view from the cab
COLIN BRADLEY CONTRACTS’ NEW JCB HAS THE X-FACTOR Bangor, County Down based Colin Bradley Contracts is clearly a JCB fan; they’ve had five JCB machines down through the years and recently added a new 15 tonne JCB150X-Series excavator, supplied by Dennison JCB, as Plant & Civil Engineer’s David Stokes reports. Colin Bradley Contracts offer a wide range of services, from demolition and site clearance to excavation and groundworks. The company’s high level of repeat business is a testament to the quality of their work and the professionalism of their team. From drainage and service connections to excavation and land clearance, the highly skilled workforce can do it all on time and on budget. But that’s only
possible with equipment they can depend on, which is one major factor in opting for JCB. “We cannot afford unnecessary downtime, so we need machinery that is not going to let us down, and over the years we’ve relied a lot on JCBs,” says Colin Bradley. “Currently, we have a four year-old JCB145, which we are still using, and like the others it has proved its worth, so we had no hesitation in going for this new model; we also have a JCB Fastrac out on demonstration.”
More Power What does he think of the 150X which has recently been used on a demolition project in Holywood?
“Compared to the older 145 model, this new machine gives us more digging power, performance is very smooth and fuel economy is as good if not better. “I do a lot of rotational and proportional work, so I am very happy that the controls are easy to operate, and the cab is also very comfortable, providing a great working environment, which is important because I spend a lot of time out on site.” Colin specified a Comfort Pack with the JCB 150X, so he is also well set up for the winter as that includes a professional air suspended heated seat, front and side cab blinds and climate control air conditioning. The machine is also equipped with no less than 10 LED lights. “I am very satisfied with the 150X. There were a few very minor teething problems when I first got it, and that’s only to be expected, but the team at Dennison JCB quickly resolved those issues and it’s performing exceptionally well, as has been the Fastrac.”
Up Close So, let’s take a closer look at the JCB150X which is fitted with 700mm steel tracks. The spacious JCB CommandPlus cab uses the latest double cushion viscous mounts which reduce vibration and
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PLANT & CIVIL ENGINEER
