Bobcat’s T650 loader

in profile BOBCAT COMPACT TRACKED LOADER GETS TOP GRADE AT P&M EXCAVATIONS

When Carrickmore based P&M Excavations added a Bobcat T870 compact tracked loader to their fleet they probably didn’t realise just how an exceptional investment it would turn out to be. As Plant & Civil Engineer’s David Stokes reports, the capabilities, versatility and efficiency of the machine has been a revelation.

When we caught up with P&M Excavations’ Martin Dobbs and asked him what he thought about the Bobcat, supplied by dealers Northern Excavators, he simply replied: “I don’t know where to start in praising it. It has transformed how we go about our work.” P&M Excavations is a small, family based civil engineering and groundworks company working for many of the major main contractors in the province. It has a reputation of being a preferred subcontractor and relies heavily on the expertise of its workforce – and the reliability and effectiveness of its plant and machinery, which is why it recently added the Bobcat T870 to its operating fleet. “It’s a very versatile machine. It can be fitted with scores of attachments -from graders, forks and buckets to grapples and rakes; it is amazing. You can replace attachments in anything up to a minute, it is that quick,” says Martin. “It has proved to be a brilliant investment for us.”

Precise Grading

Since acquiring the Bobcat – the largest in the manufacturer’s current range - just a couple of months ago, the company has been utilising it primarily in grading work on the A6 Castledawson to Randalstown dual-carriageway project on behalf of Graham Farrans JV, and on site excavations and groundworks preparation at a new £3.2 m factory development for the KES Group in Strabane, as well as on a subcontract civil works package, including playing fields, at Strabane Academy on behalf of Woodvale Construction. For that, the Bobcat T870 was fitted with an automatic 3D universal total station-controlled Bobcat grader which achieves a consistent grade with ease and virtually turns the loader into a high-performance grading machine. The unit works to a 3D model drawing, which is produced in-house by P&M Excavations’ engineer and allows the machine to grade stone to precise levels; it can achieve high tolerances of 3 – 5mm. The beauty of the 3D grader with its 6-way

P&M Excavations management team Martin, Peadar & Pete Dobbs & Seamus McIlvar.

blade allows contours, cross slopes and cambers to be formed automatically, taking the guess work out of grading. Blacktop base courses can be laid directly on the graded stone surfaces without the need of a final pass with the tar spreader. Its speed and accuracy has made a big impact. “Everyone who has seen it in action just cannot believe how good it is. Indeed, we are beginning to get more work because of how efficient and productive it is,” says Martin. “Prior to acquiring the Bobcat we had been using more traditional grading methods, but now we can accomplish twice as much in half the time and with considerably less manpower -and it is also makes our work a lot safer on site.”

Stress Free

While performance is vital, comfort is also a prime concern for busy operators and as Martin pointed out the Bobcat’s premium air-conditioned cab provides a stress-free working environment with many standard features, among them an adjustable suspension seat. No matter your height, it’s easy to find a comfortable operating position with multiple adjustment points – and with the optional air ride seat, you’ll experience maximum suspension comfort. It adjusts to your weight, helping you smooth out the bumps on your jobsite. Automatic ride control reduces material spillage, allowing you to travel at faster speeds across rough terrain. Thanks to its dampening effect, the option also increases operator comfort by offering a smoother ride, so it’s worth considering. If you work on a busy jobsite, you know that noise can be a daily frustration. Bobcat loaders include many sound dampening features that keep your cab quieter, while the enclosed cab has a best-in-class pressurised interior space that minimises dust, keeping you clean and comfortable. Automotive-style vents allow you to point your air where you need it for greater comfort in all weather conditions. Simply pull the window knob to slide the side window to five lockable positions. The window stays exactly where you want it to get consistent air flow.

Although compact, the Bobcat features plenty of storage space for your bits and pieces; it even has convenient cup holders that can accommodate super-sized cups and coffee mugs. Routine servicing and maintenance is also easy. Indeed, it is said that Bobcat compact track loaders provide the fastest, easiest maintenance in the industry. Engine checkpoints are within easy reach – so daily maintenance is never a chore. Convenient access to routine and longterm maintenance points also make preventative maintenance simple, reducing operating costs, while the machine’s large, swing-open tailgate provides easy access to routine maintenance points. There are no radiators to move, lift arms to raise or lift-arm support devices to install. Dealer support is also important, and that provided by Northern Excavators, says Martin, cannot be faulted. “They have been more than helpful to us; we cannot praise them highly enough.”