Geismar has been present in the road-rail loader segment for many years, with the imposing KGT 220 and KGT 280, whose versatility and its wide range of railway tools have ensured their popularity, particularly on international markets.
Today, Geismar and JCB are pooling their expertise to offer a new-generation 14-tonne road-rail excavator: the GEISMAR x JCB HYDRADIG.
Agile and versatile, this new rail-road excavator combines the best of Geismar’s world-renowned rail expertise and JCB’s proven reputation for excellence in construction equipment.
Offered from the outset with a range of 18 dedicated rail accessories, such as ballast tamping modules, rail clamps, and sleeper spreaders, the new 14-tonne GEISMAR x JCB HYDRADIG excavator will be presented to the public for the first time at Mecateameetings 2023, where it will be fitted with a Geismar MB2 TL tamping module.
This new road-rail excavator, which is more compact than the KGT 220 and KGT 280 road-rail loaders in the Geismar range, meets the main needs of rail work and makes it possible to:
- Carry out excavation and earthmoving work
- Use a wide range of rail tools
- Carry out lifting operations
- Tow a trailer to transport equipment
Based on the fundamentals of the HYDRADIG, one of the most innovative machines in its segment, the new GEISMAR x JCB HYDRADIG road-rail excavator offers optimum manoeuvrability and stability thanks to its four-wheel drive and steering (turning radius of 4m) and very low centre of gravity. Visibility and ergonomics are also strong points, with a rear offset of just 120mm.
Equipped with a hydrostatic transmission, the GEISMAR x JCB HYDRADIG road-rail excavator complies with the new EN 15746:2021 regulation and can reach speeds of 30km/h on both rail and road. Its low price and first-rate road-rail capabilities are real assets that will give railway operators access to a nimble, precise, safe and versatile machine capable of carrying out a wide range of tasks on all types of railway site.
Should the need arise, customers of this new machine will benefit from the synergies between the specific know-how of Geismar’s after-sales service and the power of JCB’s 130 service outlets in France and around the world.
Geismar Group managing director Alexandra Curiel, comments: “We are delighted to be presenting this new rail-road excavator designed in partnership with JCB at the Mecateameetings 2023. The aim is to offer our customers a solution that is perfectly suited to their needs, combining one of the best machines in the construction industry with Geismar’s rail expertise. Right from the start of the project, our design offices and workshops worked hand in hand with JCB. We hope that the efficiency/price ratio of this new machine, currently undergoing certification, will convince many contractors.”
JCB France managing director Philippe Girard comments: “JCB is one of the most innovative and dynamic players in the construction machinery sector. We thought it would be a good idea to team up with Geismar to adapt our solutions to the very specific needs of railway work. We are convinced that this new road-rail excavator will meet all the requirements of railway work, thanks to its manoeuvrability, precision, and working comfort that are unprecedented in this market. The attention we pay to the design of our equipment and to the satisfaction of our customers is a real asset in this new partnership”.
About JCB
JCB Group is the world’s third-largest manufacturer of construction equipment, selling machines for construction, agriculture, industry, and recycling. JCB is the world leader in telescopic handlers and backhoe loaders. The group has 23 factories throughout the world: 11 in the UK, five in India, and the others in the USA and Brazil. Employing more than 17,000 people worldwide, the group sold more than 100,000 machines worldwide in 2022.