranes available for the Africa, Middle East and Europe region

With its class-leading lifting capacity, its combination of maximum precision and smartest technology the new Palfinger PK 720 TEC is an ideal choice for demanding construction environments.

Offering both recision and performance above its class, the PK 720 TEC expands the TEC family with a powerful solution positioned between the PK 580 and PK 880 TEC.

“The crane combines cutting-edge engineering with smart assistance systems, making demanding lifting tasks easier and more efficient,” a Palfinger statement noted.

“The new model demonstrates how Palfinger translates its ambition to deliver lasting customer value into practical innovation.”

With Reach Higher, its Strategy 2030+, Palfinger has defined ‘Lifting Customer Value’ as a core strategic direction.

A key element of this strategy is the ‘Technology and Market Leadership’ programme, which positions innovation as a core competency – aiming to sustainably enhance customer productivity and value creation across the entire product lifecycle.

Built for the most demanding tasks and developed for challenging construction environments, the PK 720 TEC delivers “outstanding” performance, according to Palfinger.

With a maximum lifting moment of 68.7 metre-tons, and a hydraulic reach of up to 22 metres, it excels in heavy-duty applications.

In its nine-extensions configuration and with a fly jib featuring the Dual Power System (DPS-C), the crane achieves an impressive lifting capacity of up to 34.4 metres of reach – outperforming other models in the 70-metre-ton class.

Thanks to the TEC range’s proven P-profile boom system, the PK 720 TEC combines maximum stiffness with a low dead weight.

For enhanced visibility, Palfinger has introduced a new lighting system that includes two working lights on the knuckle boom and the fly jib each, as well as LED strips beneath the knuckle boom, which enable good field vision.

As part of the TEC range, the PK 720 TEC is also equipped with the most advanced assistance systems.

Operators benefit from Paltronic 180 control electronics for intelligent crane operation, while the LX-6 control valve ensures smooth and responsive handling.

Features such as HPSC-Plus for intelligent stability monitoring, S-HPLS for enhanced lifting performance, and the Support Force Limit function – which monitors the stabiliser forces based on ground conditions – all contribute to greater safety, control and efficiency.

Another highlight is the Height & Bound feature, the statement added.

“The Height assistance limits the maximum working height, while the Bound defines a ‘virtual wall’ that limits the work area. Once configured, the crane works worry-free beneath overhead obstacles or in confined environments, offering a new level of safety and confidence in complex environments.

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