43 minute read
Demolition
The UK’s first Bobcat Remote Control compact loader has increased safety and reduced costs on a major demolition contract in London.
Purchased by BooBoo Plant Hire, based in Kings Langley, and supplied by Bobcat of London, the local Authorised Bobcat dealer, the Remote Control S450 skidsteer loader is working on the top-down demolition of a former wing of the Whittington Hospital in Upper Holloway in North London, being carried out by main contractor, Kent-based Erith. Bobcat of London supplied the S450 with a kit for the Bobcat Remote Control System - installed in a matter of minutes, the Remote Control System allows the operator to leave the seat in the cab of the S450 and control it remotely whilst maintaining full visibility and safety. Compatible with any Bobcat skid-steer, compact track and all wheel steer loader equipped with the company’s Selectable Joystick Controls, the Remote Control System can be quickly removed, leaving the standard machine in its original form. The new S450 forms part of a fleet of Bobcat machines purchased from Bobcat of London by BooBoo Plant Hire, that are being used on the contract - the company is responsible for supplying specialist equipment for the project. They include conventional and specially modified E85 8.5 tonne miniexcavators and an S70 skid-steer loader. Two of the E85 units have specially modified hydraulics that allow them to operate a Multi Quick Processor 25 (MQP-25) and large hydraulic breakers, whilst still maintaining the low ground pressure that is required for working safely on the floors of buildings being demolished in this way. BooBoo Plant Hire prides itself in running a state-of-the-art fleet and like all the machines in the fleet, the Bobcat loaders and excavators are all less than three years old and meet the Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) emission standards.
Remote Control
Remote control aims to increase safety, comfort and productivity by distancing the operator from dust, noise, vibrations and other hazards encountered on job sites that require special safety precautions. In the confined spaces of top-down demolition, the remote control system removes the operator from any danger, such as rebar penetrating the cab space as well dust inhalation and the effects of vibration and noise in the cab. Harry Allen, Owner of BooBoo Plant Hire, commented: “With the number of injuries on sites increasing again, maintaining
maximum safety is paramount. I believe remote control is the way to go in the future in our industry – it’s a no-brainer really – so I was very interested in the excellent demonstration provided by Phil Stoneham at Bobcat of London. “As well as increased safety, the remote control saves costs by removing the need for a banksman as a lookout for the machine, a prerequsite now on many sites. Banksmen are necessary to help avoid collisions of machines with other workers on site, which after falls from height is one of the major causes of accidents and injuries. “So instead of the contractor having to pay for both a banksman and the loader driver, these are both replaced by the operator on the remote control system. On top of that, they do not have to pay for pensions, holiday pay and other associated costs, providing further savings.” The Bobcat Remote Control System allows direct sight of the work in progress in demolition and many other sites, further increasing the versatility of the loader and a comprehensive range of attachments including angle brooms, augers, breakers, buckets and snow blowers. The Remote Control System is supplied with two exchangeable batteries offering a long 20-hour battery life. The protective case ensures it is easier to transport from one job site to another. This forms part of an updated state-of-the-art ergonomic design with the system housed in a rugged and weatherproof enclosure.
NO CHALLENGE TOO DEMANDING FOR THE TEAM AT COLLINS DEMOLITION
Award winning Collins Demolition, part of the long-established Collins Earthworks group of affiliated companies, has recently completed a major contract at Project Titanic in Belfast for a high-profile new development, one of a number of challenging and demanding projects it has undertaken in the past year across the UK.
Based in Nottinghamshire in the English Midlands, Collins Demolition was formed just five years ago after it became clear by the management at Collins Earthworks that there was a growing need for a specialist company to develop and promote its demolition and land remediation activities; today, acting as a principal contractor, Collins Demolition has its own expanding list of clients. The company’s recent activities in Belfast has resulted in numerous new working relationships being formed, with the prospect of more local contracts to follow. Collins Demolition boasts a fully experienced management team supported by an excellent team of trained demolition operators, supervisors and operatives with the ability to undertake any nature of preconstruction / development enabling works. It has a fleet of dedicated demolition and dismantling spec’d excavators, from six tonnes up to 70 tonnes, as well as a range of specialist attachments including shears, breakers, pulverisers and grabs. All its drivers are CCDO/CPCS trained for normal and specialist High Reach operations, while Site Managers hold a minimum of CCDO Gold Card / Black Cards and together with its directly employed, CCDO/CSCS trained operatives, it has the resources to undertake multi million pound projects throughout the country.
Strategic Planning
The recent Belfast project consisted of the demolition of various structures on the site including a 13,000 m2 steel frame factory containing multiple cranes, a 1000 m2 office block and numerous outbuildings around the plot. Collins Earthworks (Transport) Ltd transported all the necessary plant machinery over to Belfast including the company’s flagship High Reach Volvo EC380HR and the ‘Beast from the East’ Volvo EC700EL with Oil Quick Hitch System. The team of demolition operatives managed by Chris Lythgoe and Chris Shilcock carried out the intricate works, using hydraulic shears to cut down the building which was located close to a busy road, Belfast Lough and George Best City Airport. Careful planning and management allowed for the building to be strategically demolished, leaving minimal site dust emissions and no impact on the services working around it. Prior to that, a large quantity of asbestos had to be removed from the site with qualified operatives manually disposing of the hazardous material to ensure the building was safe for demolition. Once that stage of the project was completed, concrete slabs, foundations and footings were then lifted. Using two McCloskey J45 mobile crushers
and screeners, the material was crushed and processed to the required specification and will be re-used in the construction of the new facility. Sister companies Collins Earthworks Ltd and ground stabilisation specialists EnviroTrac Ltd were also deployed on site, allowing for a seamless transition between demolition and enabling works for the construction of the new structure.
London Docklands
In addition to the Belfast project, among other recently completed contracts was turning a 27,000m2 site just 50m from the Thames in London’s docklands into the base for a new multi-storey distribution warehouse, the first of its kind to be developed in the UK. It, too, presented a number of major challenges for the company, not least the fact the Thames was just a stone’s throw away which meant there was the added issue of water penetration onto the site. Commented Site Manager Chris Lythgoe, who also worked on the Belfast contract: “Luckily most of the kit we have used on
the project has been relatively small compared to the usual gear we use. The biggest headache we had was getting one of our 70t excavators in which required a night-time move and lots of liaising with police and the local authorities.” The site had been demolished and capped off by another contractor some years ago with the Collins team coming on board to remove and recycle structures left below the ground before reengineering the levels and the material to form a suitable base for the construction teams to operate from. Once a suitable base was set up and machinery delivered the next task facing the team was the methodology. The material originally on site was down to remain unless it was deemed hazardous. Daily testing by subcontractors Portway Environmental to validate the cleanliness of the material being excavated was required and thankfully all bar a very small amount was found to contain any harmful pollutants. The polluted material was segregated and shipped off site to a suitable disposal point.
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The remaining material was then required to be excavated down to virgin clay which was found between 2m and 4m below the capping layer. The material is then modified with a 3% cement additive before being reinstated and compacted to the finished levels. This is where the team encountered their biggest issue. Despite being 50m away from the Thames, the site lay almost at water level and during high tides, sometimes twice a day, the ingress of water into the excavation areas caused the team to have to suspend operations. “We quickly formulated a solution to this problem by excavating smaller sections and reinstating them completely,” Chris explained. “This meant we were able to work between the highest of tides and complete sections before the water seeped in.” Being in London, another challenge was keeping dust, vibration and noise to a minimum, so a series of monitoring stations were established around the site keeping a check on all of those issues. “Throw into the mix that we were right at the end of the City Airport’s runway, which was another issue to contend with,” says Chris. “Our surveying team usually fly over a job to measure stockpile quantities, but this had to be curtailed as we were so close to the airport.” But despite all the challenges of the location, the demolition team were able to complete the 20-week project several weeks ahead of schedule.
Investment & Awards
The continuing growth and success of the Collins group of companies is down to many key factors, not least ongoing investment in its specialist fleet and staff.
That success has led to the company being featured for the past three years in The East Midlands Top 200 List of fastest growing businesses. It was also recognised in the sixth edition of London Stock Exchange Group’s ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain’ report 2019. Meanwhile, both Collins Earthworks and Collins Demolition have been presented with RoSPA Gold Awards for health and safety performance in 2019. Comments Scott Craddock, Collins Demolition,
Managing Director: “We pride ourselves on our health and safety practices, and we place an emphasis on making sure all of our staff are correctly and thoroughly trained and briefed on any new legislations they need to be aware of, whilst keeping things simple. Our commitment to customer service and doing the best job we can for our customers has been the driving force behind the business for many years. We are very fortunate to have an excellent working relationship with our suppliers in particular
Volvo for their equipment and service. This allows us to perform the way we do.”
CAT ULTRA HIGH DEMOLITION EXCAVATOR HANDLES DIFFICULT DEMOLITION PROJECTS
The Cat 352 UHD Ultra High Demolition excavator is designed to handle difficult demolition of tall structures using a range of Cat demolition attachments, including multiprocessors, grapples, shears and hydraulic hammers with the retrofit boom.
The UHD front can be switched for a straight or bent (retrofit) boom position for lower-level demolition and earthmoving applications. This switch typically is done in about 15 minutes with 2 people with no special tool required. The 352 UHD features a variable-gauge undercarriage (hydraulically activated), as well as the Cat Active Stability Monitoring system, which continuously informs the operator of work tool position within a safe working range and warns when approaching stability limits. In the UHD configuration, the 352 UHD provides 91.8 feet (28 m) of vertical height to the work tool attachment pin, and 51 feet (15.8 m) of horizontal reach, when working with an 8,150-pound (3.7 t) tool. These ample specifications allow the 352 UHD to demolish structures eight or nine stories high fast, with precision and control thanks to the electrohydraulic control system. Undercarriage gauge is 13 feet (4 000 mm) for optimum stability when working, and 10 feet (3 000 mm) for transport with 24-inch (600 mm) track shoes. In retrofit straight boom configuration, the 352 UHD uses a 29.75-foot (9.1-m) retrofit boom with a choice of 9.4-foot (2.9-m) or 11-foot 3.35-retrofit stick. Equipped with the longer stick and a 4.0-cubic yard (3.08 m3) bucket, the 352 UHD has a digging depth of 21.8 feet (6 670 mm) and a maximum reach at ground level of 38.92 feet (11 880 mm). The 352 models use the Cat C13 engine, rated at 408 horsepower (304 kW), and meeting EU Stage V/U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final emissions standards. The C13 also is capable of operating on biodiesel up to B20. Three power modes in the machines allow the operator to match machine performance to
the task at hand, and a new high efficiency, hydraulic, reversing fan cools the engine on demand to help reduce fuel consumption. When using the retrofit boom, the machine can use the Cat GRADE with 2D grade control system, swing e-fencing and the Cat Payload on-board weighing system. The Payload system can be used with VisionLink (online telematics interface) to remotely manage production targets via the machine’s Product Link (telematics system).
Operator safety
The Cat demolition cab features a falling objects guard structure (FOGS) and includes front and roof laminated glass with a P5A impact rating. The cabs tilt up 30 degrees for an optimum line of sight to the work tool and for a more productive, more comfortable working position for the operator. The windshield and roof glass feature one-piece, parallel wipers with three intermittent settings with washer spray. A premium seat, heated and cooled, is standard. Rearview and right-hand sideview standard cameras provide clear images on the monitor The left console tilts up for easy cab entry and exit, advanced viscous mounts reduce cab vibration up to 50 percent, compared with previous excavator models, and controls are easily accessed. UHD models are equipped to accept a worktool camera, which can be installed by the Cat dealer with a kit. Standard radio has USB ports and Bluetooth technology to connect personal devices and to make hands-free calls. In the cab, each joystick button can be programmed, including power mode, response, and pattern, and these settings can be recalled using appropriate operator identification. An automatic hydraulic oil warmup feature quickly brings the system to operating temperature and helps prolong component life. A high resolution 10-inch (254-mm) touchscreen monitor allows fast navigation, including operating and maintenance tutorials.
news Support the Lighthouse Construction Industry’s Peaky Climbers!
The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity is throwing a challenge out to the construction industry to complete an epic 4 Peaks Challenge.
They are the only charity that provides financial and emotional support to the construction community and their families who have suffered an injury, long term illness or just need some extra support and last year saw them deliver £1.13m of charitable services to support the wellbeing of our construction industry. The charity is hoping to raise a total of £300,000 from their 4 Peaks and On Yer Bike Challenge. They’re asking companies and individuals to scale four of the highest mountains in Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland. The challenge is to summit Ben Nevis (1,345m), Helvellyn (950m), Snowdon (1,085m) and Carrauntoohil (1,038m) all within a 48-hour window between 10 -12 September 2020. But this story comes with a bit of a twist as the charity also has team members who are taking up the challenge and joining in the fun. Dubbed as the Peaky Climbers, Bill Hill, Charity CEO, Michelle Finnerty, Marketing Manager, Laura Anderson, Digital Marketing Executive and honorary Lighthouse team member, Laura’s dad, David Anderson will be leading the way in helping to raise much needed funds for the charity. They are covering all their own expenses, so every penny donated will reach construction families in crisis. The first three peaks, Ben Nevis, Helvellyn and Snowdon will be completed on day one, with a dash to Holyhead to get the ferry over to Dublin ready for the next day where they will then tackle Carrauntoohil, the central peak of the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, Irelands highest mountain range. Bill Hill, Charity CEO said, “I’m conscious that my head may have made a commitment that my body can’t keep! This event is team building at its absolute best and it’s something that we and everyone else will remember for the rest of our lives. It goes without saying that this is going to be a huge personal challenge for everyone involved, both physically and mentally. What will really motivate us is to see our fundraising amount increase, so we’re hoping to get lots of support. As a charity, it’s vital that we continue to deliver pro-active interventions for our construction workers in crisis and ensure that situations do not reach a life critical stage. Our mission is to ensure that no worker feels alone in a crisis, so please be generous with your sponsorship.”
On Yer Bike
Alongside the 4 Peaks Challenge, the charity is also organising an ‘On Yer Bike’ cycling challenge, with cyclists covering 210 miles from Leitrim to Killarney in three days, taking in some spectacular scenery along the way. Both events will culminate in Killarney with a celebratory gala dinner to celebrate everyone’s achievements and compare notes on weary legs! If you’d like to sponsor the Lighthouse Club’s Peaky Climbers then visit their Justgiving Page.
SEARCH WORKSHOP SUPPLIES
Ireland's leading workshop specialist for haulage, transport, plant and fleet
SWS is Ireland’s leading garage fit-out and workshop equipment specialist. With over 40 years’ experience and access to the world’s leading brands, we’re trusted by operators who value our expertise, reliability and exceptional value.
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HOW TO ENTER: Entries should not exceed word count of 1000 words. A minimum of two high res images that best depict your entry to be supplied. Supporting material can be supplied over and above. Entries must be made by emailing a Word/PDF document stating the award category to: golda@4squaremedia.net Separate award entries to be emailed for each category entered. Large files can be sent via WeTransfer - email to be sent to golda@4squaremedia.net to advise thereof. Award Entry enquiries can be made to Golda Burrows: golda@4squaremedia.net; Tel: (028) 9268 8888.
R&D Innovation of the Year
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This award is for individual /organisations that can demonstrate excellence in enabling a high quality, high value end market product from recycled/recovered materials. This Award will be presented to the individual working within the quarry sector in a dedicated quarry management team. He or she must demonstrate attention to safe working practice; clear management skills; pollution control, sustainability, biodiversity; examples of working under unique conditions; health and safety practices; and submit details of what makes this individual outstanding in his or her field. Customer testimonies may also be submitted.
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Plant Hire Company of the Year
This Award will be presented to the organisation which offers an extensive portfolio of high quality products, flexible hire options, and respected customer service policies. Entrants should outline how their company provides a level of plant hire expertise that puts them ahead of the competition, eg: product knowledge, distribution network, prompt delivery and collection, equipment options, cost effective hiring and any unique services available. Customer testimonies may also be submitted.
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This category is for the individual or company that has achieved outstanding success such as in sales, contract wins, company expansion/development or other areas of business over the past 12 months. Open to any individual or company currently active in the construction, civil engineering, quarrying, waste management and plant & machinery industries. The entrant must highlight the area in which they operate, level and type of achievement as well as outline any relevant factors or reasons that contribute to that success.
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Construction Company of the Year
This Award will be presented to the company or organisation who has demonstrated over the past year involvement with major or specialist projects throughout the island of Ireland, Great Britain or worldwide which illustrate high levels of skill within project management, innovation, specialist projects. Customer testimonies may also be submitted.
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Demolition Project of the Year
This category is for high profile demolition projects that imposed major challenges to successful completion or which required an innovative demolition approach. Entries should demonstrate these challenges and how they were successfully overcome, on time, within budget and with an exemplary safety record. Submissions should include demolition methodology statements, site waste management plans and any other relevant project documentation. Client testimonials concerning the work carried out may also be supplied if possible.
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Environmental Initiative
From Innovative resource management and environmental impact mitigation to biodiversity projects, ethical or charitable initiatives and more, this award recognises those effecting real change from across the environmental and sustainabilty spectrum.
This category is open to individuals who have delivered outstanding results in terms of efficiency, health and safety when dealing with all aspects of heavy (plant machinery) used in the construction industry. They will have worked on projects throughout Ireland, overseeing the important business of buying, hiring or transporting (often huge) pieces of equipment according to strict rules and regulations, and will be involved in supervising & motivating staff on a daily basis.
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Student of the Year
This category is open to students working in a civil engineering environment or other associated activities within the construction sector. The winning student must demonstrate a high degree of dedication and commitment to the industry, outlining why he or she chose this particular career path and detailing their current and future goals. Employer references can be included in this entry.
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Health & Safety Award
This award will be presented to the company that can demonstrate safety management systems leading to zero accidents in the plant, quarry, construction and waste management industries. Criteria to include: health & safety policy relative to the size of the company. Well developed training needs analysis and training provision. Risk assessment procedures. Demonstration of capital investment on the ground for safety.
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People are at the heart of delivering the products, processes and services needed to deliver high performance in waste and resource management. This award recognises any team that has shown a collective commitment to go above and beyond what is expected in order to deliver top results from a waste and recyclying perspective.
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This category is open to waste site managers who have delivered outstanding results in the day to day operations of their depot and staff. What will set the winning site manager above the rest will be their passion and going that extra mile. Site Managers will be scored based on the below elements: • General Cooperation • Health & Safety • Site Tidiness • Standard of Site Management
Some tips to consider in the entry but not limited to: • Demonstration of skills reflecting their on-site management • Well organised, planned processes and good safety procedures • Technical compliance and management of site issues • Maintaining a clean and tidy site • Good attention to detail • Leadership skills and forward thinking
This award may include a site visit or telephone interview of which the date will be determined by all parties. This award is for the company, team or individual who has demonstrated exceptional skills, expertise, design and innovation on a construction project, be it a building, a road, a utility facility or any other similar undertaking throughout the island of Ireland, Great Britain or worldwide.
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Civil Engineering Company of the Year
This Award will be presented to the organisation who can report on successful involvement within a wide variety of civil engineering projects including planning, construction and maintenance of fixed structures or public works throughout the island of Ireland, Great Britain, or worldwide. The information provided should demonstrate high levels of skill within project management, procurement, innovation and specialist projects. Customer testimonies may also be submitted
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This Award will recognize individual excellence within the resources and Wastes Management industry, through best practice and innovation across a range of commercial and public sectors.
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Specialist Contractor of the Year
This category is open to contractors involved in any sector of the industry, including Civil Engineering, Highways, Quarrying, Utilities, Construction and Groundworks. The award will be presented to the contractor who has successfully demonstrated or employed specialist, individual, unique, and/or innovative skills on any project or scheme within the last 12 months.
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Will be presented to the individual who has been outstanding in his or her service to the industry, whose personal achievements, accomplishments or initiatives in the plant, construction, quarrying & recycling sectors deserve recognition.
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in profile KINSHOFER ORANGE PEEL GRAB MAKES BIG IMPACT AT MOLLOY METALS
When you have a business processing, recycling and shipping out huge amounts of scrap metal and endof-life vehicles you need equipment that is robust and reliable, which is why a Kinshofer orange peel grab was an obvious choice for County Wexford based Molloy Metals.
Supplied by SME Plant Sales, the Kinshofer P40V heavy duty five-tines grab is proving to be an excellent investment for the scrap metal recycling company, established back in 1994 by John Molloy. As one of the leading businesses of its kind in the south east of Ireland, Molloy Metals has a wealth of experience in the collection, recycling and disposal of a wide range of scrap metals. A family business, it initially began as a mobile car crusher and has steadily expanded ever since under the careful management of John Molloy and his team. Located in Ballycarney and New Ross in County Wexford, Molloy Metals today is in a prime position to serve its ever-expanding customer base throughout all of Ireland. Over the past year, the company has invested about €2 million in the business. “We serve clients in counties Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Carlow and all over the country,” says John. “We have many years of experience and can offer advice to our clients on the best and most compliant method of metals collection and disposal.” The company handles a varied range of scrap metals including steel and cast iron, aluminium and copper; it also processes tyres, glass, batteries, electric motors and even old mattresses, but one of its main focuses is on end-of-life vehicles. “We strip the vehicles down to a shell, ripping out engines, gearboxes and other components, before baling what’s left. On an average day, we would probably handle about 80 scrap vehicles,” says John. “Our yards are kept extremely busy,
so we need equipment at our disposal that is efficient, productive and isn’t going to let us down, which is one of the reasons we have invested in the Kinshofer grab.” The grab has been fitted to a Terex Fuchs 360 which Molloy Metals acquired from Blue Machinery about two years ago. “It has certainly made a big difference,” says John. “While the Fuchs is a great machine, the grab we had been using until now wasn’t really designed for such a tough daily work-load; this new heavy-duty grab is taking everything in its stride.” Which is just as well, because Molloy Metals ships out around 16 trailer loads – or about 3,000 tonnes of scrap metal - every three weeks or so for onward processing in England. Molloy Metals has three other Terex Fuchs 360s in the fleet and John says he’s considering fitting Kinshofer grabs on those
as well. “The Kinshofer grab is very versatile. Not only do we use it for loading scrap metals, but it makes short work of ripping out heavy engine blocks from the vehicles; it can complete the task in less than a minute!” He’s also well pleased with the service and support he gets from SME Plant Sales, whose Sales Director Michael O’Leary, comments: “We offer one of the biggest and most diverse portfolios of attachments in the country as We are also the official UK and Ireland importer for the Hammer product range which includes rock breakers, demolition shears, pulverisers, grabs and crushers.” Certainly, it’s a product offering that perfectly complements the company’s range of Kinshofer attachments.
Highly Praised
So, let’s take a closer look at Kinshofer’s aptly labelled orange peel P-Series grabs, the result of many year of experience, research, development and testing. Throughout the years, the orange peel grabs – there are six in the P-Series range - have been further developed and improved, until today’s version – for many the best range on the market! Available for excavators ranging from 16 tonnes up to 200 tonnes operating weight, and with 360° rotation, these truly robust P-Series grabs have been designed to handle bulky materials. The P-series orange peel grabs are available with three, four or five tines, depending on type and version, and in four different tine profiles for a perfect fit to your task: Fully closing tines (F); Half closing tines (H); Wide style of pointed tines (W); and Pointed Tines (T).
Range & Specifications
The P40VHD orange peel grab acquired by Molloy Metals comes with five tines but is also available with three or four tines for excavators with 26t to 40t operating weight and a load capacity of 6000 kg with three tines and 10000 kg with four or five tines at openings of 2200 mm up to 2835 mm at different volumes. The package includes grab, integrated rotation, head plate, hose guard, bolt-on bottom plate with welded lifting eye, non-return valve. Others in the range include: P22V with four or five tines for excavators with 16t to 22t operating weight and a load capacity of 7000 kg at an opening of 1910 mm. The package includes grab, 10t-rotator, head plate and non-return valve. P25VR HD with three tines for excavators with 18t to 25t operating weight and a load capacity of 3000 kg at an opening of 2200 mm. The package includes grab, integrated rotation, head plate, hose guard, bolt-on bottom plate with welded lifting eye, non-return valve. P30VHD with four or five tines for excavators with 20t to 30t operating weight and a load capacity of up to 7000 kg at an opening of up to 2130 mm at different volumes. The package includes grab, integrated rotation, head plate, hose guard, bolt-on bottom plate with welded lifting eye, non-return valve. P51VHD with four or five tines for excavators with 36t to 50t operating weight and a load capacity of 10000 kg at openings of 2440 mm up to 2840 mm at different volumes. The package includes grab, integrated rotation, head plate, hose guard, bolt-on bottom plate with welded lifting eye, non-return valve. P80VHD with four or five tines for excavators with 50t to 80t operating weight and a load capacity of 10000 kg at openings of 2770 mm up to 3540 mm at different volumes. The package includes grab, integrated rotation, head plate, hose guard, bolt-on bottom plate with welded lifting eye, non-return valve.
LIEBHERR MACHINES WASTE NO TIME IN DELIVERING OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES
Two new high spec’d Liebherr Material Handlers have entered ‘service’ with separate waste management and recycling companies, one in County Meath, the other in Carlow, where they have been highly impressing their operators, as Plant & Civil Engineer’s David Stokes has been finding out.
Our first port of call was to O’Toole’s skip hire and composting business at Ballintrane outside Carlow. The company has rapidly expanded since it was founded by the O’Toole family and today serves clients over a wide area of the country. The latest addition to its fleet is a new Liebherr LH22 material handling machine, supplied by Liebherr Ireland. “It’s the first Liebherr we’ve had in the yard and everyone has been very impressed with its versatility and performance,” says Pat O’Toole. The family’s composting division specialises in the management of bulk food waste. Its in-vessel composting facility features state-of-the-art technology that helps break down organic matter aerobically to produce high quality compost. In addition to the company’s skip hire operation, it also has a site where the general public can bring their municipal waste, and a transfer station to serve the needs of local waste collection companies, all of which makes for a constantly busy environment. “The new machine, fitted with a metrewide Liebherr grab, is proving to be a really tough workhorse,” says Pat. “Mostly, it is being used to load waste on to walking floor trailers, a task it can complete in just 15 minutes, but it is also being employed
in other areas on the site, including loading household waste into a shredder.” Adds Pat: “It is extremely well spec’d, with a lot of extras, including a comprehensive lighting system which is a big bonus for us as much of the work being carried out by the machine is indoors, in sheds with low light. “It also has a feature which controls the height of the boom, so we can set it to meet our specific requirements, as one of the buildings it works in has a lower roof than the others. This is another bonus, especially from a health and safety perspective. “Another big attraction was the fact that its reach is greater than most other competitor machines in its class; the boom is actually
a metre longer at 10 metres, most others in that class are around nine metres.” Pat says that the operators on site are very happy with the Liebherr LH22, which provides a comfortable working environment, and adds: “The cab is excellent, with lever and joystick controls rather than a steering wheel, so the space is well utilised and maximised, and it also improves all round visibility, which is crucial as we are working indoors and in low light conditions. There’s also an excellent camera system, one on the blind side, the other on the rear. “While the cab features a lot of different switches and controls - probably one of the most advanced on the market – our operators have found it easy to master.”
The cab features a 7” colour touch-screen display which is intuitive in its operation and provides continuous information about all important operating data. The shortcut keys can be individually assigned and are selected quickly and easily with the menu strip. The standard joystick steering gives the operator an additional comfort boost. The steering movement can be conveniently executed using the joystick, eliminating the need to reposition during the work cycle. As Pat mentioned, substituting the steering wheel in favour of joystick steering provides more legroom and a clear view of the working area. The use of visco-elastic mounts, good insulation and low-noise diesel engines from Liebherr minimises noise emissions and vibrations. The noise levels are just 70 dB(A) in the operator’s cab and 100 dB(A) outside, making it perfect for indoor work. Another nice little touch is the standard automatic idling function - it reduces the engine speed to idle as soon as the operator takes their hand from the joystick so that no hydraulic function is activated. Also, proximity sensors in the joystick levers restore the original engine speed as soon as the operator’s hand is moved towards the lever again. This ensures that the set engine speed is available
immediately; the result is a combination of fuel saving and reduced noise levels.
Thornton Recycling
Meanwhile, also happy with their new Liebherr L556 XPower is the team at Thornton Recycling’s fully enclosed composting facility situated on a 33 acre site in Ballynalurgan at Kilmainhamwood in County Meath, the largest of its kind in Ireland, which is capable of processing over 40,000 tonnes of food/organic waste, material that in the past would have been landfilled. The facility produces high grade compost and offers customers a product that can be used as a soil conditioner in commercial agriculture, landscaping, as organic fertiliser or as a custom growing media. The L556 XPower is the first Liebherr on site and has already clocked up over 1,000 hours in past six months, with no issues. Comments General Manager Francis Flynn: “We are very happy with its performance, it is doing a great job with no reliability problems, despite the fact it is constantly working indoors in exceedingly dusty and excessive heat conditions compared to what a normal shovel would; when it’s maybe 12 degrees outside, it can be 32 degrees inside.” Not surprisingly, then, the working environment offered by the cab was an important consideration when investing in the machine, and the Liebherr L556 hasn’t disappointed. With air conditioning as standard, the improved cooling output ensures pleasant operating conditions. “When you think about it, the operator is virtually working in oven-like conditions; it can be incredibly steamy in the facility,” says Francis. “So, you also need good lighting and good visibility, and the Liebherr delivers in these areas as well.” From an operational perspective, the cab features displays, controls and an operator’s seat that are carefully coordinated to form an ergonomic unit. All operating and control instruments are well laid out and userfriendly. A height-adjustable touch-screen display, which comes as standard, allows all operating-relevant machine data to be viewed and configured quickly, with visual and acoustic warning devices ensuring high operational reliability, while there are also lots of storage areas and stowage spaces for the driver’s bits and pieces.
Good Support
As for aftersales service and support, always an important aspect of any major investment decision, neither Pat O’Toole nor Francis Flynn had any complaints, both agreeing that the team at Liebherr Ireland were ‘very responsive, supportive and proactive.’
SENNEBOGEN MAKE BIG IMPACT ON CLEARWAY FLEET
Sennebogen material handlers are making a big impact at waste management and scrap recycling Clearway’s various facilities in the north and south of Ireland, as Plant & Civil Engineer’s David Stokes has been finding out.
Up until the end of last year, Clearway didn’t have any Sennebogen machines in the fleet; soon it will have no less than five! One has already been delivered by dealers Pat O’Donnell & Co., and another four are on the way. So why the sudden switch of make? “To be honest,” admits Clearway’s Paul Murphy, “we did consider Sennebogen material handlers several years back, but we opted for a different brand name. On hindsight, it probably wasn’t the best decision, although the Sennebogen machines are much more refined today than they were back then. “So why now? Well, we were long overdue an upgrade of the fleet, but just didn’t get around to it, and towards the end of last year we had another look at what Sennebogen had to offer and took the plunge.” Clearway ordered four of Sennebogen’s 835E material handlers, two for use at the company’s Belfast facilities, while the other two will be utilised at the Cork depot; the company operates other processing sites in Dublin, Sligo, Letterkenny, Londonderry and Portadown in Co Armagh. Meanwhile, delivered just a couple of weeks ago was a new Sennebogen 870 E Hybrid material handler with a 24m
boom which is currently earning its keep at Belfast docks where it is loading and unloading scrap material which is shipped from Dublin for processing before being sent on to Spain. Also, optionally available on the 870E are booms of 25m and 27m. The advantages of the boom systems include increased reach for high load capacities or higher strength to move even heavier loads with the shorter length booms, and comments Paul: “The new Sennebogen is easily doing the work of two previous machines. We are very impressed; it can comfortably lift eight and a half tonnes at 24 metres. Out of curiosity, we checked the load ratings and they were exactly as was stated by the manufacturer.”
Excellent Visibility
It also has a robust undercarriage offering the highest levels of stability even with long reaches, while a large-scale slewing ring allows for fast work cycles. But what initially attracted Clearway to the Sennebogen 870E, ideal for
scrap, bulk and cargo handling, was the excellent visibility from the cab. “It was a key consideration for us,” says Paul. “Using the previous machine, the operator had to be guided into the hold of the ship, sometimes by using a camera, but from the 870E, the operator has a clear and direct view by simply manoeuvring the hydraulically elevated cab into the correct position, although there is also a camera on the boom; it is a big bonus, a huge advantage.”
Energy Savings
Powered by a Cummins 261kW, Tier 4f diesel engine, the 870 E Hybrid is also fitted with Sennebogen’s energy recovery system which is said to reduce fuel consumption by cutting the engine power required by up to 30 %, according to verified tests carried out over several years in many diverse applications. So, how does it work? An energy recovery cylinder is mounted on the boom in between the two hoist cylinders to offset the weight of the boom in its function; this additional hydraulic cylinder stores the energy produced when the boom is lowered in compressed gas cylinders placed in the rear of the machine. This accumulated energy is then available for the next stroke. The principle is similar to a spring being compressed and then releasing its energy when it is allowed to expand. “It is too soon to say exactly how much savings we are getting, but it certainly is a big improvement on the system that was in our previous handler, and it seems to be much simpler,” says Paul.
Spacious Cab
The cab on the 870E has also been impressing operators with its comfortable working environment. “They’ve been long accustomed to our previous make of machines, but they absolutely love the Sennebogen cab which offers lots of room, enough to accommodate a second person.” The Mastercab, which comes complete with a simple to navigate SENCON control system, can be hydraulically elevated over 3metres. It also features joystick controls, a sliding door for easy entry and exit, a comfortable air suspension seat and 12v/24v connections, with loads of other optional extras available. The machine’s operators have also commented on the cab’s automatic heating system. It can be programmed to come on an hour or so before their shift begins, and is especially appreciated on these cold winter morning because
AT A GLANCE
- Cummins 261kW, Tier 4f diesel engine - Energy saving recovery system - Up to 27m reach - Hydraulically elevated Maxcab - High visibility - Automatic heating system - Robust undercarriage - Extensive handling capacity - Large-scale slewing ring - Easily accessible maintenance points
the cab can be not only warmed up well before they begin work, but also the windows are properly de-misted, giving them an instantly clear view. The machine also features easily accessible maintenance points via a walk-on upper carriage, railing, and gallery on the cab and upper carriage.
Dealer Support
Of course, aftersales service and support are also essential when making such a significant investment, and dealers Pat O’Donnell & Co do not disappoint in those areas. “We have a great working relationship with Pat O’Donnell built up over the years; they have always been there when we need them, so no complaints in the support they provide,” says Paul, who also revealed that so impressed have Clearway been with the Sennebogen brand that they will consider adding another couple to the fleet over the next year.
recycling & waste management Three key 2020 trends to watch in the waste management sector
At a time when the construction industry is using 400 million tonnes of material, producing 100 million tonnes of waste and sending 25 million tonnes of this to landfill, according to a report by the National Association of Builders, the need for effective waste management is critical. Here, Steve Breen, general manager at Finning UK and Ireland, the only distributor of Caterpillar products in the UK and Ireland, explores three key trends to watch in the waste management sector.
Effective waste management involves removing materials such as concrete and bricks, reusing them where possible and reducing the rubbish created in the first place. Doing this can help you minimise costs by purchasing less material while reducing onsite by clearing away any debris. One example of a company breaking new ground in the waste management sector is CleanRobotics. The company has developed a machine that uses cameras, sensors and machine learning to sort recyclables from landfill. When rubbish is thrown away, the TrashBot uses a camera to analyse the type of waste and sort it accordingly. While this technology may be in its early stages, 2020 promises other new trends in the waste management that companies can benefit from. So, what are the upcoming trends in waste management?
Automating waste
While you may not normally associate computer systems with rubbish, automated devices are now being used to sort and dispose of waste material. Automation is already reshaping Europe’s recycling industry. For instance, up to 50 per cent of recycling plants on the continent include automated processes of some kind, according to Environment Journal. In the construction industry, automating waste collection could improve operational efficiency while ensuring employee safety. Whether it’s wind-powered robotic sensors that sort insulation materials or pneumatic waste collection systems, this technology keeps human employees away from hazardous materials, such as asbestos, while working onsite. At the same time, automation can speed up the waste removal process and keep projects on track.
Connected equipment
A subset of the automated process is the growing importance of the Internet of Things (IoT) in waste collecting. As shown with the CleanRobotics example, IoT can be used to separate materials. Sensorenabled and interconnected rubbish bins can collect information on levels, locations and other forms of data and this can prevent materials like metal going into landfill. There’s the potential for IoT to be used more widely in the construction industry for industrial materials too. For example, Polish company Bin-e created Smart Waste Bins that can identify and sort waste into four categories: glass, paper and plastic. With road schemes such as the ongoing A14 improvements regularly using tarmac, plastic, metals and other paints, intelligent technology offers real potential for those working on big infrastructure projects.
Anaerobic digestion
As well as reducing the amount of waste they produce, companies are under pressure to generate more of their power from renewable alternatives. Waste management also includes reusing materials that are by-products of other processes, and this
is where anaerobic digestion comes in. This involves biomass from sewage and plant materials being broken down to produce biogas that can be used as fuel. As a method for producing energy while managing industrial waste, anaerobic digesters are becoming more popular and the process could account for up to 7.5 per cent of renewable energy in 2020, according to the Official Information Portal on Anaerobic Digestion. Finning is at the forefront of anaerobic digestion technology in landfill, recycling and wastewater treatment. It helps operators to design and develop their biofuel power solutions and provides a full design, build and management service. As well as offering Cat gas-fuelled generator sets that can operate on a range of biofuels, Finning conducts feasibility studies as well as electrical and mechanical installations so that operators can harness the benefits of this technology. While not every company will have a TrashBot yet, there’s plenty of upcoming trends that can help those in the construction sector to improve their own efficiency while ensuring that all employees are safe from harm.
PLANT & CIVIL
CONSTRUCTION, QUARRY & RECYCLING AWARDS2020
