23 minute read
New generation Cat 374
FIRST NEW GENERATION CAT 374 EXCAVATOR EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS AT CES QUARRY PRODUCTS
CES Quarry Products Ltd recently took delivery of the very first new generation Cat 374 excavator in the UK and Ireland; it joins a number of other Cat machines working across the company’s three quarry sites in County Down, as Plant & Civil Engineer’s David Stokes reports.
As a third generation family owned company, it has built up a well established customer base throughout the country and far beyond for its quality and innovative products. Founded in 1948 by Cyril E Stevenson, it has grown to become a modern, dynamic business, with regular investment key to its continuing success, hence the recent addition of the 72 tonne Cat 374. Bristling with simple, easy-to-use technology that comes as standard, and powered by a 485hp (362kW) Cat C15 engine, the new machine is working hard at one of the company’s three hard rock quarries in Ballynahinch in County Down; the other quarries are located at Doran’s Rock in Saintfield and Castlenavan in Seaforde. The company, which also operates a blacktop coating plant producing high quality bituminous products along with various ready-mix concrete and block making facilities, recently opened a new Urban Quarry Outlet at their Moneyreagh site in Castlereagh, outside Belfast, offering an extensive range of building and landscaping products, tools, outdoor decorative aggregates, and homeware.
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As we mentioned, it’s not the company’s only Cat; indeed, they are big fans of the brand and earlier this year invested in two other Cat 972M XE wheel loaders, with a third on the way, all supplied by Finning Ireland, based in Lisburn, County Antrim. Comments CES Quarry Product’s Production Director Ian McDougall: “We opted for this new Cat as we wanted a machine offering more breakout force at the quarry face, and we also wanted to increase our productivity and efficiency. “Fitted with a dedicated Cat Extreme Duty bucket, which adds another six tonne to the machine’s weight, the new addition is certainly living up to our high expectations. Moving up from a 52 tonne machine, we can now load our rigid dump trucks that much quicker – and fuel efficiency is great, as is the service and support we get from Finning. The team there is very good to work with, always offering a prompt response as we cannot afford any unnecessary downtime.” Its predecessor, the highly successful 374F, has always been a core machine for Caterpillar, so changes to improve its performance and handling have been subtle rather than drastic, with the new Cat 374 featuring booms, sticks and frames that are now even more durable than the F series, which set the standard in the quarry & mining sector. Booms have increased top and bottom plate thickness; sticks have increased side, bottom, and bracket plate thickness; and frames have increased base frame and counterweight mounting plate thickness. Additional reinforcements are built into the car body, track link, track rollers, and boom, stick, and bucket cylinders, all of this, say Caterpillar, designed to ensure long-term, trouble-free performance.
More Productive
Operator Ian Graham has been working on excavators for the past 20 years or so and has plenty of experience with the Caterpillar brand, from a Cat 315 right up to the 52 tonne Cat 352. “It is much more productive compared to the Cat 352,” says Ian, who was loading up a Terex TR60 dump truck when we caught up with him at the company’s Ballynahinch quarry. “It takes only eight passes to load the dump truck, whereas the 52 tonner would have taken 12, so that’s quite a difference. Ripping rock out from the quarry face is also easier with this new machine because it has the weight and digging power behind it. “The hydraulics, too, are very smooth; I’m still getting used to the electronic levers and the controls which I can set to my own preferences and speed,” adds Ian who began his career operating one of the early JCB 3CX backhoes. He has three modes of operation at his disposal. Power mode is maximum power at all times. ECO mode lowers engine speed and cycle times while maintaining breakout force. Smart mode takes the guesswork out by automatically matching engine and hydraulic power to digging conditions – that not only reduces fuel consumption but also improves performance. We should also mention that the machine’s exclusive hydrostatic swing circuit has a dedicated bi-directional swing pump, swing motors, charge pump, and charge accumulator. The swing pump supplies oil to the swing motor; the charge pump and charge accumulator prevent air bubbles and overheating. The circuit enables regeneration of swing brake energy and independent management of cylinder oil flow, resulting in higher efficiency and a smoother, more predictable performance when you multitask with the excavator.
Driver Friendly Cab
CES opted for the Premium top of the range cab with its performance-enhancing features, for which Ian is very thankful. “We work long hours here at the quarry, so it’s good to have a cab that provides plenty of space and comfort,” says Ian. “The air suspended seat virtually wraps around me, thanks to its adjustments, and can be both heated and cooled, depending on the weather.” Also noteworthy is the tip-up console which makes getting in and out of the seat easier than ever. “I can’t complain about my working environment; all the controls are positioned in front of me, and getting access to all the information and settings is easy with the touch screen monitor which is first class.” Shortcut keys make it even easier for him, including two for entertainment and heating and air conditioning. There is also a shortcut key for apps and functions that you can set. “Visibility is great, too – much better than my previous machine. There’s a full 360 degree camera system which is very good if I am working in tight spaces.” Other features he highlighted was the Cat Payload feature which delivers exact load targets with on-the-go weighing, helping to prevent over- or under-loading – and the Lift Assist safety feature that helps prevent the excavator from tipping. It quickly calculates the weight of the actual load being lifted and compares it to the excavator’s rated capability, with visual and auditory alerts telling you if the excavator is within a safe working range. Caterpillar’s 2D E-fence technology also comes as standard. I t automatically stops the excavator motion using pre-set parameters to protect the excavator from damage and prevents operator fatigue by reducing over-swinging and over-digging. There’s also plenty of space to put your gear with storage areas beneath and behind the seat, overhead, and in the consoles, while the standard radio’s USB ports and Bluetooth technology make it easy to connect personal devices and make hands-free calls.
Maintenance Made Simple
Caterpillar say you can expect up to 20 percent less maintenance cost than the 374F due to reduced hydraulic oil capacity and extended and synchronised service intervals. The excavator is auto lube ready with builtin mounting points; an available auto lube retrofit kit provides additional hardware to mount a grease pump and line guards. The new Cat air filter with an integrated pre-cleaner and primary and secondary filters provides double the dust-holding capacity of the previous design; the new Cat hydraulic return filter has a 3,000hour service life (a 50% increase over previous filters); and fuel system filters are synchronised for service at 1,000 hours (a 100%) increase over the previous filters.
news Kilwaughter Minerals Appoint New Sales Director
Leading quarry and mineral processor Kilwaughter Minerals Limited has appointed a new Sales Director as part of a major growth strategy as the economy emerges from the coronavirus pandemic.
David Grace joins the County Antrim headquartered company having previously worked at director level for a leading company in the construction industry. He will have responsibility for leading the sales and technical sales functions across Kilwaughter’s portfolio of brands including K Rend, K Systems and Kilwaughter Lime. David commented: “I’m looking forward to meeting our customers and getting closer to the market segments. The construction sector particularly
Kilwaughter Minerals Ltd Chief Executive Gary Wilmot, left, welcomes David Grace to the Co Antrim based quarry and mineral processor as its new Sales Director.
has had some recent challenges, however I’m confident that the team and the innovative solutions from Kilwaughter’s R&D department will continue to drive us forward and bring opportunities both for our customers and the company.” Gary Wilmot, Chief Executive, Kilwaughter Minerals added: “It is a pleasure to welcome David to the Management Board as we experience a period of sustained growth. With a wealth of experience in the construction industry, David has worked on specification led sales, with specialist contractors and the building materials merchant and distribution network. “His proven track record of success in delivering revenue and margin growth and a passion for developing high performing teams makes David an exceptional addition to the Kilwaughter team.” David’s appointment follows recent changes to Kilwaughter’s company structure with the creation of a new Business Development function led by Caroline Rowley, who has also joined the Management Board. The Business Development team has been established with a clear and ambitious strategic focus to drive product and market development through sectoral knowledge and continual innovation.
Kane awarded M&E contract at London’s tallest Premier Inn Hotel at West India Dock
Artist’s impression of the Premier Inn Hotel at West India Dock. County Down based Kane has been appointed by Sisk to deliver a £9 million M&E contract at the new 400 bed Premier Inn at West India Dock, London.
Kane, who also have offices in London, Glasgow and the Republic of Ireland, will deliver a full Design and Build MEP package, which will be London’s largest and tallest Premier Inn Hotel. The hotel will be served from a combined Energy Centre, which will also serve 68 Residential Apartments. Kane’s in-house design and prefabrication teams will manufacture the Energy Centre offsite at their facilities in Northern Ireland. Kane’s in-house innovative design team engaged with Sisk at the Early Contractor Involvement stage to effectively execute digital solutions for the most efficient M&E utilisation throughout the project. Works on the 14-month contract has recently commenced on site. Cathal McMullan, Managing Director, Kane commented: “Kane are delighted to once again deliver a M&E contract on behalf of Sisk at the iconic West India Dock. This further strengthens our relationship with Sisk and showcases our M&E Capabilities as a leading MEP contractor of choice”.
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Kingspan Donates €500,000 to TU Dublin Centre Of Excellence For Construction
Kingspan has announced a fiveyear partnership with Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) to support the development of the University’s innovative Design and Construct Centre.
The Centre, located at Broombridge close to the University’s Grangegorman Campus, aims to enhance the competitiveness of Irish construction, engineering and architectural companies in the global marketplace. It will offer a collaborative learning experience and capacity-building for students from apprenticeship to PhD level, and a testbed for developing innovative and transformative solutions for industry. Work on the development of the cuttingedge facility, including the Kingspan Lab, begins in Q3 of 2021 and will facilitate educational, research and engagement activities. It will have a particular focus on collaborative and multidisciplinary innovation in building performance, digital construction, and smart buildings. Both TU Dublin students and industry staff will avail of skills development and research and development opportunities in the Centre.
Rapid International Factory Extension Will Boost Production Capacity
Work has commenced on a new 14,000 square foot extension to Rapid International’s existing 50,000 square foot manufacturing facility in County Armagh.
The new extension will create an additional 30 jobs and provide increased manufacturing capabilities for Rapid and its division, Rapid Power Generation. Construction is expected to be completed in December 2021. The new state-of-the-art extension will be purpose built for the manufacture of Rapid Power Generation’s range of diesel and natural gas generators. The facility will include a large dedicated workshop for production of electrical panels, main factory floor for general fabrication and assembly and a comprehensive suite of offices and staff areas. Mark Lappin, Managing Director of Rapid International, commented on the investment: “We’re delighted to see work commence on our new factory extension. This expansion will offer us significantly increased capacity to meet future demand for the Rapid family of companies, as well as providing 30 new jobs for the local community. We’re looking forward to completion of this project at the end of 2021!”
Mallon commits £17million for Roads Recovery Fund in 2021/22
Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has announced £17million for a Roads Recovery Fund from her 2021/22 capital budget.
Earlier, the Minister announced her high level budget commitments for the new financial year which included investment of £223.1m in our roads’ network. The £17m funding for the Roads Recovery Fund will be used to address areas of immediate concern across the road network. Minister Mallon said: “Since taking office last year, I have been clear that my priorities include addressing regional imbalance and better connecting communities. This is particularly important when considering the infrastructure associated with rural development. “Our rural areas, including our towns and villages, have a key role to play in supporting economic growth and enhanced rural living. Connectivity is a key issue for these areas and I recognise the important role that the rural road network plays. “There has been historical under-investment in the maintenance of our road network for a significant number of years and many rural roads in particular are in need of repairs. In response, I allocated £12 million of my 2020-21 Capital budget to a Roads Recovery Fund, of which £10 million was specifically directed towards rural roads. “Following the success of last year’s fund, I am setting up an enhanced fund in 202122 and therefore I have allocated £17 million of my capital budget to a Roads Recovery Fund, of which £15 million is specifically directed towards rural roads. “Rural roads will therefore benefit from a 50% increase in funding in this initiative, reflecting my commitment to continue this important work to benefit rural communities. “My Department is committed to delivering the best possible services with the funds available. Details of our works programmes will be provided in the reports presented by Divisional Roads Managers to the various District Councils at the forthcoming round of spring meetings.”
in profile FM SERVICES, SLEATOR PLANT & GENIE A WINNING COMBINATION
Since Fergus Minish established Lisburn based agricultural contracting company FM Services in 2005, the business has gone from strength to strength, diversifying into the hire sector five years later with the goal of providing top quality plant and platforms for customers throughout the country.
It wasn’t the best timing with the recession beginning in 2008 and heavily impacting the construction industry, but dedication and determination saw FM Services successfully working its way out of those challenges and today it is a stronger company going forward. Offering an extensive range of telehandlers and powered access equipment, in addition to truck mounted platforms, excavators, dumpers and cement mixers, the company’s loyal customer base continues to grow across Northern Ireland and as far south as Dublin. In that time, Fergus has built up a solid working relationship with Sleator Plant who have been supplying him with a range of state-of-the-art Genie access equipment since 2017 and now has a sizeable fleet for hire to customers who clearly favour the brand. One of the secrets of his success is building up a diverse range of customers, not just in the construction industry, but also in the events and facilities management sectors, as well as maintenance and retail shop front installations. “If one area of our market experiences a decline, we have other sectors that provide us with a good deal of business,” says Fergus, whose experience in the industry stretches back to when he left school. “Having initially worked in the agricultural contracting sector, providing site clearance and other services, I came into contact with some builders who were seeking to rent out telehandlers and other equipment, so it was a natural progression for me to move into plant hire.” Genie equipment from Sleator Plant forms a significant part of the hire fleet and it’s a relationship that continues to grow. “Their service and support cannot be faulted; it is first class. Any issues are quickly dealt with, usually same day, and their technical support is excellent.”
Preferred Customer Brand
So why Genie? “It is what the customer wants; they prefer the equipment over other brands. The Genie product is very user friendly and reliable. And as a hire company, we find Genie retains a high resale value, which is a bonus for us.”
Not surprisingly, FM Services’ powered access fleet is predominantly
Genie, ranging from diesel scissor lifts and articulated boom lifts to truck mounted platforms.
“Currently, we are expanding our Genie fleet, as well as replacing some older models, to ensure our customers have the benefit of the latest technologies,” says Fergus whose more recent purchases included a Genie Z-45XC articulating boom lift, which is the redesigned Xtra Capacity version of the popular rough-terrain Genie Z-45/25 J
RT diesel powered articulating boom.
It’s the first Genie XC articulating boom model, boasting the benefits of a dual-envelope design to provide an unrestricted platform capacity of 300 kg and a restricted capacity of 454 kg.
Also purchased were two GS-1932 e-drive scissor lifts, which boasts quiet electric operation and is ideal for indoor and outdoor applications in tight spaces on firm, level surfaces. Electrically-powered, they are available with Genie AC E-Drive or hydraulic drive configuration. Another recent addition to the fleet and ideal for outdoor construction and industrial applications, is the Genie Z-62/40 articulating boom lift which provides lifting versatility with a combination of up, out and over positioning capabilities with outreach that’s second to none. Other popular Genie products in the FM Services fleet include the diesel Genie GS-3369 RT rough terrain scissor lift, a favourite with contractors; it is a purposebuilt four-wheel drive machine with positive traction control — ideal for increasing productivity on demanding outdoor worksites. “Since the beginning of the year we must have added another 10 Genie lifts from Sleator Plant, and we have more on order, which means we are well placed to provide customers with access equipment when and where they need it.”
Delivery & Service
All Genie powered access equipment can be delivered to the customer’s site and collected once the hire period expires. “We have two eight-wheel rigid trucks on the road, providing a prompt and reliable service across Northern Ireland; if a customer wants equipment on site at 8 am in the morning, we will have it there on time. Of course, customers also have the option to collect and return the equipment themselves.” Whatever equipment is put out for hire, you can also be assured it will be in the best possible condition. “We have our own in-house engineers to service, maintain and inspect all our rental equipment. If there happens to be a breakdown on site, we will have an engineer there without delay, as we realise and appreciate our busy customers cannot afford to have any unnecessary downtime. It’s all about serving the needs of our customers.”
Radar Object Detection
Heavy-duty radar sensors designed to detect people and objects.
Backsense® is an affordable radar system from Brigade designed to help reduce collisions in tough working environments. It offers a controlled beam pattern that ensures targeted detection with fewer false alerts than alternative radar systems. Available in 3 fixed-length models and a fully configurable version for bespoke areas of up to 30m.
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Bobcat Launches New Generation of Telehandlers
Bobcat is launching the company’s new generation R-Series telehandler range, providing a choice of 12 models with Stage V engines.
The new telehandlers cover lifting heights from 6 to 18 m with maximum lifting capacities between 2.6 and 4.1 tonne. This is the latest phase in Bobcat’s revolutionary ‘Next is Now’ programme, combining innovative product development and diversification with more intelligent, user friendly technologies and services that reshape how work gets done. Commenting on the R-Series launch, Gustavo Otero,President, Doosan Bobcat EMEA, said: “Telehandlers are a fundamental asset of our business strategy and key pillar of our Next is Now initiative. Our new ground-breaking R-Series range offers high performance, robust machines for maximum uptime with a focus on accurate controls and intuitive operation for tackling any job on the construction site. With these new models and the increased investment in our telehandler business, we are aiming to double the production of Bobcat telehandlers by 2025.” The new R-Series telehandlers offer agility on demand, with a newly configured transmission system providing enhanced smoothness to carry out the trickiest jobs at height with surgical precision. These operations are also facilitated by the combination of the Boom Positioning System, the new updated, ultra-accurate joystick, the inching function and the improved visibility from the cab. An enhanced inching pedal design is easier to use and reduces fatigue. A higher engine brake provides a shorter stop distance and increases safety on construction sites. Turtle/rabbit speeds are standard on all models and operated from the joystick. There is a new DYNAMIC mode for applications requiring rapid transmission response and the new optional hand throttle with FLEX DRIVE function allows for the control of travel speed independent from engine rpm. Bobcat R-Series telehandlers feature a new cab with unmatched ease of use, designed around the operator, offering a unique central control panel for optimized 360° ergonomics. The new high quality, contemporary interior of the cab features stand-out R-Series branding, colours and textures that clearly reflect Bobcat’s DNA. In the ergonomic design, all surfaces have been optimised to offer increased space and visibility. It is based around a new 5-inch LCD display providing interactive and streamlined information, including the feed from the rear camera for easier and more precise operation. Bobcat has made it a very simple process for operators to start working immediately on the company’s R-Series telehandlers with the features below: • All-in-one joystick with improved ergonomics • Intuitive automotive-style controls (backlit keypad, jog-shuttle, levers under steering wheel) • Interactive 5-inch LCD display • Semi-automatic wheel alignment • Automatic transmission and parking brake
news
Engcon Unveil a Safe and Automatic Machine Hitch for Smaller Excavators
With the latest innovation, Engcon’s automatic quick hitch S40 now covers the entire range from two to 40 ton machines, with the same safety features as the larger and earlier models.
To coincide with the launch of the new machine hitch, the EC206 tiltrotator has also been updated for excavators in the 4-6 ton weight class with a new tilt top that is adapted for Engcon’s automatic quick hitch system. This means that the driver can attach and detach the tiltrotator without leaving the cab. “Being able to connect hydraulic tools without leaving the cab has recently become an increasing desire even for the smaller machines. The problem has been to fit all the smart technology in such small brackets, but we have now solved that in a good way,” says Fredrik Jonsson, development manager at Engcon Group. Like Engcon’s larger tiltrotators, ground pressure is required to be able to open the bucket lock under the tiltrotator on the new S40 hitch. Built-in sensors sense that the bucket axles are in their correct position and if something goes wrong, the system warns with sound and light signals inside the cab and outside the machine. “It is noticeable that safety around excavators is getting higher and higher on the agenda and especially with the problem of buckets that are dropped due to incorrect handling. With our machine hitches/quick hitches and our smart locking system, these problems are minimized,” says Fredrik Jonsson. EC-Oil automatic connection of hydraulic, electrical and central lubrication is included as standard when purchasing a machine hitch, tiltrotator and Engcon’s control system. This makes it possible to connect the tiltrotator or other hydraulic tools to the machine hitch without the need to leave the cab. As an option, it is also possible to connect the ground pressure function on the machine hitch and a locking function, which means that the machine’s swing function is blocked if the tool is connected incorrectly.
CESAR ECV now included on all of the VolvoCE GPE range at SMT GB
SMT GB is the latest machine distributor in the UK to fit CESAR Emission Compliance Verification (ECV) as standard, to Volvo’s full range of GPE machinery, prepared at the company’s facilities at Immingham in Lincolnshire.
The decision to begin fitting CESAR Security and ECV followed an industrywide recognition of the importance of machine security and emission awareness across UK construction sites. “SMT GB believes that fitting the new ECV plate as standard makes it even easier for our customers to show what engine stage their machines are,” says Paul Kersley, Operations Director at SMT GB “The scheme is offered as standard across our GPE range and will start to be fitted to compact machines soon.” The CESAR Emissions Compliance Verification (ECV) was launched in 2019 in partnership with the Construction Equipment Association (CEA). The invaluable ‘bolt-on’ product complements the well-established CESAR Security System, allowing quick and easy verification of a machine’s emissions category. The CESAR ECV initiative developed by Datatag and the CEA (Construction Equipment Association) in response to the growing demand for an easy and reliable way to confirm the emissions category of construction equipment and has been well received by the industry and is becoming a standard fit across a number of leading manufacturers and dealers with SMT GB the latest to join the scheme. ECV, using tamper-evident colour-coded labels with a unique alpha/numeric code, is linked securely to a machine’s unique CESAR identity and ensures complete integrity of the system. Kevin Howells, CEO of Datatag said: “SMT GB (the exclusive dealership in Great Britain for Volvo Construction Equipment) join a growing number of leading OEM’s to upgrade to the CESAR ECV scheme on their UK machines. The CESAR ECV scheme combines the prestigious CESAR security system with a new emissions identifier, making use of the extensive CESAR database, to create unique profiles of all machines, helping fight theft and emissions together.”
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