11 minute read
DHC Services invests in Kobelco excavators from Molson Group
THE HOME MAKERS
On a site that’s already surrounded with some decidedly upmarket examples of new build design, Dave Hodges, Managing Director of DHC Services, is making a telling contribution of his own, and his two Kobelco excavators are fittingly sophisticated tools for a high-end setting.
Supplied by Molson Group, DHC Services has been living with these distinctive and strikingly blue excavators for more than twelve months and the feedback from owner and operator alike has been unrelenting positive, as Dave reveals: “It was the first time we’d invested in this manufacturer, and a lot of drivers can have reservations from moving away from what they used to, but our guys took to them straight away.”
The Mackenzie Miller Homes scheme consists of seven units, with an attenuation tank, associated drainage and traditional foundations all part of the DHC Services package of works. The initial deep excavations were a job for the largest excavator in the contractor’s fleet, a Kobelco SK210, including the installation of that attenuation tank, and connecting storm drain, as well as the groundworks for the roads and all the cut and fill.
As a nimbler and more versatile unit, the SK140SRLC-7 has been charged with completing the plot foundations at a minimum of 600mm wide and 1metre deep, with a depth of at least 2.1metre in an area where a large tree had been historically rooted. The compact radius design of this 14-tonner has made it a popular digger amongst housebuilders who are looking for a well-balanced solution with the necessary power, and the DHC Services unit will be in attendance through much of the lifetime of the project.
“It’s easy work for machines that are as capable as these two Kobelco units,” enthuses Dave. “The reduced swing SK140 is small enough to access tighter sites and, with plenty of power in either digging or lifting, ticks every box, whilst the blade is very useful
Construction Plant News Editor, Lee Jones visits a Stratford development of luxury properties where two Kobelco excavators from Molson Group have been making themselves at home.
Dave Hodges, MD of DHC Services, has made his first investment in Kobleco with Molson Group
when levelling. Not only that, but an operator can also change the settings depending on whether they’re undertaking deeper excavation duties or grading. As a result, whether it’s the SK210 or SK140 SRLC-7, these Kobelco machines facilitate a level of accuracy and refinement in our work which we really appreciate. The stormwater attenuation tank needed to be at a depth of 2.5m with a -/+ 10mm tolerance, for example. In the hands of one of our skilled drivers the larger of the two machines achieved that with ease.”
Excavators are, of course, about far more than digging these days, and during our visit the SK140, was playing its part in the concrete pour for the foundations, whilst both machines are equipped with pallet tines for lifting. “We were working on a site recently where our 22-tonner lifted a Rammax roller into a cellar for compaction,” recalls the DHC Services MD. “In fact, with a little bit of thought and forward planning there really is no end to what we can get these machines to do.”
SK140SRLC-7
Extensive range
Molson Group offers two Kobelco models in the 14-tonne class – the SK130 LC-11 and an SK140 SRLC-7, with the latter the compact radius machine. The Japanese manufacturer has focused squarely on operator comfort in recent years, which means DHC Services operators of the 7-series will enjoy an upgraded ROPS & FOPS certified cab, featuring a larger 10in. LCD display, and bright LED exterior lights. Additional creature comforts include a shock absorbing Grammer air suspension heated seat, as well as air con. Moreover, a faster performance than its predecessors has been achieved with a new hydraulic system and improved flow rates to the arm and boom.
Kobelco is steadily developing a reputation in the market for smooth control, power on demand, reliability, and build quality. Add to that a level of fuel efficiency that is the envy of many of its contemporaries, and the manufacturer represents an attractive proposition for operators of all sizes. The 21-tonne DHC Services unit will, for example, achieve a frugal 8-10 litre consumption per hour on standard duties, which can be up to 20 per cent lower than many of its peers in the excavator market. That’s achieved through an advanced HINO engine, combined with a pump configuration that’s designed to be inherently less power hungry. Add to that settings at the operator’s fingertips that can be easily adjusted to suit the task and the end result is a smooth and economical working day.
If you don’t want to take the manufacturer’s word for it that aforementioned fuel usage can also be evidenced through the Kobelco Monitoring Excavation System (KOMEXS), a telematics platform that offers remote insight into the performance of an asset. “We’re big fans of the evidence you can source from the system,” continues Dave, “and not just in fuel usage but also in driver behaviour. We can dial in at any time, interrogate the data, and make sure it’s being used for the task it’s set up for, and offer additional training and support to a driver if it’s not. That can actually make a big difference in avoiding wear and saving fuel by eliminating unnecessary idling.”
SK210LC/SK210NLC/SK210SNLC
Service and supprt
There’s an old saying that the sales department will get the first machine into a new client’s fleet but it’s the service team that makes the second or third and that’s exemplified by the experience of DHC Services. “The back-up, service and support from Molson Group has been excellent,” enthuses Dave, “and, with a depot in Stratford, they’re local and always on hand.” Indeed, with multiple manufacturers on its books, Molson Group prides itself on being a single source of supply for many of its customers, and so satisfied has he been with the dealer that he has recently returned to the company for the purchase of an Ammann ARX 26-1.2 Tandem Roller, also at work on the Stratford development.
DHC Services is a UK wide operation, undertaking a diverse range of construction jobs for more than eight years, with its main focus now on bespoke private housebuilding projects. “There’s a certain satisfaction in being involved in a quality finished build and with the size of developer we’re dealing with, where anything up to 30 units is typical, that’s what we get. We’ll take on the site clearance, groundworks, and infrastructure in the first instance and, once the houses are built, come back to complete the roads, paving and soft landscaping. It’s quite rewarding to witness the journey from empty land to high end property and our two Kobelco units are adaptable enough to play their part across the majority of a build programme. They’re a manufacturer I’ll definitely be looking to invest in in the future.”
i
i
For further information on the range of Kobelco machine available from Molson Group WWW.RDR.LINK/CAB014
ABOUT MOLSON GROUP
Molson Group prides itself on being a single source of supply for customers in the construction, demolition, recycling, aggregate and port industries with what it describes as a 360-degree product range. The UK’s largest independent dealer offers both new and used equipment, supported from 13 strategically positioned locations throughout the UK, with a team of over 70 fully trained service engineers and millions of pounds worth of parts. Molson Equipment are the construction, plant hire, demolition, and groundworks experts within the Group with brands that include Kobelco, Hyundai, Rokbak and many more.
i
LARGE EXCAVATORS
Breedon has invested in two new Hitachi large excavators for its Cloud Hill and Dowlow quarries in Derbyshire. The two ZX890LCR-7s were selected due to the excellent cost of ownership of the company’s first Hitachi machine (a ZX890LCR-6) purchased two years previously with a 19,000-hour, five-year service contract. Watch a YouTube Video by using the rdr.link below: GOTO WWW.RDR.LINK/CAB016
ATLAS COPCO SUPPLIES PORTABLE COMPRESSORS
Boels Rental has placed an order at Atlas Copco’s Portable Air division for more than 600 portable air compressors, both Stage V diesel units, and E-Air VSD electric mobile compressors. Helping Boels Rental to offer emission-free equipment to their customers, the low noise E-Air VSD units are plug-and-play, electric-powered compressors, ideal for working in low emission zones. GOTO WWW.RDR.LINK/CAB018
FIRST GROVE GMK5250XL-1 IN SCOTLAND
Horizon Reinforcing & Crane Hire has taken delivery of Scotland’s first Grove GMK5250XL-1 all-terrain crane.The rental firm has been a Manitowoc customer for almost 30 years and selected the new 250 t capacity unit as a replacement for its sixyear-old 300 t GMK6300L, as Director, Stewart Dougall explains: “The GMK5250XL-1 has practically the same boom length (78.5m) as the GMK6300L (80m) but on five-axles, so it just made sense. It’s got the best-in-class boom length and is efficient to set up –what I would call a good all-round, no-nonsense crane.” GOTO WWW.RDR.LINK/CAB017
KSS HIRE RETURNS TO ANDOVER TRAILERS
“The fact that Andover don’t build for stock, and work individually with customers to design a body to meet exact requirements,” is what’s driven KSS Hire to make its second purchase from Andover Trailers, according to Managing Director, Steve Nicholls. The Essex-based plant hire company has taken delivery of a new 26-tonne bespoke-built plant body mounted to a DAF CF 6x2 rear steer chassis. GOTO WWW.RDR.LINK/CAB019
APL CHAMPIONS THE GREAT OUTDOORS
The first eight Snorkel S3210P outdoor-rated push-around mini scissor lifts have been delivered to APL, part of an order that included ten S3010P indoor-rated push-around scissor lifts and ten S3010E self-propelled mini scissor lifts. “The S3210P combines all of the safety and productivity benefits of our indoor-rated models with the benefit of being able to use it outdoors or in areas with a wind loading,” enthuses Matthew Elvin, Snorkel CEO. GOTO WWW.RDR.LINK/CAB020
HBNH ADDS CAT 302.7 MACHINES
When a firm has a fleet of 70 machines exclusively from one manufacturer then it’s clearly a vote of confidence. That’s why Buckland Newton Hire (BNH) has become one of the first companies to take on a Caterpillar 302.7 from Finning UK & Ireland, with the purchase of two of the new mini excavators. The company cites long-lasting reliability as one of the reasons it remains loyal – as well as the high resale value. GOTO WWW.RDR.LINK/CAB021
ISUZU PROVEN RELIABILITY IS A RELIEF
Twelve years after taking its first ever Isuzu truck, A1 Loo Hire is adding a further five new units from the vehicle manufacturer to its 100 strong fleet, with the addition of four 7.5 tonne rigids and one 13.5 tonne rigid. Every vehicle on the portable toilet supplier’s books is fitted with Easy Shift automated transmission. GOTO WWW.RDR.LINK/CAB024
M&J EVANS GROUP MAKES THE CASE
Machine availability, reliability, operator comfort, fuel savings and total cost of ownership are some of the reasons that M&J Evans Group (M&J Evans) has invested in 20 CASE Construction Equipment excavators from dealer Warwick Ward. All the units will be equipped with 360-degree cameras and SiteWatchTM telematics. GOTO WWW.RDR.LINK/CAB022 ARNOLD PLANT HIRE UPGRADES TO VOLVO
An electro-hydraulic steered rear axle to maximise manoeuvrability when delivering to sites with limited access is just one of the user friendly features on Stockport-based Arnold Plant Hire’s new Volvo FH 420 Globetrotter 8x2 rigid. The truck will carry plant up to and including 14-tonne excavators, and is expected to cover approximately 40,000 miles per annum. GOTO WWW.RDR.LINK/CAB023
SPEEDY BOOST CORE ECO TOOL SUPPLY
A reduction in waste and embodied carbon is the ambition for the Speedy ECO tool range and 1,800 new Hilti cut off saws have been added to the growing portfolio.The new DSH 600-X model is designed to operate for four years, compared to the two-year lifespan of an average cut off saw used in construction. The saws have a disposal rate of 99.7%, meaning that almost all the product can be recycled and reused at its end of life or incinerated to generate energy. GOTO WWW.RDR.LINK/CAB025
