Develon cements reputation for innovation at steinexpo
Develon drew a very positive reaction from visitors at steinexpo 2026, which took place from 2 to 5 September at Germany’s largest basalt quarry in Nieder-Ofleiden. During its second appearance at the international quarry demonstration trade fair for the raw materials and construction materials industry, the South Korean construction machinery manufacturer impressed visitors at its stand and in the demonstration area with the wide range of new smart and safety features on Develon machines.
“Right from the start of the trade fair, our stand A21 was bustling with activity, and that didn’t change until the final whistle on Saturday,” reports Jens Dullinger, Field Product Manager GSA at Develon. Product managers and sales specialists took plenty of time to explain the benefits and unique selling points of the four tracked and mobile excavators, dumpers and wheel loaders on static display to German and numerous international trade visitors, to give them a glimpse inside the machines and to invite them to try out the cabs.
The highlight at the stand was the DX360LC-9 crawler excavator from the new 9 Series from Develon. With an operating weight of 37,200 kg and the DX08 engine developed in-house, it delivers the power required for the most demanding tasks, as well as industry-leading safety solutions. For example, Smart AVM provides the operator with a complete all-round view of the machine’s surroundings. E-Stop is a unique, AI-powered system that detects people and objects from a distance of 10 metres, issues visual and audible warnings when they are 6 metres away, and halts all movement when they are just 4 metres away.
On the Saturday of the trade fair in particular – the day when many machine operators visit steinexpo, namely those who spend the whole day in excavators and wheel loaders and have a significant say in the purchase of new machinery – the cabs take centre stage. And this is another area where Develon scores highly. “We’ve designed this spacious cab for maximum visibility,” says Jens Dullinger of the 9 Series machines. “A huge 12.8-inch split-screen monitor keeps key machine information at your fingertips and helps you stay informed throughout the day,” he adds. What’s more, when working in the dark, the intelligent ambient lighting adapts to the operating mode to prevent glare and eye strain.
Electric power impresses
The DX160WE–7K mobile excavator proved to be another crowd-puller at the exhibition stand. With an operating weight of 16,800 kg, the machine delivers electric power for demanding applications – for up to ten hours. “The demand for the DX160WE–7K was so overwhelming that we are now taking the machine on a demonstration tour – particularly in southern Germany,” reports Jens Dullinger, adding: “The schedule is already well filled.”
What sets steinexpo apart is that heavy machinery is demonstrated live in a quarry under realistic conditions. From the ever-popular viewing stand, trade visitors were able to witness three Develon machines working together in the shared exhibition area – the DX400HD-9 crawler excavator, the DL550-7 wheel loader and the DA30-7 articulated dumper. As always, the demonstration shows were expertly hosted by Raoul Helmer, who – as ever, thoroughly prepared – interviewed Jens Dullinger during the machine demonstrations about the special features and performance characteristics of the Develon machines. One topic was the E-Stop safety solution, which has already been demonstrated in numerous live operations that it delivers on its promises. The DL550-7 wheel loader, equipped with the unique Transparent Bucket 2.0 system, demonstrated to the audience how this outstanding solution helps to protect lives on the working site.
Finally, the DA30-7 6×6 articulated dumper showcased the robustness, strength and durability of this class of construction machinery. Its cab, unveiled in early 2026, features logically arranged controls and improved ergonomics for fatigue-free operation. The high-resolution 12-inch touchscreen monitor provides intuitive access to machine information, settings and camera views. Excellent visibility minimises risks to people in the vicinity of the machine.
Three and a half years ago, Doosan Construction Equipment became Develon, and most customers have now come to recognise this name, which stands for ‘develop onwards’. “Particularly during discussions with major customers at our exhibition stand, we found that Develon has further cemented its reputation as a particularly innovative construction machinery manufacturer,” concludes Jens Dullinger.
