Diggers LIVE Magazine - May 2023

WELCOME

Strikingly obviously to you all is that a large part of this issue is quite rightly dedicated to promoting the 2023 Plantworx event.

Even those reading the digital edition can’t escape the “belly band” advertisement circling the issue via some nifty digital technology that should have guided you all towards our comprehensive Plantworx preview.

We have been working with Plantworx promoting this great British event over the past few months, culminating in next month’s show, fully four years since the last time the event was staged. My team and I will be there in force and we look forward to enjoying the three days with you all in June.

On the subject of events, we are fresh from the UK Construction Week event from the Excel. It was good to meet readers and contributors and gain some ideas for new features within your construction equipment magazine of choice.

So where next after the East of England Arena? Well, September brings us the fifth annual British Demolition Awards. To find out more about the event visit: www.britishdemolitionawards.com.

In this issue we have an interview with SMT GB Business Development Director Lucy Couturier, who talks about her more than five years at SMT GB and how her team is focused on developing the products, tools and processes needed to deliver an exceptional customer experience across the full lifecycle of the solutions they provide.

We feature another friend of the magazine in construction, forestry, grounds maintenance, demolition and recycling attachments specialist, Robustrack. Founder and Managing Director Davide Cerca talks us through what has gone on over the nine years since the company’s inception.

With the production of this, the seventeenth issue of Diggers LIVE, we have now somehow completed half of our six issues for the year. I have no idea where the time has gone but it has been a busy one and long may that continue.

To get involved in a future issue, do let my team or me know.

Ben Chambers

Ben Chambers ben@chambers.media

toby@chambers.media

DESIGNERS

Nicki Chambers nic@chambers.media

Joe Bers joe@globalnews.media

Alex Jarrett

GENERAL ENQUIRIES info@chambers.media 01903 952 640

SALES Luke Chaplin luke@globalnews.media 01903 952 643

Nathan Sandford nathan@globalnews.media 01903 952 642

PRODUCED & PUBLISHED BY Global News Media Ltd Suite 5 & 6 Chapel House 1-6 Chapel Road, Worthing West Sussex BN11 1EX ben@chambers.media 01903 952 640

Diggers LIVE is published six times a year by Global News Media Ltd

Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Global News Media Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers.

The publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss of, or damage to, uncommissioned photographs or manuscripts.

CONTENTS

44

6 NEWS

Datatag extends partnership with Bennetts British Superbike Championship

Scottish Plant Owners Association presses Construction Leadership Council on drug and alcohol abuse

Katie Kelleher joins CPA team

Manitou Q1 2023 sales revenues

PSRO hosts plant-based skills and cards webinar

UK construction equipment sales show strong growth in Q1

12

EQUIPMENT ENGAGEMENT

With Lucy Couturier, Business Development Director of SMT GB

BUSINESS INSIDER

With Davide Cerca, founder and Managing Director of Robustrack

24 PLANTWORX 2023

• The ultimate showcase of construction equipment and technologies

• Plantworx Innovation Awards 2023 shortlist

• Plantworx Get Connected Technology Zone: Driving the future of construction equipment

• MachineMax and PLINX connect to co-sponsor Get Connected Zone

• Exhibitors:

• Yanmar

• SANY

• Gaz Evans Models (GEMs)

• Blue Machinery

• Sunward

• SMT GB

• Tele Radio

• Develon

• Robustrack

• TVH

• BPH Attachments

• Brokk UK / Aquajet

• Excavator Forklift (EFL)

• Rotar Engineering (c/o Worsley Plant)

• Auger Torque

• RSP Suction Excavators

• Spillard Safety Systems

• Gomaco International

• AVANT

• Takeuchi

• Bobcat

• Mecalac Construction Equipment UK

• Arden Equipment

• Manitou UK

• RMC Equipment

• Herbst Machinery

• Bomag GB

• Concrete Services & Supplies

• Miller UK

• DIGGA Attachments

• HPC Compressed Air Systems

• Drainfast

• Fireward Automatic Fire Suppression

• ABAX Telematics & Plant Tracking

• Onwave

• MachineMax

• Rototilt

• Lifos

• Xerotech Battery Systems

• Elite GSS Ltd

• Genquip Groundhog

• Boss Cabins

• Moving Intelligence

• Worsley Plant

68 EVENTS

• Thursday Property Networking Club – Getting you connected, by Libby Evans

• SaMoTer

75

DIGITAL INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY FEATURE

• SANY launches new electric mini excavator

• New Bobcat Machine IQ Telematics System

• DEVELON reveals latest innovations

• Growing machine control market leads OnGrade to expand Trimble® systems hire offer

• Electric machines: Europe leads the charge

84 COMPANY PROFILE

The Lifting Equipment Store, by George Dunn, Managing Director, LES

86

FINANCE

Attitudes to funding....

by Anton Nebbe, Head of PR and Communications, Close Brothers

88 INDUSTRY

Tevva addresses opportunities and challenges of UK Hydrogen Strategy

DEVELON to show DL280-7 wheel loader at WasteExpo 2023

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries EMEA selects advanced software to support move to net zero

SANY UK joins Hire Association Europe

Bobcat TR50.250 rotary telehandler supports projects at great height

SANY UK joins Hire Association Europe

Mecalac to relocate UK production headquarters

AP Air Europe introduces Hebonilube grease pumps

Tele Radio PrimaTEQ: a new name for T12 compact waist transmitter

Genesis Equipment Sales launches as UK’s only authorised XCMG distributor

New DX140LC-7 excavators expand Kingsheath construction fleet

Komatsu announces switch to HVO as factory-fill fuel

13-15 June 2023

East of England Arena and Events Centre, Peterborough. For

The UK's Only Live Demo Construction Equipment & Technology Event in 2023 FOR

With emerging technologies featuring alongside construction equipment, live demos, innovation and the latest in machine technology, the show will lead visitors into the future of construction.

Datatag extends partnership with Bennetts British Superbike Championship

The Bennetts British Superbike Championship is continuing its longstanding association with security specialist Datatag for the 2023 season. Datatag has been involved in the series for a decade and this year’s partnership will be highlighted by the introduction of the Datatag Fast Start Award, which will recognise the leading rider to pass the first sector checkpoint on the opening lap of each race to create a season-long league.

Datatag continues to expand its products to help secure your assets with the UK’s most trusted forensic marking systems and the Construction Equipment Association’s CESAR scheme and Venom, to help prevent fuel theft.

The Datatag motorcycle identification system has been in use since April 1992 and there are currently over 1m motorcycles protected by Datatag in the UK. The theft rate on these tagged machines is less than one-tenth of the rate before Datatag was developed.

Datatag Managing Director Kevin Howells said: “This will be our tenth year working with the Bennetts British Superbike Championship to help raise awareness of bike theft to millions of riders and users of vulnerable machinery and equipment.

“Each year we work with BSB to help with our technical innovation and development and will be announcing a number of exciting progresses in 2023. Crime fighting aside, we look forward to watching the all-new Datatag Fast Start phenomenon, which I’m confident, will be an exciting addition to each round.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship Series Director Stuart Higgs concluded: “I am delighted to announce our continued partnership with Datatag. The technology used by Datatag is a benefit not only in racing but also to the wider motorcycling community, while the new Datatag Fast Start Award will add another element into each Bennetts BSB race.”

Datatag Managing Director Kevin Howells (left) and Stuart Higgs –(BSB) Bennetts British Superbike Championship Series Director

SPOA presses Construction Leadership Council on drug and alcohol abuse

approach this in the same way as the consequences of any driver who drives whilst under the influence. We believe that failure to tackle this issue is a ticking timebomb with a serious accident on a construction site simply waiting to happen.

“Alarming research published by the Considerate Constructors Scheme found that 59% of those surveyed had concerns over the effects of drugs and alcohol in construction, 35% noticed their colleagues under the influence of drugs and alcohol and 25% agreed that drugs and alcohol affected them at work through tiredness. This simply cannot be allowed to continue.

“The CLC’s creation was a result of the 2013 Pye Tait report. That same report also gave the CLC the power to investigate the best ways of establishing a common industry approach to the limited life of all cards, the renewal process and any required revocation processes.

The Scottish Plant Owners Association (SPOA) says that not only is drug and alcohol abuse among plant operators a major problem, but there is no effective sanction available for managers to address it.

Tackling the issue was one of the primary objectives of Callum Mackintosh when he took over as President of the SPOA two years ago. He initially sought support from the Construction Plant-hire Association in England but found there was little interest there in even airing the topic. However, he has not been deterred in trying to get something done.

He has now written to the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) urging it to at least develop a policy on drug and alcohol abuse in the industry.

The SPOA believes that those with substance abuse problems should be offered support by their employers and the wider industry but ultimately

should lose their cards. It has already confirmed with the National Plant Operators Registration Scheme (NPORS) and the Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) that mechanisms exist for failed drug or alcohol tests to result in temporary or permanent revocation of cards, as happens in the rail industry.

Mr Mackintosh said: “I am extremely disappointed that the CLC does not regard the widespread and very serious issue of drug and alcohol abuse in the construction industry as a priority. The CLC has failed to produce a policy on the issue, which I would regard as the bare minimum. There is currently no deterrent to prevent plant operators from turning up for work while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

“The SPOA believes that there should be scope to remove competence cards if a plant operator fails a drug or alcohol test. The industry should

“The CLC therefore has the power to act and the whole industry is looking to the council to show leadership on this issue.”

The SPOA’s main concerns, in addition to the health and safety issues on site, are:

• There is currently no real deterrent to prevent plant operators turning up unfit for work or even to remain fit during working hours,

• When plant operators fail a drug or alcohol test, they are often sent home driving the vehicle they arrived in,

• While an employer can be punished if an employee fails a drug or alcohol test, the operative who failed the test is not,

• If a plant operator is dismissed by an employer for failing a drug or alcohol test, they can easily find employment elsewhere without anyone knowing about their past record.

Callum Mackintosh, President of the Scottish Plant Owners Association

Katie Kelleher has joined the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) in the newly created role of CPA Technical and Development Officer. In her new role, she will provide CPA Members with guidance and advice on technical, training and safety subjects, as well as help produce and maintain the CPA’s large range of safety and technical publications. She will also help represent the CPA on a number of industry led initiatives and working groups, and liaise directly with members, official bodies and other organisations.

Katie joins the CPA from Select Plant Hire, where she worked for the past eight years.

Katie Kelleher joins CPA team

active speaker about apprenticeships and the workforce.

She has sat on government boards such as the Strategic Transport Apprenticeship Taskforce and has recently joined the City of London Skills for a Sustainable Skyline Taskforce to ensure the future pipeline of the built environment. Katie first became acquainted with the CPA when she was a panellist at the CPA’s Annual Conference and she has been a judge for the CPA’s Stars of the Future Apprentice Awards for several years.

Katie has already won many accolades in her career so far. In 2021 she was declared one of the Top 100 Women in Construction and she has been selected as a LinkedIn Top Voice. In 2019 she was on the Construction News 15 People to Watch list.

Katie said: “I am very excited to join the CPA in the role of Technical and Development Officer and I truly believe I can be of value to the CPA and its members. I am looking forward to making a noticeable difference within the sector and helping take the association to the next level.”

Her construction story started in 2014 when she was the first woman to commence the Lifting Technician Apprenticeship with Select Plant Hire, before becoming a crane operator working on large projects such as Crossrail and the Tideway Project. More recently, she worked as an appointed person on a number of highprofile infrastructure projects.

Prior to her career in construction, Katie worked in a variety of roles across sales and recruitment before embarking on a change in career. She is well known throughout the construction industry for being a champion for women and young people working in construction and is a passionate and

CPA Chief Executive Kevin Minton added: “We are delighted that Katie has joined the CPA and we warmly welcome her to the Association. Katie has many strengths which will benefit our members and support the wider sector.

“With her customer focus and entry into the sector through the apprenticeship and subsequent site experience, she brings with her technical and training expertise, together with knowledge and current industry experience. With these strengths, Katie will be well placed to look after our technical publications and their content and also be able to represent the CPA on the large array of industry initiatives that the Association is involved with.”

Manitou Q1 2023 sales revenues

• Revenues of €665m, +47% on Q1 2022 at constant scope and exchange rates

• Order intake on equipment of €455m compared to €637m in Q1 2022

• End of Q1 2023 order book on equipment at €3,414m compared to €3,274m in Q1 2022

• Progressive improvement of operational fluidity

Michel Denis, President and CEO, said: “The group is starting the 2023 financial year with a dynamic first quarter. The increase in production rates achieved during 2022 has enabled us to deliver revenues up by 48% compared with the first quarter of 2022, which was particularly affected by the sanitary crisis and supply difficulties.

“From an operational point of view, we note a slight improvement in the tensions on our supply chain, without considering that this topic is behind us.

“In 2023, the group’s performance will depend on our ability to produce, given the depth of our order book, and so far, the slowdowns we are seeing in the construction in Europe are not affecting our capacity of growth for the year, especially since, outside the United Kingdom, rental companies are still favourably oriented to purchase.

“In this context, we reiterate our expectations of annual revenue growth of around 20% compared with 2022 and an increase in the recurring operating income rate of around 100 basis points.”

Business review by division

The Product division realised quarterly revenues of €562m, up 58% compared to Q1 2022. The division continued its efforts with high production rates to clear its order book. Dealers’ order intakes have been reopened in most regions for 2024 within the known capacity limits. Finally, the division launched two new generations

of product platforms developed in North America. With revenues of €103m, the Services and Solutions division (S&S) recorded an 8% increase in activity compared to Q1 2022 (+7% at constant exchange rates and scope), in the context of continuing supply chain tension. The division continues to develop structural investments in its logistics platforms and in digital.

PSRO hosts webinar to help keep construction sector informed about plant-based skills and cards

In order to help keep the construction sector informed about plant-based skills and cards, the industry’s Plant Sector Representative Organisation (PSRO) is hosting a webinar on Wednesday 17 May from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm.

The webinar is open to all and will provide an update on the PSRO and its formation, function, work undertaken and future activities in supporting the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) to achieve objectives set out within the CLC Skills Strategy. This will include consideration of the implications of the strategy on the construction plant sector.

The webinar will be hosted by Kevin Minton, Chair of the PSRO. Alasdair Reisner, Chief Executive of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA), a PSRO board member and a member of the CLC People and Skills Committee will provide an update on the progress being made with the CLC Skills Strategy.

The impact of this skills strategy –designed to help ensure competence across the industry – will then be considered by an expert panel drawn from the PSRO Technical Review Group (TRG) which comprises representation from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and trade unions, as well as employers and

Agenda:

employer representative bodies. At the end of the webinar there will be an opportunity to pose questions to Alasdair and the panel.

To secure your place on the webinar, please send an email to enquiries@psro.org.uk with the title “webinar”. You will then be sent a link to the zoom webinar.

• 10.30 am – Welcome and introductions

• The PSRO and its achievements to date (PSRO Chair)

• Update to the CLC Skills Strategy (Alasdair Reisner, Chief Executive of CECA and PSRO Board Member)

• Panel discussion with the PSRO Technical Review Group on ensuring and certificating competence within the plant sector (Convened by the PSRO Chair)

• Delegate questions and answers session (Convened by the PSRO Chair)

• Summary

• 12.30 pm – close

UK construction equipment sales show strong growth in Q1

Retail sales of construction and earthmoving equipment in March were at very high levels at over 15% above sales in the same month last year. This took sales in the first quarter to 9,500 units, which was nearly 9% above the levels seen in Q1 2022, as shown in the chart.

Following strong sales at the end of last year, feedback from members is suggesting that sales in Q1 were still benefiting from orders placed last year on long lead times. It is expected that sales will slow down during the year when the “catch-up” is complete and the impact of more moderate construction activity is experienced.

The pattern of sales for the major equipment types is shown in the second chart below, comparing Q1 2023 levels with the first quarter of last year. This shows percentage changes in sales for the different machine types. Crawler excavators and wheeled loaders have shown the strongest growth in Q1 at 15% up on last year. The most popular product, mini/midi excavators have shown the weakest growth at 4.5% above the levels seen last year.

The pattern of sales on a regional basis in the UK and N Ireland is shown in the map below for Q1 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2022. This continues to show a mixed pattern across the regions. The strongest sales in Q1 were in Wales (+32%) and the south-east (26%), while the weakest sales were in Northern Ireland (-14%) and the north-west (-7.5%).

Equipment sales in the Republic of Ireland are also reported in the statistics exchange. Sales in March were also very strong at 20% above 2022 levels. This took sales in the first quarter to 11% above last year’s levels and represents a strong recovery after sales last year ended up 8% below 2021 levels.

EQUIPMENT ENGAGEMENT

Interviewee: Lucy Couturier

Role: Business Development Director

Company: SMT GB

About SMT

With more than 15 years’ experience working in the construction industry, Lucy Couturier has been working at SMT GB now for just over five of these and is currently Business Development Director. In this role her team is focused on developing the products, tools and processes needed to deliver an exceptional customer experience across the full life cycle of the solutions provided by SMT.

QTell us about the history and development of SMT GB

Originally established in 1965, SMT GB is the exclusive dealer of Volvo Construction Equipment, as well as Unicontrol and K-Tec Earthmover products in Great Britain. In addition to delivering industryleading product support throughout England, Scotland and Wales, SMT GB provides a range of end-to-end efficiency and productivity boosting solutions, which ensure customer investments are protected and profits are maximised.

QTell us about your team and the working culture. Is there a fundamental company philosophy or ethic?

As SMT GB’s Business Development team, we are constantly analysing the industry’s current working environment to identify innovative new ways of doing things. As a team, we are more than happy to challenge the status quo if the evidence indicates there may be a more effective way of working, and to work collaboratively with our other teams across the SMT network and customers to provide best in class products, services and solutions. Using a combined approach of “MVP” (Minimum Viable Product) and Continuous Improvement methodologies, we strive to deliver initial solutions quickly and then to constantly refine these based on user feedback to evolve in line with what our customers need.

QTell us about SMT GB’s relationship with its customers For SMT, it’s not just about selling machines, it’s about building long lasting relationships with customers that are based on trust, open communication and a shared passion for excellence.

From our biggest customers to our owner-operators, our customers can expect us to work with them to ensure that the products, services and solutions we supply are being put to the best use. We have some great examples of where this close collaborations can be seen such as:

ƒ Ashcourt Group had the confidence to purchase the first EC550E delivered to Great Britain,

ƒ We have supplied over 1,000 machines to Chepstow Plant over the course of 21 years,

ƒ Parkinson Plant Services trusted our used equipment team to provide them with their first owned excavator,

ƒ KKB Group knew SMT GB could be relied upon to support its launch event for a new Volvo hybrid fleet for a range of customers and representatives from the Lower Thames Crossing management team.

QTell us about any apprenticeships or trainee schemes

SMT GB firmly believes that our apprentices are our future. In fact, we have been offering apprenticeships for over 40 years and the schemes have produced some of our most successful senior managers.

SMT GB and Reaseheath College have worked together to develop a three-year intensive Land-Based Service Engineering Technician Apprenticeship, which includes a thorough assessment on completion by the IMI (Institute of the Motor Industry). This programme works

recently sat down with our marketing team to talk about the apprenticeship programme and said: “It’s really tough and a proper graft, but I love it. There’s tonnes to learn and it’s super complex. One day I’ll think I know everything and the next day they’ll introduce something new that

Academy. On this portal, employees are provided with access to an extensive range of courses, seminars and learning tools to allow them to develop their soft skills, identify areas of professional interest and to engage with colleagues across the SMT network.

Not only does this empower people to proactively seek enrichment in any area they desire, it also provides them with the ability to identify what areas they need to develop in order to further their careers, and proactively pursue this progression.

QWhat can we do to attract more young people into the plant industry?

to support SMT’s Customer Support Centres located throughout Great Britain and our apprentices have an amazing opportunity to train on the latest Volvo Construction Equipment at our SMT GB Academy and depots.

While being employed by SMT GB, apprentices learn a combination of technical and life skills including knowledge, skills and behaviours through on job training, formal college-based education and hands-on experience. The fourth and final year of the SMT GB apprenticeship is an in-house improver year working at one of our locations across Great Britain where apprentices demonstrate learning gained throughout their apprenticeship.

For me, SMT GB delivers an exceptional apprenticeship programme, but don’t just take my word for it. One of our second year apprentices, Lee Chapelle,

leaves me thinking ‘I have no idea what that is at all,’ but you soon learn, and I think that’s great.”

QHow about Continuous Professional Development or ongoing training? How does this influence or reflect the company’s culture?

SMT GB is a great place to work with highly skilled and inspired teams. We strive for excellence in all that we do and invest in our people to ensure this is a reality. Learning is encouraged and accessible for everyone, whether it be through coaching, on the job learning to achieve NVQs, classroom training accredited through the IMI or professional qualifications, we support all employees to achieve greatness.

To support this goal we have introduced an interactive online staff enrichment portal called the SMT

By listening to our employees and ensuring our workforce understands the needs of different generations, we can tailor our management styles and communication methods to continue to attract the best talent and ensure that as the generations change, SMT GB remains a top employer. We recognise that the “millennial” and “Gen Z” groups may have different values from the generations before and strive to encourage diversity and be as inclusive as possible in recognition of this.

QHow do you see the medium-term future for SMT GB ’s product development?

What Covid has taught SMT is that the company can pursue agility in many different ways and can actually help our customers to do the same.

Globally, supply chain issues continue for many industries and construction equipment manufacturers are no

“We recognise that the “millennial” and “Gen Z” groups may have different values from the generations before and strive to encourage diversity and be as inclusive as possible in recognition of this”

exception. We have seen this change our customers’ behaviour, and the drive to ensure that machines are in every way as efficient and productive as they possibly can be has never been stronger.

With SMT GB being the sole official distributor of Volvo CE’s high quality equipment, we enjoy the strong advantage of having pieces of equipment that already perform exceptionally well, but also a manufacturer that is just as keen as we are to ensure that the machines are truly giving everything they have on the jobsite.

This has allowed us to build on the solutions that Volvo has created, such as Volvo Site Simulation, CareTrack and Insight Reports, and refine these into our suite of solutions that add considerable value for our customers, including our online MySMT self-service portal, ProCare advanced machine monitoring and our Advanced Operator Training programme (“EcoOperator”).

QWhat is SMT GB doing with regard to the sustainability agenda? What new technologies are you embracing? How do you envisage the future in this respect?

SMT GB is fully committed to sustainability and has made great strides to address its own impact on the environment. Not only do we provide Volvo’s full electric machine range, but we were also one of the first companies in the industry to switch to a fully electric company fleet and the use of HVO fuel to fill all customer machines that visit any one of our sites.

Products and services

QTell us about one of your key products

One of our key new product offerings is our Fleet Optimisation service using the Volvo Site Simulation (SiteSim) tool.

QOutline the key functions/ specifications of the product

SiteSim uses a commercial grade surveying drone to create a highly detailed 3D model of a customer site. This 3D model is then combined with telematics and machine performance data to provide you with to-the-second haul cycles, the current condition of haul roads and accurate production information, as well as offering you an invaluable insight into exactly what impact the current configuration of the site has on the machines working.

It can also quantify the impact that proposed changes will have on fuel burn, emissions and offsets generated, as

well as both machine efficiency and site productivity, whether that be through haul road improvements, improved forecasting through accurate production information, upgrading the fleet or optimised machine pairing.

QHow is this product critical for potential users? How will it improve their bottom line?

The focus of the modern site manager is very much placed on reducing waste, emissions and offsets as much as possible, but this is juxtaposed with a need to maximise efficiency and productivity. As a result, there is only so much that focusing on the machines in isolation will help you with this, and the greater context of the site configuration itself, operator behaviour and how machines interact with each other onsite is something that very much needs to be taken into consideration.

QHave you had any feedback?

We have delivered SiteSim to several customers already, and have received outstanding feedback. Please keep an eye out for future editions of Diggers LIVE for more details on these.

About Lucy

QHow long have you been in the industry and how did you start out?

I’ve been in the industry for just over 15 years. My first position after graduating was in the aerospace sector but I moved to construction in 2017.

QWhat attracted you to the industry?

I love the variety and the challenges, understanding what our customers need and coming up with innovative solutions to support them. My role covers developments in both the sales and service areas of our business and this gives me a wide range of projects to manage.

importantly, how do we use data efficiently to drive intelligence and action based outputs? I love this aspect of my work and as we move into the era of machine learning and AI this will only get more exciting.

QTell us about the different aspects of your work.

I have a total team of 14 people working across both the sales and service areas of our business so the range of projects managed and input to the business is wide. A core area of the group are our product development managers who cover the physical aspects of our offering as well as three relatively new team members tasked with our more recent site, operator and digital solutions. Some examples of other projects delivered include launching a new engineer field service tool, CRM, developing new types of customer support agreements and of course, our web based services.

QWhat do you find most rewarding and challenging in work?

The variety and the “what if” – I love finding solutions to problems or coming up with new ways to deliver results. The most challenging is that I can be very impatient and things don’t always come quickly enough.

AND FINALLY

Who/what would you be in an alternative life?

I’m currently helping my youngest daughter choose her university options and the more I look at civil engineering, the more I think I would have enjoyed that.

Who is your favourite artist?

This is a difficult one as it can vary depending on the day. Probably the band James for music, Jane Austin for literature and either Lord of the Rings or Star Wars for cinema.

When and where are you happiest?

On holiday in Greece with my family. We have had some our best holidays in the Greek islands and I would go there in a shot.

What’s the most expensive nonessential thing you’ve ever bought? A designer handbag

What’s your bucket list activity?

I think like many people it would be to see the Northern Lights – such an amazing phenomenon I can only imagine what it would be like to see them in person.

QHave you been involved with any particularly interesting projects in your career?

Over the last few years we have been rapidly developing our web based services, which has been an incredibly interesting and exciting project. Developing services such as our ProCare condition based monitoring service and our MySMT customer portal (launched this year) continues to be one of the highlights of my time in SMT since they are focused on how we use the wealth of data around us in the most efficient way. How do we help our customers have access to the information they need day to day but also very

QWhat kind of projects would you most like to be involved with before retirement?

One of the upcoming areas of work that I am very excited to be involved with is our “e-mob” project – the electrification of Volvo’s equipment range and the drive to becoming carbon neutral. Over the next few years the transformation from diesel machines to electric or hydrogen cell powered equipment is going to bring significant challenges but challenges that I am happy to be involved in. At SMT we are committed to working with our customers to achieve all of our environmental goals and this is going to be a key area in this journey.

What would you do for a company excursion, money no object? Go on the Orient Express. I’m a big fan of Agatha Christie’s Poirot so this would be fantastic.

Autumn, winter, spring or summer? Summer

What’s your favourite cuisine? Greek

What’s your tipple of choice? A nice sauvignon blanc

Be or do? Which represents you best? Do

“We are committed to working with customers to achieve our environmental goals”

BUSINESS INSIDER

Interviewee: Davide Cerca

Role and company: Managing Director at Robustrack

Sectors: Construction, forestry, agriculture, grounds maintenance, railway, demolition and recycling, landscaping, fencing

Geographical reach: Throughout the UK for sales and hire, and worldwide when called for

Products: Flails, mulchers, concrete mixing buckets, post drivers, crusher buckets, screening buckets, tree shears, log grabs…

Established: 2014

Davide Cerca founded Robustrack Ltd with his wife, Bobby, back in 2014. Located in Ingleton, North Yorkshire, Robustrack has quickly made a name for itself as one of the leading suppliers of hydraulic attachments for excavators, including flails, mulchers, log grabs, tree shears, concrete mixing buckets, crusher buckets, screening buckets and much more. Robustrack is the sole UK dealer for Eurocomach excavators, Agriforest forestry equipment and Malaguti, manufacturers of post drivers, stump grinders and augers. Also in the Robustrack portfolio you’ll find demolition attachments from Trevi Benne and MB Crusher and Robustrack’s popular range of flails and mulchers. Robustrack is a regular show fixture and is looking forward to this year’s Plantworx event, which promises to be its biggest and best show to date, with static and working attachments on display.

QTell us about your career progression

I started my career as a technical engineer but soon developed into sales, first as area manager and then as commercial director. In 2009 I started my first business in Italy, importing rubber tracks for excavators from China. When I moved to the UK some of the producers of attachments I knew in Italy asked me to market and sell their products in the UK and that’s how Robustrack started.

QHow has what you do personally developed?

People have always been at the core of our operations: customers, suppliers and staff. When Bobby and I started our own business we covered many different roles in a day; one moment you are the salesman, the next you organise a delivery, in the morning you create an advert on social media and in the evening you send invoices. The natural next step, in order to grow, is to surround yourself with good collaborators that allow you to scale the operations to the next level.

Robustrack developed accordingly. We started with a business model based on drop shipping and a strong “digital attitude”. Running Google ads and Facebook ads was still a bit unusual back in 2014, when social media was still a

niche, especially in the construction sector, where traditional advertising was still the way to communicate with customers.

QHow about the balance between your expertise in your products/ industry, and your role in business? Transferring the knowledge we have accumulated in the last 10 years is a fundamental part of what we do. When a customer calls, our goal is to understand his needs and expectations and deliver not just any attachment, but the right attachment, for the right job, for the right excavator. That’s our way to add value to the product we deliver.

Q

What is it about your role that attracts you?

I have always liked challenges and running a company is an exciting one. Flexibility, adaptability, strategic planning and fast-paced decision making is what is required in my job.

QHow do you think your colleagues see you (or you would like them to)?

I would like to think that my colleagues see me as the coach of a team, where every single player is a much better athlete than the coach. The coach simply coordinates

and plans the game. My goal is for the team to be made up of people that are much better than me at what they do, to achieve together the objectives and targets we have.

QTell us about the company, its history and development

We started Robustrack on the back of the contact we already had with some Italian producers of attachments. The idea was to become the bridge between a market with growing demand for attachments and the Italian producers, not always equipped with the commercial tools to approach the UK market. Flails, mulchers and concrete mixing buckets were the first products we marketed and we soon realised that the demand for attachments within the British market was quickly growing. Until then, most of the attachments sold in the UK had been demolition and recycling attachments and generally speaking were very expensive, with a limited target of potential customers. What we realised is that there was a strong demand for smaller attachments and that anybody with an excavator was a potential customer. This led us to increase the types of attachments we offered, always focusing on the quality of the products and the aftermarket service. For us, having spare parts for the attachments we sell is absolutely essential,

and we are proud of the fact that we have customers that purchased from us 10 years ago and we still stock spare parts for their machines.

QTell us about Robustrack’s growth path up until now – and perhaps the future

Apart from the obvious growth in people and in space (Robustrack started life in our back garden) the range of products in which we offer has grown significantly. It was an honour to be made the UK importers of Eurocomach excavators. They have a quality which is unmatched and being optimally set up for use with hydraulic attachments made them the perfect brand for us and our customers.

I am really proud of the way Robustrack has grown while remaining true to its mission – supply customers with the best possible product and service so that they become our ambassadors and our most valuable adverts. When I see customers on social media and specialised groups recommending us, I feel a mixture of gratitude and pride in having our revolutionary approach recognised.

Our mission was to deliver a better service then a local dealer could, even

if we were 300 miles away. Today, we have happy customers from Cornwall to Scotland that have experienced and like the way in which we do business.

We have also established a network of business partners and resellers happy to share our vision. With the demand for hydraulic attachments in constant growth, a lot more people have now entered this sector, but Robustrack is one of the very few companies focused exclusively on hydraulic attachments, with an unmatched wealth of knowledge and experience, and probably the largest stock of attachments with spare parts in the UK.

In the future I hope we can keep doing more of what we have been. Plantworx this year is an exciting event for us: the biggest stand we’ve ever done and a demo stand to boot. As with all our shows, it is a great opportunity to reconnect with customers and colleagues and I love the buzz of a show. We have a huge range of attachments on display, both static and working, and I can’t wait.

QExplain what Robustrack does for readers of Diggers LIVE

When you buy from Robustrack your

customer experience is different: we investigate your needs, your situation and your expectation. By doing so, we make sure that the attachment we deliver is exactly what you expect and does exactly the job we discussed. We care about people and, since we don’t like surprises when we are customers ourselves, we make sure that there are no surprises when we are the suppliers.

We like to deliver “plug and play” attachments, ready for the customer to use: whether delivered and installed by us or delivered on a pallet by a courier, the same applies. To achieve this, we have the in-house facility to fabricate brackets, adaptors and hoses to the customers specification and deliver complete with hydraulic fittings.

When we work with dealers, we are happy to give them the bare attachment for them to add value and take care of their customers themselves. The range of our potential customers is very wide – construction, farming, ground maintenance, railway, demolition and recycling, forestry, landscapers, fencing contractors. Excavators are becoming less of a digging machine and more of a tool carrier. We’ve seen the demand there,

hence the increase in our attachment catalogue. Operators can do so much more and whatever the job, we have the attachment.

We care about our customers and we want them to be happy with the purchase they are making and this is reflected in the products and services we propose. Honesty is a core value in our company so we’d rather under promise and over deliver than the other way around. If problems ever arise, we keep a line of communication with the customer. It is not about not having problems, but much more about how you deal with them. Aftersales service and spare parts is a very important focus at Robustrack and something our customers can count on. We like to think that what we sell are money making solutions. We like to listen to our customers, share with them other customers’ experiences and best practices using the attachments to generate revenue, to make the most of the investment when they buy our machines. When our customers choose one of our products, we haven’t convinced him to do so, we have instead managed to share with him the value that our product can add to his organisation.

QTell us about your team and working culture. Is there a fundamental company philosophy or ethic?

I feel really lucky to collaborate with an amazing team full of young and enthusiastic people. At Robustrack we believe that it is all about people.

“It is all about people. People don’t do business with companies, they do business with people”

People don’t do business with companies, they do business with people. The people element is crucial in our company, whether they are customers, suppliers or members of our team. For this reason we work hard to create and maintain a happy working environment, with no space for a blame culture. I have always thought that we spend a lot of time in our workplace and waking up every morning just looking forward to the weekend is an awful place to be.

QWhat is your experience of the labour market?

We live in a period where the difficulty for companies to find people, skilled or unskilled, is probably one of the main limiting factors for growth or

AND FINALLY

Who/what would you be in an alternative life?

A bird, to be able to fly

Who is your favourite artist(s)? Pink Floyd and Dire Straits

SME. Personally, I believe that staff turnover is one of the big hidden costs for companies to be avoided, within reason, as much as possible. Brexit and a mismatch between company needs and what is available in the labour market are two of the reasons for labour shortages. We have been incredibly lucky however and found fantastic people.

QWhat can we do to attract young people into the industry?

I do believe that a better and stronger collaboration between schools and companies could be one way to start closing the gap between the skills of the candidate which companies are looking for and the skills acquired in schools.

QHow do you see the company in five or ten years?

I’d like to see Robustrack becoming the point of reference for the UK market when we talk about hydraulic attachments.

Who do you most admire?

I admire the creative minds of true geniuses

– Galileo, Mozart, Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein

What would be your desert island luxury?

Well, as an Italian, it would have to be a pizza oven (and ingredients)

When and where are you happiest?

When I am skiing in the Dolomites with my family

What’s the most expensive non-essential thing you’ve ever bought?

A remote controlled aeroplane

What’s your ideal weekend?

Barbecue with family or a zip out on the Vespa in the sunshine

What would you do for a company excursion, money no object? Take everyone on a skiing holiday in Colorado

What’s your tipple of choice?

After several visits to Scotland and its distilleries, whisky

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The ultimate showcase of construction equipment and technologies

With a plethora of innovations and new zones, visitors to Plantworx will witness cutting-edge market offerings and the latest technology pipeline developments.

Rob Oliver, former Chief Executive of the CEA and now Director at Plantworx organiser, Construction Equipment Events said: “Plantworx is poised to be the premier platform in the UK for unveiling new products from an array of leading OEMs. As the industry witnesses a surge in companies embracing electricpowered solutions and making strides in hydrogen technology, Plantworx 2023 is set to be the most impressive edition yet, showcasing groundbreaking machines and cutting-edge innovations that will propel the construction sector into the future.”

To date Plantworx is nearing 300 exhibitors and 35% of those will be making their show debut. Visitors can expect to be blown away by the exhibits, many of which will be demonstrating, from renowned brands, such as Hitachi Construction Machinery, and the Chinese heavyweights XCMG, who will be at Plantworx for the first time. Other big names on the list include Caterpillar, Hidromek, Hydrema, Hyundai, SMT (Volvo), Takeuchi, Sany, Sunward Europe, Liugong, Mecalac, Yanmar Compact Equipment, Kubota, Develon (formerly Doosan), Bobcat, AVANT, BOMAG, Brokk UK, RSP Suction Excavators, Merlo, Manitou.

Battery electric

Plantworx is also set to showcase the latest advancements in engine and battery technologies, Xerotech’s Hibernium battery pack and Lifos have been shortlisted for Plantworx Innovation awards and will be exhibiting for the first time. Atlas Copco is a regular exhibitor at Plantworx, this year it’s showing its ZBC Battery Storage System, which is also shortlisted for an Innovation award.

Xerotech’s Hibernium is a highly customisable battery technology that allows users to select their preferred energy content, operating voltage range, physical dimensions, and even battery cell chemistry. What’s more, there are no design or engineering costs involved, making it an attractive option for one-off prototyping projects.

Meanwhile, Lifos is set to impress visitors with its Fort renewable power system in a box. This complete power system is easy to transport and deploy and can be fully hybridised with its own solar panels, genset or wind turbine. With the Lifos Fort, users can save money on diesel charges and lower their energy emissions in any circumstances.

The Atlas Copco Power Technique ZBC Battery Storage System is a modular energy storage solution designed to minimise fuel usage and carbon emissions for construction operators. It operates in hybrid mode, reducing emissions by up to 50%, and

can eliminate up to 100% of CO2 emissions when used with renewable energy sources. The system produces no noise and requires minimal maintenance.

Digital

The digital revolution in plant is in full swing, and a deluge of technology and connectivity companies are hitting the market. These technology solution providers are working tirelessly to achieve an all-encompassing connected site.

It’s not just about the excavator; it’s about the telematics, cameras and sensors that work together seamlessly to enhance the excavator’s functionality. The data collected by these systems provides contractors and fleet owners with real-time insights into their equipment’s performance and health. Through a single platform, contractors and fleet owners can monitor the location, usage, and health of their equipment, all in one place.

Plantworx 2023 has managed to attract a host of these businesses, including equipment management platform experts MachineMax, ABAX Telematics and Plant Tracking, as well as connectivity solutions company Plinx and Onwave, which is showcasing Onwave Locator (OWL), an SaaS application developed by Onwave to aid customers with the dissemination and communication of hazard and work site information to remote workers.

Safety

Get Connected Technology Zone

From machine control to telematics, GPS systems and safety systems, digital technology has transformed the way construction sites operate. To showcase the latest advancements in construction equipment technology, Plantworx is launching the Get Connected Technology Zone, a dedicated space for technology providers in the construction equipment sector.

The inaugural Futureworx exhibition in 2022 demonstrated the industry’s appetite for new technology and as a result, the Futureworx team has been asked by leading construction innovators to recreate an element of this event at Plantworx. The Get Connected Technology Zone will showcase the technology and innovation that will drive productivity on construction sites, leading us

Safety is also an essential consideration in the construction industry. With the inherent risks that come with building and infrastructure projects, safety measures must be put in place to protect workers, the public, and the environment. Companies including Spillard Safety Systems, Xwatch Safety Solutions, GKD, SiteZone, Leica, and Prolec are at the forefront of providing innovative safety solutions to the construction industry.

All of these companies will be showcasing their latest safety solutions at Plantworx 2023, Leica and Xwatch will be announcing a world-wide first with a recent collaboration that first debuted in Las Vegas. With such innovative solutions on offer, it is clear that safety will continue to be a top

to the construction site of the future.

The new zone will bring together companies that have new and innovative ways of delivering solutions. The focus will be on the people-plant interface, telematics, the connected site and safety systems. Indoor companies such as Ongrade MC (Thomas Plant), Unicontrol, Sitech, Sodex, cosponsors, Plinx and MachineMax, GKD, and FTC have confirmed their exhibition space in the Get Connected Zone.

The outside exhibitors include main sponsors, Leica Geosystems, Conquip, Hyundai Construction Equipment Europe and Ongrade MC (Thomas Plant). These exhibitors will demonstrate their products in action on working machinery, which will have the technology previously installed. Exhibitors will arrive ready “to plug and play,” demonstrating the ease of integrating new technology into existing construction equipment.

According to Sean Scarah, Plant and Logistics Director for Balfour Beatty Asset and Solutions Division, the focus is no longer on just diggers, but on a whole connected site where 3D machine control and autonomous plant help to deliver a project and help us on our journey to net zero. To achieve this, industry solution and equipment providers, supply chain partners, IT specialists, and clients must work collaboratively together.

priority for the construction industry.

Spillard will be showcasing its AI Human Detection System (HDS), which has been shortlisted for a Plantworx Innovation Award. GKD, SiteZone are other companies that are dedicated to improving safety in the construction sector. Their range of products includes proximity detection systems and access control solutions that help to prevent accidents and unauthorised access to construction sites.

CESAR Scheme

The award-winning Official CESAR Scheme is set to emphasise the critical nature of security and demonstrate how its multi-layered security marking technologies supplied by Datatag can thwart criminals who seek to target plant and machinery. Additionally, the company will be unveiling KIST, a

web-based administration portal. This portal has been crafted to enable effortless creation, management and administration of assets such as tools, vehicles, and equipment, using existing phone and tablet technology to scan QR codes or unique identification numbers. Each asset is assigned to a user or parent asset, for instance, a tool to a storage location or a vehicle, upon creation. With the CESAR or MicroCESAR security label providing each asset with a unique identifier, an audit trail can be established to document the asset’s movement and allocations, facilitating tracking and management of the asset’s complete lifecycle, from acquisition to periodic maintenance and phaseout from inventory. This increased transparency in asset management leads to greater accuracy and accountability across a fleet of assets.

Welfare

Sustainable welfare cabins are an innovative solution for providing comfortable and environmentallyfriendly temporary accommodation in remote or challenging locations. These cabins are designed to meet the needs of workers who require on-site accommodation and facilities, while also minimising the environmental impact of their operations. Two award-shortlisted companies in this space are Boss Cabins and Genquip Groundhog who will be showing their latest green innovations at the show.

Attachments

Rob Oliver described excavators as the “polymath” of the contemporary construction landscape and this versatility is often determined by its attachments.

Plantworx 2023 has a record number of attachment manufacturers exhibiting. Leading brands such as Auger Torque, Digga Attachments, Digbits, Arden Equipment, Worsley Plant and BPH Attachments will showcase their latest products, alongside the top tiltrotator companies like Engcon and Steelwrist.

Key challenges

In addition to showcasing the future of the construction site, Plantworx 2023 will also highlight the key challenges facing small and medium-sized construction sector companies in the areas of immersive technologies and data. The event will provide an excellent opportunity for attendees to learn about new technologies and the ways they can benefit their operations. The event has again partnered with National Highways, which is planning to scope out innovations for highways infrastructure projects.

The Simulation Zone

The Simulation Zone at Plantworx, a cutting-edge training platform for construction professionals, is returning for 2023 after its debut in 2019. This innovative and interactive zone offers an opportunity for novices and experienced operators alike to upskill and learn machine control systems, advanced technologies and gain insights into the world of construction.

Plantforce Rentals, a pioneer in simulation training, is once again spearheading The Simulation Zone. The company has introduced this groundbreaking technology to tier one contractors on major infrastructure and rail projects, including HS2 and Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.

Plantforce has partnered with leading industry players like Trimble, Leica Geosystems, and

Tenstar Simulation to provide visitors with a comprehensive and immersive experience. In The Simulation Zone, participants can test their skills using the latest technologies and work together to overcome construction site challenges in a virtual environment.

The Simulation Zone at Plantworx 2023 is open to all visitors, regardless of their experience level. With the guidance of immersive training experts, participants will navigate the virtual world of simulation technology and experience first-hand the benefits of this innovative approach to skill development.

Companies and contractors interested in adopting this state-of-the-art training method are invited to experience all that The Simulation Zone has to offer. No previous experience is necessary, and everyone is welcome.

Plantworx announces shortlist for 2023 Innovation Awards programme

Plantworx 2023 has announced the shortlist for its 2023 Innovation Awards programme. In this year’s entries, across all the categories, the focus was very much on environmental solutions, sustainability, safety and smart technology, with many of the entries fitting into more than one of the categories, as more companies have adopted a multidisciplinary design approach when designing their products/systems.

THE JUDGES

The judging panel, made up of some of the most highly regarded individuals in their respective fields, deliberated for some considerable time over this year’s nominations, but eventually came up with an outstanding shortlist of companies.

The Plantworx team would like to say a huge congratulations to all finalists and a big thank you to everyone who took the time to enter.

Margo Cole: Engineer and construction journalist - Chair of the Judges

Susan Scurlock MBE : Chief Executive and founder of Primary Engineer

Graham Black : Editor Earthmovers magazine

Mark Lawton: Head of Engineering Surveying at Skanska

Chris Matthew: Strategic Manager at P. Flannery Plant Hire

Amer Essa : Supply Chain Innovation Senior Advisor at National Highways

Lara Young: Global Head of ESG Cromwell Property Group

Non-Operated Plant and Support Service

Sponsored by DATATAG

Elite GSS: Hi-Viz Ballast Block

Hydrotechnik UK Ltd: Minimess Monster

Genquip: i550 Welfare Unit

Environmental Initiative

Sponsored by KGP

Lifos: Lifos Port PV

Auger Torque: Cone Crusher Bucket

SANY: SY19E electric mini excavator

Concrete Services: Conscreed – E1800 100% electric laser screed

Boss Cabins: Deep Green GenFree welfare cabin

Atlas Copco: ZBC energy storage system

Safety

Sponsored by Caterpillar

Spillard: AI Human Detection System (HDS)

Bomag: Articulated tandem roller

Onwave: Onwave OWL

Bomag: Asphalt Pro

Xwatch: Xwatch pitch and roll warning system

Best Use of Technology – Including Digital Innovation

Sponsored by Futureworx 2024

MachineMax: MachineMax technology

MP Filtri: CMP View Software

Filtertechnik: Particle Pal Plus

Bomag: Asphalt Pro

Security Initiative

Sponsored by the CEA Policing Fund

Digger Guard: Digger Guard Vandal Guards

Kist: Datatag KIST (asset management)

Abax: Smart Inventory

Engineering and Design

Sponsored by CEA (Construction Equipment Association)

Digga: HALO auger alignment system

Mecalac: Revotruck

Manitou: MRTe rotary telehandler

Worsley Plant: Rotar’s fully integrated quick coupler adapter

SANY: SY19E electric mini excavator

Training & Skills Development Programme

Sponsored by Merlo

Leica Training School: For retention and upskilling and ongoing training of operatives

Flannery Plant Hire: Skills Bootcamp in Plant Operations

Special recognition awards

Sponsored by Plantworx

Plant and Hire Aid Alliance: For providing aid to war-torn Ukraine

British Steel: Laser Detection of Surface Defects

Xerotech: Xerotech Hibernium battery pack

Plantworx Get Connected Technology Zone: Driving the future of construction equipment

Plantworx will be buzzing with excitement as industry leaders, manufacturers and plant specifiers come together to showcase the latest equipment, technologies and techniques in the construction industry.

The construction industry has come a long way in the past few decades and technology has played a significant role in that progress. From machine control to telematics, GPS systems and safety systems, technology has transformed the way construction sites operate.

Machine control systems have dramatically improved the precision of construction equipment such as excavators, bulldozers and graders. By using GPS technology, these systems are able to provide real-time guidance to operators, enabling them to complete tasks with greater accuracy and speed. This in turn minimises the need for rework, saves on material costs and ensures projects are completed on schedule. Telematics, on the other hand, enables remote monitoring and management of construction equipment. By collecting data on equipment usage, fuel consumption, and maintenance requirements, site managers can make informed decisions about asset allocation and maintenance schedules, leading to better use and reduced downtime.

GPS systems have become indispensable tools on construction

sites, allowing for accurate positioning, mapping and tracking of equipment and personnel. This has streamlined workflows and improved coordination among teams, resulting in increased productivity and efficiency. In addition, real-time tracking enables quick response in the event of an emergency or theft, ensuring site safety and security.

To showcase the latest advancements in construction equipment technology, Plantworx is launching the Get Connected Technology Zone, a dedicated space for technology providers in the construction equipment sector.

The inaugural Futureworx exhibition in 2022 was a massive success, demonstrating the industry’s appetite for new technology. As a result, the Futureworx team has been asked by leading construction innovators to recreate an element of this event at Plantworx. The Get Connected Technology Zone will showcase the technology and innovation that will drive productivity on construction sites, leading us into the construction site of the future.

The new zone will bring together companies that have new and innovative ways of delivering solutions. The focus will be on the people-plant interface, telematics, the connected site and safety systems. Companies such as Leica Geosystems, Thomas Plant, Unicontrol, Sitech, Sodex Innovations, Plinx Connect,

MachineMax, GKD and FTC have already confirmed their exhibition space in the Get Connected Zone, hosted in the indoor arena.

The outside Get Connected exhibitors and sponsors include Hyundai Construction Equipment Europe, Conquip Engineering, Sitech and Thomas Plant, as well as having a range of OEM machines in operation. These exhibitors will demonstrate their systems in action on working machinery, which will have had the inside exhibitors’ technology installed. Exhibitors will arrive ready to plug and play, demonstrating the ease of integrating new technology into existing construction equipment.

According to Sean Scarah, Plant and Logistics Director for Balfour Beatty Asset and Solutions Division, the focus is no longer on just diggers, but on a whole connected site where 3D machine control and autonomous plant help to deliver a project and help us on our journey to net zero. To achieve this, industry solution and equipment providers, supply chain partners, IT specialists and clients must work collaboratively together.

In addition to showcasing the future of the construction site, Plantworx 2023 will also highlight the key challenges facing small and medium-sized construction sector companies in the areas of immersive technologies and data. The event will provide an excellent opportunity for attendees to learn about new technologies and the ways they can benefit their operations.

MachineMax and PLINX connect to co-sponsor Get Connected Zone

Two leading digital solutions companies, MachineMax and PLINX are proud to announce their partnership as co-sponsors of the brand new Get Connected Zone at PlantWorx 2023.

The PlantWorx Get Connected Zone is a dedicated space for technology providers within the construction equipment sector

designed to showcase how digital solutions are driving changes on projects and sites across the globe.

Jenny Rohde, Growth and Partnerships Director, from PLINX explained: “By ‘Getting Connected’ you can increase the visibility of daily operations; for PLINX and MachineMax this extends beyond individual machines’ telematics. Experience tells us that by integrating systems and data you can generate actionable insights and capability, with far greater return on investment for your business.”

PLINX uses advanced technology solutions to build safer and more connected environments, supporting construction companies to deliver projects on time and send workers home safely at the end of each day. MachineMax is on a mission to enable businesses to make proactive decisions that deliver a better, more sustainable and productive future.

As ConTech disruptors, the businesses are the perfect partners to co-sponsor the Get Connected Zone as their advanced technology and data-driven insights are already

empowering businesses to expedite their digital journey.

Amy Law, Marketing Manager from MachineMax said: “Visiting the Plantworx Get Connected Zone will provide a great opportunity to see a wide range of leading connected technologies that can deliver value to projects and provide a space for networking and exploring how integrating these solutions can add huge-value to business operations and projects.”

“A great opportunity to see leading connected technologies provide a space for networking and exploring how integrating these solutions can add hugevalue to business”

Determined to remain at the forefront of industry innovation, Yanmar CE EMEA (Yanmar) is pulling out all the stops for its class-leading ‘Premium Red’ machines at Plantworx 2023. Stand B-FB10 is where all the action is happening, with machines on show ranging from its core mini excavator models and compact wheel loaders, to allnew and future-ready electric prototypes.

Yanmar’s presence at Plantworx 2023 wouldn’t be complete without its marketleading standard tail swing excavators, such as its urban and landscaping-ready SV26 (2,740 kg Operating Weight (OW)). Other conventional tail swing excavators on display will include the ultra-tough SV15VT (1,685 kg OW), and the highperforming yet compact SV60-6B (5,655 – 5,685 kg OW).

Also present is the ultra-precise and stable ViO27 (2,770 kg OW) and the ViO57 (5,505 kg OW) with first-rate fuel economy. As well as the ViO82 (8,200 kg OW) with maximum stability and exceptional lifting strength comes Yanmar’s smallest zero tail swing model, the ultra mini (yet mighty) SV08 (1,035 kg OW).

Yanmar’s ultra-efficient and productive B95W wheeled excavator (9,100 – 9,500 kg OW) is being showcased alongside the compact C30R-3TV tracked carrier (2,865 kg OW) with 180° turning swivel skip and one of Yanmar’s newest and smallest compact wheel loaders, the V7-HW (4,450 kg OW), with a tipping load of 3,250 kg.

Lastly, pioneering the transition to electric units across the construction industry, an all-new prototype of Yanmar’s V8e electric compact wheel loader takes centre stage (4,500 kg OW, 11 kW charging in standard configuration and 22 kW in optional fast charging).

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SANY

Stand D-H11 and D-H12

SANY UK will take its largest ever stand at PlantWorx 2023 to showcase its latest range of excavators and wheel loaders, along with a host of innovative technologies designed to improve productivity, efficiency, and safety on site.

Making its UK debut at the show are two brand new SANY wheel loaders, the SW305 and SW405

models with their bucket capacity of 2.3 / 3 m³ and an operating weight of 14.5 / 18 t. The new generation of wheel loaders from SANY are manufactured with well-known components including Kawasaki pumps and ZF transmission and fully equipped as standard including 360° camera, keyless entry, single joystick steering and third function hydraulics.

Also premiering at the event will be the new SY18U. This zero tailswing mini excavator allows you to work with confidence in confined areas and offers the same technology and performance as the popular SY16C and SY18C models.

As with all SANY

excavators, the SY18U is backed by the industry leading five-year/3,000 hour warranty for complete peace of mind.

A number of other machines will also be on display, ranging from the SY16C, 1.6T canopy mini digger to the SY155W wheeled excavator and 21-t SY215C crawler, so there really is, something for everyone.

For those who would like to put their operating skills to the test, the SANY Operator Challenge will also be in full swing over the course of the three-day event. Participants will be able to take part using the recently launched SY19E electric mini excavator, which was unveiled to the UK market at the Executive Hire Show earlier this year.

The SANY stand will also include a large working demonstration area and will also offer visitors the opportunity to operate the machines themselves (appropriate operator’s ticket and PPE required). Seven different machines will be available to try ranging from the SANY SY16C mini to the larger compact SY135C.

Gaz Evans Models (GEMs)

Stand A-E1

Gaz Evans Models (GEMs) will be participating in Plantworx for the first time in 2023. GEMs specialises in creating top-notch scale models and accessories for the construction, demolition, and recycling sectors, offering these models at surprisingly reasonable prices.

With permission from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), GEMs produces all its scale models and attachments in-house. The process begins with obtaining drawings from the OEMs, then creating a hand-built master model using either plastic card or 3D printing. These parts are cast

in high-quality white metal, cleaned, assembled, painted, and detailed by GEMs themselves. Its products cater to OEMs, plant dealers, and collectors.

Gaz, the founder of GEMs, has been making models as a hobby throughout his life. After leaving his job at a demolition company, he turned his passion into a full-time business. In 2021, Lucinda officially joined the growing company.

Gaz Evans says: “In a world where precision and detail matter, Gaz Evans Models prides itself on crafting 1:50 scale model attachments for the construction and demolition industries, showcasing renowned brands like Rotar, Gjerstad, Engcon, and more. We don’t just stop there; we bring dreams to life by customising heavy plant models to represent companies like Collins Earthworks, Ruttle Plant and Plantforce, ensuring every piece is a true representation of its real-life counterpart.”

GEMs also offers customised models and dioramas, perfect for company foyers, events, and client gifts. They can modify base models with company signwriting and colours, adjust booms and add attachments. Models can even be placed on plinths for special presentations. If interested in a custom build, GEMs encourage potential clients to get in touch for a quote by visiting the company on stand A-E1 at Plantworx.

GEM’s dioramas feature accurate scaling and exceptional detail. Their carefully applied livery and weathering effects make GEM dioramas truly stand out from the competition. For more information visit www.gemmodels.co.uk.

Blue Machinery

Stand B-EC3

Blue Machinery will be exhibiting at Plantworx for the first time this year and will be showcasing its range of market leading attachment brands.

On its main stand located at B-EC3, Blue will be exhibiting the range of Rammer hammers, Fortress Shears, Allu screening buckets, Xcentric crushing buckets, Xcentric rippers, demolition tools and Grabs from VTN and OSA and the OilQuick quick coupling systems.

Alongside its static stand, Blue Machinery will also have a DEVELON excavator on live demonstration in the Get Connected zone. This DEVELON excavator will be paired with a number of attachments to process material and this will encompass a Rammer breaker, Allu screening bucket and Xcentric crushing bucket which will all be fitted with OilQuick coupling systems.

Blue Machinery will also be sponsoring one of the operator challenges at the show, which will include the use of one of its attachment brands. Stay tuned for more information on this one.

To celebrate its first appearance at Plantworx and to show how serious it is about attachments, Blue Group will be giving away a free small rammer breaker at Plantworx. One lucky winner will have the chance to win either a Rammer 111, 222 or 333 breaker, suitable for 1-9 tonne mini excavators. The winner will be announced live at Plantworx (but they don’t have to be attending the show to win) and will be able to choose from one of the three small breakers on offer.

Entries close at 12 pm on 15 June.

You can enter the competition via competitions.blue-group.com.

FRESHFILTER

Freshfilter cab air quality systems are used on haul trucks and mobile machinery to protect the machine and its operator from toxic substances.

• Keep employees healthy and safe

• All national and international legislation is applicable to the cab air filtration systems

REVERSING FANS

We install various types of reversing fans and only use high end products. Flexxaire is the world’s leading smart airflow developer in the fan industry.

• Clear debris in less than a second

• Save on fuel costs and increase power

• Low maintenance

•

World-leading plant and equipment manufacturer Sunward is debuting at this year’s Plantworx, the UK’s only live demo construction equipment and technology event in 2023.

The 500 m2 stand for the event at the East of England Arena and Events Centre in Peterborough from 13 to 15 June will host the launch of several new products from Sunward, which launched in Europe in 2015.

Just over half of the stand will be set aside to demonstrate to visitors Sunward’s popular and iF award-winning* range of short tail excavators, including the recently launched SWE 155UF medium excavator. This will be on display alongside the existing 2.5-t zero tail swing SWE 25UF mini and SWE 60UF compact excavators.

Plantworx will also act as the UK debut for Sunward’s SWE 20FED – a two-tonne fully electric mini excavator – which will head up the static display. This machine is particularly suitable for urban construction sites with strict requirements for emissions and noise, and thanks to its tail swing radius of just 1,110 mm, for sites with limited and or confined spaces.

The SWE 20FED comes in cab or canopy options and offers exceptional value for money in the new market of electric excavators. It features a lithium-ion battery and a three-phase asynchronous motor, providing an autonomy of more than six hours under full working load. The machine can be fast charged in under two

hours or fully charged in seven. Also debuting in the UK is the new SWE 155UF medium short tail. This is a standout model, weighing 16 t and boasting a short radius, available also with a two-piece boom. It is equipped with a Cummins engine with 90 kW @ 2,200 RPM and hydraulic high-performance Hengli, providing exceptional stability and high performance in its category.

Sunward’s excavator range in Europe spans from micro excavators weighing one tonne to hydraulic excavators weighing 36 tonnes. As well as the new electric SWE 20FED and the new SWE 155UF, Sunward’s SWE 08B, SWE 18UF, SWE 35UF and SWE 90UF excavators will also be on display.

To complete its construction range, Sunward plans to present its compact tracked loader, the SWTL4538, as well as a scissor lift.

Plantworx will see the debut of Sunward’s new SWA 16JE electric articulated boom lift, which is versatile, safe and sustainable for a variety of applications. The machine has all-terrain capabilities and a compact size, making it ideal for indoor and outdoor work. Additionally, it is designed for easy maintenance and has a low total cost of ownership, making it a costeffective investment. Safety features such as an anti-tilt system and emergency lowering valve are also included.

New attachments on exhibit at Plantworx from Sunward Europe include hydraulic quick couplers, augers, sorting grapples, buckets, breakers and Steelwrist tiltrotators.

Sunward Stand C-MC1 and C-MC2

“New attachments on exhibit at Plantworx from Sunward Europe include hydraulic quick couplers, augers, sorting grapples, buckets, breakers and Steelwrist tiltrotators”

SMT GB Stand A-A18/19

SMT GB has swapped machines out in favour of showcasing the extensive range of services and solutions now available nationwide

SMT’s product manager team will be providing stand visitors with the ability to dive as deeply as they wish into the options being showcased, including MySMT, SMT ProCare, SiteSim, Volvo Co-Pilot and Unicontrol 3D machine control.

MySMT is SMT’s brand new customer information and service portal. Using a secure, web-based site,

data to the next level. By analysing multiple data sources such as telematics and fuel inspection reports, the SMT ProCare team can improve uptime and reduce maintenance costs through identifying potential machine issues before they turn into costly repairs.

Using a commercial-grade

sophisticated 3D model of your site, which is then combined with machine performance and telematics data to provide you with an insight into the real world impact of implementing site optimisation options, such as site layout, improved machine pairing and haul operation optimisation.

Volvo Co-Pilot is a state-of-theart touchscreen tablet that powers all of the Volvo Assist platforms. Using Volvo Co-Pilot, operators can set up projects in just a few touches of the screen and monitor progress as the job gets underway.

Unicontrol’s solution allows machine control to be retrofitted on machines already in the field and across mixed fleets. Advanced GPS and 3D modelling technology allow operators to work more independently and precisely.

“SMT ProCare team can improve uptime and reduce maintenance costs through identifying potential machine issues before they turn into costly repairs”

Tele Radio is delighted to be exhibiting at Plantworx 2023. The construction industry is one of Tele Radio’s most popular markets and Plantworx allows it to interact with a wide range of manufacturers, system integrators, owners and operators from across the UK and Ireland.

Formed in Lysekil, Sweden in 1955, Tele Radio is a market leader in the design and manufacture of radio remote control solutions. Its mission is to provide end-to-end product solutions, technologies, and services

Tele Radio

Stand A-B5

in the field of wireless equipment control and machine communication, where reliability and safety are the key decisive factors. Tele Radio’s utmost goal is to provide you with solutions that will add value to your business while at the same time provide impeccable support when you need it.

Tele Radio will be showing a range of products from simple pushbutton controls to complex, customisable, proportional hydraulics and camera feedback systems. Its industrial remote controls are designed to improve efficiency and safety in the construction industry, providing precise and easy-to-use control for machinery and equipment.

Visit stand A-B5 to learn more about how our industrial remote controls can improve your production process. Tele Radio’s experts will be available at the stand to provide personalised advice and to answer any questions.

“Products from simple pushbutton controls to complex, customisable, proportional hydraulics and camera feedback systems”

DEVELON

Stand B-EB2 & B-EB1

the new DX63-7 6-t and DX85R-7 8-t mini-excavators in the Static section of the stand and the new DX250WMH-7 material handler in the Demonstration area.

Together with the DX62R-7, the DX63-7 is one of two new 6-t mini-excavators from DEVELON, completing the rollout of the its next generation of machines, with a new shared global styling design. Both models are powered by the 44 kW D24 Stage V compliant diesel engine. Despite an 8% increased torque of 26.5 kgm/RPM, the D24 engine still provides a 7% decrease in engine fuel consumption.

The new DX85R-7 8-t miniexcavator reduced tail swing (RTS)

crawler excavator and the DL280-7 wheel loader.

Renowned for its Italian hydraulic attachments, Robustrack has a reputation that precedes it for quality, performance and customer service. This will be Robustrack’s fourth time exhibiting at Plantworx and it has planned its biggest and best show stand to date. With both a static and demonstration area, visitors can for the first time see Robustrack attachments in action. Working on a 13-t excavator will be the impressive MB BF60 crusher bucket, MB HDS314 shaft screening bucket, the Malaguti Plury post driver and compaction plate and the MB G900 selector grab working at various intervals during the three days.

The static stand will display more of Robustrack’s best selling attachments, including a full range of its infamous high quality flails and mulchers, for excavators from 1 to 30-t. Also being showcased is the Agriforest range of tree shears and log grabs, with two brand new additions to the range being exclusively launched at the show.

As sole UK dealers for Malaguti,

Robustrack introduces exclusive new lines of Plury post drivers and compaction plates and Tornado stump grinder attachments, launched at Bauma last October. Plantworx will be the first occasion that these attachments have been shown at a UK trade show.

Robustrack also offers an extensive range of MB attachments and will have both static and demonstration

units from its range on display. What is always great to see on Robustrack’s stand is the attention to detail and its workshop’s great custom fabricated brackets displayed with its attachments; exactly how they are delivered to customers. It really illustrates the care and consideration that has made Robustrack one of the UK’s most popular attachment suppliers.

TVH

Stand D-LB19

TVH, a trusted supplier of parts and accessories for small earthmoving equipment, is pleased to announce its presence at Plantworx. With branches worldwide and an extensive online shop with over 4m known references for all major makes and models, TVH offers fast delivery and in-house experts to help you find the right parts.

Visitors can explore TVH’s wide

range of products tailored to specific business needs, including Jaltest, GEM One, telehandler attachments, tracks and undercarriage parts. The range includes parts suitable for popular machine brands such as Bobcat, Case, Caterpillar, JCB, John Deere, Kubota, Takeuchi, Volvo and Yanmar.

TVH’s expert team members will be on hand to introduce you to

BPH Attachments

Stand B-FA3

BPH Attachments will be showcasing PRODEM attachments, which have been seen in use on some of the most high-profile demolition and construction sites. PRODEM attachments are known for quality, durability and reliability as well as for being competitively priced. Customers are in the plant hire, construction, civil engineering, demolition and recycling/waste sectors.

Alongside this will be these fantastic attachment brands; Oilquick, AugerTorque, Berti, LaBounty and Dynaset, ensuring the best, most suitable deal is met to get the job done well every time.

BPH is a family-run business with nearly 50 years’ experience in the construction industry. This means we

have the knowledge and experience to advise and support you. We also like to think we’re great folk to do business with. We’re quick, our products are reliable, and we are there with support when you need us.

As a leading supplier of excavator attachments for sale, hire or repairs, we cover the whole of the UK and offer next day delivery for in stock products. We’re known for providing high-quality products and a reliable service. If you’re looking for a hydraulic excavator attachment, we’ve got it.

the latest developments in its e-shop. Visitors can also benefit from exclusive exhibition offers.

In addition, TVH offers scheduled technical training courses, an excellent resource for companies looking to improve their teams’ technical skills and stay ahead of the competition. Visitors can find out more about the courses and different training packages available at the stand and even have a chance to win a virtual “how-to” training course.

TVH is committed to providing customers with the best possible experience, from high-quality products to industry-leading customer service. As a bonus, visitors can try their luck at the TVH claw machine for a chance to win a special gift.

Visit TVH on stand D-LB19 to find out how it can help you improve your operations and increase your bottom line.

“TVH offers scheduled technical training courses, an excellent resource for companies looking to improve their teams’ technical skills”

How safe are your team?

Every year too many workers are killed or injured through unnecessary contact with plant and machinery on construction sites and beyond.

Zonr plant proximity solution has been designed and built using Pathfindr’s technology expertise in collaboration with construction safety experts. It uses Ultra-Wideband (UWB) signals to create a virtual barrier around dangerous plant and equipment.

• Super simple and quick to deploy.

• Base easily transferable between vehicles.

• Logs and locates all identified incursions.

• No hard wiring for exterior equipment. For

EVENTS

Brokk UK Ltd/Aquajet

Stand B-BA6

Aquajet is a top Hydro demolition robot company and is part of the LIFCO group along with Brokk. These robots are much faster and safer than traditional hand lancing methods and Aquajet’s machines can be programmed and autonomous. The new Aqua cutter 750V features a patented infinity lance system that runs in a continuous figure-8 motion, resulting in a more even finish and improved productivity. It also has a patented EDS system that maintains its distance from the work, reducing pump diesel consumption significantly. The Aquajet 750V with infinity won the Swedish Hydro demolish awards in late 2022.

Excavator Forklift (EFL)

Stand B-FC5

On the Excavator Forklift (EFL) stand visitors will see a new patented Excavator Forklift attachment, which can be easily attached to micro or mini excavators, converting them into forklifts capable of

lifting pallets weighing between 1,000 and 2,000 kg. The attachment comes with an adjustable pressure relief valve on the lift cylinder, ensuring that the maximum fork capacity is approximately the weight

of the excavator. The lift is powered by the hammer service and controlled by the hammer pedal, while tilt is controlled by the dipper lever.

In addition to forklift capabilities, the attachment also includes a 1,000 kg x 750 mm reach jib with a hook height of 2.6 m for handling bags and slung loads. A 200 mm lift and carry version is available for use when high lift is not required. The attachment also features an articulated axle that allows one wheel to be 150 mm above the other, providing excellent rough-site performance. The Excavator Forklift attachment offers landscapers and small builders a laboursaving solution for their work sites.

Rotar Engineering (c/o Worsley Plant)

Stand D-JB8 & D-JC2

Rotar Engineering has introduced an innovative new product, the Fully Integrated Quickcoupler Adapter, specifically designed to overcome the shortcomings of the industry-standard Symmetrical Quick Coupler. This revolutionary product is a game-changer, offering a plug and play solution that eliminates the need for adapter plates, extra engineering costs and installation of hydraulic lines. The adapter is fully dedicated to the original components of the quick coupler manufacturer – Oilquick, Steelwrist, or Lehnhoff – and comes with an optimised centre of gravity, weight reduction, and lower fuel consumption.

The Fully Integrated Quickcoupler Adapter features a 3D hydraulic routing design,

OEM manufacturing and integration of all components and hydraulic lines, making it more reliable and easy to maintain. Furthermore, the adapter’s sleek design eliminates visible hydraulic hoses, giving it a clean and polished look. Overall, this product offers several benefits over the Symmetrical Quick Coupler and promises to be a game-changer in the industry.

Auger Torque

Stand C-PB3 & C-PB4

Auger Torque will be showcasing three new products at Plantworx. The Cone Crusher Bucket quickly and efficiently repurposes rubble into usable hardcore of approximately 40-70 mm. Suitable for 3 to 10-t excavators, telehandlers, skid steers and mini loaders, Auger Torque has already seen considerable success with one customer saying the cone crusher bucket had saved nearly £1,000 per day repurposing rubble as hardcore.

In-Site is a range of accurate, precise and efficient data driven tools, giving operators knowledge and insight in the field. In-Site Align ensures accurate alignment when drilling holes, preventing the need for someone to help align drilling. In-Site Data, which includes the alignment functionality, has the addition of pressure sensors to ensure correct torque parameters. In-Site Data Plus, suitable for 13-t machines and above, has the functionality of the first two models with the addition of

temperature and speed sensors

assisting in the long term maintenance of the drive. Finally Auger Torque is proud to add the Kinshofer Drum Cutter range to its portfolio. High quality design, manufacturing and parts guarantee high performance in the toughest of environments, including in water up to 25 m deep. These are the ideal attachment to scale rock or concrete walls, tunnel excavation, trenching in extreme grounds or loosen hard rocky ground in the most efficient way.

RSP Suction Excavators

Stand C-ND4 & C-ND3

this machine the first in its class.

The technology was launched at Bauma in October 2022 by RSP Germany and the first unit has been brought to the UK this month. The new ESE 8 will be taking centre stage at Plantworx 2023 on the RSP Suction Excavator stand C-ND4 and C-ND3.

Lloyd Gardener, Director of RSP UK, said:

RSP UK has launched its innovative Suction Excavator in the ESE 8, mounted on a Mercedes Benz AROCS with an 8 m 3 container. The new model

is set to transform and optimise suction excavator use within the industry. The dual tipping and 20% increase in the working range versus other models make

“We are delighted to be bringing the ESE 8 to the UK market. As a global company, it’s our mission to invest in our technology, innovation and products to ensure they represent the best solutions for our customers and our industry.”

Spillard Safety Systems Ltd

Stand B-BA3

The Spillard Safety Systems AI Human Detection System was launched last year at Futureworx. This system is capable of identifying humans through their shape, form, and characteristics. When a person enters a predetermined restricted or exclusion zone, the system sends audible and visual alerts to the machine operator.

What makes this system unique is its ability to present the detected data in three ways. Firstly, the data is displayed clearly on a zonal display and communicated to the operator through spoken words. Secondly, an external speaker informs the detected human to move away, which significantly changes the behaviour of banksman, machine controllers and workers by moving to a safe distance. Thirdly, safety managers receive video telematics information on a bespoke, GDPR compliant platform for training and further investigation into predictive behaviour.

The video telematics data provides

Gomaco International Ltd

Stand A-E11

This year GOMACO will introduce the world’s first battery-powered slipform curb machine, the CC-1200e, to the UK market at Plantworx.

The GOMACO CC-1200e electric curb machine is equipped with a power dense 48 V DC lithium-ion battery pack. The result is a paver with zero-exhaust emissions, reduced vibrations and zero engine noise. The lithium-ion batteries provide enough power for a full day of paving. Charging options include the standard 8 to 10 hour normal charge rate or an optional two hour fast charge system.

It features the simple-to-operate GOMACO-exclusive G+® control system with a full function radio remote control that puts all machine operations in the hands of the operator. Travel control, manual three-point grade control, cross auger directional controls, vibrator control dial, warning lights and emergency stop are all located on the

remote’s control panel. The CC-1200e is also equipped with rotary-sensored slew drive steering on its front wheel assemblies allowing smoother paving,

easier control and maximum turning capability with the ability to slipform a 610 mm radius, depending on the mould profile.

AVANT

Stand C-NC10 & C-NC9

Avant Tecno, a renowned expert in loader technology hailing from Finland, has recently launched two new models in its 600 Series that boast of an upgraded engine. The 645i and 650i models are considered the most powerful loaders in their respective size classes worldwide, as per the company. Even though these new machines have similar dimensions and lifting capabilities as the previous 600 series models, they come with a more powerful engine. These models feature Kubota’s 33 kW diesel engine, which provides ample power and torque for high pulling force and speed-intensive work. Avant claims that its competitors lack machines as efficient as these in the same size range.

The EU Stage V emission standard for non-road mobile machinery requires a catalytic converter and a particulate filter for diesel engines above 19 kW. Avant is the first manufacturer to introduce such

Takeuchi

loaders with the specified size class in the market. The 645i has a single-speed Kubota V1505CRT diesel engine, while the 650i features a two-speed version of the same. The fourcylinder 1,498 cc turbocharged common rail engine delivers 33 kW, and the oxidation catalyst and particulate filter handle exhaust aftertreatment, without the need for additives such as AdBlue.

The machine is powered by a 32.4 kW Stage V-ready engine and a four-pump hydraulic system, providing a bucket breakout force of 37.3 kN.

The TB350R comes with the Takeuchi Fleet Management (TFM) telematics system as standard, which provides owners and operators with machine health vitals and condition, run time (hours), machine location, remote diagnostics, scheduled maintenance reminders, and customisable alert settings. The excavator will be launched in the UK

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TEL: 01291 630 073

EMAIL: SALES@BMC-BUCKETS.CO.UK

AVAILABLE FOR NEXT DAY DELIVERY

Bobcat

Stand B-DB15 & B-DB5

Visitors can expect to meet the Bobcat T7X Compact Track Loader, which Bobcat says is “Your window into the future of the compact equipment industry.” With the introduction of the zero-emissions Bobcat T7X, the manufacturer is shaking up the industry yet again.

The T7X is completely batterypowered and equipped to outperform its diesel-powered counterparts. The heart of the T7X is its powerful, 62-kWh lithiumion battery. Each charge can support common daily work operations for up to four hours of continuous operation time and a full day of operation during intermittent use. After a recharge, the T7X is ready to do the tough work again. Unlike other compact loaders, the T7X doesn’t rely on a hydraulic system to transfer power to the machine’s work group. Instead, it features an electrical drive system consisting of electric motors and ball screw actuators.

Mecalac Construction Equipment UK

Stand B-EA2 & B-EA1

Mecalac’s Revotruck, a groundbreaking earthmoving solution, premiered at Bauma and is making its UK debut at

Plantworx. The Revotruck enhances safety and comfort with a rotating cab and dumper skip, off-road trucking

capabilities, and central oscillation, allowing operators to face the direction of travel without obstructions. The Revotruck resolves issues of previous reversible site dumpers, providing a 360° view and unrestricted access to the cab, improving safety and manoeuvrability. The technology behind Revotruck includes a multidirectional joystick for easy cab repositioning, automatic gear and wheel steering adjustments, and three steering modes. It offers the tightest turning radius on the market and comes in two load capacities, powered by a Stage V-compliant 55 kW Perkins turbocharged engine for minimal environmental impact.

Arden Equipment

Stand D-JD1

The Arden Equipment AIO (All In One) is an automatic quick coupler system for excavators weighing 12 to 30 t that allows you to easily switch between hydraulic and mechanical attachments from the cab. With its fully automatic quick hitch, the AIO enables fast and safe attachment changes in just seconds without leaving the cab. This compact and robust system features high-pressure, high-flow connectors, making it compatible with powerful equipment, making it perfect for demanding applications such as demolition, construction and recycling.

The AIO350 and AIO550 connect couplings oil flow pressure is very high, which ranks it among the best hydraulic flows on the market. They allow it to equip all tools, even the most oil-intensive (demolition, recycling).

Manitou UK Ltd Stand C-CB2

At the core of Manitou’s product development plan is the OXYGEN range, taking up the challenge of renewable energy. Reduced emissions and energy consumption without compromising on Manitou quality – electrification without compromise.

Manitou’s expanding Oxygen product portfolio has recently been extended with the introduction of the first fixed telescopic handler with zero emissions and zero noise levels – the MT625e. The MT625e has a maximum lift capacity of 2,500 kg with a max lift height of 5.85 m.

The machine is 100% electrically operated, with lithium-ion

batteries offering reduced maintenance, opportunity recharging and a long service life.

The MT625e offers user commonality with the same features and functionality as experienced on the traditional diesel powered model, the MT625. With the same lift capacity, visibility, ergonomics, comfort, access, intuitive controls and overall performance, the MT625e maintains the same compact dimensions of 1.81 m wide, and 1.92 m tall – ideal for urban construction sites and confined spaces, along with the same transport weight of 4,756 kg.

RMC Equipment

Stand C-BE1 & C-BD7

RMC Equipment is showcasing its SharpGrade Grader Blade Series. There are two options available for the customer, one with a width of 3.25 m and the other with a width of 2.95 m. Both options cover the range of 56 to 90 kW tracked skid loaders. The manufacturer ensures full compatibility with all makes, making it possible for the customer to upgrade their loader regardless of the manufacturer.

The Grader Blade is the first of its kind, featuring hydraulic side wings that can be reversed, allowing for forward, backward, windrow, or carry movements as required for maximum efficiency. It is equipped with the patented QuadRod 3 linkage design and large parabolic mirrors that provide an unobstructed view of the blades and wings, enabling efficient grading.

The heavy-duty wings of the Grader Blade are designed for cutting and trimming, while the rounded front corners

allow for grading up to a curb without damage or spillage. The SharpGrade Grader Blade is also capable of accurately leveling to within less than 3 mm. Attaching the SharpGrade Grader

Blade to the machine is quick and easy, as no tools are required. The unit can be clipped into place, and the hoses can be attached, and the QuadGrade 2D system is pre-tuned and ready to start working.

Herbst Machinery Ltd

Stand B-G3b & B-G3a

Herbst Machinery Ltd is launching a new product, the Herbst TR212 Trommel, at Plantworx. This Trommel has been designed and manufactured by the company to complement its existing range of screening and crushing equipment.

The market has been demanding a small, compact, and affordable Trommel for screening and recycling compost, soil, woodchip and green waste.

The Herbst TR212 Trommel is a compact size, measuring 1.2 m in diameter and 2 m in length. This machine

is ideal for recycling and screening a range of materials on small-scale operations. Due to its compact size and simplicity in operation, it can be a very affordable option for many small to medium-sized operators.

The screen mesh on the Trommel drum can be of different sizes, making it suitable for various applications. The rotating drum also improves the screening capabilities, especially on wetter materials, compared to conventional forward-facing screens.

BOMAG GB

Stand D-H6 & D-H5

BOMAG, in collaboration with SICK, has developed a groundbreaking LADAR sensor with intelligent technology that has been seamlessly integrated into its latest Asphalt Rollers. The system includes sensors at the front and back of the roller that scan the area in front and behind it. What sets this system apart is its ability to connect with the roller’s direction of travel, speed, and size, enabling it to use 3D LIDAR technology to calculate the trajectory of the roller and determine if any obstacles lie in its path.

The LADAR sensor system’s depth of field perception allows the roller to differentiate between objects that are closing in or moving away from it. This permits the machine to slow down but not stop until the obstacle moves away. Think of it like distance-controlled cruise control. If the obstacle is too close or moving too quickly, the roller will stop safely, avoiding any accidents.

BOMAG’s Asphalt Rollers can now

operate more efficiently and securely, making road construction more

Concrete Services & Supplies Ltd

Stand B-FD1

manageable. The system is expected to be a game-changer.

Concrete Services & Supplies is Introducing the Conscreed® E1800 – a 100% electric laser guided screed made in the UK by Ekin Engineering. The Conscreed® uses long-lasting, highperformance lithiumion batteries with zero emissions and minimal noise, making it an environmentally friendly option for concrete workers.

The electric power also enhances site safety, especially for indoor jobs, as there is no need for traditional combustion power units which produce noise and dirty exhaust

fumes. The E1800 is also more energy efficient than traditional hydraulic systems, resulting in improved speed and accuracy.

On a full charge, the E1800 can cover up to 2,500 m 2 and can be used worldwide with its compatibility with various voltages and hertz. Additionally, an optional one-hour fast charger is available to ensure that the screed is always ready to go.

Miller UK Ltd

Stand D-JA3

Miller is showcasing its GT Series, which includes a range of couplers for excavators of various sizes. The GTS coupler is designed for 1-6-t excavators, the GTX for 8-50-t excavators, and the GTT is a tilt compact coupler for 1-6-tf machines. This series features new technology, that Miller claims, has never been seen before in the industry.

The fully hydraulic coupler range is made up of only four components, which is significantly less than many couplers on the market that can have up to 15 components. As a result, this streamlined design reduces repairs and maintenance, which increases productivity and machine working time.

The unique twin-locking independent backup system in the series is certified to ISO 13031/AS4772 compliance. This system enables a wide range of OEM pin pickups to be safely attached, from the comfort and security of an operator’s cab, thus increasing productivity and uptime.

Miller’s GTS couplers for smaller excavators guarantee high-speed connections in just 18 seconds, compared to 20 minutes for a manual coupler. This allows operators to change over attachments without constraint, delivering up to 10 times the performance of a

manual quick coupler and over 40 times that of a direct mount. Using a GTS coupler, operators can save up to six days in changeover time over the course of a year, based on attachments being changed six times a day, which significantly increases machine uptime.

DIGGA Attachments

Stand D-LB17 & D-LC8

Digga Europe’s HALO Auger Alignment System is a revolutionary technology that offers numerous benefits to the drilling industry. By incorporating a 360° ring of LED lights directly into the hood of the earth drill, the system can guide operators to drill plumb without the need for a spotter or an in-cab display screen. This can save significant amounts of time and money, as well as improve safety and efficiency.

One of the main advantages of the HALO system is that it eliminates the need for costly in-cab display screens and wiring, which can reduce the overall cost of the system by around 50%. Additionally,

by reducing the number of electronic components and housing the system in the hood, it can be powered by a magnetised battery that can be charged using a phone charger, laptop, or USB car charger. This makes the system easy to use and reduces downtime caused by battery issues.

Overall, the HALO Auger Alignment System is a major step forward for the drilling industry and is likely to become the new standard in earth drill technology. Its ability to guide operators to drill plumb without the need for a spotter or an in-cab display screen can save time and money, while also improving safety and efficiency.

HPC Compressed Air Systems

Stand D-LB10 & D-LB11

HPC Kaeser has created a comprehensive lineup of electrically-driven portable compressors. The innovative M27E, M31E, and M50E portable compressors excel in locations with accessible electrical power connections. Their remarkably silent electric drive makes them the ideal option for noise-sensitive and low-emission areas. The compressors’ emission-free drive enables them to effortlessly handle compressed air tasks in tunnels and indoor spaces.

Also new from HPC Kaeser is the i.Comp 3. With its new drive concept, the i.Comp 3 delivers the exact volume of compressed air required to perform the work at hand. Another big advantage of this system is that it eliminates the need for an air receiver. This keeps the i.Comp 3 lightweight and compact, making it an ideal choice for construction sites. Meticulous construction using the very best materials ensures a long, efficient and reliable service life.

Drainfast Ltd

Stand C-CB3

Drainfast has developed a solution to prevent silt, mud, and debris from entering manholes and blocking up drainage systems. The MuckStopper 450 is a product that can be installed on top of the chamber base at the bottom of the inspection shaft. Benefits of

using the MuckStopper system include reduced jetting costs, peace of mind, reduced contamination, helping water suppliers, good for health and safety, prevents drain damage, reduced call back costs, reduced labour costs, and improved customer satisfaction.

By implementing the MuckStopper system, construction companies can minimise the negative impact of waste entering manholes on the environment and water system, as well as improve their own bottom line and customer satisfaction.

No matter what the project or construction job – the i.Comp 3 provides a

versatile and dependable supply of oil-free compressed air at all times.

Fireward Automatic Fire Suppression

Stand C-NB12 & C-NC1

Fireward has developed an automatic fire suppression system that uses a detection tube that bursts upon detecting a fire. This triggers the system to activate and release extinguishing agents into the protected areas within seconds, providing total asset protection without the need for human intervention.

In June 2022, Fireward launched a new in-cab monitor that allows machine operators to view the live status of their automatic fire suppression system and activate it if necessary. The in-cab monitor features a magnetised adaptation to replace the previous key system, which enhances operator safety and simplifies maintenance by allowing the magnet to be easily replaced if lost.

The alert system is now on by default and will reset with the improved magnet feature, ensuring the alert system is not disabled if the magnet is misplaced. Fireward has also improved the sounder to emit at a greater volume with a

distinguishable pitch, providing a higher level of awareness for machine operators. Additionally, the new in-cab monitor

utilises more powerful LEDs, making the system status easier to visualise in bright conditions.

ABAX Telematics & Plant Tracking

Stand A-C13

ABAX Smart Inventory minimises lost assets and enhances efficiency in construction businesses. Assets are assigned to vehicles, and alerts are sent when they’re no longer present. Alerts can go to 10 recipients, showing the asset’s last known location (SMS/ email). This helps businesses complete jobs efficiently, with an accurate overview of assets. If genuinely lost or stolen, the ABAX Global Network locates them and sends an alert. The ABAX MINI2 device, with a fiveyear+ battery life, powers the system. Smart Inventory saves time, fuel, and improves efficiency, impacting the bottom line while being easy to use.

Onwave

Stand B-EC4a

Onwave OWL is a geo-fencing solution used on construction sites to monitor the location of people, plant, and equipment. It has three components: a web-based platform for creating geo-fence zones, configuring alerts, and providing live views and reports; a mobile app that displays a user’s location and adjacent zones, and provides alerts for hazardous areas; and location monitoring hardware, including GNSS devices for standard accuracy and highaccuracy RTK devices for safety applications. The hardware includes audible, visual, and

haptic alerts, and can also provide dynamic geofencing for plant, which moves with the equipment to provide an exclusion zone and alert people of potential risks.

MachineMax Stand A-H7 Get Connected

The MachineMax platform helps rental companies increase their asset lifetime by 10% through efficient use, maintenance integration, and decreased depreciable hours. The platform measures productivity, location, utilisation, emissions and idle

time. By eliminating idle periods of over five minutes, the platform streamlines operations, resulting in a 10-25% fuel reduction and 5-15% carbon emissions reduction on average.

MachineMax has an open API platform that integrates with Point of Rental’s

Syrinx software. This integration empowers customers with real-time and accurate equipment data, which helps streamline their billing and operational processes. MachineMax also integrates with maintenance software, allowing customers to connect heavy equipment telematics and maintenance. By integrating data from onboard telematics with CMMS software, decisions can be made in real-time using the most up-to-date and accurate data.

With MachineMax’s digital fleet and maintenance processes, manual data inputs and paper-based tasks are eliminated. Data-driven maintenance decisions minimise the risk of over or under-maintaining equipment, improving scheduling accuracy and saving thousands of dollars in breakdowns due to incorrect maintenance. The scalable, automated process provides real-time insights, reduces admin time and costs, and can increase a machine’s life and residual value by up to 10%.

Rototilt

Stand C-MA7 & C-MA8

Rototilt has developed an app called RC Connect to make service and support more accessible to end users. The app allows customers to connect to the display in the cab to get in touch with Rototilt’s support team. Through the app, users can troubleshoot and update the software in the control system, reducing downtime and allowing them to focus on productive work.

The app can be downloaded via the AppStore or Google Play and is compatible with standard smartphones or tablets with Bluetooth support. Initially supported

Lifos

Stand B-DB18

Lifos Advanced Battery Systems is launching the Fort PV, which is the UK’s first portable battery storage system with solar panels inside. This renewable power system is a box that contains the latest lithium battery storage and its own solar panels. The Fort PV is unique for several reasons. Firstly, it operates silently, making it ideal for night-time use in areas where noise pollution is a concern. Secondly, it can be easily transported to remote off-grid locations or sites that require temporary extra power. Thirdly, the Fort PV’s solar panel system comes with 18 x 190 Wp solar panels, each with its own kick-stand support for easy set-up and connection.

by Rototilt support, the service will eventually be available to both dealers and service providers.

Once connected, a support technician can instantly view settings, calibrate tiltrotators, adjust parameters in the control system, and automatically update

the software with machine updates. The RC Connect app also provides endusers with an overall view of the system, allowing for operator profile adjustments, remote connection, alarm notifications for system error codes, and an overview of operating hours.

The panels can also be added to the roof of any 10 ft or 20 ft container or welfare cabin using a unique frame system. The Fort PV also comes with an industry-leading fiveyear warranty, making it a reliable choice for sustainable power generation.

Additionally, it can be coupled with diesel gen sets to reduce diesel usage by up to 40%, making it an eco-friendly option. The Fort PV comes with a smart data management system that allows for easy monitoring of energy generation and carbon savings, making it useful for ESG reporting requirements. Finally, multiple Fort PV units can be combined or connected to alternative power

more demanding energy requirements. Overall, the Lifos Fort PV is a valuable step towards cleaner, greener construction sites, events and festivals.

Xerotech Battery Systems

Stand A-D23

Xerotech is providing the first truly credible path to zero-emissions and is enabling the electrification of machines that were previously too low volume to be electrified econnomically. Now, the electrification of heavy-duty machinery is available to every OEM and Integrator.

Elite GSS Ltd

Stand B-EC1

The Elite GSS Hi-Vis Ballast Block is a water-filled stabiliser system that enhances the safety of construction sites by reducing the risk of fences falling over. This

Xerotech makes lithium-ion battery packs for construction and mining equipment. Its Hibernium® battery pack platform is customisable and built with advanced technology for safety and performance. This makes it easier and more affordable for heavy-duty machinery

manufacturers to switch to electric power and reduce emissions.

Xerotech’s Xerotherm® thermal management and safety technology is among the best in the world. Plus, there are no extra design or engineering costs for one-off projects.

product is easy to use, simply slotting over the foot of a standard fence panel and filled with water. It is made from 100% lightweight recycled materials and is also

100% recyclable, which sets it apart from other products on the market.

In addition to its eco-friendliness, the Hi-Vis Ballast Block can be used with a stabiliser for increased wind defence, making it even more unique. It provides an essential safety measure for construction workers and pedestrians by preventing fencing structures from collapsing during harsh and windy conditions. The product also serves as a security measure, protecting site perimeters from unauthorised access.

Compared to alternatives such as sandbags or concrete blocks, the Hi-Vis Ballast Block is superior. These alternatives can split or break, which can be hazardous and result in health and safety issues, especially when heavy equipment continuously loads and manoeuvres them around. With the Hi-Vis Ballast Block, you can have peace of mind knowing that your workers are safe and that risks have been significantly reduced.

Genquip Groundhog

Stand B-BA5

Boss Cabins Limited

Stand C-CD2

Deep Green GenFree developed by Boss Cabins, which is, according to Boss Cabins, the world’s first towable welfare cabin with no backup generator installed. This patent-pending design is an extension of the Deep Green range of solar-powered welfare The Deep Green range eliminates the need for diesel generators to run any electrical operations, thereby reducing fuel consumption, on-site CO2 and other harmful emissions and noise pollution.

The range also includes a remote 24/7 reporting system that tracks and records energy production and consumption, enabling users to accurately report on their carbon saving achievements. The system also monitors tank levels and faults, enabling users to plan service visits precisely, thereby avoiding unnecessary environmentallydamaging trips.

The range also includes a patented rain harvesting and water recycling system that reduces water consumption and waste, lowering the need for toilet servicing by 66%.

The Genquip Groundhog i 550 welfare unit is powered by a lowemission 2 kVA engine and battery charger system charged by a 1,200-W inverter and four 360-W solar panels. It features a “Hog Watch” monitoring system for solar yield, battery levels, location, and heater fuel levels, an eco-toilet, and a Webasto heating system. It also has a rainwater harvester and highcapacity water tank. During summer, all power will be taken up by the inverter or 12-V system and only 0.8 L of diesel will be used for heating. During winter, the battery will be powered for five hours per week, the inverter and 12-V systems will take up the rest of the power, and 4 L of diesel will be consumed for heating. The i 550 operates from an intelligent solar power system and is fitted with a Victron Remote Monitoring system for potential issue detection.

Moving Intelligence

Stand A-D20

Moving Intelligence has launched a new tracker called the Mi01 Sentry Device, which is specifically designed to combat recent trends in plant theft. The device is a state-of-the-art after-theft recovery unit

that uses GPS, GSM, and the LORAWAN protocol for precise location tracking, even in

WE KNOW!

Worsley Plant

Stand D-JB8

Worsley Plant, the UK’s leading attachment specialist, will be showcasing its biggest ever range of hydraulic attachments including crushing and screening Buckets from REMU and MB, as well as demolition attachments from ROTAR and magnets from DYNASET. It will also be showing the fully automatic quickcoupler system from LEHNHOFF and OILQUICK.

The biggest focus this year will be on breakers from MONTABERT, as the company has launched its biggest ever competition to win a Montabert SD08 Breaker worth over £3,000. Tickets will be on sale in the lead up to and during the show, with the draw taking place on the final day. Launched at Bauma 2023, Rotar and Worsley Plant will also be showcasing

their fully integrated quickcoupler for the first time in the UK on their stand. This unique design has been shortlisted for the Plantworx Innovation Awards.

Juliet Perrett, Worsley Plant’s Marketing and PR Manager, said: “All our product ranges can be configured to meet the criteria of just about every materials handling, waste processing and recycling application you may encounter. This level of flexibility means that most customers take delivery of unique solutions that have been created especially for their needs. Our unique products have a triple focus of recycling materials on site to reduce waste sent to landfill, increasing revenue from high value material collection, as well as providing benefits for the environment.”

Worsley Plant’s dedicated sales and service team will be happy to answer all your questions and explain how you can save time and money on your projects.

that makes it possible to locate stolen assets where other tracking technologies fail. The device has low power consumption due to its internal supercapacitors, making it an ideal security solution for those who need easy-to-manage, long-term tracking. To prevent theft using signal tracers, the Mi01 Sentry Device emits only one signal per day by default. However, in the event of theft, the frequency of signals can be increased for better positioning and a faster recovery. The device comes with 24/7 recovery support from a team of experienced professionals who provide comprehensive assistance throughout the recovery process to ensure prompt and successful recovery of assets.

“WHERE IS MY STOLEN MACHINERY?”

Doosan Construction Equipment is now

Same quality products maximum productivity outstanding value continuous innovation

Find out more: eu.develon-ce.com

Libby Evans

I am a multi-media journalism student at Bournemouth University and have recently completed work experience at Global News Media, including editing, researching and writing articles and interviewing for the magazines. I have picked up some facts about demolition, asbestos and heavy plant and have become savvier with LinkedIn.

My aim is to become a broadcast journalist and as such my favourite module at university is Broadcast, where I practise talking on the radio, news gathering, camera skills and reading the news on TV. I have my own radio show called Morning Smoothies, with Nerve Radio on a Friday at 11 am. I am also a reporter for Nerve TV, where I interview people and talk about projects for the SU at Bournemouth University. I love interviewing people and reporting on events. Writing articles is also a hobby of mine, and I am now a journalist for The Tab and BuzzNews.

I am an avid netball player, enjoy hiking and walking, have a passion to travel everywhere I possibly can and love a beach sunset. Of the places I have travelled to, my favourites are Tanzania, where I volunteered for a month and Costa Rica, where I climbed a volcano and backpacked around the country.

Thursday Property Networking Club –getting you connected by

Libby Evans

Collaboration is vital in the property industry and events like the quarterly Thursday Property Networking Club are great for making new connections to help businesses grow.

Sharon Baxter (below right), owner and director of Midlands Property Consultancy and an events management consultant started the networking club in 2018 with a simple ladies’ lunch as a way of keeping up to date with what was going on in each other’s businesses and the industry.

Over the years, more companies in the property and construction industry became part of it and more individuals came to the club. The event is personal; when Covid hit and the Networking Club was taken online it became a way of staying in touch with each other, providing support not just for business but each other’s wellbeing too.

It is now an extremely wellknown property industry networking event in the Midlands, with the aim of becoming one of the largest.

The last event had close to 200 professional attendees from the industry, with previous guests saying

it had been a great event and they enjoyed coming together, catching up and chatting business.

Sharon said: “I have worked relentlessly and tirelessly to grow the event and bring people together, to support each other and collaborate on potential projects. I am passionate about bringing people together and trying to make a difference in life whether it be business or personal.

“Come along and meet some wonderful contacts and chat with our sponsors, it could really benefit your business. The event is about bringing people and businesses together, creating unity, strength and support of each other.”

City Demolition Contractors Ltd, a local company based in the heart of Birmingham since 1988, is sponsoring the event alongside various other companies in the property and construction industry.

If you or your business would like to be involved in the event in any way, send Sharon Baxter an email at Sharonbaxter@ midlandspropertyconsultancy.co.uk.

For the construction site of the future

SaMoTer, the site machinery exhibition scheduled at Veronafiere 3-7 May 2023, will boast a new and revolutionary hightech area: Cantiere Digitale – The Digital Construction Site, a full-scale automated construction site set up in the SaMoTer LAB demo area in collaboration with Quelli del Movimento Terra.

Raul Barbieri, Sales Director of Veronafiere, says: “SaMoTer Lab came about thanks to constant and continuous debate with the sector, which expressed the need for a venue specifically for technological displays, combined with updating, discussion and training opportunities. SaMoTer LAB consequently focuses on technological innovation, digitalisation, decarbonisation, safety and training.

Cantiere Digitale – The Digital Construction Site is the natural outcome of all this, as a full-scale workplace for cutting-edge machinery and technologies.”

The companies taking part in the SaMoTer LAB project because they believe in the value of this initiative are:

• CGT Caterpillar,

• Cenati,

• Hitachi Construction Machinery,

• Kiwitron,

• Komatsu,

• Leica Geosystems,

• Ma-Estro, Moba,

• S.C.S. Survey Cad System,

• SITECH-Spektra A Trimble Company,

• Spring Machine Control,

• Way.

Sara Quotti Tubi, SaMoTer Event Manager said: “The Digital Construction Site will host typical construction site

processes several times a day to highlight advantages in terms of productivity, quality and safety thanks to the use of these technologies.”

Visitors attending SaMoTer will have the chance to watch 4.0 machinery and digital control technologies at work in the construction of road infrastructure across three strategic stages:

1. Surveying with drones, GPS, scanners, mobile mapping and robotics;

2. Design, with the creation of a 3D project to ensure a flat and regular new road surface and start renovation work;

3. Machine-to-machine interaction, the stage when the project is uploaded to the processing machinery used.

Companies that have joined the Digital Construction Site concept are CGT Caterpillar, Develon, DynapacFayat Group, Incofin, Komatsu, Leica Geosystems, Spring Machine Control, Topcon Positioning, SITECH-Spektra A Trimble Company, and Way.

Sara Quotti Tubi said: “While the construction machinery sector is currently coping with rapid technological evolution SaMoTer is back on the scene. SaMoTer LAB and the Digital Construction Site are a major response valorising the extent of these necessary changes.”

SaMoTer is held alongside Asphaltica, the exhibition for road paving, safety and road infrastructure technologies and solutions promoted by and with SITEBStrade Italiane and Bitumi.

Bobcat Hall 9, Booth A15-B17

First time in Italy for new Bobcat products

Bobcat is exhibiting at SaMoTer 2023, the most important exhibition in Italy for the construction machinery sector, presenting several recently launched product lines and models for the first time in the country.

SaMoTer provides an ideal platform to show visitors the new Ground Maintenance Equipment (GME) range from Bobcat, which includes compact tractors, small articulated loaders (SAL), mini track loaders, mowers and turf equipment. Building on the company’s success in the North American market, Bobcat aims to rank within the top three GME players in Europe and to double growth in the global GME market by 2027.

Compact tractors provide versatility for countless applications

All Bobcat GME models are robust and versatile, providing excellent productivity and great comfort. Representing the range, a cabbed version of the new CT2535 compact tractor will be on display on the

Bobcat stand at SaMoTer for the first time in the Italian market.

Bobcat is offering three compact tractor platforms – the 1,000, 2,000 and 4,000 series – which feature nine new models from 25 to 58 HP designed to meet the different needs of customers in the EMEA region. Each model varies in size and engine horsepower, with the option to choose between manual and hydrostatic transmission and between open canopies (ROPS) and cabs.

Bobcat’s proven Bob-Tach system comes as standard on all machines with the front-end loader option, enabling users to switch effortlessly between different Bobcat attachments, to carry out multiple jobs easily, delivering value and versatility for customers’ businesses.

Francesca Biagini, Italy, Greece and Iberia Attachments – GME Sales Manager, says: “These machines are versatile tool carriers thanks to their total compatibility with a wide range of Bobcat attachments that allow users to maximize productivity in any application such as gardening, agriculture, construction, roads and snow clearing, to name a few.”

New Bobcat TL25.60 super compact telehandler

Another star at SaMoTer 2023 is the super compact TL25.60 telehandler, launched at Bauma 2022 and being presented for the first time at SaMoTer. Ideal for the construction, rental and general handling sectors, the TL25.60 is the eleventh fixed-frame telehandler model in the latest R-Series range from Bobcat and is the smallest machine in the line.

Designed for maximum ease of use, the TL25.60 offers excellent stability, optimal comfort and safe operation in a wide range of applications. Equipped with a 75 HP Bobcat Stage V engine, the machine boasts a rated operating capacity of 2,500 kg and a maximum lift height of 5.9 m.

Despite its super-compact dimensions, the TL25.60’s cab is identical to that in the larger Bobcat R-series models, making it the most spacious compact telehandler on the market today.

New E19e electric mini-excavator

The Bobcat stand will offer the opportunity to see a selection of the company’s most popular mini-excavators, including the E20z, E27z, and E55z/E60 models as well as the first appearance of the new 2-t E19e electric mini-excavator, introduced in October 2022, part of the company’s ever-expanding range of electrified machines.

The E19e offers zero emissions, low noise, reduced vibration and the same excellent performance as the popular diesel-powered E19 model.

This machine will build on the success of the E10e, the world’s first electric 1-t mini-excavator from Bobcat, demonstrating that the company is a true pioneer in the field of battery-powered machines and will continue to invest in research and development to accelerate this important trend.

The E19e is also extremely versatile, with a wide range of compatible attachments available. For example, Bobcat’s hydraulic grapple is the only one on the market for this size category.

Doosan Infracore (DEVELON)

Hall 10, Booth L1-M2

stability both while working and driving. In addition to providing great stability and power, the 14W EREV also offers impeccable build quality that provides peace of mind when undertaking any project.

DX20ZE electric mini-excavator

SaMoTer provides the perfect opportunity to showcase the new DX20ZE two-tonne electric mini-excavator for the first time in Italy. This machine combines its safe, quiet and zero emission design with the successful characteristics and high performance of the equivalent diesel miniexcavator for working in confined spaces.

At SaMoTer 2023, Doosan Infracore will show its new DEVELON brand for the first time in Italy, confirming it as the company’s new global brand identity. In recent years, Doosan has established an excellent reputation for developing construction site technology driven by an award-winning R&D team, working under the motto Powered by Innovation. Many new technologies have been developed to expand the company’s Smart Solutions portfolio of intelligent solutions for construction equipment. Notable among these are:

• In-house electrification,

• Patented VBO hydraulics that aim to be the key to the most efficient hydraulic system available in an excavator today,

• The DX225LC-7X excavator with fully in-house developed semiautomatic digging assist technology as standard,

• The market introduction of dozers in North America.

Flagship innovations include Concept-X, a winner at the 2020 SaMoTer Innovation Awards, the world’s first integrated control solution for the entire construction process.

SaMoTer Innovation Award 2023

As in 2020, Doosan has again been recognised as a pioneer in innovation, by winning another important award at the 2023 SaMoTer Innovation Awards. The latest award has been won for the company’s new electric 14W EREV wheeled excavator, the most advanced vehicle of its kind.

Designed with a regenerative transmission system (eDrive), an advanced swing system (eSwing) and eWorking systems it ensures maximum efficiency with zero emissions.

With an aerodynamic design, the 14W EREV maximises peripheral vision even at long distances for optimal safety and protection. By offering 360° coverage of the driver’s field of vision, the operator can easily detect obstacles from any angle and in any urban environment.

With its centre of gravity located in the undercarriage, this vehicle provides excellent

With a width of just 950 mm, the new DX20ZE can pass through narrow passages and entrances/exits, making it ideal for working in confined space indoor applications such as demolition and basement construction. In addition to indoor projects, the vehicle is ideal for operating in urban centres, in low-noise areas and for night work.

The DX20ZE is driven by a powerful, in-house developed 20 kWh lithium ion battery pack, with all of the electrical system and components on the machine optimised for work in harsh environments. A quick-charger system restores 80% of the battery power after only one hour, while the onboard charger restores the maximum charge after six hours’ charging.

Revolutionary Transparent Bucket

Among other exciting new products that offer added value to customers through innovation, the revolutionary Transparent Bucket system is among the best known and has achieved unprecedented success and attention at every show where it has been presented. This is the world’s first safety system (patented) that allows the wheel loader operator to view the blind spots in front of the bucket, thanks to front top and bottom mounted cameras that record and combine the images in real time on the monitor in the cab, using a curved projection method.

The innovative system, besides ensuring greater safety for the operator

and other workers on site, improves operational efficiency as it offers a forward perspective view during loading/ unloading operations or during the transport of materials such as aggregates, sand and earth. DEVELON is working on developing the system even further with new artificial intelligence algorithms for people and object recognition.

DL420CVT-7 Wheel Loader with Continuously Variable Transmission

At the 2023 edition of SaMoTer, DEVELON will be showing the DL420CVT-7 wheel loader, a wheel loader with hybrid transmission, i.e. hydrostatic and mechanical at the same time. It has a continuously variable

transmission (CVT) which manages to deliver continuous power to the wheels independently from the engine and in a variable manner because it switches easily from hydrostatic transmission to mechanical transmission as speeds increase and according to the traction needs, without ever impacting the engine which will be able to work at a lower and more constant number of revolutions.

Thanks to this technology, the DL420CVT-7 provides torque to the wheels that is always available even at low revs, with maximum acceleration (no rev reduction impacts on productivity) and allows faster V cycles with a reduction in fuel consumption of up to 22%.

The advantage is not only a lower environmental impact, and therefore lower noise, reduced consumption and greater productivity, but also greater comfort for the operator, who does not need to use the brake (hydraulic deceleration) and there is less wheel slip, with a positive impact on running costs on tyre wear, brake wear and extended axle oil life.

DL85-7 Representing the new compact loaders

Another prominent product at the Doosan/DEVELON stand will be the new DL85-7 wheel loader representing the recently launched range of five models (DL60-7, DL65-7, DL80-7, DL85-7 and DL80TL-7).

These compact machines set a new industry standard in their class for productivity, flexibility, comfort, safety and reliability. These new machines offer a comprehensive package of modern technologies, including a powerful Stage V engine, hydrostatic all-wheel drive transmission, 100% differential lock on both axles, and powerful and versatile hydraulic systems.

Digital, innovation and technology feature

SANY launches new electric mini

Following its debut to the UK market construction, landscaping and indoor projects. Powered by an electric motor, the machine produces zero emissions, making it an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional diesel-powered

The compact SY19E with fully electric drive is equipped with a lithium iron phosphate (cobalt free) battery which allows for faster, safer and more efficient charging. The battery life span is also significantly longer with up to 3,500 full charge cycles which means no secondary battery replacement cost and zero cost toward the battery for the life of the machine.

Featuring a single automotive standard charging socket, the machine offers a fully flexible charging solution that provides three charging options as standard, and with no extra charge. There is a 240 V domestic option with a nine-hour charge time, a 360 V industrial option with a two-anda-half-hour charge time and finally a DC fast charge option of just one-and-a-half hours. The CCS2 charging socket also means that there is the additional

benefit of being able to charge the machine at fast charge points in places such as petrol stations and hotel car parks.

Leigh Harris, Business Development Director of SANY UK “We are excited to introduce our new electric mini excavator, the SY19E to the UK market. The machine offers exceptional performance and efficiency, while also contributing to SANY’s commitment to sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint.”

The SY19E is equipped with state-ofthe-art hydraulic system that delivers fast and smooth operation, even in confined spaces. The machine’s compact size and low noise level make it ideal for urban construction, indoor projects where space is limited and noise pollution must be minimised.

“The SY19E is a game-changer in the mini excavator market,” said Harris. “We believe that it will set a new standard for performance and efficiency in this segment of the industry.”

The new electric SY19E excavator comes with an industry leading five year/ 3,000 hour warranty and is available through SANY’s authorised dealer network in the UK and Ireland.

New Bobcat Machine IQ Telematics System

Bobcat has launched the company’s new Machine IQ telematics system, connecting customers to their machines’ information at any time, anywhere and from any device.

The Bobcat Machine IQ telematics system allows customers to check the health of their machines and remotely track information that enhances maintenance, security and performance, all from smart devices or laptops. This simple and powerful tool empowers customers to get the most out of their Bobcat equipment, achieving more while protecting their investment at the same time.

Bobcat launches Customer Machine IQ

On 20 March Bobcat launched a new version of its Machine IQ – called Customer Machine IQ Beta – on the web and as a mobile app to give all Bobcat customers access to this technology, which opens a door to Bobcat’s new digital world.

This new version of Machine IQ is available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Dutch. All customers in Europe and Israel have access to all the premium features of Machine IQ free of charge until the end of June this year.

Benefits of Customer Machine IQ

• Planned and unplanned maintenance: Provides critical notifications to manage maintenance and maximise machine uptime,

• Machine security: Prevents theft and machine misuse with geofence, motion detection and curfew capabilities,

• Reporting and analytics: Reviews usage reports to optimise performance.

Sign up to Customer Machine IQ

There are various ways for Bobcat customers to connect with Machine IQ. They can join up on the web at my.bobcat.com, creating an account and logging in. Alternatively, the Mobile App for Machine IQ can be downloaded from Google Play or the Apple store, where there are also QR codes that can be scanned using the camera on a mobile device to sign up.

Key benefits of Machine IQ

• The power of information at a customer’s fingertips – getting 24/7 instant access to critical information on a smartphone or computer, including GPS location and history, fuel level, hours worked, fault codes and more,

• Optimum machine usage and efficiency – Machine IQ allows the customer to plan jobs for maximum profitability by optimising machine use, keeping idle times

to a minimum and tracking fuel consumption,

• Improved security and peace of mind – Customer machines can be protected by setting up geo-fences, motion alerts or curfew hours. In this way, customers are the first to know about any issues, thanks to customisable notifications,

• Service planning made easy –Time and money can be saved using Machine IQ by efficiently scheduling machine service. The system allows the customer to use planned downtime to smoothly manage job sites.

Machine IQ can easily be installed on compatible Bobcat machines already in the field. Customers should contact their local dealer to check compatibility. Bobcat dealers can also explain what Machine IQ can do to help customers’ businesses and how to link their Bobcat machines to their account.

DEVELON reveals latest innovations

The Concept-X2 autonomous construction equipment involved in these developments includes the DD100-CX dozer and DX225-CX crawler excavator. Both machines feature a new cabin-less design and a linear core design language.

XiteCloud smart construction solution Develon is also promoting the latest developments in its all-in-one smart construction platform: XiteCloud. With XiteCloud solutions, a customer can manage multiple tasks such as surveys,

The advanced automation technology is commercialising in phases. Customers can digitise their construction site with innovative management, field and safety solutions. A range of new solutions that form part of the XiteCloud system cover many aspects of construction management. These include:

• XiteFleet,

• XiteAuto,

• XiteAnalyst,

• XiteSafety.

XiteFleet provides real-time fleet monitoring with location tracking and operation monitoring. XiteAuto commercialises the current and future technology that DEVELON is developing from 3D machine guidance to automation. XiteAnalyst is a digital twin-based earthwork analysis/ management solution. XiteSafety offers safety management, including preventing collisions between construction equipment and workers.

Growing machine control market leads

OnGrade to expand Trimble® systems hire offer

Due to continued new customer wins working with connected site specialist SITECH® UK and Ireland, OnGrade Machine Control has expanded its range of Trimble® systems in their rental fleet to include cab kits for excavators.

One of the UK’s largest rental suppliers of machine control systems, OnGrade supplies a wide range of over 300 2D, 3D and total station systems that help plant operators to increase the productivity of their machines. With Trimble GC9500 and Earthworks kits for dozers already part of their offering

and proving increasingly popular, adding Trimble solutions for excavators was the logical next step.

This has been made possible by the partnership with SITECH, who provide tailored hardware, software, and training in Trimble technology. OnGrade use this training to provide bespoke solutions to their customers, helping them to manage their projects from site survey to design and on-demand site support.

OnGrade have ambitious growth targets over the next 10 years, with SITECH a key partner in this plan as

Director Wayne Stevens explained: “We now have one of the industry’s largest hire fleets of machine control systems supporting the likes of dozers, graders, skid steers and compaction equipment. We plan to treble our sales in the coming decade as the industry is moving towards digitalisation more and more – simply because using technology is safer and saves time and money on reworks, on fuel, on staff and on site.

“Our work with SITECH was proving to be extremely positive, so it was a natural next step to broaden the offer to include excavator cab kits. We have received excellent training from SITECH in a full suite of Trimble products both on site and at their dedicated training facility so we can deliver full support to our customers with confidence.”

SITECH strategic accounts manager Danielle Barker explained that OnGrade is at the forefront within the equipment rental sector in offering the Trimble WorksManager platform on all its hires, making it simple to send designs remotely from the office to the field.

She said: “OnGrade has never been afraid of innovating and embracing connected site technology and we’re proud to support them on their growth journey.

“Wayne and his team moved into earthworks training within the last six months and have already began running simulator training for Trimble Earthworks machine operation, which is a big investment, but which has ultimately helped them to win new customers. This is because plant operators are quickly seeing clear benefits in terms of reduced material movements, accuracy of finishes and, ultimately, lower costs.”

”OnGrade has never been afraid of innovating and embracing connected site technology and we’re proud to support them on their growth journey”

In a league of your own

There’s nothing like watching a master at work — through years of dedication your tools become an extension of your hands. With bold vision and the right equipment, you turn every job into a masterpiece.

Electric machines: Europe leads the charge

Considering that Yanmar is famous for inventing the small diesel engine in 1933, it may surprise some that the company is at the forefront of trying to replace it. Yanmar Compact Equipment (CE) will start European deliveries this year of its first zero-emissions mini excavator – the SV17e, and all-new V8e compact wheel loader. But this is no contradiction: Yanmar’s founder Yamaoka Magokichi saw the diesel engine as a means to an end – improving society. In those days the small diesel engine transformed the lives of farmers in Japan. Today, with emissions from combustion engines impacting the climate, it is clear that to improve society a new solution is needed. That solution is embracing electric power.

The launch of the SV17e and V8e are important strategic steps in Yanmar CE’s future transformation. Delivering 23.5 and 40 kWh battery capacity respectively

machines are capable, powerful and highly productive – while always meeting the world’s most demanding emissions restrictions.

A new way of working

As good as the SV17e and V8e are, it and the new generation of electric machines are struggling to gain traction. Electric technology is new, and customers are hesitant to make such a big change. The purchase price of electric machines, due to high component prices, is more than comparable ICE machines and that’s not all. The charging infrastructure is still in its infancy, new machines require a different way of working for customers, and residual values are unknown. But despite the challenges, this industry is going electric – and this shift will happen in Europe first.

“It’s not going to be easy, but by 2050 we plan to be net zero emissions,”

customers. We have a roadmap to make that happen – and electrification is at the

Before joining Yanmar three years ago Cédric Durand spent 15 years working for dealers across Europe and in North Africa. He knows customers and is not daunted at the scale of the challenge the industry faces in becoming sustainable. Thankfully, things are starting to move.

Growing interest in Europe

“Customers and countries are becoming interested – and that’s an important first step,” he says. “Large rental companies are dipping their toes in the market, and several big contractors with ESG targets are keen. Scandinavia and the Nordics are leading the field for zero emissions, especially Norway, but these are still small markets. For volumes to really grow – and economies-of-scale to drive down costs – we need a major European economy like Germany, France or the UK to push for electrification. We are not seeing that yet. But when it happens, we believe it will go fast – and we need to have a range of electric machines ready.”

Cédric Durand, Director Product Management

Tougher environmental legislation and ultra-low (and zero) emission zones in urban areas will play a part in accelerating the shift to electric. So too will cost of ownership. It costs far less to charge a machine using electricity than it does to fill one with diesel, and with fewer service parts (oil, oil filter etc), this combination could well mean electric machines have a total cost of ownership that is less than diesel – even with the higher initial purchase price.

Robust technology

Another concern is battery life – how

ensure customers of electric machines get the same excellent service they are accustomed to.

“Putting the sustainability issue to one side, electrification is the right way forward in terms of performance, operator comfort and economy,” continues Durand. “We put customers at the heart of everything we do, and at the very least we are aiming for our first-gen electric machines to be easy to use and have similar performance as our equivalent diesel-powered equipment.”

Far from being intimidated at the scale of his task, Cédric Durand is more

making compromises, but electrification is going to happen. It’s good for the

“We are aiming for our first-gen electric machines to be easy to use and have similar performance as our equivalent dieselpowered equipment”

Lift more, worry less with Lifting Equipment Store

by George Dunn, Managing Director, Lifting Equipment Store

For more than a decade, Midlands-based LES (Lifting Equipment Store) has been supplying the finest lifting equipment, material handling solutions and safety gear to businesses and end-users in all industries imaginable.

Today, its expertise reaches far and wide, covering everything from the most common apparatus found in warehouses and construction sites to the most complex pieces of machinery found in niche markets such as aerospace, marine, and oil and gas.

Regardless of industry and equipment type, one thing has always remained at the heart of LES – delivering only the highest quality products, at the best prices on the market, with user safety at the core.

If you understand the lifting market, you’ll know that one of the fundamentals of any solid lifting equipment arsenal is high-quality lifting slings. Although common, we must never underestimate their importance when making heavyduty lifts, safely.

Your lifting sling options are far from limited with LES. These including chain slings (Grade 6/8/10/12/80), wire rope slings, and webbing and round slings – most available to purchase online, with next-day delivery options.

Chain slings, in particular, are extremely common types of lifting apparatus used for lifting heavy items from skips and pipes, to concrete slabs and containers, to other dense or pre-

fabricated structures. Basically, anything that is heavy and requires moving by crane or chain hoist – and with rigorous, heavy-duty usage, buying quality is vital.

Stand the test of time

If you’re in the market for true, unfaltering quality, premium Grade 8 chain slings from Kito Weissenfels are just the ticket.

Designed with the everyday rigger in mind, Kito Grade 8 chain slings are manufactured using high-grade materials, under the most stringent quality control procedures, meaning that you are purchasing what can only be considered the best on the market.

Delivered fully certified, each sling assembly conforms to EN 818-7, boasting comparable heavy-duty components and safety catches, ensuring that your entire assembly meets even the most stringent standards, suitable for the most adverse conditions. Available in single, double, triple, and quad-leg variations, safe working load capacities range from 1.5 up to 67 t, in 7 to 32 mm chain diameters – with such an extensive collection, LES is confident that there is a solution for you.

Lifting Equipment

Store’s vast range of premium Grade 8 chain slings can also be customised to meet your individual needs online, making your shopping experience simple and focused on delivering exactly what you require.

No query too big or small

Lifting Equipment Store has a reputation that’s second to none, with attention to detail, advice and product knowledge unrivalled. Its dedicated team has more than 30 years of expertise and is wellversed to assist you in making the most informed decision for your business.

Visit www.liftingequipmentstore.com to view its wide range of products from manual and electric chain hoists and fully customisable jib cranes, to lifting slings, shackles and furniture movers. The range is so extensive, LES guarantees it has a solution for you.

ROTO 50.26 SPLUS

Don’t settle for second best

ENGINE 170

T LIFT HEIGHT 26 LIFT CAPACITY 5.0

TONNES

The telescopic handlers of the ROTO range allow 360 degree operation due to the rotating turret. This offers a greater range of operation compared to a fixed telescopic handler. This model represents complete innovation, a true concentration of technology and performance that’s destined to remain a market leader worldwide. Visit merlo.co.uk to find out more.

merlo.co.uk

Attitudes to funding… by Anton Nebbe

At Close Brothers Asset Finance we regularly survey business owners in the sectors we fund, including construction. Taken from our latest survey, in this piece we focus on attitudes to funding (and related topics), finding out, for example, if firms are planning on seeking funding and whether they’re confident about getting access to the loans they need to grow their business.

A key finding is that only half of construction firms are aware of Asset Finance, meaning a large number still haven’t taken advantage of the many benefits to be gained from leveraging value from their existing assets.

Access to funding

Over a third (36%) of construction business owners say getting access to funding is a “major challenge” and more difficult now than it was a year ago. A further 46% tell us it’s a “moderate challenge” and as difficult now to access finance as it was a year ago. Only 6% say it’s become easier.

One third admit to having been declined access to finance by a bank in the last six months, but despite the additional challenges, 71% of firms are planning on seeking funding for investment in 2023, although 61% have delayed their decisions because of market uncertainty.

Funding options ranked in order of popularity:

1. Bank loan,

2. Credit cards,

3. Overdraft,

4. Invoice finance,

5. Finance lease,

6. Personal / family funding,

7. Hire purchase,

8. Asset based lending,

9. Operating lease,

10. Refinance,

11. Crowd / peer to peer.

Unfortunately, 43% of respondents said they had missed a business opportunity in the last year because of a lack of finance.

Impact of energy price rises

The increases in the cost of doing business, compounded by significant energy price rises, has had a major impact on businesses in all sectors, including construction, leading to 42% of firms in the industry needing to take out finance just to cover higher energy costs.

Nearly 8 in 10 (77%) of business owners disclosed that their energy bills had risen, with a further 61% stating it had impacted their profitability. As a consequence, 93% have implemented various energy saving measures, including:

1. Switching off lights,

2. Lowering the thermostat,

3. Turning off air conditioning,

4. Switching providers,

5. Insulation.

Interestingly, half of firms polled said they’d consider moving to a four-day week to save on energy costs, which is well below the UK average of 57%.

Main business concerns

Energy costs top the list of concerns for construction firms, followed by inflation and higher materials costs – all of which have significantly contributed to the higher cost of doing business.

The main business concerns stated by respondents were:

• Energy costs,

• Inflation,

• Materials supply,

• Interest rates,

• Tax / VAT,

• Cash flow,

• Late payments,

• Lack of skilled staff,

• Competitors,

• Managing expansion,

• Finding extra working capital.

While late payments aren’t the biggest concern for business owners, half of construction companies admitted that customers taking too long to settle their accounts was an ongoing problem for them.

The main impacts were:

• Late invoice payments make cashflow difficult to manage,

• Time spent chasing payments detracting from other tasks,

• Significantly impacting their ability to trade (and plan) effectively.

Main business priorities

Perhaps unsurprisingly, many firms’ main priorities were split between achieving growth and being able to continue to trade.

The encouraging element of the data is

that more construction business owners are focusing on growth than survival.

• Achieving growth 29%,

• Survival 24%,

• Developing our products/services 19%,

• Investing in staff 11%,

• Paying down debts 10%,

• Business consolidation 7%.

For more information, please visit closeasset.co.uk/construction

Tevva addresses opportunities and challenges of UK Hydrogen Strategy

was a need for greater clarity on upcoming policy decisions for hydrogen users, the funding available and overall delivery of the hydrogen roadmap to 2030 and beyond. Is the UK really doing everything it can to maintain momentum and realise hydrogen opportunities?

Tevva’s area of expertise – transport – will have a critical role to play in our country’s decarbonisation goals. Worldwide around a fifth of CO2 emissions come from trucks, and both McKinsey and the Hydrogen Council believe the most competitive use of hydrogen lies in decarbonising trucks. Trucks using batteries or hydrogen fuel cells instead of diesel engines will indeed need to make up the vast majority of new sales by 2040 under plans to reduce CO2 emissions from medium and heavy-duty vehicles. Yet only around 700 trucks that run on batteries or fuel cells were sold in Europe last year, about 0.2% of the total.

around the lack of hydrogen refuelling stations and the fact that most fleet operators have no experience of hydrogen, in addition many hydrogen suppliers have no experience of truck fleets.

As an early adopter and developer of hydrogen technology, Tevva is playing an important role in demonstrating the potential for hydrogen electric trucks. It showcased its concept prototype 7.5-t and 19-t hydrogen electric trucks at the IAA in Hanover last year and has been encouraged by the high level of interest in these dual energy vehicles.

The UK Hydrogen Strategy estimates that to meet net zero aims by 2050, hydrogen will make up 20-35% of the UK’s final energy demand (250-460 TWh a year). Hydrogen therefore has a critical role to play in the decarbonisation of industry, power, heat and transport.

Yet in her recent report, the UK Hydrogen Champion found that there

The good news is that the economics of owning and operating electric and hydrogen trucks, their total cost of ownership or TCO, are improving rapidly. And with diesel truck prices set to increase with Euro 7, electrification of the sector could happen sooner than previously thought.

Yet there are still serious challenges

In January Tevva took the 7.5-t prototype on a border run to Berwickon-Tweed, England’s northernmost town. On the way up it stopped at an Element 2 refuelling station in Teesside and the return journey saw the vehicle cover almost 350 miles without needing to stop at all. This was made possible by the truck’s hydrogen fuel cell, which tops up the range-extended vehicle’s lithium battery when needed.

Still, there is an urgent need for a more comprehensive hydrogen refuelling network in the UK, and the speed and scalability of hydrogen refuelling systems will be crucial to adoption while keeping costs under control. Element 2 is doing great work in this space. It is in the process

of putting a skeleton network in place with 100 miles between each refuelling station, giving confidence to any haulage company that is considering hydrogen electric trucks.

Today the UK has pockets of megawatt-scale hydrogen activities that are evolving alongside ambitious proposals for gigawatt-scale low carbon hydrogen clusters by 2030. Learning from initiatives in Europe, Asia and North America, as well as the UK’s own experiences, coordination is vital to minimise costs and maximise the benefits of hydrogen infrastructure. The opportunity is now for UK central, regional and local government bodies and industry to plan and invest jointly to grow hydrogen transport systems holistically.

The UK does have a supportive and growing hydrogen ecosystem with many public bodies, new and established companies, universities, and others building their hydrogen capabilities and strategies. However, the experience of individual organisations and maturity of cross-industry collaboration in dealing with hydrogen systems is typically orders of magnitude lower than for traditional fossil fuel systems. Therefore, in the short term early adopters need more support to overcome the limited infrastructure and complexity of supply chains, higher unit costs, and long or uncertain lead times for hydrogen products and services.

As low-carbon hydrogen becomes cheaper and more widely available, hydrogen refuelling has the potential to become as simple as diesel refuelling is today. Tevva is committed to making hydrogen convenient, affordable and sustainable for truck fleet operators. Achieving the UK’s net zero goals depends on it.

DEVELON to show DL280-7 wheel loader at WasteExpo 2023

DEVELON, formerly known as Doosan Construction Equipment, will display a next-generation wheel loader during WasteExpo in New Orleans from 2 to 4 May 2023. The DEVELON DL280-7 wheel loader will be in booth 2512 during the trade show at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

The DL280-7 wheel loader offers durability and manoeuvrability for loading and carrying construction materials, transporting scrap or working at agricultural facilities. Durability features include optional stronger axles, increased lift capacities, wider radiator fin spacing and a standard reversible fan to clear dirt, dust and other large debris to reduce clogging.

Featuring a roomier, more comfortable cab, the DL280-7 includes relocated controls for more intuitive use. Increased glass area, a full-glass door, larger mirrors and optional LED

work lights offer all-around visibility. In addition, the exclusive transparent bucket option provides a supplemental visual perspective by allowing operators to “see through” the bucket from an incab display.

An upgraded heating and air conditioning system is designed to keep wheel loader operators comfortable when working long days. The Smart Guidance System provides tips for operators to achieve more efficient machine use.

“The exclusive transparent bucket option provides a supplemental visual perspective by allowing operators to ‘see through’ the bucket from an in-cab display”

THE NEW NO.1 BEST IN CLASS

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries EMEA selects advanced software to support move to net zero

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries EMEA – Duisburg Branch announced a new contract with global software provider Energy Exemplar to support its sales, business development and project development teams.

The branch office based in Duisburg, Germany focuses on the growth of MHI’s energy transition related business, supporting the decarbonisation of industry.

With Energy Exemplar’s PLEXOS® software, MHI will be able to digitally simulate their energy systems and use virtual scenario planning to integrate new sources of energy such as hydrogen and deliver predictions on the cost structure. By modelling risk-free “what if” scenarios, MHI will be able to trial energy types, crucial to reaching net zero in traditionally hard-to-abate sectors, such as heavy industry.

Professor Emmanouil Kakaras, Executive Vice President, NEXT Energy Business and Head of MHI-EMEA Duisburg Branch, said: “Europe and the wider EMEA region has been a key driver behind the global race to achieving net zero targets, so it is great to expand our activities at the very heart of the energy transition. Our team in Duisburg brings together MHI Group’s expertise along the entire hydrogen value chain and broader decarbonisation technologies like carbon capture and utilisation.

“PLEXOS® will help us to grow our business and support our customer dialogue – especially in hard-toabate industries – through detailed demonstration of commercial and technical pros and cons along the entire lifecycle of decarbonisation projects.”

PLEXOS® will enhance MHI’s Project Developers starting from the system

benefits assessment stage, project ROI analysis, project siting and sizing, and finally through operational optimisation of the actual assets. It will also provide transparency and a common language between stakeholders.

Michael Schneider, Senior Vice President, Head of EMEA at Energy Exemplar, said: “We are delighted to welcome MHI-EMEA as PLEXOS® users as hydrogen continues to dominate energy conversations.

“With their decades-long power expertise, facilities, and trained specialists, MHI are well-positioned to play a leading role in Europe’s energy transition. The benefit of PLEXOS® for MHI is of course to demonstrate the benefits of these energy technologies to the client’s business situation and build credibility on future investment decisions.”

A MECALAC REVOLUTION

Operators of Mecalac’s new Revotruck can now rotate the entire cab to keep their vision and focus on the job and a view of potential obstacles on the site. The exclusive chassis with central oscillation ensures stability and traction in all conditions. The infinite cab positions of the Revotruck open up visibility in all directions.

SEE REVOTRUCK AT STAND B-EA1

SANY UK joins Hire Association Europe

SANY UK is pleased to announce its membership of the Hire Association Europe (HAE).

The HAE is the leading trade association for the plant and tool hire industry in Europe, promoting the highest standards of quality and safety among its members. SANY UK’s membership of the HAE demonstrates its commitment to the highest standards of professionalism and customer service.

member. We are committed to providing our customers with the highest levels of quality, safety and customer service and we believe that our membership in the HAE will help us achieve this goal.”

Business Development Director of

Leigh Harris,

SANY UK said: “We are proud to join the HAE as a registered

As a member of the HAE, SANY UK will have access to a wide range of resources and support, including training, networking opportunities and industryspecific advice. The HAE also promotes the use of safe and sustainable practices in the plant and tool hire industry, which aligns with SANY’s commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility.

“We are committed to providing our customers with the highest levels of quality, safety and customer service”

Bobcat TR50.250 rotary telehandler supports projects at great height

Since founding his wood construction business in Hünikon in Switzerland in 2003, Daniel Bütikofer has relied on the durable and reliable performance of Bobcat telehandlers. Complementing the rigid frame telehandlers from Bobcat, the company is now using a new Bobcat TR50.250 rotary telehandler.

His main work includes roofing, interior finishing and property extensions and restoration work but also smaller carpentry jobs. In addition to crane rental, Bütikofer also offers the rental of workshop workstations, also with expert supervision.

Part of the work involved in wood construction is the transport and lifting of heavy building materials and large skylights. This is where Daniel Bütikofer has relied on Bobcat’s expertise for 20 years. Initially, he used a Bobcat T40170 rigid frame telehandler, but with the arrival of a new Bobcat TR50.250 rotary telehandler, he has found even more flexibility. Despite its compactness, the rotary telehandler impresses with top performance thanks to the 100 kW

Productivity boosting features and attachments

Daniel Bütikofer said: “Thanks to additional attachments such as a winch, work basket, pallet fork and radio control, we have already used this telescopic handler on various jobs such as lifting heavy building materials and large skylights onto roofs. The serial RFID system not only automatically detects the identity of the installed attachments, but also loads the corresponding load diagrams directly onto the display. This allows us to keep an eye on the centre of gravity of the payload at all times.”

Comfort and visibility in compact, powerful body

The rotary telehandler is a little larger than its predecessor, but the radio control and the large, unobstructed front windshield allow Daniel Bütikofer and his two

employees to control the telehandler flexibly and have an optimal view of the work site. The endlessly rotating telescopic loader makes work possible even in narrow streets and thus makes the machine even more flexible.

Optimal use through additional rental

To make full use of the machines at all times, Daniel Bütikofer also rents out his equipment with the operator for crane and lifting work.

He has already helped with various projects in his village, such as installing lights at the local riding stables or the football club. The telehandler was also used to transport wooden cows that were carved by a Hünikon artist and now adorn the Swiss village.

Good service just around the corner

Daniel Bütikofer bought his complete range of Bobcat telehandlers from Meier Maschinen AG. He appreciates the proximity to the dealer and the service workshop, as well as the uncomplicated service. For the Bobcat TR50.250, he therefore again relied on Meier Maschinen. Together, they configured the telehandler and thus individually adapted it to the needs of the timber construction company. Another purchase criterion for Daniel

Stage V engine, a maximum lifting weight of 5 t up to a height of 25 m, and its safety and stability thanks to its pivoting stabilisers.

Bütikofer was the proximity to Bobcat’s partner workshop. This means that any maintenance work can be carried out quickly, so that the telehandler is ready for use again straight away.

René Kappus, District Sales Manager GSA at Bobcat, said: “Meier Maschinen AG has been a reliable and important partner for Bobcat for many years, covering both the construction

and landscaping sectors. Our rotary telehandlers have been on the market since 2020 and can lift material to a maximum height of 39 m. The machines can be switched to electric mode on site, requiring only a 400 V connection. We are very pleased that our machines facilitate the work of our customers and make it even more flexible.”

Daniel Bütikofer once again

emphasises cooperation with his Bobcat dealer: “It’s not only the machine itself that convinces me about Bobcat, but also the service that I receive thanks to the proximity to Meier Maschinen AG. My rigid frame telehandlers have always worked reliably. With the rotary telehandler, I can now work even more flexibly and make optimum use of it by renting it out.”

Bobcat TR50.250 specifications

Lifting height 24.6 m

Lifting capacity 4,999 kg

Engine Deutz Stage V

Engine power 100 kW

Max. speed 40 km/h

Turret rotation

Continuous

Unladen weight 17,230 kg

a Swedish Company with a Global Network of Subsidaries, dealers and partners has designed,

SANY sets sights on continued growth at UK dealer conference

SANY UK held its annual dealer conference last week at the Belfry Hotel, Sutton Coldfield. The conference was attended by SANY’s nationwide dealer network and focused on strategies for driving growth and increasing market share.

During the conference, the SANY team presented the company’s latest products and technologies, including new excavators, wheel loaders and other construction machinery. The company also discussed its plans for expanding its reach and entering new markets.

network from around the UK. Their feedback and insights are invaluable to us as we work to continue growing our business and delivering the best possible products and services to our customers.”

In addition to product presentations and market strategy discussions, the conference featured a series of new machine walkarounds to familiarise the SANY dealers with new products that will be released later this year.

An evening awards presentation followed the conference and gave SANY the opportunity to recognise the success and achievements realised in 2022. Those dealers recognised on the evening were:

ƒ Top dealer, heavy line sales Orrell Group

ƒ Top dealer, best market share Truro Tractors

ƒ Top dealer, service excellence Fitzgerald Plant Services

SANY’s annual dealer conference is just one part of the company’s ongoing commitment to its dealer network. With a nationwide presence and a diverse portfolio of high-quality products and services, SANY is well-positioned to continue driving growth and delivering value to its customers across the UK and Ireland.

Tony Thorpe, Dealer Development Director of SANY UK, said: “We’re thrilled to have had the opportunity to connect with so many of our dealer

ƒ Dealer of the year 2022 Orrell Group

SANY UK & Ireland would like to extend its thanks to event sponsors, Societe Generale for its continued support.

“We’re thrilled to have had the opportunity to connect with so many of our dealer network from around the UK”

D E A L I N G W I T H W A S T E

W A T E R O N S I T E ?

K E L L Y T A N K S P R O V I D E S

C O N C R E T E

W A S H O U T &

W A T E R

T R E A T M E N T

S Y S T E M S

S O T H A T Y O U

C A N E A S I L Y

R E - U S E O R

S A F E L Y

D I S C H A R G E

Y O U R O N S I T E

W A S T E W A T E R

Mecalac to relocate UK production headquarters

minimal disruption, with the move already taken into account when planning 2023 volumes. Production availability for REVOTRUCK is set to be announced over the coming months.

Heath Davies, General Manager at Mecalac Construction Equipment UK, said: “As a global leader in the design and manufacture of compact machinery, we’re committed to investing in our future. In the past few months alone, we’ve revealed an increase to our UK production capability with REVOTRUCK – a pioneering addition to our range, and ED6 – our 6-t electric dumper, demonstrating our commitment to embracing alternative fuels and decarbonising the sector.

Mecalac Construction Equipment UK has announced the relocation of its national production headquarters to a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Coventry. Situated just a few miles from the company’s existing site in Prologis Park, the new development will house Mecalac’s site dumper and compaction roller operations.

Fitted with the latest production line technologies, the new site will also be responsible for manufacturing the company’s brand new REVOTRUCK product, which was recently unveiled at the BAUMA exhibition in Germany. Team members will be transferred to the new site, with the

move set to be complete by the end of April 2023.

The 7,500 m2 facility will be the most environmentally advanced development in the Mecalac group, featuring air source heat pumps, internal and external LED lighting, a rooftop solar array, rainwater harvesting technology and an increased number of EV chargers installed in the car park.

Alongside the company’s investment in a state-of-the-art range of plug-in electric products, this demonstrates its commitment to pursuing net-zero.

Customers will experience

“However, to maintain this progress, it’s important that we have the right facilities and processes in place. While our new UK headquarters is just a move a few miles away, the new facility is modern, sustainable, purposely designed for the change in our product mix and therefore perfectly suited to our future manufacturing operations.

“While we’ve been located in Prologis Park for many years, the site no longer fits our requirements. Embracing a new chapter in our journey will enable us to support the introduction of new model additions, while maintaining Groupe Mecalac’s commitment to UK manufacturing.”

“The 7,500 m2 facility will be the most environmentally advanced development in the Mecalac group”

SV15VT

The

STAND B-BF10

Efficient and lightweight, the SV15VT is the perfect earthmoving solution for job sites where space comes at a premium. Able to fit through a standard doorway, the 1.6 tonne SV15VT can dig down to 2,470mm. www.yanmar.com

AP Air Europe introduces Hebonilube grease pumps

by Gary Watling

AP Air Europe is pleased to introduce Hebonilube automatic grease pumps into the UK. As a longstanding airconditioning parts specialist, we have a close relation with plant engineers and when we came across the Hebonilube range we knew these easy-fit auto greasers would be an appealing solution for them and their customers.

Available from stock in two, four, six, and eight kg pumps in 12 V and 24 V, all pumps and systems are supplied by AP Air with a two-year warranty. Hebonilube pumps are compatible with many other grease pump branded systems.

The benefits

• Extended equipment life,

• Higher residual machine value,

• Reduced downtime,

• Less maintenance and grease waste,

• Improved fuel efficiency.

Installation

In collaboration with Mark from Moonridge Plant Engineers, our installer for the south-west we’ve put together a step-by-step guide for fitting a Hebonilube automatic grease pump system on an excavator.

Step 1: Prepare the excavator

Before installing an automatic grease pump system, clean the excavator’s lubrication points and remove any existing grease.

Step 2: Install the automatic grease system

The Hebonilube automatic grease pump system comes with instructions and recommendations for installation. Generally, you should install the pump in a location that is easily accessible and close to the hydraulic system. Most pumps come with brackets that can be attached to the excavator’s frame. Once the pump is securely mounted, connect the power cable to the battery and run the wires to the pump.

Step 3: Install the hoses and fittings

Measure and cut hoses to the appropriate length. Attach the fittings to the ends of the hoses, making sure to use the correct fittings for each lubrication point. Once the fittings are attached, connect the hoses to the pump and the lubrication point.

A sound investment for owner operators through to companies running fleets, the Hebonilube system extends equipment life, reduces downtime and labour costs, and keeps value in a machine for when it needs replacing, making it invaluable for any company reliant on its machines.

Step 4: Test the system

Fill the pump with a grease gun and your standard EP2 grease and turn on the system. Test each lubrication point to ensure that the proper amount of grease is being delivered. Make sure to check for any leaks or connection issues.

Step 5: Maintenance

Once installed and working, a system’s grease levels will need to be regularly checked and grease replaced as necessary. Hoses and fittings should also be routinely checked for wear and damage.

Tele Radio PrimaTEQ: a new name for T12 compact waist transmitter

New name, same functionality

With a brand-new name for its smallest waist transmitter, Tele Radio aims to build a complete, recognisable, and logical product family structure.

The PrimaTEQ, with the same functionality as the former Tiger T12, is the entry level class solution.

Above the entry-level, we have the 24-cm wide VersaTEQ and the SupraTEQ with a width of 33 cm.

Convenience in a compact case

To remotely operate a crane or machine while still having both hands free for other tasks, that is the strength of using a waist transmitter such as the Tiger T12. With a neck or waistbelt, this compact and versatile transmitter is always close at hand. It is no wonder that this attractively priced transmitter has been one of Tele Radio’s most successful solutions for years.

From now on, the T12 will continue its career under the name PrimaTEQ to better fit within the rest of the range of waist transmitters. The functionality, however, will remain the same.

The line of waist transmitters is characterised by a high degree of flexibility, reliability, and safety. The receivers offer a solution for different bus protocols, analogue or digital, input and output. Tele Radio can thus meet all the market’s current needs.

The PrimaTEQ is recognisable by its 21-cm width and 4.5 by 1.5-cm monochrome screen. The compact size makes the transmitter the perfect tool for long-term use in harsh conditions. The functionalities remain unchanged; the PrimaTEQ offers a sturdy housing with ergonomic handles, an independently certified, PLe/SIL3 safety level, stop function and pre-programmed lifting and hoisting settings. With more than 10 different joystick versions, which operate at either 433 or 915 MHz, there is a standard, Basic Line version. Optionally, via our Custom Line version, a PrimaTEQ transmitter can be set up in an entirely personalised way.

High security

Most of Tele Radio’s transmitters meet high safety requirements and thus contribute to more efficient and safer working under high-risk conditions, such as moving heavy loads. The certified safety stop is always within reach of the user. To guarantee the highest level of safety, the products are independently tested by recognised notified bodies. Certificates of this are always available on request.

Genesis Equipment Sales launches as UK’s only authorised XCMG distributor

Genesis Equipment Sales, a new company under the Ballyvesey Holdings Group, has announced its launch as the only UK authorised distributor of XCMG access equipment. The company will offer a range of powered access equipment such as telehandlers, forklifts, scissor lifts, articulated and telescopic booms to businesses across the UK, particularly construction companies.

The main brand of equipment sold by Genesis Equipment Sales will be XCMG, a well established Chinese manufacturer of construction machinery. The company aims to provide high-quality and reliable access equipment to its customers, helping them to improve their efficiency and productivity.

With the UK construction industry on the rise, there is a growing demand for reliable and efficient access equipment. Genesis Equipment Sales aims to fill this gap by providing customers with a range of products tailored to their needs and requirements.

Mark Kennedy, Managing Director of Genesis Equipment Sales, said: “We’re excited to introduce Genesis Equipment Sales as a new player in the UK access

equipment market. Our partnership with XCMG, a leading manufacturer in the industry, allows us to offer a wide range of powered access equipment to our customers.

“Our focus is on providing the best possible service to our customers. We understand that businesses require access equipment that is both reliable and efficient, and we’re committed to delivering just that. Ballyvesey Holdings is proud to add another specialist dealership to its portfolio of Construction and Waste equipment dealerships, which include Sleater Plant in Ireland, Norwest Plant and TDL Equipment.

“We’re confident that our partnership with XCMG will enable us to provide high-quality access equipment to meet the ever-growing demand of all businesses. Being well-positioned for access equipment in the construction industry it is exhilarating times for all involved.”

Established in 1970, Ballyvesey Holdings Group’s main activities are centred around transport and logistics, truck sales, aftersales support, trailer manufacturing, spare parts sales, transport industry services, construction

equipment sales, and property rental and development.

Genesis Equipment Sales will offer a range of XCMG products, including Telehandlers, Forklifts, Scissor Lifts, Articulated and Telescopic Booms, also known as MEWPS (Mobile Elevated Work Platforms). These products are designed to help businesses improve their productivity and efficiency, while also ensuring the safety of their workers.

Edwin van der Laar, XCMG´s Sales Director for MEWPs said: “We are proud to start this new journey with the Ballyvesey Group and we trust that Genesis Equipment Sales will drive our brand to a higher level in the UK access industry. The foundation of our partnership is built on two strong organisations, a great team of professionals, high quality products, tailor-made financial solutions, and flexibility to adapt to local market requirements. We will aim to reach new heights with a down-to-earth mentality adding more value to the UK access industry.

“Over the past 12 months, the first booms have found their way to construction sites in the UK and the feedback has been very positive. Together with Genesis Equipment Sales, XCMG will continue to work hard to exceed the expectations of our customers. Last but not least, we would like to take this opportunity to thank Elite Access for all their excellent support over the past year, and we look forward to continue working closely together for after-sales support in the UK.”

Hans Aarse, XCMG’s European Business Development Director said: “Our agreement with Genesis Equipment Sales is the outcome of a very challenging period over the past 12 month since we became active in the UK to define our definite route to market for the UK territory. Numerous plant hire companies have been working successfully with our products since and we got very positive response. It’s clear that our product line did not stay unnoticed by high quality access rental companies who approached us directly to do business with them. However, the time has now come to give the UK market what it deserves in terms of close by commercial and technical support from a highly experienced company.

“We are more than convinced that Genesis Equipment Sales, being a fully owned subsidiary of Ballyvesey Holdings, will reach great heights with our products. Of course, from our side, we will support their activities by supplying them from our warehouses in

Left to right: Hans Aarse, XCMG European Business Development Director; Mark Kennedy, Managing Director Genesis Equipment Sales; Eden Qiao, Export Deputy Director at XCMG MEWP; and Edwin van der Laar Sales Director XCMG ESS

The Netherlands where we keep an average stock of over 500 units in all varieties and heights we can offer. Apart from that we are in the process of launching many new models in the coming years which will all be based on what the market is asking. Quality, durability, sustainability, alongside with availability will be key in our approach.

“Our companionship with Genesis Equipment Sales will officially start at Vertikal Days 2023 to be held in Peterborough on 10-11 May. Needless to say that you are most welcome on our stand to meet with both the XCMG and Genesis crew.”

Genesis Equipment Sales is now open for business, with its range of XCMG products available for purchase. The company aims to provide customers with the best possible service, ensuring that their needs and requirements are met.

New DX140LC-7 excavators expand Kingsheath construction fleet

Since it was formed in 2018, Kingsheath Construction Limited, based in Bredhurst in Kent, has gone from strength to strength. The company is aiming to build on this success with the purchase of 10 new DX140LC-7 crawler excavators supplied by Kellands (Plant Sales) Ltd, based in Bridgwater in Somerset, the authorised dealer for DEVELON (formerly known as Doosan Construction Equipment) for west and south England.

Kingsheath Construction has fast become one of the leading groundworks, civil engineering and reinforced concrete frame contractors in the construction sector in south-east England. The company has 20 staff based at its impressive headquarters building in Bredhurst and around 200 workers on the 14 sites where projects are currently underway.

The company works for all the major developers in the industry. Most of the work is in the housebuilding groundworks and civil engineering sectors, primarily for blue chip housing developers including among others, Bellway Homes, Abbey Developments, Barratt David Wilson, Countryside, Redrow Homes, Crest Nicholson and Persimmon Homes.

High build quality stands out in competitive testing

Nick Earl, Plant Manager at Kingsheath Construction, describes the process behind the purchase of the new excavators: “Kellands provided us with a machine for a month to try out across a number of our sites. In this way, we received feedback from around 10 of our top drivers. The DX140LC-7 machines were chosen ahead of excavators we tested from three other leading manufacturers.”

One area that all the drivers at Kingsheath Construction commented on was the high build quality of the DX140LC-7. For example, the state-ofthe-art cab excels in terms of spaciousness and ergonomics, taking operator comfort and ease of operation to new levels. As well as a new high-quality seat, the enhanced cab offers more features as standard than other machines on the market, ensuring super controllability and high precision in all applications.

Nick Earl added: “The build quality of these machines is a massive leap from the machines we have had previously. The DX140LC-7 also offers high comfort and a 180° camera system as standard, which we increase to a 360° system on every

machine, to provide all round safety when using the machines on site.”

Jamie Pike, Managing Director at Kingsheath Construction, acknowledges the importance of the machinery fleet in the success of the company: “We currently run our own fleet of around 50 machines. The arrival of the new DX140LC-7 excavators is the latest in our ongoing investment programme in new plant to ensure our crews have the safest and highest performing machinery on the market. This is combined with our expertise, experience and resources to set the highest possible standards within the industry, delivering a finished product that exceeds expectation.”

Kingsheath Construction provides a wide range of services including groundworks, demolition, remediation, earthworks, enabling works, RC frame and highway works. Groundworks is a core function of the business, whether continuing on from demolition or enabling works to undertaking a full new build project.

The company can offer the full groundworks package with experience in all types of foundations and piling methods, continuing up to substructures and oversites, drainage, services and external finishes.

Part of new DX-7 range from DEVELON

Powered by the D34 4-cylinder Stage V diesel engine providing 86 kW of power at 2,000 RPM, the 14.6-t DX140LC-7 is one of 11 models in DEVELON’s new generation DX-7 range of medium-sized Stage V compliant excavators from 14 to 25 t.

Like the other DX-7 models, the DX140LC-7 provides significantly higher performance in every area than the previous generation Stage IV machine, offering enhanced comfort, increased tool carrier capability and novel operator assist technology.

Other new features boost fuel efficiency, uptime and return on investment, with a focus on increased power, robustness and agility. Maintenance of the diesel particulate filter (DPF) has also been greatly reduced, with no maintenance required until the machine has operated for 8,000 hours.

Komatsu announces switch to HVO as factory-fill fuel

Komatsu Ltd and its wholly owned subsidiary Komatsu Europe International N.V. are pleased to announce the company´s decision to switch to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) as factory-fill fuel for Komatsu equipment produced in Europe.

our customers in achieving their longterm sustainability goals as a one team approach. We believe that HVO is an effective and economical option to both reduce emissions and save limited resources.”

Komatsu´s switch to HVO factory-fill fuel is just one of the many steps that the company is taking towards sustainability, along with the research and development of new technologies and solutions such as electric and hydrogen-powered machines, to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and achieve its zero-emission goal.

By embracing solutions like HVO fuel, Komatsu is helping to create a more sustainable future for the construction and mining industries.

In line with Komatsu´s long-term goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and as a challenging target in the midterm management plan, this Komatsu world first began in April 2023 at the Komatsu Germany GmbH Construction Division (KGC) plant in Hannover, and at the Komatsu UK plant in Birtley, with other Komatsu Europe plants to follow.

The combustion engines in Komatsu machines can be operated with HVO with no modifications required. The switch to this renewable, paraffinic fuel as a sustainable alternative to traditional diesel fuel is a major step Komatsu is taking towards reducing its environmental impact. It shows that the company’s machines can run on a cleaner and more sustainable fuel, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improving air quality.

HVO is produced from renewable raw material such as cooking oil and animal fat waste. It is a simple drop-in replacement for fossil diesel, but with high cetane, no oxygen and no aromatics. It can lower the amount of greenhouse gas emitted by your equipment by up to 90%.

Ingo Büscher, Managing Director of KGC, said: “HVO not only grants lower emissions during operation by superior chemical composition [but] Komatsu´s HVO first fill product (Neste MY Renewable Diesel) is mainly made of waste material limiting consumption renewable resources such as vegetable oils. We are committed to support

Komatsu’s mid-term management plan, “DANTOTSU Value – Together, to THE NEXT for sustainable growth”, defines DANTOTSU Value as customer value creation that generates a positive cycle of improvement of earnings and ESG resolutions. Through this DANTOTSU Value, Komatsu will strive to create new values in order to take steady steps forward to the next stage for the workplace of the future and pass on a sustainable future to the next generation.

It can lower the amount of greenhouse gas emitted by your equipment by up to 90%

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