DRESSTA, February 2011
BACKGROUND
DRESSTAs historical origins date go
back to the very beginning of the 20th
century when in 1902 the International
Harvester Company was formed
and quickly developed into the leading
manufacturer of the agricultural
equipment. A natural outgrowth
of the Companys efforts to provide
power to agriculture was
the development of machinery for
non-farm purposes. As early as 1912,
agriculture-type equipment was
modified for road construction
applications. By 1928, International
tractors were equipped with
a track-type undercarriage.
This technological advance,
in conjunction with the use of diesel
engines in early 1930s, provided true
construction equipment.
The demand for construction
equipment grew steadily, and in 1944
the company formed a separate entity,
the Construction Equipment Division,
which was devoted exclusively
to the manufacture of crawler tractors
and diesel engines.
To further expand the construction
equipment product offering,
the Division acquired the Frank G.
Hough Company in 1952. Hough,
at this time, was a pioneer
and industry leader in the manufacture
of rubber-tired front-end loaders.
Also during the 1950 era,
the Construction Equipment Division
developed a range of off-highway
trucks, scrapers and aircraft towing
tractors. The ensuing years brought
about both the expansion
and refinement of the construction
equipment product line. Notable
accomplishments included,
for example, the use of powershift
transmissions, torque converters
and two speed steering systems
in crawler tractors.
In 1972 International Harvester
entered into cooperation and
licensing agreement with one of
the largest Polish industrial groups
Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW). HSW was
founded in 1937. The company was
one of the main Polish suppliers
of military equipment before and
after the World War II. In 1970s HSW
underwent a period of restructuring
and development, which also
involved upgrading the range of
machines and equipment needed
for construction and mining
industries.
It was a spectacular and brave
decision for both sides.
The Americans dreamed about
the expansion of their products into
the Eastern block countries.
The Poles dreamed about the
Western know-how to modernize
the construction equipment
industry. Both companies had to
overcome many bureaucratic and
political obstacles on both sides of
the ocean. The dtente between the
West and East only just started.
The agreement with IHC was
a milestone in the history of HSW
that enabled the company to
become a recognized manufacturer
of well proven crawler dozers and
loaders, pipelayers and wheeled
loaders. New assembly facilities,
a modern drop forging and
transmission plants were built
in the mid 1970s to support further
demand and development of the
construction equipment range.
Meanwhile, International Harvester
financial problems and decline
situation in the market in the early
1980s, resulted in Dresser Industries
to take over International Harvester
construction equipment assets.
In November 1982 Dresser took over
the struggling International Harvesters
construction Payline division which
included stock, parts, intellectual
property of the Payline and Hough
names, along with property assets and
started to brand former IH construction
equipment by DRESSER logo and
trademark.
As the oil industry began to decline
in the mid-1980s, Dresser initiated
a reorganization program to
streamline its activities during which
it was decided to sell off the
construction and mining division.
As a result Dresser struck a joint
agreement with Komatsu in 1988
to form Komatsu-Dresser (KDC)
with the objective of manufacturing
construction equipment that included
dozers, loaders and hydraulic
excavators.
But by 1992 the Komatsu-Dresser joint
venture was losing money and in 1994
following increasing losses Komatsu
took control and the collaboration
ended when the Japanese giant
bought out Dressers share and then
renamed the company Komatsu
America International which was then
subsequently renamed Komatsu
America Corporation in 2002.
HSW and those international sales
Despite of the ownership changes
listed above, HSW was continuing
the successful cooperation with all
successors of International Harvester
even in the difficult time of the martial
law in Poland in early 1980s. A further
restructuring, reorganization,
strengthening of production, improved
quality and competitiveness including
a reduction in manufacturing costs
during the 1990s followed, which
allowed HSW to become the leading
manufacturer of construction
equipment in Central Europe.
In 1995 Komatsu America Company
and Huta Stalowa Wola decided
to establish Dressta Limited
Company as a joint venture
organization responsible for the
worldwide marketing and product
development of DRESSER and HSW
branded construction equipment.
The staff of Dressta was recruited
from the Foreign Trade Office of
offices and subsidiaries of Komatsu
America, which were responsible
for the sales of DRESSER branded
products. In 1999, a decision was
made to sell all construction
products marketed by Dressta Ltd.
under the new DRESSTA brand
name.
The DRESSTA brand name has
become an established brand
in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan,
Uzbekistan, Bulgaria, Romania,
the Czech Republic, Slovakia, former
Yugoslavia and in the Far East.
In Australia and the USA, Dresstas
construction equipment is sold through
wholly-owned subsidiaries:
Dressta Asia Pacific in Singapore and
Dressta North America based
in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, USA.
These organizations support Dressta
in its sales and product support effort.
In 2005 the Komatsu interest in
the venture was terminated
and Komatsu America was no longer
involved in the relationship.

Crawler dozers represent the main
DRESSTA product line with nine basic
models and various track options
including standard, long and low
ground pressure. The models
range from the TD-7M/R at just under
seven tons operating weight up to the
flagship TD-40E Extra model weighing
nearly 67.7 t including semi U-blade
and single shank ripper. Net power
outputs for the range span 55kW up to
384 kW. The most popular models in
the range are the TD-15M Extra and
the TD-25M Extra. Except for engines,
most of the other drive train
components such as torque
converters, transmissions, steering
drives, final drives and fabrications are
manufactured in HSW holding
companies in Poland.
Launched in 2008, the new DRESSTA
TD-40E Extra equipped with a full
U-blade capacity of 22.8m is a big
crawler dozer built for mining, heavy
construction projects and incorporates
all current technology. Approximately
two tons lighter than Komatsu
D375A-5 and 1.2 t heavier than
Caterpillars D10T at 66.5 t, it is
powered by a Cummins QSK-19 Tier 3
engine developing 415kW gross
(384 kW net) and an impressive torque
of 2379 Nm providing for the enhanced
drawbar pull of almost 1100 kN.
PRODUCT RANGE
The dozer features a pilot control
system and an automatic pre-selection
system with an up and downshifting
function offering the operator a choice
of various operating modes. Blade
options include a heavy-duty
18.6 m Semi-U blade and a 39.8 m
coal blade.
A combination of the three-speed
transmission with two-speed steering
provides six forward and six
reverse speeds. All control functions
are activated by moving the
single-lever joystick. Pushing a control
buttons on the face of the joystick
provides up and down transmission
shifting. A rocker switches are used
low or high range selection of both left
and right track drives to provide
gradual turns or full power geared
turns.
The standard six-sided sealed cab has
a deluxe interior with all-round visibility.
It is fitted with a sound suppression
system and is separated from the
engine compartment for a quieter,
more comfortable ride. For servicing
requirements a rear platform located
behind the fuel tanks makes
refueling, air conditioning filter
changes and cab rear window cleaning
more convenient. Maintenance
includes a 500-hour oil-change
interval. The air conditioner condenser
has been moved to the rear of the roof
for easier access.
In 2007, Dressta Ltd. introduced
the new TD-25M Extra and the
TD-25M LA Extra (for landfill
applications). These two dozers
feature a more powerful Tier 3
Cummins QSX-15 engine with net
power increased to 246 kW, up from
238.6 kW for previous models while
maximum torque has been increased
by 11% to 1825 Nm. To cope with
the higher power and torque at lower
engine speeds, the torque converter,
hydraulic pump drives and final drives
have been revised.
The new TD-14M Extra crawler dozer
was introduced in 2010. The new
model delivers numerous
improvements that enhance operator
comfort, provide improved operating
ease and optimize productivity.
It is equipped with Tier 3 Cummins
QSB 6.7 engine that supplies 120 kW
(160 hp) net flywheel power. Various
blades suitable for various operating
conditions and job requirements are
available - Semi-U and 6-Way blades
for STD and LT undercarriage
configurations, and Straight and 6-Way
blades for LGP model. The machine,
used for roads and in-town street
construction, land clearing and building
sites in-town, meets many customer
requirements.
Wheeled loaders are also an
important product in the companys
construction and mining machine
line-up and comprise three models -
534E, 555C Extra and the 560E Extra
offering operating weights of 20.9 t,
29 t and 42 t with buckets capacities
of 3.4 m, 4.2 m and 5.7 m
respectively. Cummins engines
provide the power, delivering
net outputs spanning 169 kW
up to 319 kW.
To improve the performance and
productivity Dressta has upgraded the
well-known 560E Extra. A new
turbocharged Cummins QSX-15
engine has increased power output
from 310kW to 319kW. Other details
include joystick boom and bucket
controls, hydrostatic steering and
a high visibility cab.
The 42t loader has a payload
capacity of 5.35 m for high lift boom.
The six cylinder Cummins engine
drives through a torque converter,
a three-speed, full powershift,
countershaft transmission, front
and rear axle drives and conventional
differentials.
A newer version of the 555C Extra,
with an operating weight of 29 t, has
received the same updating as its
larger stablemate. A Cummins QSM-11
engine has been installed which
delivers 238 kW and a maximum of
torque of 1674 Nm. Bucket capacities
range from 4.2 m3 to 8.4 m.
The company has added a new
cooling module and upgraded the
hydraulic system to allow for a variable
speed fan for greater cooling.
Also, Dressta offers three models There is no doubt Dressta has many
of pipelayers - SB-30M, SB-60 years experience in construction
and the huge SB-85, which offer and mining equipment production
lifting capacities of 33.3t, 72t and 100t with an impressive range of
respectively. The Chinese favor machines, incorporating the latest
the companys pipelayers, as technology, which have gained
a growing number of contractors are a reputation for performance and
buying these machines for contracts reliability in varied applications
in China, Russia, Thailand, India, across the world. The products can
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. compete with the leading
manufacturers in quality and have
The latest and smallest machine in the a price advantage, being a few
range is the upgraded SB-30M that percent cheaper.
is powered by a Cummins QSB6.7
engine delivering 140 kW. With
a maximum lifting capacity of 33.3t
and an operating weight of almost 28t,
the machine competes in the same
category as the Cat PL61 and 572R
Series 2, the Komatsu D85C-21 and
Liebherrs RL44 Litronic.
Other DRESSTA product types include
a two-model range of loggers, based
on the 534E and 560E Extra
wheeled loaders, five machines
specially adapted for landfill
operations (three dozers and two
wheeled loaders), a conveyor belt
shifter and finally two motor graders.