UK Plant Operators Magazine - Issue 3

MAGAZINE

Free digital edition / ÂŁ3.99 printed copy

The magazine specifically created for the most important people in plant - The Operators

Issue 03

INSIDE: Case CX75C, A look at JPE, Safety, Operator blogs, Events, Products & more!

MACHINE CONTROL FROM

Machine Control solutions from Survey Hire Express ensure that excavation and earthworks activities on your site are right first time, every time.

• Machine Control involves the integration of positioning tools into construction machinery.

• Software solutions determine a machine’s current position on the earth and then compare that position with the desired design surface.

• Data is displayed inside the machine cab allowing the operator to efficiently determine the intended design on the ground.

Whenever you hire excavators or earthworks machines, make Machine Control from Survey Hire Express your number one priority to improve quality and productivity on-site.

The use of equipment fitted with Machine Control technology increases efficiency, reduces the time on the job, improves health & safety, and also reduces resource and material usage.

• Machine Control is used to accurately position earthwork machinery based on 3D design models.

Machine Control is just one product in the Survey Hire Express range of instrumentation, which includes optical levels, rotating lasers, dual grade lasers, interior lasers, pipe lasers, reflectorless total stations, robotic total stations, GPS kits and a wide variety of measuring, scanning and detection equipment.

Get in touch to find out how Survey Hire Express can help you on your next project.

0370 330 6024 www.surveyhireexpress.com Control Code: 07/16/4376

CONTENTS

5 Hyundai Partners with CNH

10

Volvo Operators Club Final

24

6

CASE 3X75C Operator Reviewed 20 - New CAT Tiltrotator 26 - Cameleon for Lynch

MAGAZINE

JN Bentley Choose Engcon

Case Autonomous Tractor

18

Intelligent Machine Control We visited Komatsu’s UK HQ

36

JPE Holdings

54

40

Weston Beach Race

32 - Fhoss Safety Workwear 34 - iam Safety 43 - Operator Blogs 46 - Rototilt Leica Hawk 49 - NFPEO

CONTACTS

EDITORS

PUBLISHER

UK  Plant Operators 27 Wheatley Cresent Tuanton, Somerset TA1 2AX

Mark McMoran mark@ukplantoperators.com Dale Hawkins dale@ukplantoperators.com Gavin Elson gavin@ukplantoperators.com

McMoran Ltd 5 Jupiter House Reading, Berkshiret RG7 8AN Tel: 020 8133 3714

ADVERTISING sam@mcmoran.co.uk

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those held by UK Plant Operators Ltd or the publishers. The publishers shall not be under any liability in respect of the contents of the contributed articles or the content of any external websites referred to in articles. The editor reserves the right to edit, abridge or alter articles for publication.

All material (c) McMoran Ltd. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form whatsoever, either for sale or nt, without the express permission of the publishers. The information contained in this publication is published in good faith and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy.

UK Plant Operators & McMoran Ltd can accept no responsibility for any error or misrepresentation. All liability for loss, dissapointment, negligence or any other damage caused by reliance on information contained in this publication or in the event of any bankruptcy, liquidation or cessation of the trade of any company, individual or firm mentioned, is hereby excluded.

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THE EDITOR The m agazin e

Issue

Editor’s comment

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he use of technology in construction has been fundamental in the increase of efficiency in all facets of the industry. From using 3D modelling on computer for initial designs, to BIM and Machine control, to the use of construction software, the construction industry is benefiting from the introduction of technology.

We take technology for granted in today’s world, but we shouldn’t because it changes so quickly we can be left behind. In this edition there are plenty of innovations with regards to technology showing how the industry really is one of the move innovative sectors.

On a single construction project a large number of people are required to perform many different processes and operations. There could be hundreds of individual steps that involve the effort of thousands of people.

Technology is helping communication between these people and speeding up the decision making process.

Staff can also share information a lot easier, as traditionally they would work on their part of the project with little interaction with other people, but through the use of the Internet, project information can be shared more quickly as it is more centralised and accessible.

Over the next few months we will try and keep you abreast of it all……

Mark McMoran, editor

Scan here with your phone or tablet to subscribe to the magazine!

This issue’s main story: We got the opportunity to visit the Komatsu UK HQ and see their intelligent machine control - See pages 36-39 Index of advertisers Ashtead Plant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Liebherr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Volvo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Topcon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 FeRRUM UK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 L Lynch Plant Hire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Fhoss Safetywear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Operator Trials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 IHRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 UKPO Simulator Hire . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 NFPEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Plant Operator Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Executive Choice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Plant Operator Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 JuvaPro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Plant 2 Sell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 McMoran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Lynch Plant Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Compliance Cube . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Ashtead Plant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Marubeni Komatsu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 JCB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Distribution We distribute UK Plant Operators Magazine free online & by direct mail for a small fee to subscribers in the UK who are involved in all aspects of plant hire, construction and training services. Our target subscribers are Plant Operators, Fitters, Mechanics, Construction proffessionals and Hire Executives.

For subscription inquiries, please contact: sam@mcmoran.co.uk Also beginning in August 2016, we will distribute UK Plant Operators magazine through selected locations in Europe, including hotels, restaurants, business centers, airport lounges, construction sites and other key locations.

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For information about the sponsorship opportunities with UK Plant Operators magazine please contact Sam Kennedy via email at: sam@mcmoran.co.uk

INDUSTRY NEWS

Hyundai Heavy Industries and CNH Industrial ink exclusive strategic alliance Agreement for Mini Excavator Business.

CPCS Scheme under review

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the world’s largest shipbuilder and a leading construction equipment manufacturer, announced today it enters into an exclusive strategic alliance agreement with CNH Industrial, one of the world's largest capital goods companies, for the compact excavator business.

Under the 10-year-long-agreement with renewal option, CNH Industrial will market four (4) mini excavator models that will be supplied as complete products by HHI through OEM production, and ten (10) other mini excavator models in the form of complete knock down kits through License production. Thanks to the agreement, HHI expects doubled increase in sales of compact excavators, over the next 10 years.

Mini excavators to be rolled out under the agreement will hit the global market from early 2017.

Moreover, the two companies have taken the cooperation a step further by agreeing to jointly develop new models and upgrade existing models.

Mr. S.G. Rhee, COO of HHI’s Construction Equipment Division said,

“We have noticed that the global demand for the mini-excavator market has been more stable than the bigger-sized construction equipment, and we also expect that the demand continues to increase for years to come. In view of the trend, we come to a conclusion that the alliance with CNH Industrial which has multiple brands including Case Construction Equipment and New Holland Construction will bring a win-win solution for both companies. Moreover, we believe that the partnership will surely lay a solid foundation for the compact and mini-sized construction machine business of HHI’s Construction Equipment Division.”

Mister J.C. Jung, CEO of HHI Europe adds, “This strategic alliance will result in an expansion of our Hyundai compact excavators’ product range; new models will be developed and existing models will be upgraded with additional options.

Naturally, Hyundai dealers in Europe will benefit from this to grow their business and provide even better solutions to their customers.”

A review of the industry’s plant skills card scheme is currently underway which could see it offloaded by the Construction Industry Training Board.

The Enquirer understands that discussions are ongoing with industry stakeholders about the future of the Construction Plant Certification Scheme (CPCS).

The scheme is currently owned by the CITB and run by a management committee of trade bodies and unions.

An industry source said: “The CITB is looking to offload the scheme which seems odd because it works well and makes money.”

Carl Rhymer, Delivery and Customer Engagement Director at CITB, said: “A review of how the Construction Plant Certification Scheme can improve services to its customers is currently taking place.

“Industry leaders from Build UK, CECA, CPA and CITB are involved in this process.

“As with any other organisation, it’s important that we review all of our products and services to ensure they continue to meet the needs of our customers.

“CPCS will continue to operate as normal while talks are ongoing and customers will be kept up to date with any outcomes resulting from these discussions.”

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Italy’s Ermes Gemo reclaims title in Operators Club Final Ermes Gemo from Italy has been crowned Operators Club champion for the second time, following a year of grueling local heats and a final test of speed, precision and technique at the Volvo CE compact excavator plant in Belley, France, this October.

On Saturday 8th October Volvo CE pitted 20 of Europe, Middle East and Russia’s most talented operators against each other in one of the construction industry’s toughest tests of precision operation – the Operators Club Final. Representing Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey and Great Britain, the competitors took part in three qualifying disciplines, before those with the five quickest times were invited to compete in a final oil barrel pyramid challenge.

Representing Great Britain were Liam Lambert and Tom Pederson. Liam, owner of Liam Lambert Construction Ltd based near Norwich started GB’s effort in the compeititon followed shortly by Tom, a self-employed Operator from Worcester.

First the operators had to pick up golf balls using a dessert spoon attached to a tooth on the bucket of a Volvo EC35D compact exavator and drop them through a hole in a raised wooden log into a plastic container. Both GB contenders performed well in the first round with Tom finishing fourth overall and Liam in fifth.

Then the operators used a Volvo L30G compact wheel loader to stack three metal crates without disturbing the tennis balls on top of the cones inside them or in the surrounding area. Liam performed well in this round and qualified for the semi-final but a knock from Tom ended his competition

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in a scattering of tennis balls.

Next the operators were tasked with manouvering a metal guide, attached to the arm of a Volvo EC220E excavator, through a wooden maze without touching the sides. Liam managed a quick time but unfortunately hit the sides on a number of occassions incuring too many time penalties to qualify for the grand final.

In the grand final the operators demonstrated their skills on a Volvo EWR150E wheeled excavator by building a pyramid out of six oil barrels. Time penalties were awarded for mistakes in each of the challenges and dropping an oil barrel resulted in instant disqualification.

TOP TALENT Ermes Gemo from Italy completed the final oil barrel pyramid challenge in the quickest time, closely followed by Nicolas Monnaye from France and Alfred Köhl from Austria. Winner Gemo has been a regular competitor at the Operators Club Final for several years, also claiming the title in 2014. The 37-year-old from Battaglia Terme in Padova, Italy, has been working on construction sites for almost 20 years, with expertise spanning building and excavation, quarrying, demolition and landscaping. He is currently employed by Impresa Edile Belluco Giampaolo, based in Due Carrare, Padova, and frequently operates a Volvo L70F wheel loader, as well

as Volvo EC35D and EC220E excavators.

“We have some extremely good operators in Italy but it was still a very tough competition. I’m delighted for Ermes – his performance was fantastic!” says Volvo CE Italia’s Market & Brand Communication Manager Vincenzo De Berardinis, who is responsible for the 850 member strong Italian Operator’s Club branch.

Niclas Wahlström, Vice President for Hub West (continental Europe) within Volvo CE Sales Region EMEA and host of the 2016 Operators Club Final, says: “We have been running the Operators Club since 1998 and now have branches in most of our major European markets. We believe the Operators Club is an excellent concept for us to reach out to the operators we have and make them part of the Volvo family.

We also see the club and these events as a very good way for us to get firsthand feedback from the best operators on how our machines are performing and how we can improve them for the future. It was clear from this 2016 final that we had some of the most professional operators in Europe and it was great to see such a highly competitive spirit and the pride felt by all involved.”

Video highlights from the 2016 Operators Club Final in Belley, France, can be viewed on the Volvo CE Global Facebook page.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Rocket Rentals’ blue Kubota set for charity hire

Chepstow Construction Equipment, a reputable dealer and supplier of new Kubota equipment, has supplied a limited edition KX057-4 mini excavator to Rocket Rentals, which will be hired out in aid of the Prostate Cancer UK Charity.

The specially painted blue machine has been bought in memory of a close friend of Simon Tomblin, Director at Rocket Rentals, and will be hired out for the charity in the forthcoming weeks, after it was showcased for the first time on Kubota’s stand at the Royal Welsh Show in Llanelwedd and has since made several appearances on the Kubota stand during their busy show season.

Chepstow Construction Equipment has kitted out the limited edition machine with transport, P.D.I, radio, beacon, cesar registration and quick release couplings, all free of charge. Attachments specialist Whites Material Handling supplied a quick hitch and a set of buckets also free of charge, whilst Kubota commissioned the painting of the excavator in blue at no extra cost. Trakm8 provided the machine with its telematics tracking device and Kubota Finance helped to put a workable finance package together.

Rockets Rentals is going to hire out the excavator and donate all the profit of the hire to the charity. In addition, the suppliers and customers who hire the machine will have their names permanently marked on

the outside of the digger to commemorate their contribution to the cause.

The fundraising initiative is very important to Simon and Rocket Rentals as Simon’s close friend and Godfather, Brian Smith, who was also Director at Bison Plant Hire Ltd, recently lost his battle with prostate cancer. Simon hopes to raise lots of money for the Prostate Cancer UK Charity and spread awareness of prostate cancer as an issue within the construction industry.

Simon commented: “We are thrilled to be hiring out the one-of-a-kind blue Kubota excavator and donating a portion of each hire to the Prostate Cancer UK Charity.

We are very grateful to the kind people at Chepstow, alongside Kubota, Whites Materials Handling, Trakm8 and Kubota Finance for their support in making this limited edition excavator possible, but also for acknowledging the importance of the occasion.”

Ian Whiting at Chepstow Construction Equipment said: “Rocket Rentals carry out fantastic work for the construction industry, and we are very pleased to be working closely with them and helping out with the charity hire of the mini excavator. We anticipate that this will be a popular campaign and we are equally confident that the hiring of the excavator will raise a significant amount of money for this great cause”.

A-Plant Raises Funds for Cancer Research UK Employees from the UK’s largest equipment rental company A-Plant have raised over £7,000 for the firm’s charity partner, Cancer Research UK. Each year A-Plant employees from the company’s Support Office in Warrington nominate a charity to support and Cancer Research UK was selected as this year’s partner. At the beginning of the year, a £5,000 target was set and by September, over £7,000 has been raised with several events still yet to come.

Fundraising initiatives have included dress down days, cake sales, participating in the JCB 10km Mud Run and two separate charity bike rides - a 60 mile ride from Manchester to Blackpool and a 54 mile ride from London to Brighton.

Employees from across A-Plant’s nationwide branch network have taken part in the fundraising efforts and several events have taken place at the company’s support office itself, one of which has been the A-Plant Mini Olympic Games. To celebrate GB’s most successful Games in more than a century, A-Plant staff competed in a series of fun Olympic related challenges over the course of two days.

A-Plant’s Marketing Director Asif Latief said: “Charity fundraising is very close to our hearts and we are delighted to be a registered fundraiser for Cancer Research UK. We are very proud of all of our staff who have worked extremely hard to raise this money, plus we must say a big thank you to many of our suppliers who have made generous donations.”

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Hand drive control as an Cracking option to the Avant 200 Series Investment from PSS Hire Avant 200 series offers now an option for controlling the forward-reverse drive of the loader directly from the joystick. Because the drive can be controlled with a thumb on the joystick, the driver can drive and control the movements of the boom at the same time. This makes it possible also for paraplegic people to make full use of the machine.

The driver can choose between drive pedals and hand drive: the selection is as easy as a flip of a switch on the dashboard.

“We got the idea for the hand drive control from our customers some years ago and we produced then the first customized machines with hand drive. However, at that time we thought that there was still

Apprentice Award Recognition for A-Plant At the North West regional final of the National Apprenticeship Awards 2016 A-Plant was crowned as Large Employer of the Year Award for organisations in Manchester, Cheshire and Staffordshire.

The awards recognise excellence in businesses that grow their own talent through apprenticeships and the apprentices who have made a significant contribution to their workplaces.

Commenting on the award win, A-Plant’s Head of Training Bob Harper said; “We are absolutely delighted to have won the Large Employer of the Year Award for organisations in the North West. It is amazing to think that back in 2005, the A-Plant Apprenticeship Programme started with just a handful of Plant Maintenance Apprentices to create the talent of the future and provide a pool of skilled employees familiar with our equipment and values. Today, we employ almost 150

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room for approvement so that the use would be as easy for those people who don’t have functionality in their legs or it has weakened. We introduced the hand drive in the fall 2016 at the Rehacare trade fair in Germany and this time the loader was as easy to use both with hand and with foot – which was our goal all along.”

In the pictures you can see the father of the idea from Germany. Bert Pein is a very active Avant user who has already driven an Avant loader of the former Avant 200 series with hand drive. Mr Pein has been very pleased with the machine which has make it possible for him to work at his farm despite of his condition.

Apprentices across our business, a number which continues to grow.

“Plant Maintenance remains our largest stream of Apprentices but we also offer apprenticeships in Customer Services, Driving, Mechanical Engineering, Payroll, Marketing, IT, Business Administration, Electro Technical, Welding and Fabrication and other disciplines. We are fully committed to our apprentice programme and we believe that they are an integral part of how our business grows.”

Find out more about A-Plant’s Apprentice Programme at: http://www.aplant.com/careers/apprenticeships

PSS Hire has made an investment of over £3m in the innovative Click Stick from UIS (Utility Innovation Solutions Ltd).

The Click Stick, which is available from PSS Service Centres nationwide, has been designed for safely breaking cast iron mains pipes without the need for podger bars.

Mark Hamilton, Director of PSS Hire explains why they have invested in the product, “We’ve had a number of discussions with our customers about developing safer ways to break pipes. Traditionally when breaking old metallic cast iron gas pipe, contractors needed to enter an excavation or smash the pipe from above with a podger bar, this long established process can bring several health and safety risks for the operator and contractor alike.

“Now, with the Click Stick there is a far more controlled, safer and efficient way.

The lightweight Click Stick is manually lowered into the excavation, easily positioned around the pipe and, via the use of the battery powered hydraulic pump, it simply grips the pipe and breaks it in a controlled manner.”

Rosalind Macgregor, a Director at UIS added, “We’re delighted to be working with PSS Hire in delivering the Click Stick to their contractors across the UK as we believe this is a very significant innovation to the industry.”

INDUSTRY NEWS

Hiab crowns World Crane Champion 2016 at the IAA

Hiab, part of Cargotec, is delighted to announce that Tim Hansen from Denmark has won the World Crane Championships (WCC) held on 24 and 25 September in connection to the IAA exhibition in Hannover, Germany.

Among 15 finalists Mr Hansen won the championship final with a time of 2:51:42, Guido Beaujean from the Netherlands got silver with a time of 2:53:99, and Martin Utpatel from Germany won the bronze final with a time of 2:51:01.

In the finals, the crane drivers got to operate the cutting-edge HIAB X-HiPro 232 mid-range loader crane just launched at the IAA. The competition tested the contestants’ skills and ability to clear a series of precision obstacles at maximum speed.

“I have been nervous from the start,” Mr Hansen commented after the race. Tim Hansen has his own company, Tim Hansen APS, and has been operating cranes all his life. It runs in the family: Tim’s grandfather Sven Aage Hansen, aged 82, has driven cranes for over sixty years and father Sören Hansen is also a crane operator. “The best thing about being a crane operator is working in the summer time,” Tim Hansen said with a smile.

Mr Hansen will return home with the title of World Crane Champion, a EUR 5,000 travel cheque and EUR 20,000 to aid the purchase of a new HIAB crane. In fact, Mr Hansen is considering using his prize money on a new HIAB X-HiPro 232, the same model that was used in the

final. Lotta Sjöberg, Marketing Manager, HIAB Loader Cranes, congratulated Tim on the championship title and also on the recently gained title of dad, as Mr Hansen became a father two months ago.

Hiab sponsored the WCC last year for the first time in recognition of crane operators from around the world who perform demanding jobs daily. This year, the finalists came from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Spain, the United Kingdom and Slovenia.

Joakim Andersson, Senior Vice President, Loader Cranes at Hiab, commented: “I wish to warmly congratulate Mr Hansen for the win and all the finalists for a great competition. You put up a stunning show at the World Crane Championships. Also the road up to the race was amazing, with hundreds of professional crane drivers taking part in the qualifications. We at Hiab are thrilled to have hosted this event where the industry’s best drivers have shown that they’ve really got what it takes. We look forward to the next championship final at the IAA 2018 exhibition in Hannover!”

Keen Attachments achieves multiple business awards in same week

Friday 21st October saw a double celebration for Keen Attachments. Going from strength to strength, they were first awarded ‘Company Demonstrating Sustained Growth’ at the Monmouthshire Business Awards. The award recognised the continued development of the company since 2012.

Alongside the event at the Celtic Manor, Laura Hicks, Sales Manager was representing Keen Attachments at the prestigious Fast Growth 50 awards in Cardiff. The awards placed Keen within the 50 fastest growing firms in the country. Keen were also recognised for their achievements within the manufacturing sector, achieving a shortlisting in this category.

“To win an award is fantastic, but to receive national recognition on top of our regional award is incredible. It validates the work of our team and energy we’ve put into the business over the past couple of years.” stated Andrew Hicks, Founder & Managing Director.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

JN Bentley increases excavator efficiency with Engcon’s latest tiltrotator technology

Generation 2 tiltrotator systems from Engcon are part of the high-tech specification of three new Komatsu wheeled excavators for JN Bentley, one of the UK’s leading civil engineering and construction companies.

Each of the customised machines is being fitted with a fully integrated Engcon EC219 tiltrotator, SS9-2 control system and Q-Safe quick coupler.

As an existing Engcon user, JN Bentley had no hesitation in purchasing the latest Engcon tiltrotator system for its new excavators. “Engcon’s package ticks all the boxes in terms of safety, efficiency and technology,” says Alan King, a member of JN Bentley’s Plant Team. “It will enable us to work more effectively in confined areas, and improve the efficiency of our operations on site. In fact, we are already planning to invest in a further 27 Engcon systems – both new and retrofitted – over the next 12 months.” JN Bentley will be using the new equipment to deliver new-build and refurbishment schemes in the water sector, much of which is delivered through MMB, a joint-venture with global consulting giant Mott MacDonald, which acquired Bentley Holdings (including JN Bentley) in 2014.

The EC219 tiltrotator selected by JN Bentley is part of Engcon’s Generation 2 series which includes models for excavators

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from 1.5 to 32 tonnes. The new range is designed to further increase profitability and excavator versatility, letting the operator tilt or rotate the bucket (or any other attachment) for optimum flexibility and accuracy. Being able to rotate the bucket 360 degrees makes tasks like backfilling and offset digging quick and easy, while tilting up to 45 degrees allows grading to be carried out precisely and in tight spaces. All models are equipped with double-acting tilt cylinders for optimised tilting force and a more even operation.

JN Bentley has combined its new EC219 tiltrotators with Engcon’s SS9-2 control system. This second generation version of the popular SS9 nearly doubles the number of program modes available to the operator giving greater versatility with hydraulic attachments, as well as providing safer locking methodology which meets the requirements of EN 13031. In addition, the SS9-2 is able to handle voltage supply dips, a common problem with 12 volt excavators at start up.

JN Bentley’s Engcon tiltrotator package is completed with Q-Safe, the only quick coupler for excavator tools and attachments featuring a triple-lock safety system. The Q-Safe system effectively hard wires Engcon’s safe use directives into its control system using a series of complementary

fail-safes. For example, proximity sensors mounted in the hitch detect the positioning of both of the bucket axles, which allows the Engcon hitch control to activate audible and visible alarms and, optionally, disable the excavator’s boom and slew functions when the hitch is open or is not fully locked with both axles in position. As well as significantly increasing the operational safety of the hitch, this system actively prevents the movement of buckets by hooking and lifting only with the rear jaws; as is possible with conventional hitches. The hitch also has, as standard, a check valve within the ram to prevent the hitch opening in the event of hydraulic failure, supplemented by double return springs.

Summing up, Alan King says Engcon was very receptive to JN Bentley’s requirements and took a proactive approach throughout the specification and purchasing process. He concludes: “We really appreciated Engcon’s willingness to visit our head office in Skipton and present the equipment to our plant team face-to-face. Overall, the service we’ve received from Engcon’s UK team, Marubeni-Komatsu and our local dealer, K&W Mechanical Services, has been excellent.”

®

The New Generation of XPower Wheel Loaders

L 550 XPower® - L 586 XPower® Fuel savings of up to 30% are provided by the Liebherr Power Efficiency (LPE) system and Stage IV / Tier 4f compliant power-split driveline, which optimises performance. To achieve full power and the highest levels of fuel efficiency, the XPower® wheel loaders automatically adapt to the working situation with the most efficient ratio between hydrostatic drive for material uptake and short distances and mechanical drive for long distances and uphill.

NO DPF required

Productivity is increased through easy maintenance with all operating parameters visible at a glance and no requirement for a diesel particle filter and regeneration thanks to the Liebherr SCR technology. Robustly built with strong axles and component parts to minimise cost and downtime, the XPower® machines also have strengthened Z-kinematics for up to 20% more break-out force.

The new ergonomically-designed cab, with its range of adjustable features provides optimum operator comfort.

Increased safety is achieved through improved visibility with larger windows that extend further downwards, a tapered engine hood and a rear-view camera integrated with a touch screen display.

Call today on: 01767 602100 Liebherr-Great Britain Limited, Normandy Lane, Stratton Business Park, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 8QB. www.liebherr.co.uk

INDUSTRY NEWS

New Volvos help kick-start a new dedicated plant division RM Group Services Ltd of Wolverhampton has launched RM Plant Services, a dedicated plant division of the parent group investing as it does so in a quantity of Volvo compact excavators – all supplied by Volvo Construction Equipment’s utility dealer SM Plant Ltd. Established some 30 years ago by Managing Director Mark Tolley, RM Group Services Ltd started out as a company specialising in tools and fixings in Wolverhampton. Mark Tolley gradually expanded his business to include small tool and equipment hire under the auspices of RM Hirefix. The company has been a long standing user of Volvo compact excavators ranging from 1.5 tonnes up to 8.0 tonnes in operating weight along with a mix of tele-handlers, rollers, dumpers and associated small plant.

Going forwards, both RM Hirefix and the newly created RM Plant Services will operate in tandem with RM Hirefix servicing the local Wolverhampton market with tool hire and machines up to 3.0 tonnes in operating weight. If and when necessary, RM Hirefix will now be able to tap into the resources of its sister, RM

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Plant Services, for larger machines as the situation demands.

“We’ve had a good association with SM Plant for the last fifteen years, not least due to the overall product quality and the features that come as standard with the Volvo range of equipment,” comments Mark Tolley. “The after sales support and care we’ve received has been equally as good on the odd occasions when we’ve needed it so all in all we cannot fault the dealer nor the product,” he continues.

With this endorsement Mark Tolley has had no problem in recently doubling the size of his compact excavator fleet with new Volvos as he launches RM Plant Services. The recent additions supplied by SM Plant include ECR50D’s, EC27C’s, EC15C’s and the largest machine in the fleet to date –the 8.8 tonne ECR88D

reduced swing radius compact excavator.

RM Plant Services occupies a dedicated one acre facility on the outskirts of Wolverhampton on Millfields Road close to the Black Country route with good connections to the M6 motorway. It incorporates a spacious yard, well equipped workshop and parts facility along with dedicated diagnostics and fault finding bay. Mark Tolley employs three full time engineers looking after the whole spectrum of plant with a total of 14 employees overall.

The company specialises in hiring to small and medium sized contractors in the West Midlands conurbation and generally within a 30 mile radius of its new Wolverhampton base. All hire is non-operated and is available on a spot, medium or long term basis.

SHORT TURN RADIUS LONG TERM INVESTMENT The new Volvo D-Series short radius compact excavators have been designed to make your investment work as hard as possible. Machines of this quality will retain their performance and their value in the market for years to come. ECO mode will help to cut fuel costs by up to 10%, while auto-idle and auto-shutdown will kick in when necessary. Maintenance time will be cut too, with 50 hour greasing intervals and grouped greasing points to make your life easier. And speaking of easy – the operator interface has been designed to be easy to use, easy to understand and easy to switch between different operators. The ECR35D and ECR40D short turn radius machines will slip into the tightest spots; and for those of you without space constraints, there’s the new standard length EC35D. All built for the long term. Building Tomorrow.

Volvo Construction Equipment Division Volvo Group UK Ltd Duxford, Cambridge CB22 4QX Telephone: 01223 836636 Fax: 01223 832357 sales.vcegb@volvo.com www.volvoce.co.uk

CONSTRUCTION SOLUTIONS www.topconpositioning.co.uk Tel: 0845 450 4300

WITH YOU ALL THE WAY Partner with Topcon for construction solutions including real-time video feeds and remote job site monitoring. Let’s tackle the challenges together.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Three more Volvo A30G’s for Ward Plant

Since purchasing his first Volvo articulated hauler back in 1990, Martyn Ward, managing director of Ward Plant Limited, Carnwath, South Lanarkshire has added a further three Volvo A30G haulers to his fleet.

“The Volvo ADT is second to none on the market today in my opinion and all the trucks I’ve ever run have proved themselves over and over again in terms of reliability, productivity and fuel savings,” says Martyn. “And it’s like anything else – if you look after your kit, then it’ll look after you and we’ve got some of our trucks which have achieved over 16000 hours on original engines,” he continues.

The latest A30G’s join a fleet of 36 Volvo haulers, predominantly made up of the A30 sized truck. “Whilst we still run A35’s and A40’s the optimum sized for general hire is the A30 hence the reason for adding three more to the fleet,” continues Martyn. “They really are the best there is out there, but that’s not all. We enjoy an excellent level of service from Volvo when we do get the occasional issues and not least the trucks have an excellent residual value.”

The new trucks have been deployed on a number of large infrastructure projects currently taking place in Scotland such as the major earthworks contract the Ward Group has picked up on the A9 development near Aviemore and hire work on the M8/M73/M74 widening scheme as well as other general muck shifting activities.

The A30G hauler from Volvo meets the requirements of Stage IV final emissions legislation being powered by an electronically controlled, six-cylinder 264kW turbo charged Volvo V-ACT diesel engine. This features high torque at low engine speeds, resulting in good fuel efficiency, high performance, quicker engine response and less wear, i.e. long service life. Purpose built by Volvo, the engine is designed to exactly match the Volvo drive train, ensuring the best use of power and torque, even in tough working conditions.

Delivering exceptional fuel efficiency, it is

matched to a torque converter with built in lock-up function and fitted with a fully automatic fast adaptive transmission. The rest of the Volvo designed and built powertrain has been reinforced to cope with the higher torque output of the engine.

With a carrying capacity of 28 tonnes and heaped capacity of 17.5m³ the Volvo A30G has a maximum speed of 53kph.

The hauler is also fitted with CareTrack as standard, which is Volvo’s telematics system that enables remote monitoring of a wide range of machine functions (e.g. location, fuel consumption, service reminders etc.) thus optimizing customer operations.

Established back in 1973, Ward Plant Limited has grown to the position it holds today as a renowned, reliable and trusted hirer of earthmoving plant and equipment all over Northern England and Scotland including the Isles. With over 80 items of large earth moving plant and equipment for hire, such as dozers, dump trucks, excavators, loading shovels, self- propelled and towed compaction rollers, hydraulic hammers, grapples, pulverisers the company more recently has added jaw and cone crushers and screeners to the fleet so a contractor can one stop shop at Ward Plant. Sister company Martyn Ward Plant Limited was formed in 1990 to carry out Earthworks, drainage, crushing and screening contracts again throughout Scotland, Northern England and the Isles.

Have a news story you want published?

Send it to sam@mcmoran.co.uk

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INDUSTRY NEWS

“They’re what our customers ask for….”

Says Trevor Goodwin, Managing Director of Already Hire Ltd as he takes delivery of a further batch of compact excavators and two new DD25B asphalt rollers from Volvo Construction Equipment’s utility dealer SM Plant Ltd.

Joining a comprehensive range of small plant and equipment and an existing fleet of some 20 Volvo compact excavators come 6 new Volvo ECR25D zero swing machines and a couple of the latest DD25B double drum asphalt rollers. “We like the quality and reliability of the Volvo product and our customers equally appreciate their user friendliness and ask for them by choice,” says Mr Goodwin. “In addition, we enjoy a high degree of support from Simon Milligan and his team at SM Plant Ltd on prompt parts supply and service support when it’s needed.”

The company has been a long standing user of Volvo compact excavators since its inception back in 2000. The machines range from the 1.5 tonne EC15C up to the 3.0 tonne EC27C and are available for spot, short, mid and long term self-drive hires. Other equipment in the Already Hire arsenal includes rollers, wheeled and tracked dumpers, compressors, access platforms and tele-handlers along with a host of small tools and hand held equipment.

The ECR25D is the smallest zero swing model in the Volvo compact excavator range and is powered by a 1.1 litre low emission engine developing 21hp. With an operating weight of 2.5 tonnes the ECR25D is available with a choice of short or long dipper arm giving a reach of either 4.48 metres or 4.77meters and a dig depth measuring from 2.67 metres to a generous 2.96 metres. The zero swing excavator design provides exceptional stability which can slew within the width of its tracks and

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is therefore ideal for working in close proximity to walls and fences. Simultaneous control of slew and offset movements provides faster, more precise performance and all hydraulic functions are performed in total independence for more control and less delay when handling multiple tasks.

An added bonus is the ability to operate the wide range of hydraulic attachments using proportional control if required.

An automatic two-speed travel system engages when operating in high speed mode, automatically shifting gear from high to low according to the travel load.

Another feature for increased efficiency is the standard auto-idling system that lowers engine speed to idle if a control is not used for five seconds. The engine reverts to the pre-selected speed almost instantly when any control is moved. This system delivers lower fuel consumption, longer engine life and less environmental noise.

The ECR25D features Volvo’s industryleading comfortable cab for less fatigue and more production. The ergonomicallydesigned cab offers greater leg and foot room, making it one of the most spacious in its category and another reason why it is so popular with Already Hire’s regular customers.

Volvo Construction Equipment’s DD25B double drum compactor is powered by a durable and fuel-efficient three-cylinder engine that meets strict Tier 4 Final/Stage IV emissions regulations without the cost and complexity of an after-treatment system.

The 25 hp Volvo D1.7A engine is perfectly

matched to the compactor’s hydraulic system and delivers high performance with a 7% reduction in fuel consumption over the A model.

The DD25B offers high frequency compaction, a choice of 3300 or 4000 vpm depending on application, with increased productivity, by allowing the operator to travel at higher speeds while still maintaining optimum impact spacing.

Safety and precision are enhanced by the angled drum mounts, sloping hood design and optimally positioned sliding seat, which provide the operator with a 360° view of the drum edges and surroundings when the compactor is rolling forwards and in reverse. The machined drums with chamfered edges are perfectly cylindrical, producing a smooth mark-free mat while the advanced eccentric system ensures a powerful performance, equivalent to machines fitted with a significantly larger engine.

Established 16 years ago by Trevor Goodwin, Already Hire Ltd is a leading independent plant, tool & powered access supplier providing a uniquely responsive and professional service for the tradesman and contractor in and around the M25 area.

It has depots strategically placed around London which are located in Slough, Heathrow, Dartford and SE16. Each location has a busy trade counter, yard space and fully equipped workshops run by experienced engineers to keep the range of equipment in tip top condition.

INDUSTRY NEWS

25 Hyundai’s and counting for Emmitt Plant Hyundai dealer Willowbrook Plant Services, based in Corby, Northamptonshire has been supplying Hyundai excavators to plant hire company Emmitt Plant since 2013. The company now run a 25-strong fleet of Hyundai machines ranging from 12.5 tonnes up to 22 tonnes. Emmitt Plant’s latest purchase were three 22 tonne R220LC-9A crawler excavators.

ABOUT EMMITT PLANT Emmitt Plant began its history back in 1979 and the company is now one of the largest privately owned Plant Hire companies in the East of England with depots in Ipswich, Suffolk, Diss, Norfolk and Corby, Northamptonshire.

Emmit Plant is part of One Group Construction, a privately owned group with 12 different companies offering complete construction capability, from civil engineering, building construction, renewable energy solutions, plant hire, asphalt surfacing, and construction support services. The group’s annual turnover is around £140 million, and employs in excess of 500 staff.

THE COMPANY’S FLEET Emmitt currently run in excess of a thousand items of plant - from mini excavators to dumpers, rollers to compressors and a range of telehandlers.

The company run 25 Hyundai machines which comprises the12.5 tonne R125-9A, the 14 tonne R140-9 and the R140-9A and five 22 tonne R220-9A machines.

The last three of the R220-9A machines were purchased earlier in the year from Willowbrook.

Emmitt Plant director, Luke Findlay said, “We chose Hyundai predominantly as they represented excellent value for money. However, one of the biggest deciding factors was the dealer support and service we get from Willowbrook which is excellent.”

Mr Findlay continued “When we first opened the Corby branch of Emmitt Plant in 2008 we were running Case and Volvo machines but the dealer we were using closed its doors for good in 2012 – it was then we began talks with Willowbrook about purchasing some heavy line kit.

We have formed an extremely good relationship with the Willowbrook team – both on and off the pitch! Brian, Steve and their team are always on hand – nothing is too much trouble.

We get through a considerable amount of parts in the plant hire industry - the machines get a lot of wear and tear - we can guarantee that Willowbrook get the parts we need in double quick time.”

Mr Findlay added, “We have very little downtime with the Hyundai machines as they have proved to be reliable and the perfect machine for the plant hire sector.

We are a self-drive plant hire firm so we don’t have our own operators, however, our clients have really taken to the Hyundai

machines and have expressed that they are impressed with both the fuel efficiency of the machines and the power behind them.

One of our customers, who had been using a 14 tonne machine, said that when we have finished with it he would buy it!

Our very first Hyundai’s were purchased in 2013 when we bought six 14 tonne R140-9’s. To date we have invested in excess of £1.8 million in the brand – all supplied by Willowbrook.”

Mr Findlay concluded, “We are looking into the possibility of investing in the machines from the new HX range at the end of this year – they look very appealing especially from a client and operator safety point of view with the AAV 360 ° camera system. It’s a fantastic initiative by Hyundai to offer this system built in and they are well ahead of their competitors who, as far as I am aware, only fit similar systems as an after-market product. Some of the leading contractors are already specifying this level of safety on machines working on their sites.

Also I believe the new range offer an even better fuel efficiency than the -9A series! We’ll have to wait and see – so watch this space!”

Currently the majority of Emmitt Plant’s Hyundai fleet are working on new housing developments around the East Anglia and the Midlands regions.

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PRODUCT PROFILE

Case IH Premieres Concept Vehicle at Farm Progress Show Autonomous Tractor Gives Glimpse of the Future of Precision Farming

Case IH unveiled an autonomous concept vehicle today at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa. The concept vehicle is a cabless Case IH row crop tractor that can operate autonomously with a wide range of field implements.

“In many parts of the world, finding skilled labor during peak use seasons is a constant challenge for our customers,” said Case IH Brand President Andreas Klauser.

“While we offer auto-steering and telematics on our equipment today for remote management of farm machinery and employees, this autonomous tractor concept demonstrates how our customers and their employees could remotely monitor and

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control machines directly. This technology will offer our customers greater operational efficiencies for tasks such as tillage, planting, spraying and harvesting.”

Klauser explained that the concept was created to validate the technology and to collect customer feedback regarding their interest and need for future autonomous products for their operations.

“It is very exciting for us to explore the possibilities that this technology can provide to our customers. We look forward to getting their input regarding this concept and how it can help them achieve new production efficiencies,” said Klauser.

Case IH and CNH Industrial’s Innovation

Group based the cabless autonomous concept on an existing Case IH Magnum tractor with reimagined styling. The vehicle was built for a fully interactive interface to allow for remote monitoring of preprogrammed operations. The onboard system automatically accounts for implement widths and plots the most efficient paths depending on the terrain, obstructions and other machines in use in the same field. The remote operator can supervise and adjust pathways via a desktop computer or portable tablet interface.

Through the use of radar, lidar (light imaging, detection, and ranging) and onboard video cameras, the vehicle can

A D V E R T O R I A L

PRODUCT PROFILE

sense stationary or moving obstacles in its path and will stop on its own until the operator, notified by audio and visual alerts, assigns a new path. The vehicle will also stop immediately if GPS signal or position data is lost, or if the manual stop button is pushed. Machine tasks can also be modified in real time with via remote interface or automatic weather warnings.

AFS Global Product Marketing Manager, Rob Zemenchik explained that autonomous tractor operation brings together the latest in guidance, telemetry, data sharing, and agronomic management to offer farm managers more control, monitoring capabilities and cost savings.

“A farm manager can supervise the activities of multiple machines via a mobile tablet interface while he tends to other tasks or even operates another vehicle,” said Zemenchik. “Multiple autonomous tractors can work as one fleet or simultaneously in multiple sub-fleets assigned to separate fields, each assigned with preprogrammed maps and prescriptions. So you could have one tractor pulling a chisel plow followed closely by another one operating a planter.

The opportunities for efficiency are substantial.”

Although the autonomous vehicle is presently considered only as a concept tractor, Zemenchik said the technology could function just as well in a standard cabbed tractor where it could use real-time weather

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and satellite data to optimally apply crop inputs such as nitrogen, herbicides, or fungicides.

“These enhancements really become interesting for our customers when weather comes into play,” said Zemenchik. “Because if it starts to rain in one field, the tractor will automatically stop what it’s doing and head over to another field that is dry to

work on that provided it can access that field via private roads.”

Prior to the concept’s unveiling, company executives presented a video demonstration of the tractor tilling and planting on land in the Southeastern United States earlier this summer.

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PRODUCT PROFILE

New CAT® tiltrotator adds flexibility, versatility and allow the system to suggest a remedy • Position sensor displayed in machine monitor provides entirely new opportunities in work-tool control • Smart functions, such as the bucket, can automatically spread the material evenly and quickly to boost productivity.

SECURELOCK™ Cat tiltrotators feature a SecureLock™ feature that confirms the tool is coupled correctly.

A safety gate alerts immediately if the work tool is not connected correctly, thereby eliminating the risk of lost or swinging tools. The safety gate uses dual locking circuits to maximize safety and eliminate any electrical or hydraulic faults.

The safety lock meets both the current and the forthcoming update of the ISO13031 standard.

POSITIONING (OPTIONAL) Caterpillar Work Tools, a leading supplier of excavator and wheel-loader attachments, now offers a tiltrotator option for Cat® wheeled excavators with operating weights to 30 tons. The new tiltrotator, available in Europe from Q4 2016 onwards, features a fully integrated control system and is designed to increase the flexibility and precision of Cat wheeled excavators.

Tiltrotator models provide 360-degree rotation and 40-degree tilting action side-to-side, allowing the machine to reach more work areas from a single position, significantly reducing machine repositioning and subsequent fuel consumption. The tiltrotator enables the operator to manoeuvre around posts, rocks, and other obstacles, as well as to more easily reach along ditch edges. The tiltrotator capabilities allow the machine to work over, under, and around all types of obstructions or infrastructure using any attachments or tools required for the job.

“We are excited to add this product to

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our portfolio, because tiltrotator products are used across a wide range of applications to perform any kind of excavator task more profitably,” says Mr. Bas Timmers, Caterpillar Work Tools Applications Specialist. “Caterpillar customers will have access to new cutting-edge technology that makes their Cat excavator a safer, more productive and flexible tool carrier.”

INNOVATIVE CONTROL SYSTEM (ICS) The tiltrotator advanced Innovative Control System (ICS) ensures that every function and component has been specially developed to provide optimum performance and utility, allowing the operator to choose exactly those functions preferred.

• Auto calibration makes the system easy to optimize for good handling and lowest fuel consumption • Automatic troubleshooting/reconnection, via inbuilt sensors, which indicate errors

SYSTEM

For ease of operation, a positioning system is optionally available. This system connects to third-party machine-control (grade-control) systems via the Controller Area Network (CAN) communication system, which tracks the position of the work tool and shows the data on the in-cab monitor.

The Cat tiltrotator also includes important other features: • Tilt cylinders with load-holding valves as standard • Central lubrication as standard • Grapple module (optional) • High-flow connection (optional) The Cat tiltrotator is designed to provide optimal safety and productivity, with such features as a hydraulic system that can handle work tools requiring high flow, while also simplifying service and reducing maintenance, with such features as efficient hose routing and a well-protected valve block that is shielded from dirt and damage.

A D V E R T O R I A L

BUCKETS BUILT TO WORK.

EXTREME ENGINEERING - BUILT TO WORK

PRODUCT PROFILE

New Volkswagen Amarok to gain six-cylinder engine Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is raising the bar, with its premium pick-up, the Amarok, set to gain a bigger ‘heart’ and enhance its performance potential, thanks to the latest generation of Volkswagen V6 engines. Drivers of the Amarok can look forward in future to an additional litre of displacement offered by the 3.0-litre engine, while the pick-up will continue to boast impressive onas well as off-road capability. Its new engine will deliver 550 Nm of torque and has an output of 224 PS. Robust and reliable: the new agile V6 diesel engine for the Amarok meets the customer requirement for high torque at low engine speeds. The powerful top-ofthe-line six-cylinder engine produces its maximum torque at only 1,500 rpm. At 550 Nm, this maximum torque is also 130 Nm higher than in the previous model. The Amarok is thus able to deliver sufficient propulsive power and torque performance in any situation.

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The highest gear’s long gear ratio in the manual or 8-speed automatic gearbox reduces revs and fuel consumption during consistently fast driving, and thus helps ensure low noise levels and CO2 emissions.

The combined NEDC fuel consumption of the new Amarok with 224 PS and 8-speed automatic gearbox is expected to be 7.6 litres/100 km (around 37 mpg)*. This corresponds to a new top level of 199 grams CO2/km*.

The model's engine is designed to be robust and long-lasting. The 3.0-litre TDI engine (2,967 cc) in the new Amarok will be available in three output levels: 120 kW / 163 PS, 150 kW / 204 PS or a topperforming 165 kW / 224 PS. All engines comply with the Euro 6 emissions standard.

The most powerful engine variant will be offered first. As early as the end of September 2016, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles customers will thus be able to begin

A D V E R T O R I A L

PRODUCT PROFILE

exploring the world of six-cylinder engines.

(The new model is expected to go on sale in the UK before the end of 2016.)

Three different drive-system versions will be offered in line with the respective engine variants: a traditional rear-wheel drive, and a 4MOTION version with either rear-wheel drive and an engageable front axle in combination with a manual gearbox, or with a permanent all-wheel drive system and a Torsen differential with the 8-speed automatic gearbox. The Servotronic steering system is new in the Amarok and will be available as standard equipment in Europe.

This system is one of the reasons why the Amarok can be driven very precisely.

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New 17-inch brake discs on the front axle of the 165-kW Amarok and 16-inch discs at the rear ensure that the powerful pickup always comes to a stop quickly and safely.

The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which has won multiple awards, is also included as standard.

The powerful impression the Amarok makes is underscored by a more athleticlooking front end and an all-new dashboard.

Together with new ergonomic seats, these features lend the vehicle a more sophisticated and valuable appearance. In addition, the model's design clearly bears Volkswagen’s DNA. With a length of 5.25 metres and a width of 2.23 metres (mirrors

included), the Amarok delivers everything one would expect from a classic pick-up.

The new body-coloured sports bar in the launch model (which will be marketed in Europe as the Amarok Aventura) visually shifts the double cab rearwards and also extends over a small part of the 2.52 m2 load platform inside the cargo compartment.

Various additional styling bars, covers, cargo area coatings and hardtops are also available for the Amarok cargo compartment.

In addition, the load platform in the fourdoor Amarok can accommodate a Euro-pallet loaded sideways. A payload capacity of more than one tonne is possible, depending on the equipment features selected. In future, some variants of the new Amarok will also boast a towing capacity of up to 3.5 tonnes.

The wheels in the various equipment levels offered with the Amarok are now larger, which makes for an even more powerful and sporty appearance. The Amarok Aventura features 20-inch alloy wheels and the Park Distance Control parking assistant, which utilises a rear-view camera.

The overall impression of the Aventura is made perfect by bi-xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED licence plate lighting and LED-illuminated side sills under the doors. (UK market availability is yet to be confirmed.)

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O P E R AT O R R E V I E W S

Case CX75C (midi) Reviewed by the Operator Operator Editor Dale Hawkins gives us the lowdown on the Case CX75C

Welcome to the new machinery reviews feature straight from the operator direct, after all we are the guys who have to sit in these machines for up to 14hrs a day 6 days a week, each edition will feature what we call an unbiased honest review of an item of plant machinery, what makes a good machine is not always fuel economy and emissions, sometimes it’s as simple as where the cup holders are situated and how good is the stereo, what’s the seat like to sit after a 12 hr shift, so we’ve compiled a list of question to ask each operators about each review we do.

Access in and around the machine is very good. You are able to carry out all of your prestart checks from ground level and access around the engine compartment etc.

All handles seem to be in a good reaching distance, good room around the track area and also good space around the blade area.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:

CAB:

Looking at the machine at first glance it is a very tidy and compact. The machine is a full size excavator reduced to the weight of 8.5 ton. The machine has a Miller hitch fitted with all the extra pipe work on the boom for attachments which is good. The rear of the machine likes nice and compact

The cab is full size same as the 13t machines which is really good, but as it’s a compact radius cab still means there is nowhere for your grub bag as featured in most min diggers. The panel and display screen is large and clear to work your way around. I like the rear view camera as it

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and strong, not much chance of it getting scratched. Generally looks a tough wellbuilt little machine, I like the fact it has the mono boom, it’s like the old Hitachi EX70, so very eager to drive this one.

ACCESS:

displays all the levels etc around the image so you don’t have to keep swapping the image around, radio is good and clear to use, Don’t rate the cup holders, the seat is good, easy to use and comfortable, generally its nice and welcoming and functional, I think case should maybe turn to the black style interior in the cab as it’s all a bit beige if you know what I mean.

VISIBILITY: The machine has good vison from the operator’s seat and the machine has a set of 4 mirrors as standard along with rear view camera. The vison on the right hand side of the machine is very good all glass with direct view to the blade and dipper arm.

The upper body of the machine is below eye height so vison across the whole machine working area is better than other models in its class. The monitor is full colour with the choice of different views cannot fault it.

O P E R AT O R R E V I E W S SERVICING AND ENGINE: The machine has a tier 3B interim engine which currently meets the EU standards.

The machine does not have any DPF or AD Blue solution. So BIG brownie point on that one, nothing worse than add blue the management needed for it, Seems very powerful machine, very smooth on the power delivery.

OPERATION: The machine is very steady and has three modes of operation. Active, Heavy, Speed, The machine responds very well and the pumps reacts smoothly and quickly when required. The machine has plenty of power when using it in Heavy mode and has a really good breakout force, so for those that require extra power it’s on tap on this machine. The machine also has 32% more lifting capability which is very good as I work in utilities and lifting is the most important part of the job. We tested the machine in all of the modes. The machine was very steady when pushing using the blade with the weight behind the machine which gave it the extra grunt. Digging with this boom set up on this size machine is brilliant, not all of us have to dig around corners and would prefer the extra lifting capacity along with the extra visibility.

ATTACHMENT CHANGING: Changing the bucket was a dream, I have always been a fan of the miller systems, nice and easy to operate, we all know where we stand. Again good visibility whilst changing the buckets ect, all the hose work was well placed and easy to use.

COMPARISON: I think the only thing even close to this machine was the legendary Hitachi ex70 and we don’t see many them anymore as far as I’m aware, nothing even remotely comes close to this Machine, in most daily site environments, Im sure there are things on the market but nothing i’m aware of.

OVERALL OPINION: I really liked this machine, its very well balanced and smooth to operate, the power delivery is brilliant and the added fact of no Add Blue or Regeneration makes this a very competitive machine.

If I was a hire company I would buy one or two... I cannot fault it.

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C O M PA N Y P R O F I L E

Lynch Plant Purchase Hitachi ZX350LC-5 Chameleon Excavator as Part of Fleet Expansion Programme

Lynch Plant Hire is a family owned plant and haulage firm based in London. Founded over 35 years ago by Managing Director Liam Lynch, the company has grown to become one of the most recognisable names in the industry. Their strong growth is in no small due to their reputation for customer satisfaction and their continual investment in their staff and their equipment.

Recent investment in machinery takes the form of a fantastic Hitachi ZX350LC-5 CTA (clamshell telescopic excavator) with a maximum vertical digging depth of 25 metres. Like all Zaxis-5 medium excavators, the ZX350LC-5 CTA has a TRIAS hydraulic system, which helps to boost efficiency by increasing the extension and retraction speed of the clamshell telescopic arm. The high-capacity 1.3m3 clamshell bucket has a powerful pull-up force, and can load trucks quickly and efficiently using an ejector function. A device that reduces jolts

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can speed up positioning in underground operations and while unloading.

The purchase is the first of many chameleon excavators as part of an ongoing fleet expansion programme to help the firm play a part in the construction of the Thames Tideway Scheme, followed by other high profile construction projects in the London area. However, in the long term, Lynch believe the machine will have nationwide use.

Merrill Lynch, Director at Lynch, explained ”We hope this machine will serve our customers in London, the South East, the South West, the Midlands, the North, Scotland and Wales from our nationwide depots. This was one of the reasons we chose Hitachi. Their nationwide capability is a good fit with ours; we know we can depend on them no matter where in the UK our clients are based.”

Lynch also spoke of Hitachi as “the

proven supplier of machines of this type”, an opinion backed up by the fact that the company now has over 100 Hitachi machines in their expanding fleet, which currently stands at over 2000 items of hire equipment.

“Hitachi Construction Machinery UK are proud to continue to deliver market leading solutions to Lynch Plant Hire, by providing them with state of the art technology to increase their productivity and fleet diversity” explains Allan Blackstock, National Product Support Manager at HCMUK. Hitachi Zaxis-5 clamshell telescopic excavators have been designed to work on job sites with a limited load-bearing capacity as well as in confined spaces, where traditional methods of deep extraction of dug material by skip and crane can prove less productive and at higher risk of injury to operatives on site, particularly on inner city projects.

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C O M PA N Y P R O F I L E

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Rail Products UK… Redefining Parameters

New product development relies upon practical, technical and sales experience, and this is illustrated in the evolution of Rail Product’s UK range of Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPS). Managing Director Derek Burns and his team can draw on decades of front-line working experience in the rail industry and as a result Rail Products UK is fast becoming one of the leading manufacturers of MEWPS in the UK, as well as earning industry plaudits for their foresight and development of innovative and technically advanced rail machines.

In essence Rail Products UK is not constrained by limiting factors and their rail road products will always look to redefine the parameters of a machines’ current capabilities.

In conjunction with Manitou, who provide a world-wide back up service, Derek and his team have designed and engineered two innovative and technically advanced road/rail MEWPS, namely the ART 17T and the enhanced ART17TH. Working from zero cant to 120 cant, the MEWPS have an outreach of 8.65m with the telescopic arm fully extended, a continuous turret rotation and 180 degrees basket

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rotation capability giving total flexibility when working on the railway.

Both models also have the ability to be fitted with a ‘Pantograph’ enabling the MEWP, for the first time ever to ‘pan’ on the move. The Pantograph will now not only monitor height and stagger measurements while on the move it will also record them – another first for Rail Products UK Ltd.

Both MEWPS and the Pantograph have been awarded Network Rail’s certificate of acceptance and more recently been approved to RIS -1530-PLT Issue 6.

There is now big demand for the machines and in the last year Rail Products UK has delivered over thirty ART 17 TH MEWPS to ReadyPower, as well as a

number of pantographs. Story Contracting have purchased eight machines and HolyRail Plant Services have also had fifteen MEWPS delivered together with several pantographs. The order book has even gone global as Rail Products UK have also delivered the MEWPS to customers across Europe and the World including Austria and Norway.

This year Rail Products UK have exhibited at the Middle East show and more recently at InnoTrans where they launched their new rail product, the TH21 road/rail Crane. This is yet another new and exciting product that has been developed in conjunction with Manitou and it will lift and carry up to 6 tons with a reach of 21m. In addition to its lifting capacity this machine can also tow up to a massive 52 tons as well as make light work of under-bridge inspections with its 3D system. Another good example of Rail Products redefining the parameters of such a machine.

MD Derek Burns commented ‘’Rail Products UK is committed to developing and building innovative rail machines that the industry wants and needs. Demand for our MEWPS with Pantograph is growing not only in the UK but all around the globe and this was very evident at the InnoTrans show. Plus we are particularly excited about the launch of our new TH21 Crane which we believe will help revolutionise lifting on the rail network. Indeed I am pleased to announce that ReadyPower have already purchased two of the cranes and there are other orders in the pipeline from several major rail contractors’’.

For more information www.railproducts.uk.com

ukplantoperators.com

visit:

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C O M PA N Y P R O F I L E

BCE Plant take on the Tilt The use of the tilt-rotator, no matter which brand or colour, is on the up in the UK. Fleet purchasers are now looking to equip machines with the technology to meet with potential customer requirements but it is still the owner driver that leads the way with the high end specification units that create so much interest in the product.

While the up-take amongst inexperienced operators is relatively low, thanks to the assistance and advice offered by the more “veteran” users, operators are now willing to look at this technology and how it can potentially increase their productivity.

One company willing to take the plunge recently was Midlands based BCE. With their workload increasing month on month, the decision was taken to invest in a new excavator to undertake their frontline operations. Already familiar with Volvo kit having operated the brand for many years, Craig Bell decided upon a new EW160E wheeled excavator. The duck concept was a new direction for the company as previous machines had mainly been on tracks but recent changes in the way more sites are laid out leant the company to look at a wheeled machine. “While most of our work is off road these days” explained Craig “the sites are all stoned up for easy access. It may only be when we do an initial soil strip that we are running on poor ground.” This made the decision to purchase a duck all the easier and while the choice of the Volvo was

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all but set in stone. The ability to increase the productivity and make general working methods easier by adding a tilt-rotator was more complex and after false start, Craig decided to follow the yellow route and go for a full Engcon EC-Oil and Q-Safe set up from John Craig at JCC Engcon.

The Volvo EW160E is a very popular choice combining power and speed in a relatively compact package. The German made excavator has been purchased with a fully ticked options list and will be solely driven by Craig. Having worked in the family business for the past 11 years, Craig was keen to have a fully spec’d machine and to make the most of its versatility. The standard twin tyres were replaced with large 600/50 Nokian super singles in order to provide better off-road ability and more stability. The undercarriage has been specified with a set of rear stabilisers and front blade although, as Craig admits, the blade will only be used for added stability.

Integrated tool boxes, full towing capability and a set of mudguards complete the high spec chassis.

The Volvo upper structure is seen as one of the better designed for a machine of this size. Access to all daily service points are exemplary and are all reached from ground level, ideal for keeping the health and safety police happy! Although the spec sheet gives an indicative weight of 18 tonnes, Craig says the machine weighs in closer to the 20 tonne mark. Power comes from a Volvo 6 litre, 156hp diesel which fits snugly into the engine compartment. To meet Tier4 final emissions requirements the Volvo is fitted with a both DPF and SCR with AdBlue. Concerns in some quarters about the use of and potential contamination of AdBlue supplies are quashed by Craig as he states that is his machine and he will be responsible for its upkeep and daily maintenance. Fuel is always a contentious subject but Craig happily reports that the Volvo is returning amazing fuel figures as low as 7.5 litres per hour.

The Volvo cab comes in for high praise across the industry for its exceptional levels of visibility and comfort. Craig is another operator who has nothing but praise for his

A D V E R T O R I A L

C O M PA N Y P R O F I L E

daily work space. “The Volvo is a top machine in all respects.” Comments Craig “Everything about the machine oozes quality and the service we’ve had over the years from Paul King, our local rep, has been second to none.” The in-cab luxuries are almost all fitted as standard making the Volvo cab amongst the best specified in the industry, the only additional item taken by Craig is the luxury operator’s seat. While Volvo fit their own tilt-rotator specification joysticks, Craig has taken original SVAB L8 levers from Engcon installer John Craig.

Boom and dipper choice was a relatively easy one for Craig. The flexibility from the three-piece (TAB) set-up used by many other owner-operators was the way he decided to go and has the standard 5.1m boom couples to a 2.6m dipper stick. As with his contemporaries, the choice of TAB boom is seen as an ideal solution for the BCE operations offering the ability to give a larger working envelope compared to a standard mono boom. Offering a massive reach of 9.3m along the ground with a dig depth of 5.7m the TAB boom also allows Craig to dig right under the machine should the need ever arise. One feature particularly liked by Craig is the boom suspension option. “We do a lot of roading between jobs and the suspension system is amazing!” Craig said “We may be able to travel a little quicker and safer now but more importantly I’m so much more comfortable!”

The business end of the 2.6m dipper is now adorned with Swedish yellow and black in the form of Engcon’s latest EC219

A D V E R T O R I A L

with full Q-Safe and EC-Oil package.

Unlike many operators who have tried and tried tilt-rotators before parting with the cash, Craig had only an hour or so at the Hawk training school courtesy of Rototilt UK. It was this short time behind the levers that instantly expanded Craig’s imagination as to the endless possibilities available with a tilt-rotator set up. With the Volvo ordered and a call in to John Craig, Craig was amazed at the response from the Scottish installer for the Engcon product. “We had a call within ten days from John to say that all the kit was in. With the tilty fitted and working in just over two weeks.” Exclaimed Craig “You really can’t beat his service or the sheer quality of his installation.”

The EC219 is the latest generation of the Engcon system and is complemented by both the EC-Oil and Q-safe systems. As with many tilt-rotator users, the Engcon set up has been specified with two hitches allowing the tilty body to be dropped when using the likes of a hammer. John Craig favours the SVAB system which allows both the installer and operator control over particular settings from the cab. Whilst Engcon have introduced the MicroProp system, the SVAB controls are still a popular choice amongst UK users. The EC219 offers a 45degree tilt in both directions and has the ability to continuously rotate.

Equipped with an integrated grab, the EC219 is still a relatively compact design measuring just 480mm from pin to pin. For the uninitiated, the EC-Oil design allows full hydraulic and electric connections to any attachment to be made without the need for the operator to be out of the cab wrestling with hydraulic hoses; a major health and safety benefit.

We caught up with Craig at a project in Newark where they were undertaking a full ground works package for one of their regular clients, Carters. Equipped with a Scandinavian style bucket the EW160E was following up from the piling crew and undertaking a reduced level dig to expose the pile tops. Before the advent of the tiltrotator the machine was only able to dig up to the piles leaving material to be removed by hand. This is not the case nowadays with the Engcon able to extract most of the material from around the piles before a quick change to the grading beam to complete the reduced level dig. While Craig is toying with the idea of investing in

a full 3D GPS system for the Volvo, the Engcon is already fitted with the relevant sensors, they are currently using a standard laser level mounted to the Engcon grading beam. The system works well with the receiver mounted on the beam easily visible

by Craig from the cab. “This operation would have taken three or four men.”

Explains Craig “The Engcon allows me to do this on my own with just a dumper driver to take the material away.” The ease at which Craig makes it look is testament to his operating skills. “I’m still not 100% on it bet every day gets easier.” Laughs Craig.

While the Scandi bucket and grading beam are two of the more regularly used attachments on this job, BCE has purchased a raft of Engcon made attachments for their new outfit. A plate compactor, hydraulic pallet forks and SK15 selector grab make full use of the EC-Oil connection while the aforementioned grading beam and Scandi bucket are joined by a ripper tooth, 1200, 820, 600 and 450mm buckets. Talking of attachments Craig is quick to point out that a new tipping trailer is on order for the Volvo with a view to completing the Scandinavian spec and adding even more versatility to the outfit.

While the tilt-rotator revolutions continue apace, there are still operators s aying that the rates are not there for them to justify such an investment. Craig explains that BCE operate solely on fixed priced contracts and that the extra cost of the tiltrotator is simply built into these rates.

“What people need to understand is that it will save money in one form or another.”

Comments Craig “That may be from needing one man less on the ground because you can do so much more or just from time saved changing attachments thanks to EC-Oil.” The EW160E was joined on site by an older EC140DL which was undertaking truck loading duties and a pair of dumpers from Thwaites and Hydrema. The Hydrema 912 coming in for particular praise for being unstoppable in any conditions.

While not looking to grow the fleet back to pre-recession sizes, the company are already looking to expand. Will it be equipped with and Engcon? Craig concedes it may not as suitable drivers for such an expensive piece of kit are hard to find. Will it be a Volvo? “Why would I go for anything else?”

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SAFETY

Where there is light, there is life Fhoss Smart Wearables, is a UK based company providing innovative powered light safety wear, focusing on providing high quality products in order to increase safety in a professional work space across the globe.

Fhoss provides the next generation of personal protective equipment, our technology works by using enhanced reflective prismatic tape with a battery powered illuminated core. This means that unlike traditional reflective tape, that requires a light source to emit the light back, FHOSS products creates their own light source, almost like a car having its head lights on.

Fhoss products are particular beneficial for use in areas where there is either little or no ambient light, as well as in bad weather conditions, as normal glass bead technology loses 70% of its ability to reflect lighting when wet, FHOSS illuminated cord, does now.

Inspired by the Greek saying, where there is light, there is life, we are committed to delivering a high end rang of safety products for a variety of industry sectors, knowing that the industry is using technology that is over 50 years old, as the day glow brothers invented reflective tape back in 1964, this same technology is being used today, we would not find ourselves using any other product that is 50 years old technology, FHOSS is here to disrupt the market place by coming up with a new solution to keep our global work force safe at night.

The benefits of Fhoss.

• Enhanced safety has the potential to reduce insurance premiums.

• Fhoss garments are machine washable up to 25 cycles together with water resistant treated material providing greater longevity.

• New and imporoved crutch support (double stitching).

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UK Plant Operators - Issue 02

• Fhoss prismatic tape maintains 100% reflective capability when wet & can be easily wiped clean ensuring maximum visibility.

• Improved workforce safety as individuals are visible from greater distances (1.5miles) and im dimly light areas / harsh environments.

• Trouser hem illumination provides sufficient glow to help prevent slips, trips & falls.

• FiContego & FiLux harness with integrated anti entanglement features providing an enhanced level of safety in busy work site environments.

A D V E R T O R I A L

SAFETY

iam Health & Safety If you’ve ever wished you could take total control of your work site, to maximise safety, improve efficiency and increase profitability - then you aren’t alone.

With numerous sites and millions of pounds invested in current projects the board members at Clancy Docwra were looking for a solution to alleviate a range of issues they were seeing across their business; From H&S breaches to ensuring up to date, cost effective staff training was taking place, to reducing accidents, all whilst tracking and maintaining expensive machinery usage.

They turned to the highly skilled team at Clancy Plant and gave them the unenviable task of developing a one stop solution targeted at these issues.

The team got to work and quickly identified a common thread… Even though all of Clancy Docwra’s equipment had security immobilisers fitted, each vehicle could be started by a single key. And once it was running managers lost visibility of how it was being used and more importantly, by who. In fact, they discovered that if the engine was left running on a piece of kit it could then be used by numerous staff members.

This single failure was a major problem as it meant that managers could do little to genuinely control real time situations, leaving the Company open to poor working practices, Health and Safety breaches, compliance issues and preventable accidents.

With the rise in keyless entry systems the team felt that a smart card system was the most simple, secure and user friendly way

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to confront these challenges. By loading personalised smart cards with key employee information, from skills to current training, and installing equipment with readers which cross referenced this data with the machine training requirements, controlling the immobilisers to actively ensure that only qualified staff were able to drive vehicles or operate sensitive equipment.

The key to implementing this technology was making a smart card reader and immobiliser that worked in perfect harmony. Multiple prototypes were created as the Clancy teams collaborated to create a solution that not only delivered high level functionality, but ensuring that the design was; simple to use and install, worked across a full compliment of tools and equipment,

and packing those features into a sleek, waterproof and hardwearing design.

Whilst the vehicle hardware was being designed, developed and road tested, the development team were eagerly bringing together a state of the art software programme based around the key on-site functionalities. As the features developed it became apparent to the team that there were numerous applications for their tool from site applications to short term hires, pool car systems and more.

After months of development they were ready to test the system in the field installing readers into over 400 different types of equipment. Since rollout hundreds of employees have used the system across multiple worksites. Every one of these sites

SAFETY

now benefits from the Iam’s Health & Safety compliance systems and it’s unique asset control functions including equipment utilisation stats, from who’s driving what and where, through to rejected starts, to managing upcoming staff training and necessary renewals.

The system is constantly evolving and in future will incorporate Bluetooth compatibility, one wire connection to telematics, easy software upgrades and much more.

I am devices are now key to nearly everything that happens on Clancy Docwra sites, and the system has been a real hit with work crews.

Since rollout the system has run to absolute perfection; reducing accidents, preventing compliance breaches and managing and maintaining employee training seamlessly on the Iam Server - The Iam does it all, allowing managers unprecedented control across numerous remote working teams.

Guess Who’s Back...

Operator Trials is coming, are you ready?

The Operator Trials 2017 is currently going through planning & we are working hard with our partners to ensure the 2017 trials are even bigger & better than the last! Keep your eyes peeled as we finalise details of the events. Details will be available here first!

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COVER STORY

Intelligent Machine Control: A look inside Komatsu UK Most of our readers will be aware of UK Plant Operators interest in Machine control and anything which enhances the usability of the equipment for the Operator – so when Komatsu said come up and look at our ‘Intelligent’ machine control we just had to go up to Birtley and find out more…

We started at the beginning by seeing the production of the PC210-10 through the impressive factory line so we could understand how the Intelligent Machine Control enhances the already popular PC210 Excavator.

Komatsu UK is part of the Global Komatsu organisation, which is the world’s second largest manufacturer and supplier of construction and mining equipment, and has proudly been providing high-quality reliable products for nearly a century.

Komatsu’s head office is in Tokyo, and there are 140 companies in the Global Group, in which a total of over 47,000 people are employed. Komatsu UK currently employs approx. 400 staff and has an extensive product portfolio, featuring 17 models. It currently exports mainly to Europe and North Africa. The UK plant at Birtley was officially opened in 1987 by HRH The Prince Of Wales.

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Before we got into the intelligent machine control we took a tour and tried to understand the culture of the organisation.

You could see from the factory floor there was a culture of quality and safety, each s ection was scored with Key performance Indicators on safety and quality and it was a joy to see that not all the flow was completed automated and there was still a need for good skilled engineering staff with in the factory. It was also good to see the commitment to bringing through new young apprentices throughout the factory and to realise that out of over 200 apprentices the factory have put through the success rate is over 99% passing out into the industry which is quite an achievement working with young persons.

The Komatsu PC210LCi-10 is the world’s first intelligent Machine Control excavator. It features Komatsu’s revolutionary machine control and guidance system, fully

factory integrated with the other qualities and benefits of the standard Komatsu PC210LC-10 excavator. The exclusive control function lets you focus on moving material efficiently, with no worry about digging too deep or damaging the target surface. From rough digging to finish grading, the PC210LCi-10 excavator drastically improves efficiency, precision and safety on your work sites. Hydraulic excavators will never be the same again.

Komatsu are keen to point out that their intelligent machine control if in a different league than the Proprietary aftermarket systems which are just machine guidance, many with a small screen monitor. Not real time, limited function, limited information - GUIDANCE ONLY. Guidance systems rely on the operator to achieve and maintain a grade consistently, they also require additional people on the ground to constantly check levels unlike the

COVER STORY

Komatsu Intelligent machine control. The benefits of intelligent machine control start with an auto stop function, during boom or bucket operation, the work equipment automatically stops when the bucket edge reaches the design surface, preventing damage to the design surface. Bucket edge positioning is also made easy this also comes with an Auto grade assist so when the operator moves the arm, the boom adjusts the bucket height automatically, tracing the target surface and minimizing digging too deep, the working range is expanded by holding down the boom lever while pulling in the arm.

Unlike previous models that relied on a mast and antenna to be fitted to the blade to allow automatic machine control, the D61EXi/PXi-23 Dozer has the system components integrated and installed into the machine at the factory. This means that there are no more coiled cables between machine and blade. Plus the antenna (which has been fitted into the roof of the cab) is now less likely to get damaged. The machine which is fitted with the Komatsu 3D machine control system, that has been

developed in conjunction with Topcon, can perform not only finish grading, which has been possible with conventional machine control, but also rough dozing. This reduces dozing time and increases productivity. The system also minimises track wear and damage to the graded surface caused by track slip.

Longer track-on ground standard (EX) and low ground pressure (PX) models are available to offer customers flotation and weight distribution options that best match their applications. Operating weights 17,890 to 18,770 kg depending on the configuration.

Also being demonstrated was the PC210LCi-10 excavator. This prototype model allows the operator to dig as normal but the Intelligent Machine Control system will not allow the cut to go below a set depth. This reduces the time needed for finishing tasks such as flat bottom trenches.

Komatsu intelligent Machine Control lets you work quickly and easily, with no fear of over-digging. Efficiency and accuracy are greatly improved, as you can consistently achieve high bucket fills. With the “minimum distance” function, the

PC210LCi-10 controls the bucket by automatically selecting the point on the bucket closest to the target surface. The surface is always protected. There is a higher safety element with Staking, surveying and final inspection were usually done manually. The PC210LCi-10 reduces or eliminates the need for this ground staff around the machine. GNSS antennae integrated in the handrails remove the need to access the top of the counterweight.

The machine control and guidance system on the PC210LCi-10 is fully factory integrated. Stroke sensing hydraulic cylinders for the boom, arm and bucket, were newly developed by Komatsu for precise real time bucket edge positioning.

An IMU (Inertial Measuring Unit) gives precise machine orientation and determines machine angle from gyro and accelerometer data. GNSS antennae are integrated into the hand rails.

Remote assistance from Komatsu with Client Support is standard. Additionally, with Sitelink 3D Enterprise (an option from Topcon) you can transmit design data from the office to the machine and receive >>

ADVANTAGES OF THE INTELLIGENT MACHINE CONTROL SYSTEM FROM KOMATSU: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

You do the job once No over digging No over fill Accurate costings of fill materials – no waste Automatic real time digging control Intelligent touch screen monitor Factory installed components Reduces operator error Need for staking eliminated or dramatically reduced Improves site safety Accurate planning of machines, truck and resource Operator can create own design surfaces in the cab Not dependent on weather or daylight Constant surface checks by surveyor not required Man on the ground around machine not required

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COVER STORY

>>

progress information and as-built data from the machine in real time. The Komatsu PC210LCi-10 intelligent Machine Control excavator lets you focus on moving material efficiently, with no worry about digging too deep. Even with just the machine guidance function, operations are completed quicker thanks to the monitor’s “real time” view, which offers high accuracy, shorter working hours and reduced costs for the job. The large 12,1” touch screen control box monitor features a realistic display of the machine and surfaces in 3D. You may select the optimal view, depending on work conditions. The orientation of the unique facing angle compass arrow indicates the position of the bucket edge in relation to the design surface. A coloured light bar shows the bucket edge position relative to the design surface.

The system is ideal for a wide range of applications and is powerful and precise, the Komatsu PC210LCi-10 is equipped to efficiently carry out any task your business requires. On big sites or small, for digging, trenching, landscaping or site preparation, the Komatsu hydraulic system always ensures maximum productivity and control.

Economy modes are all available ensuring that the PC210LCi-10 delivers the power

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you need with minimised fuel usage. The Economy mode can be adjusted for an ideal balance between power and economy to match your work. The oil flow delivered to hydraulic attachments is adjustable directly on the class-leading wide screen monitor panel.

BUILT-IN VERSATILITY A standard fit additional hydraulic circuit, controlled by a sliding joystick push button and a floor mounted pedal, gives the PC210LCi-10 excellent versatility. Ten attachment memory settings are provided, with individually definable names. In combination with the standard-fit hydraulic quick coupler power circuit, changing working style is now even simpler. A second auxiliary hydraulic line is available for attachments which require extra hydraulic actuation Komatsu have really thought of the operator with an upgraded spacious cab, the wide spacious cab features a new, fully air suspended operator control station that incorporates the side consoles mounted together with a high back, fully adjustable seat, heated for improved comfort. The

Komatsu Dash 10 crawler excavators have very low external noise levels and are especially well-suited for work in confined spaces or urban areas. Reduced fan speed, a large capacity radiator, and the optimal usage of sound insulation and of sound absorbing materials help to make noise levels inside Dash 10 excavators comparable to those inside an executive car. With increased in-cab storage space, an auxiliary input (MP3 jack) and 12 V and 24 V power supply, the cab offers maximum convenience and the automatic air conditioner allows the operator to easily and precisely set the cab’s atmosphere. There is a built-in stability of the Komatsu PC210LCi-10, combined with a highly rigid deck and a sprung multi-layer viscous mount system, drastically reduces vibration levels for the operator. To enable safe, accurate and smooth work, the user friendly monitor is the highly intuitive user interface for the machine’s Equipment Management and Monitoring System (EMMS). Easily customized and with a choice of 25 languages, it features simple switches and multifunction keys that provide the operator with fingertip access to a wide range of functions and operating information.

COVER STORY

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V EURR S ETORY CEOAT F

UK Plant Operators catch up with JPE Holdings Ltd We made the journey to the midlands to meet up with Dave Rogers and his fantastic team at JPE to check out the latest addition to the fleet, A Komatsu D85PX-18 Crawler Dozer.

A special machine it is too, with many features including Tier 4 Final emissions engine, with DPF and also ADD BLUE technology makes this machine a very efficient addition the JPE fleet, this combined with the innovative sigmadozer® blade with standard power pitch function for dig and carry dozing reduces digging resistance and smoothly rolls material up for increased blade loads also with autoshift transmission makes this machine an very good choice for Dave Rogers and his team at JPE. After much time spent checking out the market for a suitable Dozer JPE Holdings Decided to Stick with Komatsu. “there are some very nice equivalent machines on the market at the moment” said Dave Rogers.

Already with a large existing fleet of Komatsu machines, JPE felt it right to stick with what they know and what is tried and tested! JPE already has several Komatsu Crawler Dozers ranging from the top

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UK Plant Operators - Issue 03

trimmer the D61 and the D65 it seemed right to have the larger Dozer the all new D85 -18.

“We are over the moon with the D85 Dozer, the performance has been outstanding!”

JPE are no strangers to bulk earthworks owning several Quarries situated all over the midlands and surrounding areas covering all aspects of aggregates. Including stone supplies, waste management and recycling and earthmoving.

With enormous investment being ploughed in to the washed aggregates sector

lately, JPE had to have a large plant fleet to keep up with such a huge demand for good quality quarried and recycled products.

With the fleet consisting of Komatsu HM400 Articulated Hauliers, wheel loaders from the WA470 to the WA500 range.

Also dotted around the various sites are several PC215 Hybrid excavators loading crushers and screeners and aPC700 working the face of the quarry here in Brownhills.

One of the PC215 is loading the hopper for JPE's much loved wash plant from CDE global with a steady flow loading the wash plant the PC215 copes really well with a huge saving on fuel compared to the old way of loading the plant with a Wheel Loader. After several weeks on site JPE find it hard to believe that they coped for so long with out the new D85 Dozer, As soon as it arrived on site the machine hasn't stopped.

We Caught with the operations manager Dave Rogers to gather his thoughts on the

F E AT U R E

latest investment.

We knew the operator would get a really comfortable machine that was ergonomically designed and friendly to the operator, after all the operator is in the machine for 10 hours per day and we all know good dozer operators are hard to find if you get a good you need to “keep him sweet�..

With Komatsu's proven track history with us we were delighted to work with Komatsu again in the sale of this new Dozer! We run a very demanding quarry business with so many jobs for this Dozer it was the perfect solution made even better with a R and M package tailored by Komatsu.

UK Plant Operators caught up with the operator to see what he thought of the new Dozer! With a big smile on his face he loved the comfort of the machine and had fallen in love with his new machine. Its some times daunting to have a new machine when you are so used to being on older machines that are tired I was a little worried that I would take a while to adjust to the Dozer but literally felt at home. The Power the new Dozer has is incredible and you shift so much more gear it’s impossible

to fall behind with the demand the quarry requires. Now at UK Plant operators we love machines of all shapes and sizes, but what we was really interested in was why Komatsu? The answer was simple. Based on the Komatsu equipment JPE already had it had proved its reliability and durability in quarry after all sand and gravel plays hell on the equipment but Komatsu seems to

cope really well with working long hours in a hard wearing environment. The back-up JPE had received was outstanding with Komatsu and this is what really created a strong bond between manufacturer and customer! Any machine can be reliable but when they go wrong it needs sorting sharpish and Komatsu have for filled this requirement ten fold.

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41

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INSIDE VIEW

Old Jobs

By Kenny Johnston Penrith By-pass. Constructed by the Sir Alfred Mc Alpine/ Fairclough joint venture Start date 1st Nov 1966 running for 27 months Myself & a mate were looking for a job.

So we travelled to Penrith in my old FX 3 London Taxi. 31 miles & went to steam bosses office. The yard was a hive of activity.

Fuel tanks going up on sleepers. Offices being put up, lots going on.

The plant Manager was called Norman Kenyon, assisted by Gerry O’Leary and their charge-hand was Dave Garbutt. As we had pestered Norman 3 times in a week, he finally gave in, starting Johnny McCarthy & myself as "Greasers". We were 19 & 20 years old at the time and had been chainboys on other 2 lane contracts when we got the bug for the road jobs.

A lot of the plant for this contract was brand new and as it was a development area Plant arrived regularly for a while. 4 brand new electric start 657 motor scrapers, 2 new D9s, a few TS 14’s, 1 Avelling Barford grader, 6 Foden 6 wheel dumptrucks.

(Which did not have power steering, as that was an extra) £7000 at the time I was told, Caused a lot of broken thumbs!

At the time, Macs, as they were known, didn’t believe in cabs. 4 older 657’s arrived also off of another contract. They used 2 bucketfulls of Shell Rimula 30 oil every 3/5 hours. That wasn’t a problem, as oil was cheap and they maintained, this was the year that they had paid for themselves. The latter 4 had donkey engines on as did a load of 22A’s that had boxes on along with the D8’s that were used on the tips.

Petrol to start the donkeys was dyed red, say no more. There was 3/4 Bedford RL fuel bowsers, hired from Shell and an old QL Bedford as the welder’s waggon. Which flew to bits after the fitter revved it up trying to locate a serious noise from bell housing. Flywheel flew off & bits of casing got Johnny on the shin. We were sent on site with the 4 new 657’s a D9 Grader with a few 22A’s, 7 am till 9pm. (No opt out, do it or go!)

The fitter was called Alan Wheeler, (Who I later met up with while working with W C French) on Bristol West Dock. The other 4 old 657’s greasers were called Shamus and Tommy. Good lads, good craic. "Black Bob" was the fitter with the old ones. A very knowledge man.

The D9 with us was operated by Les Kid, Known as "Wimpy". Rum & Coke was his tipple. The ganger-men or slashers were Noel & Brendan O’Conners. Yig, from brummie was on scraper No 6, No 7 got another operator called "Big John Ashton," He had a maroon wolsey 6/110. I am sure he married a teacher from Penrith. No 8 was operated by John McGowan, he had a Lotus Cortina and boy could it go. I used to take it during working day to fill with petrol so he got a flyer for his long weekend. I am sure he bought or leased a pub in BamberBridge area. No 9 op was called Len Pugh, a sound big guy.

Section foremen were names that a lot of operators of the 60s/70s will know: Danny Brennan, Ted Whittle, Des Diamond, Pat Murphy. One of them came in in the morning with a thick ear & black eye. Seemingly they had been battling in the pub, the night previous, as to who was going to have the grid roller the next day! One of my 1st jobs when I started was when Norman Kenyon gave us a 28lb tin of Alvania No3 grease & a brand new tecalamite grease gun each.

“Go grease the new D9.” Shortly after we

returned & Norman said, “How many nipples you find then?” “8 I think, we said.”

“Come with me & I’ll show you!” He said.

A great steam boss. Well-liked by all. He seemingly was bleeding brakes on a waggon & lost sight in one eye with brake fluid. But take it from me... He could see more than I could, with glasses.

We were on that job from start to finish, it was opened 3 months ahead of schedule, Nov 8th. 1968. Another job that springs to mind is changing the cutting edges on the 657’s, NOT for the faint hearted, no windy guns.... 1" drive socket solid bar and 8ft scaffolding bars. 2 pulling on bar and 1 in scraper box belting the head of bolt with 14lb hammer. If it wasn’t done right & they came loose, mud got between cutting edge & sole plate. So it was a case of doing it once & doing it right.

The tea cabins consisted of an old Edenhall Ob Bedford bus, which was in good nick. I wish I had it now as a classic. There was also an old ex railway truck as mobile fitting shop., it was a Denis. The overhead engine & distributer stood upright at side of the head. There was no Health & Safety then, it was then called Common sense.

I’m 70 now. But two contracts come to the fore in my working life, the Penrith contract and the Keilder Dam Project, which I was on from start to finish. Job title... Lubrication engineer, (Or to you lads, Greaser!)

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INSIDE VIEW

Cab Cleanliness

By My Tidy

One thing that really get my Back up is a messy cab, I’m a plant operator of 20 years and in the old days cabs were just old sheds attached to the machine , they were often very basic with the only comforts being a sponge seat, they very rarely had glass intact, dust would be flowing around the cab and it was hard to keep clean, the only heating available was three extra jumpers and a pair of gloves, The worst thing about it was the ground workers outside were often warmer than you as they were moving around keeping warm, I was just sat in the cab like a weather beacon only moving my hands, The wind blowing through the cab, rain would come in from all angles, I remember even taking a brolly to work, so in this environment one could be excused for having a dirty cab, a few piles of mud behind the track pedals etc.

O how things have changed since then, now we have the most ergonomically designed machine for us to operate, nice heating systems radios, very comfortable seats, vacuumed sealed cabs with no drafts, windscreen wipers for when it rains, the most comfortable seats with heating and multiple adjustments, it’s like working from your lounge.

I can’t understand how some operators jump in a machine and first thing they do is open the windows, clip the door back and

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start tracking across a dusty site in the pissing rain, where is the respect for the 100,000 pound machine your operating, I understand that at times is down to safety and communication to have all the windows open I’ve been there on deep drainage and utilities jobs where you need a good communication line with your banks man, but as soon as I’m finished I will shut the window to keep things clean, safe and secure.

We spend many hours a day in these machines why would you want it full of dirt and old rappers, I’m convinced there are health implications for sitting in dusty environments.

Me, I’m one these operators that take pride in my machine I like to make sure its washed as often as possible, my cab is nice and clean and I use a healthy dollop of polish where I can, I’ve even had mats made to fit the cab, I do get the mick taken right out of me when I put my slippers on after a jaunt through the mud in my boots, but it’s my cab and my environment and I want to keep it looking nice.

I know this is going to sound sad but I even avoid taking holiday or time off as I’m afraid the guy who replaces me will scratch my cab or even worse make a mess in the cab.

So if you’re an operator on cover and you get into a strange machine and see that the operator looks after the can etc, please respect this, if you move something put it back in the correct place, give the cab a sweep out after you have finished, leave the machine as you found it, as you can assure there is an operator probably sat on a beach in Spain worrying about you and how your treating his machine…

A clean machine = happy more productive operator Anyway rant over and thanks to UK Plant Operators for the opportunity to get my point across to the masses.

Thanks A plant operator near you…

UK Plant Operators are now able to offer fully interactive machine control training courses on the state of the art Tenstar Plant Training Simulator. We can provide Plant Operators fully interactive training on selected topics including: Machine Control, Operator Environment, Attachments, Familiarisation and Machine Awareness.

We are also able to offer training as part of a corporate event or open day to encourage newcomers, apprentices and customers into the industry, with real-time video recording and control analytics available to be printed out at the end of each course.

For more information please email info@ukplantoperators.com

Machine Control

Motion Base

Operator Seat

Multi-Function Levers

Available to hire as part of a training course or industry event from

TRAINING

Rototilt Leica Hawk Leaders in the machine automation sector, Leica have set up a dedicated customer training centre at Hawk’s premises where customers both new and existing can come to test the latest innovations in both machine control and more traditional methods of surveying. The tie-in with Hawk at their Safety & Training centre benefits both parties with a massive crossover in potential clientele.

Leica’s base at Wem is run by Neil Williams who has been working in the surveying and machine control sector for a number of years and boasts a huge working knowledge of this up and coming sector.

Along with dedicated training staff to assist trainees, the Leica centre offers the latest technology in GPS earthmoving solutions in both excavators and dozers.

The Leica iCONtrol system allows the surveying teams to design and upload a detailed site plan to the earthmoving teams.

This plan is then used by either ground based surveyors to manually map out the areas to be worked on or is received into the hardware mounted in the cabs of the machinery out on site. The variety of systems offered by Leica can cover all operations out on site. Compromising 1D, 2D and 3D systems suitable for excavators with 2D and 3D systems available for both dozer and grader applications. These more common applications are augmented with

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systems available for wheeled loaders, skid steers and paving equipment. The fully comprehensive range in the iCONtrol system offers basic control options on the 1D which includes control for slope work, grading and trench excavation and pipelaying.

The basic system is very easy to use yet still retains a high degree of accuracy allowing the excavator to be turned into an even more profitable piece of equipment.

The 2D system for an excavator adds an additional rotation sensor on the counterweight and upgrades the system to a dual-slope capability. The 2D function uses a compass to fix the slope direction.

The dual-slope system contains two sensors that record the pitch and roll and compensate for the tilt of the machine. The 2D system now allows the machine to stand at an inclined position and still carry out levelling work around the entire machine.

The highly sophisticated 3D layouts on the 3D system also allow operator intervention

from the uploaded plans allowing the operator to create terrain models directly on the screen. Whilst offering extreme accuracy when undertaking earthmoving and trenching operations, the system allows to tracking and data storage of materials moved to allow surveyors to accurately track volumes of material being moved in and out of a project.

The dozer and grader systems offer similar control features with the 2D controlling both the automatic tilt and height functions whereas the 3D system steps further ahead with the inclusion of detailed 3D views allowing total precision when moving material.

All 3D systems are compatible with the most popular surveying software eliminating the need for proprietary office software package to convert data files. The large colour touch screen for the iCONtrol sits neatly in the cab connected via the “powersnap’ system which allows the panel

TRAINING

to be removed and stored safely at the end of a shift.

While Leica can supply a massive range of surveying equipment, software and knowledge, their machine control system has recently taken a massive step forward with the collaboration with Swedish tilt-rotator manufacturer, Rototilt and their UK dealer Rototilt UK. The Swedish manufacturer has installed an R4 unit on one of Hawk’s Komatsu PC130 excavators at Wem with the machine being available for dedicated training with either Leica GPS systems and/or tilt rotator training through UK dealer Rototilt UK. While this latest addition opens up a new avenue for the Hawk training school, the addition of the Leica GPS equipped Rototilt will be seen by many as the ultimate in digging to a specific point and position.

The sensors for the 3D system are augmented by additional units within the body of the tilt rotator and send the precise position of the unit back to the monitor mounted in the cab. The sensors give an accurate representation of the rotation and

tilt of the attachment. The operator is able to select a particular bucket through the menu of the iCON system allowing the operator to match the attachment to the job requirement. By integrating the two systems, an operator is now able to create complex shapes and follow an uploaded program with far less tracking and moving the machine about. Experienced tilt rotator operators will see this as a massive benefit to their armoury for the often complex shapes involved in the likes of golf course construction and landscaping projects.

Recent machine control launches from Caterpillar will undoubtedly lift the profile of these systems but will the initial

purchaser of these machines get a return on their investment when the time comes to sell? Apart from the installation cost of the Leica system, the equipment is totally transportable between machines; a system can be used one day on a 13t excavator putting in a trench for sewer pipes and the next it can be fixed into a 50t machine for the accurate placing of rock armour on a sea defence project.

Rototilt UK and Leica have already supplied a similar spec’d unit to a UK customer with the unit having been in operation for a number of weeks. Early reports confirm the unit is exceeding all expectations.

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JOIN TODAY AND HAVE YOUR SAY ON INDUSTRY TOPICS

The NFPEO has great experience in the rail & Construction industries, so we can see first-hand the growing gap in the market for skilled plant operators. We also understand how operators are struggling to gain experience on projects. As “The Voice of the Operator� the NFPEO is looking to bring about fundamental changes in the operators working conditionsespecially in regards to training and continual personal development. This is to ensure good operators remain in the industry and that new operators can be attracted to fill the current shortage.

Find out more at: http://nfpeo.com

NFPEO

Apprentice, apprentice, apprentice Lots of buzz words and phrases flying around the industry at the moment and we love to use them and where possible get it into all of our conversations and looks good at client meetings. One of the words that has had a huge amount of attention over the past 12 months is apprentices.

Whether this be plant operators, HGV or plant fitters everyone loves saying that they want them within the industry and would support them through the earlier years, however we are starting to believe that when push comes to shove that companies are not taking them on and the apprentices are struggling to get by on the sites.

We have had reports from company insiders at two major companies which say

the clients are not keeping their word when it comes to the apprenticeship schemes.

One insider told us “We were told that a project in London would support the scheme and they would take up to 3 plant operator apprentices during 2016 and that part of the reason the client wining the work was because of this, giving something back to the community.

We took on apprentices within our business on this promise but ended up having nowhere to place them, resulting in young talent sitting in the yard waiting for the job� I wish I could say this is just a one off case but when I ask around the offices it is a more and more common situation.

I wonder if we start to ask the questions

how many more are falling far short from help and support they need. If we are not careful we have the fear of us all talking about apprentices but not taking the correct again? We all Know how much of a struggle it can be to recruit the brilliant young operators of tomorrow. If we are not carful the day will come when we won’t have any operators to fill the posts that are required 360 days a year?

Is this just me getting pulled into the wrong direct here from the NFPEO have you got more to support this feedback or your own view?

Give us a shout and join the debate.

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EVENTS GUIDE

PLANTWORX 2017: On the Runway to Success The PLANTWORX team are preparing to put on an impressive exhibition when the biennial show returns to Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground, Leicestershire, from 6 -8 June 2017. The UK’s Largest Working Construction Equipment Show, hosted by the CEA (Construction Equipment Association), will be the biggest event to date where visitors can expect to see the very latest in construction machinery and equipment innovation, which will set future trends.

The show represents the industry for construction machinery in its entirety and is a platform that features an extensive range of brand new products and includes many world-premieres! To date PLANTWORX has 200 confirmed exhibitors signed up for the event – this equates to over 76% sold.

Of these 33 exhibitors are brand new to PLANTWORX, which is a firm indication that confidence in the event is high.

Returning exhibitors are also confident with many booking larger stands and extra demonstration space. Demonstration space is at a premium for the 2017 show and is almost sold out.

New exhibitors to the 2017 event include

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attachment manufacturer Arden Equipment, security tracking company CanTrack Global, plant hire firm CRH Plant, tool manufacturers Hilti (Great Britain) and Husqvarna Construction Products, who also manufacture Demolition Robots! Also new is welfare cabin manufacturer Mobile Mini, attachment manufacturer Mount Machinery and tilt-rotator manufacturer Rototilt – the PLANTWORX team is looking forward to seeing all the new exhibitors at the show!

Construction Plant & Machinery Sales were new to the 2015 event – the company is coming back in 2017 with LiuGong machinery. The company caused quite a stir

in 2015 with its impressive demonstration of its machinery - CPMS have once again booked a large demo plot to put the kit through its paces!

A&Y Equipment, Case Construction Equipment, Doosan, Finning-CAT, Hanix Europe, Hyundai Heavy Industries Europe, JCB, Komatsu, Liebherr, Takeuchi and Wacker Neuson are also returning to the show and will be demonstrating a wide range of machinery. Molson Group has also taken a demo plot for 2017 and will be demonstrating JLG Equipment.

Other confirmed exhibitors include BOMAG, demolition robot specialist Brokk UK, Morooka dealers Cautrac,

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Hydrema, Kubota, Ladybird Cranes, Merlo, Thwaites and Volvo.

There will also be two undercover pavilions (A & B) at the 2017 show which will house more stands for ancillary and support products and kit that keeps the construction equipment machinery sector on the move. Confirmed exhibitors in pavilion B include AV Industrial Products, brand new exhibitor Garden Hire & Spares, GKD Technologies and Towergate Insurance Brokers.

Pavilion A will be home to the Training and Education Area where colleges and training bodies will exhibit. Ainscough Training Services is the latest company to sign up to exhibit in the training area alongside NPORS and Mentor Training Solutions.

A full exhibitor list can be found on the PLANTWORX website www.plantworx.co.uk The 2017 PLANTWORX event will be 20% larger than the 2015 show– with an impressive 140,000 of space.

More exhibitor stands have been included and there is an increase in demonstration areas to meet the demands of both exhibitors and visitors.

A post show survey was conducted following the 2015 event which asked

visitors their main reasons for attending the show. 55% of those asked said that it was to see ‘Something New’, 30% said that it was the machine demonstrations that attracted them to the event and 15% said it was to try the machines in real working conditions. Visitors also said that seeing the ‘widest range of products and equipment in one place’ was also important with 27% of the respondents selecting this option.

Since the first show PLANTWORX has gained the support of a number of organisations these include the FMB (Federation of Master Builders), Build UK and CECA (Civil Engineering Contractors Association) – working with these associations helps PLANTWORX widen its audience reach bringing the industry together.

PLANTWORX also works closely with the CPA (Construction Plant-hire Association) and its members from the Plant Hire sector. For exhibitors’ trade visitors with budgets to invest and seeing decisionmakers are key to a successful show.

The last day of the show (Thursday 8th June) PLANTWORX will once again open its doors to young plant enthusiasts! The Student Day was introduced in 2015 and is aimed at encouraging children into the

Construction sector, which is suffering from a major skills shortage. Parents, Grandparents and Guardians are invited to bring along young family members to the show and take part in the ‘Student Trail’ to get a taste of what working within the construction machinery industry could be like! In 2015 more than 300 children took part in the Student Trail – a real success!

PLANTWORX is also working with the Primary Engineer organization and head teachers and children from local schools.

The students from Leicestershire schools have been invited to take part in a STEM (Science, Technology Engineering and Maths), project and will be building a motor vehicle or a crane as part of their curriculum and presenting their finished projects in a special event at the show (Thursday 8th June). The projects will be judged by engineers and the PLANTWORX and Primary Engineer teams. More information can be found on the PLANTWORX website.

There are just nine months to wait for the Construction Machinery event of the year – so make sure 6-8 June 2017 is in the diary!

Watch this space as news unfolds of other new initiatives happening at the event.

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The TC Harrison JCB Hydra ‘dig’ Days On the weekend of 21st October, TC Harrison JCB, one of the largest JCB dealers in the UK, held two exclusive – what they are calling - Hydra’dig’ Days for their customers – old, present, and new.

Named in honour of the JCB Hydradig, which they recently delivered to the Construction Training Academy (CTA) in Doncaster for training purposes, the event provided customers of both TCH JCB and CTA the chance to test drive a wide range of JCB machines in a friendly and relaxed environment.

The two days, which were held on-site at the CTA training facility, saw a wide range of invitees from many different areas of the industry turn up for their share of complimentary food and refreshments, and to get hands on time with each of the demo JCB machines, which included: JCB Hydradig c/w Engcon DC2 with FNR, Joystick Steering & Trailer, JCB Hydradig c/w TAB Boom, JCB JS130LC Plus c/w Engcon, JCB JS131LC, JCB JZ140LC c/w Dozer, JCB 417HT Wheeled Loader, JCB 437 Wheeled Loader, JCB 3CX Compact, JCB 535v140 Loadall, JCB VMT260-120 Tandem Roller, JCB 6T Swivel Tip Dumper, JCB 48Z-1, JCB 65R-1.

TC Harrison JCB have worked very closely with CTA to provide further high level training, as well as 'try before you buy' demonstration days, and they are very

active in encouraging their customers to arrange test drives and demonstrations at CTA. This is what inspired them to hold their Hyda’dig’ Days at the training facility in Doncaster, as they take pride in going the extra mile to provide their customers with everything they need to get going with their new machine.

Given the success of their Hydra’dig’ Days, both TCH JCB and CTA intend to hold similar events in the future, and are looking forward to continuing their partnership to provide more demonstration days and industry training for people all over the country.

ABOUT TC HARRISON JCB TC Harrison JCB’s success is based on their unrivalled wealth of experience, with over 50 years in new, used and second hand JCB Sales, Service, Parts and Finance packages, all of which have been designed to meet individual requirements.

They currently operate from five regional depots. Each one has been strategically placed covering Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and the North East. Each depot is equipped with every facility to ensure a quick and efficient response to their customers’ needs.

ABOUT THE CTA Construction Training Academy understand the importance of accredited training. Owing to their team of highly qualified and experienced instructors and assessors, they pride themselves on providing the right training, at the right time. They strive to deliver professional courses and assessments in an accessible and approachable manner, whilst not only offering the best advice to help reach requirements, but with the desire to meet them at a time that’s right for their customer.

Construction Training Academy’s courses are available 7 days a week and are fully accredited by the relevant sector Awarding Bodies.

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Plant Operator Solutions are only interested in the recruitment and placement of PLANT OPERATORS, no other trades. Our experienced consultants are ex-operators themselves and they know the day-to-day problems faced by plant operators today.

We know how costly it is for you to be continuously asked to up-skill and how difficult it can be to keep up to date with the latest health & safety legislation.

Plant Operator Solutions therefore not only guarantee to keep you one step in the job market but we are also here to offer you sound advice regarding your “Continual Personal Development�. POS not only offer you the best industry advice available but can also offer operators support with guidance and implementation of excellent training programs to help you achieve the necessary qualifications (CPCS & beyond). Further to this we also keep you updated legislation changes and if required financial advice and support.

For a better future call 01277 289808

or visit us at www.plantoperatorsolutions.com

EVENTS GUIDE

Weston Beach Race: UK Plant Operators team up with RHL activities to help build the biggest motocross track in the UK for the second year running…

Now for the second running year UKPO have teamed up with RHL activities to help build the motocross track for the world famous Weston beach race 2016, with combined help from Keyway Plant hire, Lynch Plant Hire, Keen Attachments, Hitachi and Caterpillar.

THE BACKGROUND

THE CHALLENGE

The Weston beach race is an annual motocross event held in Weston Super Mare since 1983 which sees a massive 1500 motocross riders from all around the world compete in one of the hardest endurance races known to man, just the track itself criss-crossing the North Somerset Coastline is a staggering 7km long from start to finish with some of the highest jumps and tight bends and record breaking straights, all witnessed in front of over 200,000 keen spectators. This year just the value of the bikes alone taking off from the start line is a massive £4 million, over 14km of track segregation combined with the £35 million raised to date for various charities makes this a really is a special event for people of Weston and surrounding areas.

As per the last year UK Plant Operators were invited to help build the massive track and also design and build the trials arena for the famous Dougie Lampkin and the Zero Gravity lads. To ensure this year was bigger and better than previous years we needed a bit of extra help, so we owe a huge thank you to Keyway Plant hire who provided a massive fleet including a brand new spanking CAT D6T, a CAT D6R and if this was not enough Keyway also supplied a massive Hitachi ZW310 Loading shovel, a JCB loading shovel and 2 x brand new Hitachi 13t zero swing excavators for the trials arena, Lynch Plant hire provided 2 x Cat D6N Dozers and 2 x Volvo 13t, 20t excavators and also some of the best Plant operators in the region, Caterpillar Visitors

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centre also helped in providing a cat loading shovel and skid steer.

This year we had to move a massive 250,000 tons of sand to shape, form and create the track for the super stars of the motocross world, including Robbie Madison, Jonny Walker, and world famous Scott Redding Moto GP rider who was doing a special appearance for this year’s event.

THE BUILD The track building team had their work cut and that’s for sure, led by race director Gareth Hockey and seasoned track building legends Rupert and Tommy combined with Lynch Plant Hire’s elite operators we got stuck in, with long days and nights the track started to take shape, the machines

EVENTS GUIDE

performed faultlessly, and quite frankly I did not think it would be possible to move that much sand in such a short time, but they did it and well done to the guys from Lynch, Wayne Stevens, Gavin Elson, Wayne Sherwood, Andy Hill, Barry Sellick, some of who with no experience of track building, they got stuck in and got the hang of it very quickly, as only true plant operators would.

After 7 days of extreme track building the course was built, all 7km of jumps berms bogs ramps, were in place and ready for the 1500 motocross rider to hit.

THE TRIALS ARENA One thing left to do, Team UK Plant Operators had to build the trials arena for Dougie Lampkin and team, this would have been a massive undertaking without the help from the professionals, with support

from KEEN attachments, a very reputable bucket manufacturing company form Wales headed up by chief honcho Andy Hicks, without his and his teams welding skills this event would have not gone ahead, they spent nearly 7 days welding and working closely with Dougie to make the now famous jumps and ramps which you can see pictured, where the riders venture over the dipper arm and booms of 2 x Hitachi zero swing excavator supplied by Keyway Plant hire, in addition they used 2 x HGV lorries as take off ramps to propel them over the large obstacles, as if this wasn’t bad enough they had to do in front of 8,000 spectators 3 times a day for the whole weekend, and without practice, these guys were truly the stars of the show, well done to Dougie and team.

THE KEYWAY BIKE Keyway Plant Hire had an invested interest in this year’s event as owner Eamon McGurk personally sponsored world famous Moto GP rider Scott Redding to attend this year’s event, by providing a very sexy sign written Husgavana 250cc motocross bike.

WELL DONE TO ALL INVOLVED Overall we had a brilliant week end watching the fruits of our labour take shape and provide entertainment for so many people, the whole team worked their socks off to create an outstanding track and also a trials arena you will not forget in a hurry, this truly was the best event to date and thanks to all that got in loved and supported the team.

See you again next year!

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CLASSIFIEDS

SERVICES

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