Construction Plant News April/May 2020 by Hamerville Media Group

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APRIL / MAY 2020

Construction

PLANT NEWS THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR PLANT PROFESSIONALS

ROAD, RAIL & INFRASTRUCTURE MACHINERY THATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON TRACK IN THESE VITAL GROWTH SECTORS

TELEHANDLERS FIND FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES IN MATERIALS HANDLING

GET THE 360 VIEW FROM ARDENT HIRE SOLUTIONS ON THE MANITOU RANGE OF ROTARY TELEHANDLERS

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CONTENTS @CPN_mag

APRIL / MAY 2020 cpnonline.co.uk

ljones@hamerville.co.uk

THIS ISSUE... REGULARS

SPECIAL REPORTS

5 6

Coronavirus Support

On-site Security

Online and Virtual Training

EDITOR’S VIEWPOINT NEWS

FEATURES

ROAD, RAIL & INFRASTRUCTURE

TELEHANDLERS

24 Road Rail Plant Install GKD

16 Ardent Hire Solutions and Manitou

Construction Plant News, Regal House, Regal Way, Watford, Herts, WD24 4YF.

technology

26 Fast Track Highway Repair with

Rotary Telehandlers

18 GGR Group Introduces the Faresin 6.26

Roadmender

28 Sykes Pumps’ Bespoke Solutions at

Full Electric Telehandler

Bridge Rebuild

23 Materials Handling with Merlo

SUSTAINABILITY

SHOW TIME!

30 Crown Oil and Hydro-treated Vegetable

33 Viva Las Vegas!

Oil (HVO)

What’s New at Conexpo

CPN I APRIL / MAY 3

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VIEWPOINT Editor LEE JONES

BACKING OUR BUILDING INDUSTRY

f at the beginning of 2020, sector in the years ahead – you were predicting the are back under way, for challenges that your example, whilst many major business was likely to housebuilders are looking to encounter in the coming re-open some of their sites. decade then a global pandemic Anyone who has been that would paralyse the employed in the sector will economy was hardly likely to know that a career in the top the list. Indeed, unless you built environment is at its had the foresight of heart a daily exercise in Lee Jones, Nostradamus it would not problem solving, and managing Editor have featured on that list at all. the demands of the likes of As Covid-19 swept across social distancing, and reduced borders unabated, shutting down the world staffing levels, will require every bit of that economy in its wake, businesses have had ingenuity if it is to be implemented safely. It to rapidly respond to new ways of working, is beholden upon each of us to prevent the and make some tough decisions in order to spread of this terrible virus as far as safeguard their futures into the bargain. possible, and workplaces that have been Construction as a sector is, of course, deemed to fail in that duty have already particularly vulnerable to a lockdown. The been at least temporarily closed down. At practical, bricks and mortar business of the same time, organisations across the building quite obviously cannot be economy deserve clear guidance from the conducted from home, but there are also government, including the communication unique financial pressures from the of an effective exit strategy. prevalence of the self-employed, smaller Whilst it is true every recession sees firms, and a system of sub-contracting. the construction industry hit hard, its What has, however, equally become resilience is well-proven, and the recovery apparent is just how vital contractors, and will be heavily reliant on a sector that the plant hirers that serve them, actually represents more than eight per cent of UK are to society at large. GDP. What has been equally commendable Whether its additional capacity for the during the Covid-19 outbreak has been the NHS, the road and rail repairs that keeps many acts of kindness and support. the country on the move, or the multitude Whether it has been individual donations, of mundane and yet essential repair and fund-raising efforts, or support from maintenance tasks up and down the land, manufacturers, we have witnessed a coming construction is central to their delivery. together in a time of crisis that does credit Whilst during the course of this crisis there to the industry’s collective resolve. has been some confusion as to who should It is a spirit that in the weeks and months be categorised as a key worker, it is clear ahead we can only hope is extended that the hordes in hi vis and hard hats throughout the supply chain, where common deserve every bit of that status. sense will need to be applied to the likes of Several contractors, together with the contractual obligations, payment terms, and manufacturers and supply chains that dispute resolution. Cast you mind back, once support them, are making tentative steps to again, to the beginning of 2020, because the return to a new normal, whilst at the same conditions which gave cause for cautious time ensuring the continued well-being of optimism will come again, and we must each their workforce is guaranteed. Enabling play our part in ensuring that the people and works on HS2 – a project that will take on businesses are in place to take advantage. even greater significance for the plant

ljones@hamerville.co.uk Consultant Editor NICK JOHNSON

nick.johnson@constructionplant.info Managing Editor TERRY SMITH

tsmith@hamerville.co.uk Digital Assistant DAVID MOLLOY

dmolloy@hamerville.co.uk Group Advertisement Manager CRAIG JOWSEY

craig@hamerville.co.uk 07900248102 Advertisement Manager JACOB TATUM

jtatum@hamerville.co.uk 07825773737 Magazine Designer GEMMA WATSON Group Production Manager CAROL PADGETT Publisher BRYAN SHANNON Subscriptions Construction Plant News is a business magazine for plant professionals, contractors, materials extraction and processing companies, waste and recycling operations, as well as local authorities. If you are not on our circulation list and would like to subscribe email circulation@hamerville.co.uk To be removed from this magazine’s circulation please call 01923 237799 or email circulation@hamerville.co.uk. Printed by Walstead Roche Published by HAMERVILLE MEDIA GROUP Regal House, Regal Way, Watford, Herts WD24 4YF. Tel: Watford (01923) 237799 Fax: (01923) 246901 Copyright © 2020

The publishers and editor do not necessarily agree with the views expressed by contributors, nor do they accept responsibility for any errors of translation in the subject matter in this publication.

Total Average Net Distribution 9,224 1 July 2018 - 30 June 2019

CPN I APRIL / MAY 5

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©nikomsolftwaer/Adobe Stock

NEWS

IT’S PERSONAL THE BUILDING INDUSTRY HAS COME TOGETHER TO SUPPLY VITAL PPE TO THE NHS Remember the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony? Danny Boyle’s hymn to our national character had the NHS at its very heart, and at the height of the coronavirus epidemic – in what amounts to a collective act of defiance – the country comes together every Thursday to applaud its workers. It is a theme that has been continued through the construction sector, with

some of its biggest names supplying vital PPE to our carers. In response to an industry-wide campaign, for example, Laing O’Rourke has contributed more than 20,000 items of personal protective equipment. The campaign, coordinated by Arcadis, was initially tasked by NHS London with finding 250,000 PPE items over four days. Arcadis collaborated with ©kentoh/Adobe Stock

over 40 organisations, including Laing O’Rourke, Network Rail, CBRE, Kelly’s, and Mace who all donated substantial volumes of equipment. Together, they quadrupled NHS London’s request, locating over a million items ready for collection or drop off including 150,000 gowns/coveralls, 650,000 masks and 420,000 gloves. A large amount of the PPE went to North London hospitals. The provision of PPE by contractors and manufacturers has been one of the many uplifting responses to Covid-19.

Persimmon Homes has donated face masks, latex gloves, goggles, glasses and hand sanitiser to local hospitals. JCB employee, James Morley converted the garage at his Derbyshire home to produce vital supplies and, inspired by his efforts, the company subsequently re-opened its Innovation Centre at the World HQ so that fellow volunteers, Joe Mumby and Joe Bagley had access to its 3D rapid prototype machines. The pair are now producing vital medical grade visors for NHS staff. WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ001

SUPER FOOD!

JCB HAS BEEN FEEDING HARD HIT COMMUNITIES AROUND ITS PLANTS

JCB's Jane Bullock helps

prepare cottage pies for The Staffordshire manufacturer’s ‘Food for our Communities’. ‘Food for our Communities’ initiative – which is the brainchild of Lady Bamford – has been helping the communities around its factories who are in need of food as a result of disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Already more than 10,000 meals have been distributed across Stoke-onTrent by the Burslem-based Hubb Foundation to children and families in need. In India, the scale of the initiative is even greater and staff there have now prepared a staggering 100,000 meals.

WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ002

CRISIS MANAGEMENT

THE CHARITY THAT SUPPORTS WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIESOUR CONSTRUCTION CRISIS APPEAL SO THAT THEY ARE LAUNCHING A NEEDS OF OUR WORKFORCE ASCAN RESPOND TO THE A RESULT OF COVID-19 The Lighthouse Construc

tion Industry Charity rel ies heavily on event income to fund their 24/7 Helpline, but the current Covid-19 pandemic has decimated their national and regional events. So, at a tim e when the construction community needs their support the most, they sim ply don’t have the resources to be able to respond in the fac e of this ever-increasing cry for hel p.

i If you would like to donate WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ003

i To watch the appeal video WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ004

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TESTING TIMES IN THE PIPELINE

A STRONG PIPELINE FOR FUTURE CONSTRUCTION DEMONSTRATES THAT THERE IS STILL OPPORTUNITY AND HOPE Whilst there is no doubt that the lockdown has had an economic impact on the industry that is without parallel, Glenigan argues that a firm development pipeline demonstrates that longer term opportunities remain. Indeed, even as Covid-19 started to shut sites down in March, there was a significant increase in the volume of planning approvals versus any of the previous 12 months with health, community & amenity, education, and social housing sectors offering the greatest opportunities for the future. Of all the UK regions, the midlands, the north east, north west, and Wales saw the highest growth in planning approvals. Encouragingly, the Construction Minister Nadhim Zahawi has already pledged that the government is looking to bring forward infrastructure projects to support the sector’s economic recovery after the Covid-19 crisis, with works on HS2 already back under way.

PLANT AND WELFARE FACILITY PROVIDERS, GARIC ARE SUPPORTING THE NHS Where traditionally the Garic range would be found on the likes of motorway works and citycentre redevelopment sites, they have now assumed a new role. Its welfare units have been transformed into an essential piece of equipment to help tackle Covid-19 at a number of testing centres. The Garic facilities include freshwater units, waste and fuel tanks, flushing toilets, urinals, hot and cold water, hand dryers, heating, lighting and power generators. WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ007

WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ005

FROM VANS TO VENTILATORS LUTON PLANT EMPLOYEES SECONDED TO BOOST VENTILATOR PRODUCTION WITH LOCAL COMPANY

Workers from Vauxhall’s Luton plant have downed their regular tools in favour of slightly more clinical surroundings to meet huge NHS demand for ventilator production.Vauxhall is providing 22 staff to the Luton site of Smiths Medical, a division of Smiths Group plc, which is being tasked with significantly increasing production of Smiths Group’s paraPAC plus. These ventilators are approved and have been in use within the NHS for over 10 years. The staff – 20 assemblers, plus a Team Leader and Supervisor – were handpicked from Vauxhall’s Kimpton Road Plant that produces the Vivaro van.

i To find out more

WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ006

ON THE RIGHT TRAC K

NETWORK RAIL HAS ANNOUNCED A MOVE TO IMMEDIATE PAYMENTS FOR ITS SUPPLIERS Network Rail has committed to pay its suppliers immediately – or as close to immediately as possible – following approval of the payment ledger, with the expectation that subsequent payments flow down the supply chain. This means payment could be up to seven days quicker for SMEs and up to 28 days quicker for other suppliers. Network Rail and its supply chain have a key role to play during the Coronavirus pandemic, ensuring that the railway can continue to get critical medical supplies to hospitals, food to supermarkets, and key workers such as doctors, nurses and police officers to their jobs. WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ008

CPN I APRIL / MAY 7

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S P E C I A L R E P O R T: C O V I D - 1 9

SOMETHING TO BUILD ON

With Covid-19 likely to be a source of disruption for the foreseeable, Construction Plant News analyses what help and advice is available for contractors and plant hirers.

t was a green signal all the way for HS2, decisions on Brexit, if not fully determined, had certainly been deferred, and a mood of cautious optimism pervaded. Then came Covid-19, a crisis that has closed down our way of life so quickly and to such an extent that it is without historical precedent. The sudden necessity to adjust to radically altered ways of working has equally spawned much industry debate on just what should remain in operation, but as we have witnessed with transformation of the Excel centre into NHS Nightingale, the sectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s value to wider society has never been more apparent. Indeed, across the whole industry more and more companies are now attempting to find ways to reopen sites.

Safe Working If contractors are looking for guidance on how to safely continue working then the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has published a set of Site Operating Procedures (SOP), which accord with the latest advice from Public Health England. Reflecting the uncertain status that some construction sites have occupied, this is a document that has been subject to change, and it would be worth ensuring that you are following the most up-to-date advice.You can find details of how to access Version 3 of this document at the end of this article. The CLC is intended to deliver a consistent message across sites of all sizes and contains a wealth of information on

avoiding close working, procedures if someone should fall ill, and what facilities should be in place. As with any health & safety issue, organisations have a duty of care to ensure that the well-being of their employees is safeguarded, and if a site is not consistently implementing the measures as they are set out, it may be required to shut down. In response, the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) has released its own supplementary guidance publication. It seeks to interpret the core requirements of the CLC-based procedures and outlines a tailored set of additional conditions for a range of plant-based occupations. These include plant operators, supporting personnel, such as slinger/signallers, traffic

Social distancing became another health and safety regulation with which workers have become accustomed

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marshalls, maintenance staff and plant delivery drivers. In addition, the CPA has also released a four-page technical document entitled ‘Guidance for Enhanced Pre-operational Checks on Plant Following Post COVID-19 Site Lockdowns’ in order to ensure equipment is put back into use safely.

Financial Support Of course, there are many projects that simply will not be able to continue, and firms who have been suddenly deprived of income and cashflow have faced acutely anxious times. The government has, however, moved quickly to introduce packages of financial support for organisations of all sizes. These measures already amount to an eye-watering £330 billion of emergency Whitehall expenditure, which represents at least 15 per cent of GDP. At the time of writing, for instance, more than 140,000 business had applied for the UK government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, where grants of up 80 per cent of an employee’s salary – up to a ceiling of £2,500 – are available. Similar support has also been put in place for the self-employed, a constituency that represents 37 per cent of those working in the building industry. Employers may also be entitled to reclaim the costs of Statutory Sick Pay for sickness

due to Covid-19. It will cover up to two weeks of SSP per eligible employee who are either ill or been told to self-isolate, which is the current recommended timeframe for self-isolation.

great national crisis, whether that be a world war or great depression, when it is time to renew itself, the country has looked to the building industry, and in the months ahead we will need healthy firms that are fit to take up that challenge.

Loan Scheme Delivered by the British Business Bank, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) is intended to impart lenders with the confidence to continue to provide finance to SMEs. In the process it will help businesses access bank lending and overdrafts, with the government offering lenders an 80 per cent guarantee on funds loaned. The government will not charge businesses or banks for this guarantee, and the Scheme will support loans of up to £5 million in value. The first six months of these loans will be interest-free, as the Government will cover these payments, and businesses will be able to get finance under the scheme from a large number of providers, including the main high street banks. Since the introduction of this scheme, the Chancellor has further announced a 100 per cent guarantee for loans to small firms of up to £50,000 in value. The terms mean that no capital or interest repayments will be due for one year. Instead, the government will pay the interest for the first 12 months. As the name suggests, the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loans Scheme (CLBILS) is applicable to organisations with more substantial turnovers. A business with an income of more than £45m will now be able to apply for up to £25m of finance, with up to £50m for firms with a turnover of more than £250m. This level of financial support is vital if construction companies and hirers are to be at the vanguard of the recovery, and more will undoubtedly be necessary. At times of

Can You Help? The UK government is looking for organisations large and small who can offer their support in multiple areas and has set up an online tool where businesses can register their interest. It includes a list of areas where help is particularly pressing and construction is amongst these, as is the likes of logistics and personal protective equipment.Visit WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ009 to find out more.

i The Construction Leadership Council’s Site Operating Procedures can be found at WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ010

i Supplementary guidance to the above for construction plant occupations from the Construction Plant-hire Association can be viewed here WWW.RDR.LINK/CQX011

i The CPA ‘Guidance for Enhanced Preoperational Checks on Plant Following Post COVID-19 Site Lockdowns’ can be downloaded here WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ012

i For further information on the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ013

i The Construction Plant News website is an invaluable and up-to-date resource with all the latest information on the coronavirus: WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ014

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S P E C I A L R E P O R T: S I T E S E C U R I T Y

UNDER LOCK Y E K D N A D

epressing perhaps, but predictable most certainly – with sites largely abandoned during the lockdown some regions experienced dramatic increases in thefts of machinery, as the criminal fraternity sought to exploit the pandemic. Whilst these are unprecedented times, plant hirers and contractors should, as a matter of course, be continually monitoring their security to ensure that they have a march on the thieves, and reviewing what processes are in position is now more critical than ever. Covid-19 has, of course, thrown up some unique conditions, but much of the following advice holds good, even in times of normal trading. One of the major issues with the sudden and enforced closure of construction projects for rental firms has been insurance. If the equipment remains on hire then it should still be covered, but if it is off hire, and the owner cannot collect the machinery because of logistical issues, then the hirer and contractor should be urgently checking the scope of their cover. Regardless of the presence of a pandemic, or course, the owners of construction plant should be aware of exactly what they can expect from a policy and, in the case of hired equipment, who is liable should a theft occur. When it comes to thwarting thieves in the act, physical security should always be the first line of defence, with secure perimeter

The Covid-19 epidemic has made machinery ever more vulnerable to criminal gangs, but protection is at hand. Construction Plant News reviews the security procedures you should be putting in place. fencing, cameras, and containers a prerequisite. If you are going to invest in CCTV make sure it’s ‘active’, where movement will alert a monitoring centre, whose personnel can then instruct the authorities, whilst more advanced thermal imaging technology can reduce the incidents of false alarms. Whenever machinery is likely to be inactive for an extended period it should be immobilised, and make sure that keys are not stored on site. Many OEMs now supply construction plant with programmable keys that will start a specific machine. When

“Plant hirers and contractors should, as a matter of course, be continually monitoring their security to ensure that they have a march on the thieves.”

an attempt is made to use a key that is not part of that system, the operator, owner, or fleet manager is alerted. Of course, over the course of the Covid19 outbreak, many trading estates and industrial areas have been completely deserted and, with no guards in attendance either, thieves might well have more time to seek to overcome these barriers. Ian Elliott, group head of security, Clancy Docwra and CITS (Combined Industries Theft Solutions) vice chairman offers his advice: “Firms should be aiming at removing the majority of tools and plant away from site compounds. Where traditionally companies would perhaps have used plant containers, they are now are advised to leave these almost empty and remove plant and tools to a head-office, where possible, or placing the tools and small kit, within brick or concrete buildings, well out of sight of the criminals. For sites where a company cannot physically remove kit, then the machinery should be placed within containers, and for the containers to be blocked in by placing large concrete blocks or vehicles in front, blocking the doors.”

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S P E C I A L R E P O R T: S I T E S E C U R I T Y

Another potential deterrent is the CESAR Scheme, owned by the CEA (Construction Equipment Association) and operated by Datatag. The latter’s Nick Mayell explains its benefits: “CESAR includes tamper evident warning and registration plates, RFID transponders, a microdot identification system comprising of between 500 – 1,000 micro dots, which are scattered around the machine and forensic DNA. Once fitted these technologies are almost impossible to remove successfully, and when the machine is registered on Datatag’s secure database, these unique details are accessible to the police 24/7, enabling them to identify any machine at the roadside night or day very quickly. The CESAR website also has a "Hot Button" to instantly report stolen machinery. In addition, Datatag has a manned 24-hour international call centre specifically for CESAR and the scheme is also part of Interpol’s training programme – so its reach is worldwide. I have recovered kit from as far away as Australia.” When it comes to selecting potential targets thieves will always follow the path of least resistance, and anything that can make your property less appealing should be considered. Mr Mayell concluded: “I have recently been involved in a case where I have assisted in the recovery of 32 machines and not one of these machines were CESAR marked, which is testament to how much of a theft deterrent this scheme is, and criminals appear to be purposely targeting non CESAR registered machines. Where we have recovered machines that are CESAR registered, and it’s reached the law courts, we have yet to lose a case, and many criminal gangs have been convicted and imprisoned.”

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The expert advice is to implement a multilayered security regime, by utilising the full range of tools at your disposal. Today, asset protection has increasingly become an ever more sophisticated business, where plant hirers and contractors can deploy the latest technology in their defence. Security specialist, CanTrack remains the only tracking and theft recovery company with its own in-house investigation unit, and that team has remained active during the crisis. The company has produced a comprehensive COVID-19 Security Guidance document, which is full of valuable advice, and the details of how to access it can be found at the end of this feature. Again, this is advice that is worth heeding at any time and it also contains a detailed analysis of the benefits of CanTrack’s systems.

If, for instance, machines, vans, and commercial vehicles on hire, are protected by its CanTrack Protect and CanTrack GPS systems then the locations provided will reveal whether they are still being used despite being off hired. The CanTrack Protect unit is the only Thatcham S7 battery powered unit capable of providing minute by minute 24/7 utilisation on non-powered assets without significant battery life impact. In order to supply vital construction projects, some hirers have, of course, remained operational, but with drastically reduced staffing levels, a situation which fraudsters can equally seek to exploit. From its own experience CanTrack is reporting an increase in bogus hire, or ‘hire-to-steal’ incidents. Managers should ensure that staff are still employing all the necessary identity checks on any new prospective business, and if in any doubt simply refuse to authorise the hire.

i If you would like to access the CanTrack COVID-19 Security Guidance document WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ015

i Combined Industries Theft Solutions (CITS) has produced a guide on general practices to prevent theft which can be viewed WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ016

i For further information on CITS (Combined Industries Theft Solutions) WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ017

i For further information on CESAR WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ018

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S P E C I A L R E P O R T: V I R T U A L A N D O N L I N E T R A I N I N G

Where there is crisis there is also opportunity, and during the coronavirus outbreak many contractors and hirers have been taking advantage of eLearning.

hen we look back on Covid-19, and its lasting impact on the construction sector’s working practices, it may well be that a much greater adoption of digital technologies has been a direct consequence. Restricted we may well have been physically, but there is an online space where company personnel can continue professional and career development unabated, and many organisations have moved quickly to exploit this new demand with their own virtual training provision.

CITB SKILLS AND TRAINING FUND

Of course, whilst the skills crisis and the need for training is now well documented, funding remains an issue. Recognising the difficulties for smaller firms in particular, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), has refreshed its Skills and Training Fund (STF) to provide more support for SMEs and micro businesses. Since its launch by CITB in 2015, the STF has awarded over £21.6m to over 4,800 micro and small companies (under 100 employees), allowing them to access funding to provide training. Now CITB is increasing the amount of funding available, and widening the scope of eligible training, so that companies with 100 – 250 employees are also eligible for funding. Small and micro organisations can apply for up to £10,000 and medium firms can apply for up to £25,000. For larger businesses, CITB will also be unveiling a Leadership & Management Development Fund.

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THE TRAIN GANG IPAF ELEARNING

TOPCON TALKS

Instruction in the operation of construction plant is particularly well suited to the ‘virtual’ sphere, where learners can acquire a level of understanding without the risk of accidents or injury. This is particularly the case with working at height, still the industry’s biggest killer, and the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) is acutely aware of the potential of this kind of tuition. Its eLearning facility already offers a range of Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) solutions for candidates wishing to renew or obtain PAL cards. In direct response to the coronavirus, IPAF has also doubled the maximum amount of time between a candidate successfully completing their operator theory module via eLearning and the mandatory practical assessment to 90 days, to allow training centres to manage demand against recommended safe practices. Not only that but it is possible to complete MEWPs for Managers entirely in eLearning.

Professional development from home is also possible with Topcon Positioning Group’s free webinar programme. The Topcon Talks series, provides valuable educational resources, such as improving productivity using digital construction workflows, overcoming barriers to technology adoption, and more practical how-to sessions for customers on specific Topcon solutions. The webinars will be delivered by a range of experts, with topics including Always One Step Ahead – an overview of the company’s latest product developments, as well as detailed technical sessions.

“There is an online space where company personnel can continue professional and career development unabated.”

BRITISH SAFETY COUNCIL There are, of course, many ways to offer training online, and the British Safety Council is looking to bring the experience of the classroom to the digital age. Its live online course delivery allows you to see the tutor, PowerPoint slides, videos, and a whiteboard, whilst students can interact verbally with the rest of the group and the trainer. Available

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i To find out about CITB’s Skills and Training Fund WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ019

i Find out more about IPAF eLearning WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ020

i In order to find your nearest IPAF

courses include the NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety, which remains the most popular H&S course in the UK, as well as Health & Safety for Directors and Senior Managers.

PREFABRICATED ACCESS SUPPLIERS’ AND MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION (PASMA) Most PASMA training courses – as you would expect – involve getting hands-on with

scaffold towers under the watchful eye of an instructor. However, each course also includes classroom-based theory sessions, which are now available online. In addition, through its Safety Practitioner Zone, members of PASMA, as well as the Association for Project Safety, British Safety Council, IIRSM and RoSPA, can obtain exclusive access to a library of resources for updating their tower knowledge, and sharing good practice. The library includes toolbox talks, tower reference guides, bitesize safety videos and details of upcoming changes to EN 1004, the design standard for mobile access towers.

approved training centre WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ021

i All Topcon Talks series sessions are free to attend, and to find out more WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ022

i For more information on training from the British Safety Council WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ023

i To book a PASMA course that includes an online theory session, contact your nearest PASMA training centre WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ024

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TELEHANDLERS

THE ROTA RY CLUB T

he telehandler is a standard piece of equipment for any building site, and it is difficult to imagine a site operating without one. However, in recent years, a new type of telehandler has become commonplace on many construction sites. This new, rotary-telehandler offers significantly more features and modes of use, often resulting in reduced need for specialist machines, such as the mobile crane. Is the rotary telehandler machine becoming as indispensable as the standard telehandler? Manitou claim to be the UK market leader in rotary telehandlers. Construction Plant News spoke to Mark Ormond, Managing Director of Manitou UK, to find why how customers are benefiting from these machines.

“The main reason customers purchase an MRT (Manitou Rotary Telehandler) is because of its flexibility. This one machine can move pallets around a site, be fitted with a jib or winch and used as a crane or operate as an access platform. That flexibility has the potential to save users an enormous amount of time and money”. Manitou MRTs range from 14 – 32m lift height with lift capacities of up to 7,000kg. Four-wheel steer, 360-degree rotation, and the option of a remote control enable the machines to work in a wide range of situations. There are a wide range of attachments and, to ensure safe operation at all times, an attachment recognition system will automatically adjust the load capacity of the base machine to the characteristics of

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Construction Plant News investigates how Manitou’s rotary telehandlers are transforming UK construction sites. the attachment being used. This ensures the operator can never accidentally overload the machine due to the attachment being used. Ardent Hire Solutions is a key customer of Manitou, running a significant number of MRTs in its hire fleet. The hirer works with housebuilders, groundworkers, and general contractors across industries including housebuilding, infrastructure, events, and construction. Customers include national and regional tier 1 contractors, subcontractors, and local businesses. The business has 300 employees working 11 locations across the UK and revenues of

£60m. The fleet of 5,500 machines, which has an average age profile of less than two years, includes telehandlers, excavators, dumpers, and rollers. Rotary telehandlers have become an increasingly important part of the fleet during the last two years. Ardent’s CEO, Jeremy Fish, explains how and why their customers use MRTs. “Rotarytelehandlers are a versatile piece of equipment that are well suited to the changing needs of the construction market, particularly prefabricated and modular construction, which is becoming more popular in the UK”, explained Jeremy. “We have quadrupled the

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number of MRTs in our fleet over the last two years. Given that we expect these changes to accelerate over the next few years we see the rotary telehandler as a unique piece of equipment that can help customers to improve their productivity whilst, at the same time, reducing overall costs. We also saw a space in the market for the MRT backed by the professionalism and high standards that a company like Ardent can offer”. “The MRT is essentially three machines in one – a telehandler, a mobile crane and a powered access platform, which offers a high degree of flexibility to customers, whilst reducing the amount of equipment that they have to keep on hire at any one time. In turn, this reduces project costs and production cycle times. Over the past four years we have spent over £250m in new equipment giving us one of the youngest and most modern fleets in the industry today.”

Why Choose Manitou? Jeremy explained that the company chooses to minimise variation in its fleet, and generally standardises equipment from just two manufacturers in each product group. The exception to this is the rotarytelehandler fleet, where Ardent runs Manitou MRTs exclusively. “Manitou MRTs are reliable, robust and are well designed. Operators give them a warm reception and find them comfortable and easy to use. The equipment also has a high level of in-built technology which aligns well with Ardent’s value proposition. In addition, the manufacturer’s backup, support, and engagement are excellent, and it gets better all the time. Consequently, we see Manitou as a point of differentiation to other equipment manufacturers in today’s market.”

How Do Customers Benefit? “If customers are frequent users of small city cranes, powered access equipment and telehandlers, they can use the MRT as an alternative to all three. This means that operators only need to be familiar with one machine instead of three.” “There are other benefits as well. For example, a city crane takes longer to set up than the MRT and has a larger footprint. This means that on space constrained sites the MRT is more capable of manoeuvring into tight areas without causing expensive damage to equipment and property. The MRT can also be operated without the need for a lift plan or a banksman, which are essential requirements for crane operation.”

“Customers are increasingly demanding more data from their hired equipment. They want to understand where they can be more productive, and where they can save costs. The MRT is equipped with comprehensive telematics reporting which helps customers to monitor their equipment on a real-time basis. Manitou’s telematics system is now also integrated with Ardent’s award winning Site Manager system so that customers can receive equipment and health and safety alerts and take action to avoid accidents and other events.” “The rotary telehandler is only as useful as the attachment which is fitted to it,” adds Manitou’s Mark Ormond. “For that reason, we work closely with our customers to develop new attachments tailored to their needs. The 3D platform is one such example and allows the man platform to safely access areas that would not otherwise be possible.” It is clear that the likes of Ardent, and their customers, see real benefits from rotary telehandlers. According to Manitou, they are not alone as the company reports an increasing quantity of sales year on year, which reinforces the company’s position as UK market leader.

i If you want to find out more about the Manitou Rotary Telehandler range WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ025

i For further information on Ardent Hire Solutions WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ026

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TELEHANDLERS

Having teamed up with the GGR Group, Faresin Industries has stolen a march on other compact telehandler makers by introducing this 6.26 Electric machine onto UK sites.

The GGR Group has become the exclusive UK dealer of the innovative Faresin 6.26 Electric telehandler from Italy. Nick Johnson checks out this pioneering new machine.

Charging UP Battery power convert – the GGR Group can now supply this electric Faresin telehandler alongside its Unic Eco electric spider cranes.

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here were a number of new electrically powered compact construction telehandlers on show at the big Bauma construction equipment exhibition in Munich last year, but some were clearly just prototypes. One of the new generation electric telehandlers at Bauma 2020 that was more advanced than others was the ‘production ready’ machine from the Italian manufacturer Faresin Industries. And it caught the eye of GGR Group Managing Director Gill Riley from the UK who was at the show searching out possible new products for her family business to sell and hire. Having subsequently fully evaluated the Faresin 6.26 Electric telehandler, the GGR Group announced in February that it had signed up to become the exclusive UK dealer for the machine. This was interesting news because Faresin telehandlers are not well known in the UK construction market and GGR has not supplied telehandlers before. But both Faresin and GGR are family owned businesses with a desire to pioneer the use of new and more eco friendly machines. Based in Breganze (Vicenza), Italy, Faresin Industries was founded in 1973 by the current Chairman Sante Faresin. It started making agricultural equipment, and its products today still include a wide variety of self-propelled and trailer mounted feed mixers used in the livestock sector. The first Faresin telescopic handler was produced in 2002, and the current range – supplied into both agriculture and construction – includes diesel engined, rigid frame models with maximum capacities from 2,600kg to 4,500kg and maximum lift heights from 5.9m to 16.4m. Commendably, the company has been quick to react to the trend towards quieter, less polluting electric machines and its new 6.26 Electric has been developed by making good use of much of the structure and many of the components used in the now well proven 6.26 Classic 52 diesel model.

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The GGR Group states that it is pleased to be the first to bring yet another exclusive product to the UK market.

The new electric telehandler connected up to the Faresin Aliant High Frequency fast charger.

Access to the cab of the 6.26 Electric telehandler is easy through the wide opening side door.

The GGR business was established in 1995 by the brother and sister team of Graeme and Gill Riley, who now hold the posts of Chief Executive and Managing Director respectively. They currently employ over 160 people across three UK sites and have achieved a high profile by pioneering the use of Unic spider cranes from Japan in this country. GGR now both sells and hires the Unic spider cranes and it has also become an acclaimed supplier of glazing robots, vacuum lifters, and other specialist handling equipment. The desire to offer a broad range of equipment has seen the company add Hematec mast cranes from Germany, Galizia pick-and-carry cranes (which can also be fitted with pallet forks) from Italy and Sunward compact crawler cranes from Japan. Operational experience of battery powered machines has been gained by GGR from running 3.0 tonne Galizia pick-and-carry cranes, the latest Eco Unic spider cranes, the Hematec mast crane and some glazing robots. Having already been encouraged by increasing

customer demand for electric machines, Gill Riley could immediately see the potential for the new Faresin 6.26 Electric telehandler when she spotted it at Bauma. Whilst it does not intend to move into the mainstream telehandler market, GGR considers that the compact electric Faresin is a niche machine that fits well into the company’s product portfolio. It has already bought three 6.26 Electric machines so that the concept can be fully evaluated here. The units are now available on demonstration to hire and sales customers seeking a quiet, fume free compact handler that can access confined areas and work safely, where necessary, inside buildings that are under construction or being refurbished. Graeme Riley says: “We are pleased to be the first to bring yet another exclusive product to the UK market. The introduction of this product is a very exciting prospect for the GGR team. Not only does it allow us to extend our expertise to the wider materials handling market, but it gives us a new avenue for growth”. Daniel Ezzatvar, the GGR Group Marketing Director is also very enthusiastic about the future for the machine. He says: “We have a proven track record of creating markets for new products and it is testament to our ability to do so that we have been

chosen by Faresin to build the UK market for the 6.26 Electric telehandler.” Just before the Coronavirus lockdown was instigated, GGR staged a ‘socially distanced’ demonstration of the new electric Faresin at its Southern base in Haddenham, Buckinghamshire. This event provided an ideal opportunity to carry out an in-the iron inspection and test drive of this new generation machine. From a specification standpoint the Faresin 6.26 Electric telehandler has a maximum capacity of 2,600kg and its operating chart allows 2,000kg to be raised to a maximum lift height of 5.9m. Maximum horizontal outreach is 3.1m where capacity is 900kg. The machine weighs 4,800kg and its width and height (without warning beacon) is 1,935mm. So, it is well within the 2.0m by 2.0m compact telehandler size class and therefore well able to enter many confined areas on site. As is the norm now with modern rigid frame telehandlers, the Faresin 6.26 Electric telehandler has a low rear boom pivot to maximise all round visibility from its sidemounted cab. The machine has constant four-wheel drive and three steering modes – front, all wheel and crab – which provide a tight turning circle and enhance manoeuvring in tight spaces.

A series of spiral bound, laminated pictorial sheets in the cab provide useful operating and safety information.

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TELEHANDLERS The low rear boom pivot allows the operator to get a good allround view from inside the cab.

The safe load indicator screen in the cab provides a good visual warning of approach to overload.

The machine has two electric motors – one rated at 15kW for travel and the other rated at 10kW for the lifting operations. Easy driving is aided by the use of a Dana Spicer hydrostatic transmission that allows a maximum travel speed of 12 km/h. Selection of a battery life extending Eco mode lowers maximum travel speed to 7 km/h and reduces boom speeds. Power for the telehandler is provided by a standard 80V lithium battery that has a rated capacity of 300Ah. Battery life between charges has been found to be up to six hours for intermediate work (55 per cent use and 45 per cent stop) in Eco mode. During continuous (100 per cent) use in Eco mode, battery life is reduced to around three hours. Recharge time for the standard 300Ah battery is said to be 12 hours to obtain 0 – 80 per cent recharge or 15 hours (to obtain 0 – 100 per cent charge) with the onboard single-phase 110/220V charger. Shorter times of four hours (0 – 80 per cent) and five hours (0 – 100 per cent) can be obtained with the standard external three-phase charger. Quickest recharge time for the 300Ah battery is one hour and forty minutes (0 – 80 per cent) and one and a half hours (0 – 100 per cent) when the optional external fast charger is used. The machine can also be fitted with an optional 80V 400Ah lithium battery that increases running time to up to eight hours for intermediate work and up to four hours for continuous work. This higher capacity battery can be recharged (0 – 100 per cent) in two hours using the optional external fast charger. During the demonstration day one of the electric telehandlers was shown connected to an Aliant High Frequency fast charger. Usefully, the system has CANbus monitoring. Access to the cab of the Faresin 6.26 Electric telehandler is through the wide opening side door. The machine is easy to operate and clear pictorial explanations covering start-up, the load chart and safe

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Battery status is one of the screen views that can be selected on the clear in-cab monitor display.

slopes (longitudinal and lateral) are provided by a useful series of spiral bound, laminated information sheets conveniently positioned on the dashboard to the left of the steering wheel. The monitor screen is bright and clear, and it can show a range of different information displays including current battery charge status and diagnostic data. There is also a visual safe load indicator and the machine will stop when an overload is imminent – after which the operator has to press a button to be able to telescope in or raise the boom up to regain a safe situation. The machine is equipped with a common Euro specification attachment plate and auxiliary attachment hydraulics are standard. Hydraulic side shift is an option. Other options include a Grammer air suspension seat, a cab heater, a front screen

protection grill, four LED work lights and boom suspension. The advantage of boom suspension was graphically illustrated during the demonstration day by conducting ‘The Duck Test’. Two telehandlers were driven and turned at speed whilst carrying trays of water containing large yellow plastic ducks. The machine without its boom suspension feature switched on suffered a lot of water loss and displaced ducks! To enable the machines to travel legally on UK roads there will be the option of fold-back forks and road lighting (including number plate and fog lights). Safety whilst travelling on the road or on site will be enhanced by the provision of Tesla style forward sounding noise generator to warn people of the electric machine’s approach! Distinguished by its white livery with blue stripes, the Faresin 6.26 Electric with the enthusiastic support of the GGR Group appears well placed (when times return to the ‘new normal’) to lead the charge of this sort of ‘green’ compact telehandler onto environmentally sensitive UK sites. It will be interesting to see how long it takes the more prominent makers of compact telehandlers to get competitive units into production.

i For complete information on the Faresin 6.26 Electric telehandler from GGR WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ027

The ’Duck Test’ provided a good way to check out the effectiveness of the optional boom suspension feature.

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TELEHANDLERS The latest Panoramic P40.13 Plus with its cab that features 4.3m2 of glass to maximise all round visibility.

Smallest of the new era Panoramic models is the ultra compact P27.6 that is only 1,840mm wide.

The Tel escopic ‘Site’ Merlo has been busy introducing new conventional and rotating construction telescopic handlers, and it is developing a new electric machine. Nick Johnson reports.

he well-established Italian machinery maker, Merlo has an enviable record of innovation in the telescopic handler market. For this family business was, in 1987, the first company to introduce a side-engined conventional telescopic handler with a low rear boom pivot and, four years later, it went on to launch the world’s first rotary telehandler. Now, having first revealed prototypes at the Intermat exhibition in 2018, Merlo has a comprehensive range of new generation construction telehandlers. Both its latest conventional fixed frame Panoramic range and the 360 degree slew Roto models benefit from the company’s engineering expertise, and its ability to produce a very high proportion of each machine within its large factory in Cuneo. A particular feature of the new telehandlers, both Panoramic and Roto, is that they have the latest spacious Merlo cab. It is 1,010mm wide (said to be the widest on the market) and features 4.3m2 of glass to maximise all round visibility. Smallest of the new era Panoramic models is the ultra compact P27.6 which is only 1,840mm wide and 1,950mm high. It can move up to 2,700kg and maximum lift height is 5.9m. Power for the Plus version is supplied by a 55kW (75hp) Stage V emissions compliant Kohler KD2504 TCR engine rated at 55kW (75hp) and, like other

The new generation Merlo cab is said to be the widest on the telehandler market.

Merlos, it has a hydrostatic transmission. With model numbers indicating maximum capacity and lift height, the latest standard capacity Panoramics especially suitable for UK construction use include the P30.10, P35.11, P40.13, P40.13 Plus, P40.14, P40.14 Plus, P40.17, P40.17 Plus and P50.18 Plus. The Plus suffix indicates a higher-powered engine. So, for example, the P40.13 has a 55.0kW (75hp) Deutz TCD2.9 engine with DOC whilst the P40.13 Plus has a 75.0kW (101hp) Deutz TCD3.6 engine with DOC and SCR (AdBlue). These machines are currently Stage

IV emissions compliant with Stage V versions due to be launched at the end of this year. Particular features of the fixed range Panoramics can include chassis levelling and boom side-shift systems, automatic tool recognition and the Merlo Dynamic Load Control (MCDC) safety system. The stabilisers on these machines are mounted directly onto the front axle and they can usefully be deployed within a narrow width. Since its pioneering Roto 25.11XS back in 1991, Merlo has developed a comprehensive range of rotating telehandlers with maximum capacities / lift heights from 4,000kg / 15.7m to 4,950kg / 34.2m. Particularly popular in the UK have been the new generation Roto 50.21S-Plus and the Roto 50-35S-Plus models. The former is invariably now being supplied here with the tilt-up cab. As well as updating both its Panoramic and Roto ranges of diesel engined telehandlers, Merlo has been busy developing a new compact machine with electric drive. Designated the E-Worker there will be twoand four-wheel drive versions – both with a maximum load capacity of 2,500kg and a maximum lift height of 4.8m. Availability is expected early next year.

i For further information on Merlo telehandlers WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ032

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ROAD, RAIL & INFRASTRUCTURE

THE INSIDE TRACK

ith more than 200 GKD system installs to its name and counting, Road Rail Plant is well placed to communicate the benefits of the company’s technology, and it is an appreciation shared by some of the biggest names in plant hire and construction. With the exacting standards of the likes of L Lynch, APlant and Flannery already satisfied, as well as leading contractors, Balfour Beatty and Charles Wilson, the plant engineering and maintenance provider is seeing considerable demand for its services across rail, civils and beyond. Today, the Kent-based firm is in the enviable position of clients approaching them for their safety requirements. “Many of our customers will only ever specify GKD systems

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GKD Technologies and Road Rail Plant are combining to promote safety and innovation through technology.

because of past experience,” declares founder and managing director, Ross Hewer. “RCI’s are compulsory on rail and GKD have held the majority market share in that sector for some time now. We are receiving calls on a weekly basis from customers who now require limiters, especially due to the increase in safety requirements while working roadside or line side. Also, if you are carrying out lifting duties with an excavator, an RCI is an absolute necessity to prevent overloading and the possibility of tipping the machine over.”

Launched in 2017, Road Rail Plant offers a nationwide install service, which includes GKD Technologies, for civils and rail applications. Thanks to his time served as a rail plant fitter and RCI Engineer for Keltbray Rail, Ross is already well versed in the benefits of these safety systems. “At Keltbray, I was deployed to GKD on several occasions for training on the company’s 3RCI rail safety system for diagnosis, maintenance, and installation. It was my responsibility to maintain the RCI’s on a fleet of RRV’s, which were predominantly GKD systems.” Following the start-up of Road Rail Plant, GKD Technologies approached the company to assist with installations, call outs and maintenance on civil plant machinery – initially for the 2RCi, which can provide load, height and slew control, and latterly the latest Height & Slew system from GKD – Sensorsafe. Road Rail Plant currently installs the complete GKD range for the civil market, from the 1HLI height limiter to the full 2RCI system, which includes a ‘multi-point virtual wall’ functionality. RRP is also currently undergoing expansion, as Ross explained: “Later this year we will also have the facilities at our main depot to install, set up and tip test the full range of 3RCI systems, specifically for rail. We have also recently employed and

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Operators of machines like this Doosan DX270 RRV Long Reach rely on GKD technology to work safely.

subcontracted a total of 12 engineers to step into the rail overhaul and upgrade market.” “In the civils market, we are seeing more and more job sites that are making slew and/or height limiters compulsory,” continued Ross. “Some have requirements for a ‘purple beacon’ to flash when limits are set, and some have a full RCI limiter specification of their own.”

One Size Does Not Fit All! Road Rail Plant also have the capabilities to adapt and install GKD Systems to machinery that falls outside the category of a standard excavator or wheeled loader. Ross explained: “We have recently installed a ‘bespoke’ system on a suction excavator, belonging to Force One. The company was one of the first fleet operators to introduce a suction/vacuum excavation services within the UK and have established a reputation for innovation across its fleet and services offered.” Ross continued: “This type of limiter had never been used for this purpose before, and it had to be the GKD 2RCI as this system, as standard, can handle four separate boom angle sensors, which were required for the four

moving booms of the suction excavator arm. We mounted the touchscreen controller in a metal weatherproof box at the rear of the truck for ease of use, while mounting the module/motion cut box closer to the main control panel of the suction excavator system at the front. We managed to use an angle encoder to monitor the left and right motion of the arm, and the rest came down to integrating with the electronics of the suction excavator itself. We found a way to safely cut the remotecontrol signal to each valve on the suction arm and once calibrated this allowed the system to have not only height and slew limitations, but a full ‘virtual wall’ capability. This means that you can physically set out a 360-degree pattern around and above the machine, and no part of the arm will venture outside of those lines. We also installed the Road Rail Plant ZoneLight system on Force One’s suction excavator arm, along with an illuminated chevron panel supplied by InSpace Media. For this project, I would like to give special thanks to Sean Layton for all his help and assistance.”

Declan Burke of Force One outlines the benefits to his company: “Fitting these two systems allows Force One to further build on our service offering to our customers proving enhanced safety options. Both will improve the flexibility of where our machines can be utilised.” The Road Rail Plant team has also installed GKD 1SL slew limiters and 1SL height limiters on a Hiab truck to create a height and slew system – proving that these systems really are flexible with the vision and capabilities of a talented team of engineers! Ross concluded: “The natural growth of Road Rail Plant from a start-up business in 2017 to where we are today has been helped considerably by offering GKD products and support. We also pride ourselves in being able to offer ‘bespoke’ GKD product applications and thinking ‘outside the box’ creating safety solutions for non-standard machinery.”

i For further information on GKD Technologies WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ033

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ROAD, RAIL & INFRASTRUCTURE

ROADECOVERY TO R

Is innovation the key to survival for contractors during these extraordinary times? Roadmender Asphalt argues that its solutions can improve on site processes.

hen it comes to change, the UK construction industry has hitherto been a slow-moving creature, with certain working practices deeply ingrained in organisations, but Covid-19 could well be the catalyst for change. With disruptive social distancing procedures likely to remain in place for some time yet, project managers will need to specify equipment that can facilitate this new health and safety regime with no detriment to the finished installation.

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Repairs to our road network will, of course, remain essential, and one company that’s highlighting a potential solution under the hashtag #OneManPerVan is Sheffieldbased Roadmender Asphalt. The company sells and rents out mini asphalt hot box reclaimers that can be operated as part of a single man operation. Hotbox Reclaimers are lightweight machines that can be mounted on either trucks or trailers, and are designed to reclaim supplies of leftover or stockpiled asphalt wherever and whenever it’s needed. With multiple asphalt plants being forced to shut down to protect the safety of their workers, Roadmender Hotbox Reclaimers not only provide contractors with a simple way to make their own asphalt, but they can also be used as part of a single man operation ensuring smaller emergency repairs are still dealt with in a timely manner. Harry Pearl, CEO at Roadmender Asphalt, comments: “While normally it’s always safer for workers to go out in at least groups of two, in the current environment it just doesn’t make sense for multiple workers to all pile into the same van together no matter how willing to carry out their work they are.

With small Hotbox Reclaimers, workers can make their own asphalt and carry out smaller emergency repairs in effective isolation where if larger quantities of material are needed, two vehicles can go out while still maintaining a one man per van policy." The innovations don’t stop there, however, because Roadmender is also pioneering a new breed of road repair materials that it claims are greener, faster to install and less expensive than traditional asphalt. Unlike traditional methods that require pot holes to be cut out and refilled with asphalt, which is timely and expensive, the new rubberised repair material known as Elastomac is poured in as a hot liquid that forms to the shape of the hole, and welds itself to the existing road. The benefit of this process is that where traditional repairs often fail when water penetrates through the edge of a repair and then freezes, Elastomac, which contains around seven end of life waste tyres melted into every ton, is applied as a molten liquid that fills and then forms a flexible waterproof membrane over

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the pot holes, covering the edges and locking out any potential for the ingress of water. “Having been through 10 years of austerity, Councils have naturally gravitated towards innovation as the only viable way to safeguard their road assets,” explains Harry. “As part of this they have set up knowledge sharing hubs and innovation funding initiatives that encourage the development of new materials and working methods aimed at driving down costs and improving efficiency. Roadmender Elastomac is a by-product of this drive for innovation that’s ultimately led to the creation of a new road repair system that is faster, less expensive, uses 90 per cent less virgin material than traditional repairs, and has the ability to recycle hundreds of thousands of waste tyres a year in the process. From a health perspective, the use of these new flowable reinstatement materials also eliminates any hand arm vibration and airborne dust issues traditionally caused by saw cutting and jack hammering out pot holes.” As a result of the Coronavirus outbreak, the Government's own Office for Budget Responsibility has forecast the grim reality that the UK economy may shrink by a staggering 35 per cent. In that context, it is the companies that are willing to embrace new materials and ways of working that will lead the recovery. Roadmender has worked extensively with councils and utility contractors across an array of projects during this time of crisis, and it believes that its machinery and products can improve productivity and ease tensions on supply chains.

i For further information on Roadmender WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ034

i To watch a video of Roadmender’s Hot Box Reclaimers in use on site

WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ035

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ROAD, RAIL & INFRASTRUCTURE

BUILDING BRIDGES Sykes Pumps expertise has recently been deployed to ensure the safe and efficient progress of a bridge construction project.

ocated on the River Eamont at the northern end of Lake Ullswater in the Lake District, the village of Pooley Bridge is a popular tourist destination, named after the bridge constructed there in the 16th century. Following the destruction of the village’s eponymous landmark by Storm Desmond in 2015, Cumbria County Council has commissioned a new bridge, which is currently under construction by Eric Wright Civil Engineering (EWCE). The village has been served by a temporary road bridge for the past five years, but this has been removed and replaced by a temporary footbridge to enable EWCE to construct a new permanent structure. The new stainlesssteel bridge has been prefabricated off-site for modular construction in four sections and will be the first of its kind in the UK.

The Over-pumping Requirement Although the debris, and most of the remains of the historic bridge, were cleared during the clean up after Storm Desmond, the existing bridge abutments were still in place and had to be demolished to make way for the new structure. Consequently, an overpumping solution was required from the early stages of the project to create a safe working area for this demolition process.

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Once the old bridge abutments had been removed, the need for a reliable over-pumping system remained, to enable the EWCE team to install a coffer dam, which involved excavating to a depth of 2.5 metres below the water level. This was installed to create a dry working area for construction of the new concrete abutments. Once the coffer damn was in place, the role of the over-pumping solution was to prevent any water ingress to the dammed work area – or breaching of the coffer dam due to rising water levels – at any time during the programme. This not only supported health & safety best practice for the EWCE team, but also ensured that the

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integrity of the new abutments wasn’t compromised during construction. As the area is prone to heavy rainfall, and the work was carried out during the winter months, a flexible system that could cope with variable flow rates was essential because, due to the high water table, any breach of the coffer dam could have quickly caused it to flood. The solution provided also had to take into account the environmental demands of working with natural water courses within the Lake District National Park, and ensure any water discharged back into the River Eamont met Environment Agency requirements.

Efficient and Eco-friendly Solution Sykes Pumps began by carrying out a site survey to fully understand the topography of the location, the construction programme and the over-pumping requirements. Two 4” Super Wispaset 100 diesel pumps were supplied to site, each with a maximum flow rate of 45 litres per second. Located on the River’s east bank, the fully-bunded and noiseattenuated pumps have a noise profile of just 58dBA at 7 metres and were specified to provide efficient continuous operation when

If you want to watch a video of how the Sykes Silt Away unit works – as well as its features and benefits, WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ039 required, while minimising the project’s environmental impact. The pumps provided sufficient capacity to cope with any leaks in the coffer dam and prevented the risk of it being breached, while protecting the local environment from fuel spillages and keeping noise levels down to avoid disturbing local residents and aquatic life. Both pumps operated as duty pumps, and remained operational on a 24/7 basis, and the EWCE team was able to top up the pumps’ integral fuel tanks to avoid the need for any additional fuel storage on site. Ensuring that the project protected the local environment, water quality and natural

habitats was an important part of the brief, so the solution specified by Sykes Pumps included filtration of the extracted water before it was returned to the river downstream. The water extracted from the river was pumped through a dedicated Sykes Silt Away unit for each pump. This equipment has been specifically designed to separate suspended solids and sediment from water by filtering it via a Lamella plate-box and allowing any solids to drop into a collection chamber below. This compartment can then be emptied at ground level without interrupting the continuous operation of the pumps or the Silt Away unit. The filtered water can then be tested before being safely discharged. For the Pooley Bridge project, a rock pool filter bed was also put in place as an additional layer of filtration after the Silt Away units, and from here the water was transported further downstream via hose, to be released well away from the work area.

i For further information on Sykes Pumps WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ036

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A LT E R N A T I V E F U E L S

L E U F FOR

THOUGHT

ith the relentless charge towards electric powertrains liquid fuels have often been characterised as a problem we need to overcome, when in fact they could well be part of the solution. As the prime suspect of an air quality crisis in our cities, diesel has been thoroughly demonised in the popular imagination, but that is a position that overlooks the versatility of the engine itself. One of Rudolf Diesel’s original prototypes actually ran on peanut oil, for instance, and it is still the case that the machine that has done so much to drive the modern world forward is far from dependent on crude oil. Biofuels have equally been with us for many years, with their limitations now well documented, but they are not the only alternative, as Simon Lawford, Technical Sales Manager at Crown Oil explains. “First generation bio diesels suffered from a poor reputation in the marketplace. The ester link in these solutions would react with water and oxygen, producing impurities and bacteria. As a result, they suffered from a limited shelf life, blocked filters and were unproductive in cold temperatures. By contrast, HVO is a 100 per cent hydro-carbon fuel with a paraffinic structure, which eliminates these issues.” So, what is Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil?

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Whilst OEMs are collectively spending billions on developing battery technologies, Crown Oil is championing a cleaner, greener liquid fuel. Construction Plant News Editor, Lee Jones investigates the potential of HVO. Or HVO, as it is more commonly termed? Crude oil is so intrinsic to our way of life, that what it is actually made of can be easily overlooked. Of course, the carbon content of that material is derived from organic matter on which time and pressure has acted over many millions of years. Derived from almost any vegetable matter, the production process of HVO shortens that timeframe to a matter of hours and days, whilst still maintaining that hydro-carbon structure. Fleet managers can, as a consequence, take comfort, because it is actually much closer in structure and chemistry to a diesel than bio alternatives.

Essentially, what the engine experiences is a very pure – but ultimately very familiar – hydro-carbon, with no difference whatsoever to the operability of the equipment. The real win, however, is in a dramatically reduced carbon footprint and level of emissions. In short, this is a plant-based fuel, treated with hydrogen, that does not rely on hydrocarbons plundered from beneath the earth – it is quite literally “grown”. “It’s ultimately about putting back in what you take out,” continues Simon. “The production process of HVO, including growing the crop and making the fuel, is within a sustainability loop of one year. That means that, when the plant material is growing, it has effectively sequestered the CO2 that has been released from the tailpipe emissions. In practice that means a reduction in greenhouse gas CO2 of more than 90 per cent when compared to diesel.” Not only that, HVO is inherently much cleaner than a crude oil-based fuel. The latter is often a mix of what the producer has available at the time, which can include not only paraffinic, but naphthenic and aromatic carbons, all of which will burn at different rates. By contrast, Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil is a purely paraffinic compound, which burns more efficiently, thereby reducing particulate

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matter emissions by as much as 70 per cent. Moveover, because HVO’s cetane number is more than twice that of standard diesel, it will ignite much earlier in the cylinder, and at a lower temperature. NOx emissions are simply a by-product of the burning of nitrogen, and the higher the temperature the more will be burned. As a result, by reducing the cylinder temperature, HVO can reduce harmful NOx emissions from the exhaust by up to 20 per cent. The advantages don’t stop there, however, because emissions are not the only performance criteria in which HVO can outmatch its diesel counterpart. “One of the problems with standard diesels is that legislation now demands it includes at least 9.75 per cent biocontent. Given that the specification for EN590 Diesel allows for a maximum of 7 per cent Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) to be added, producers are meeting bio-mandates by adding various combinations of biodiesel such as FAME and double counted UCOMe, (used cooking oil methyl ester) to fossil diesel. It is true that Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) can be used without FAME and or UCOMe, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to source, and unfortunately for the end user FAME and UCOMe has the effect of introducing some of the detrimental qualities of biofuel into the tanks of construction plant. Water ingress and oxidation can reduce its lifespan to less than six months, for example, but HVO, which is not required to include any additional biocontent, can last up to ten years.”

A Surrey-based contractor with a national reach has experienced all these benefits and more. Where land and water meet is where you will find these coastal and waterway management specialists, undertaking some of the nation’s most vital repair and infrastructure projects. Land & Water holds a ten-year framework with the Canal & River Trust, as well as five frameworks with the Environment Agency. With climate change has come and renewed focus on flood defence, and the contractor has been at the vanguard in the battle to protect communities across the country, whilst a diverse portfolio of works also extends to marina buildings, ports and harbour work.

Add to that a prodigiously equipped plant hire business, including Europe’s largest fleet of long-reach excavators – together with a 50 per cent joint venture interest with Flannery Plant Hire for National Track Dumper Hire – and what emerges is a business with a level of expertise which is unparalleled in its field, and one which is well placed to assess the benefits of HVO. It is, however, the contractors’ remediation business where Crown Oil’s fuel has been utilised. In a highly successful trial on a major reclamation project, Land & Water was tasked with transforming a former lagoon in Rainham into a wildlife habitat. Given that the company is often engaged at environmentally sensitive locations, or Sites of Special Scientific Interest, (SSSI) it’s not surprising that Land & Water is no stranger to making use of alternative liquid fuels, but has found the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil particularly beneficial. “We actually undertook the first tests of bio-hydraulic oils with the Environment Agency more than ten years ago,” explains CEO, James Maclean, “and have experimented with various biodegradable fuels over the years. Like many others, we have found traditional bio fuels problematic in the past, which is why the hydrocarbon composition of HVO appealed. The most important point, of course, is that we don’t have to make any modifications to our excavators and earthmoving plant. At the same time we can still achieve a 90 per cent reduction in a machine’s carbon footprint in operation, and significant reductions in NOx and particulate matter emissions. With those kind of environmental credentials, it presents a very compelling case.”

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A LT E R N A T I V E F U E L S

Speedy Fuels & Lubricants is a member of the Crown Group. Established in 2012 to serve the London region. The company has gone from strength to strength and now delivers to customers nationwide.

Of course, for a company with such an extensive programme of works, going green can’t be at the expense of performance, and this is where HVO really appeals for the end user, as James explains: “HVO is a far more stable product than any bio fuel and has a greatly extended shelf life, nor will it suffer from the bacterial growths and bugs of these or modern diesel. Over the course of our trial we’ve probably put over 10,000 litres through one machine, and its performance has been fantastic. Storage and handling is identical to diesel, and the driver simply won’t tell the difference. At Rainham the machines that have been running with HVO have been on twentyfour hour shifts for two months now, so if we were going to find any problems we certainly would have done, and there’s been no issues

whatsoever. We’ve had the likes of TFL, and our own customers come down to have a look at it, and we’re now offering it in our tenders as a low carbon alternative.”

Easy Win Indeed, for any contractor looking to demonstrate their environmental credentials to their clients HVO Fuel has an obvious attraction and, most importantly, with no changes to the existing diesel engines on a plant operators’ fleet whatsoever, it represents an easy win. “With HVO there’s no need to transition to hybrid or electric technologies or install after treatment technologies onto equipment. It’s so flexible there’s no reason why we couldn’t run our entire fleet on the fuel, even hybrid machinery,

and, if we want it, Crown Oil have given us an undertaking that they can meet that supply.” At present, most electric machinery remains prodigiously expensive, whilst retrofitting the likes of Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems can also be costly. Although far from a new concept, given that everything from a 6kW generator to a 120 tonne excavator can be powered by HVO, it would be fair to say that its full potential is yet to be exploited. With the relentless expansion of ultra low emissions, ever stringent controls on what emerges from the exhaust, and the demands on contractors to prove their sustainability at every stage of a project, Crown Oil is adamant that this is an alternative that the plant sector should be seriously considering. “HVO provides choices for the fleet manager, in terms of how they can make the abatements now necessary to work on many sites, and specifically in urban developments,” concludes Simon Lawford of Crown Oil. “With the end of the red diesel tax break now in sight, we would anticipate more contractors and plant hirers will be investigate other liquid fuels. These are solutions that we still need, and are more than capable on stepping up to the environmental challenges of the future.”

i For further information on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) from Crown Oil WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ037

i For further information on Land & Water WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ038

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CONEXPO REVIEW

how SBUSINESS

Snorkel

The large Conexpo construction equipment exhibition, staged in Las Vegas during March, just missed the Coronavirus lockdown to reveal some interesting new products. Nick Johnson reports.

n the triennial cycle of the three big international construction equipment shows in different parts of the world, 2020 was the turn of Conexpo in Las Vegas. And this year’s event in the second week of March will be remembered not only for its significant product launches, but also for the adverse results of the then rapidly escalating global coronavirus pandemic. Even before Conexpo started some exhibitors had decided to pull out, or not to send stand staff there. Initial attendance appeared good, but as the week progressed

Magni used the show to launch this RTH6.51 and extend its hold on the record for the world’s highest telehandler.

Magni

and the Coronavirus crisis deepened, visitor numbers started to decrease and, ultimately, with the introduction of a State of Emergency in the state of Nevada, the last day was abandoned. So Conexpo 2020 will forever be stand out in plant exhibition history for its brush with Covid-19, just as Bauma 2013 is linked to The Ash Cloud. Amongst new product developments that were seen by visitors to Conexpo 2020 were some record-breaking machines. As previously forecast in Construction Plant News, MAGNI achieved a new maximum lift height for a rotary telehandler whilst SNORKEL revealed what has become the world’s tallest boomlift. With a maximum lifting height (with forks) of 51.0m, Magni’s RTH6.51 reaches up 5.0m higher than its previous flagship RTH6.46. The newcomer has a maximum capacity of 6.0 tonnes and provides a maximum reach of 34.0m. Powered by a 175.0kW (238hp) Volvo TAD583VE Stage V emissions compliant engine, the RTH6.51 has a newly designed sixsection telescopic boom made with special high strength steel. The machine can be equipped a range of attachments including a fork carriage, winch and hook, a jib and several different access platforms. Snorkel’s entry into the plant record books was its 2100SJ self-propelled boomlift that extends up to provide a maximum platform height of 64.0m. This Deutz engined ‘Mega Boom’ provides an industry-leading maximum horizontal outreach of 30.4m and its unrestricted platform capacity is 300kg.

Snorkel’s new world beating highflier is this 2100SJ self-propelled boomlift which extends up to 64.0m.

Operational flexibility is aided by the machine’s 9.0m articulating jib with a working arc of -55° to +73° and a tri-entry platform with 150° rotation. The first of a new four model range of ultra-high capacity large deck construction scissor lifts was also exhibited by Snorkel. The machine at Las Vegas was the S9070RTHC that has a maximum working height of 23.3m and a lift capacity of up to 907kg. GENIE used Conexpo to highlight its latest self-propelled telescopic boomlift. With a maximum working height of 26.4m, this machine is a higher stable mate to the previously announced S-60J. Powered by a Kubota diesel engine, this new boomlift can be fitted with Genie’s TraX system of four triangular rubber tracks so that it can traverse more challenging terrain.

JlG This JLG 670SJ has a new selflevelling system.

A particular highlight on the JLG stand at Conexpo 2020 was a pre-production version

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CONEXPO REVIEW of a boom lift, equipped with a clever selflevelling system. Having been developed since 2015, the system allows the 670SJ to be automatically levelled up on inclines of up to 10°. The machine’s wheels are mounted on hydraulically articulating arms that enable both levelling on site and a reduction in overall height when loaded on a low bed trailer for road transport. The self-levelling 670SJ, with its 20.4m maximum platform height, and 250kg unrestricted platform capacity, will initially be sold in North America. However, JLG states that this new self-levelling technology will be phased into production across a wide range of models and will evolve to meet international compliance standards in the future.

machine incorporates new features that make it easier to transport on the road, and quicker to assemble on site. The MLC150-1 has a maximum capacity of 150.0 tonnes, and it can be rigged with a maximum main lattice boom length of 78.0m. It can also utilise a fixed jib of up to 24.0m, or a luffing jib with a maximum length of 52.0m. Also seen on the Manitowoc stand was the latest POTAIN hydraulic luffing jib tower crane. Maximum capacity for the new MRH 175 is 10.0 tonnes. Maximum jib length is 55.0m on which 1.65 tonnes can be lifted at maximum radius. Out-of-service radius is 10.2m regardless of jib length.

Liebherr

Manitowoc

Manitowoc exhibited its new 150.0 tonne capacity MLC1501 crawler crane in Las Vegas.

Prominent on the large MANITOWOC stand at Conexpo was the company’s latest crawler crane – the American-made MLC1501. Complete with an upgraded cab for increased operator comfort, this lattice boom

maximum lifting height 94.0m, this crane can be rigged with a 7.0m lattice boom extension together with a 10.8 to 19.0m double folding jib (which, as an option, can also be hydraulically adjusted between 0° and 40°). On its big Conexpo stand CATERPILLAR introduced a number of new and improved machines. On the excavator front it showed the new 352 UHD Ultra High Demolition excavator and the new 94.0 tonne Next Generation 395 which is said to offer 10 per cent more production than the 390F it is replacing. The 352 UHD provides 28.0m of vertical height (to the work tool attachment pin) and 15.8m of horizontal reach when working with a 3.7 tonne demolition tool. Also new from Caterpillar are four improved backhoe loader models from its factory in Desford near Leicester. Replacing F2 Series machines, the newcomers are simply designated as 428, 432, 434 and the 444. Powered by Cat Stage V emission compliant engines they gain a redesigned operator control system and enhanced security.

Only four axles are needed on Liebherr’s new 120 tonne capacity LTM1120-4 that carries a 66.0m boom.

The big LIEBHERR launch at Conexpo was its new 120 tonne maximum capacity LTM1120-4. Complete with a 66.0m main telescopic boom this machine is claimed to be the most powerful four-axle crane ever. Versions will be available that achieve maximum axle loads of 12.0, 13.5, 14.5 and 16.5 tonnes. Fitted with Liebherr’s innovative VarioBallast and VarioBase systems to increase operational flexibility, the new LTM1120-4.1 can lift 9.0 tonnes on its fully extended main boom. To achieve its

Case Case revealed that its ‘Project Zeus’ is developing this fully electric 580 EV backhoe loader.

An interesting reveal on the CASE stand was what is claimed to be the construction industry’s first fully electric backhoe loader. Being developed as ‘Project Zeus’, the 580 EV

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excavator and a prototype hybrid wheel loader. Simply designated the DL Hybrid at present, this wheel loader, with both a diesel engine and an electric motor, is being tested as a DL200-5 size machine. An all-new dozer from DRESSTA at Conexpo was the TD-16N designed to improve operator visibility. With an operating weight of 19.1 tonnes, and a power rating of 127.0kW (170hp), this stylish machine features a mid-cab design over a midmounted automatic, dual path hydrostatic drive train.

Bobcat

Amongst new prototype electric machines exhibited by Bobcat was this T76e compact track loader.

(Electric Vehicle) backhoe loader is powered by a 480V, 90 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Case also showed the production version of its new SV340B skid steer loader. BOBCAT is continuing to develop small electric machines and, at Conexpo, it exhibited three prototypes – an E17e mini excavator, an S70e wheeled skid steer loader and a T76e compact tracked loader. Shown alongside these concept machines, new products scheduled for launch in Europe later this year were new more comfortable and quieter RSeries loaders, which feature a new one-piece cab design, and a new LED lighting system.

Doosan

Bell A new departure for Bell Equipment – its in-house designed and produced TC7A rubber tracked hauler.

Doosan showed off its work to develop a hybrid version of its DL200 size of wheeled loader.

New more eco friendly machines exhibited by DOOSAN included the prototype of a DX17Z-5 electric mini

A surprise appearance on the BELL EQUIPMENT stand was a brand new TC7A tracked hauler that the South African company has developed, along with a TC11A, initially for pipe laying applications in North America. Offered with 6.7 litre Cummins engines, these models both feature Rexroth hydraulics, a ROPS and FOPS certified cab and a six-roller track system with compound walking beams that provide equal weight distribution when traversing obstacles.

i For further information on any of the companies mentioned in this article online you can make use of the Construction Plant News digital reader enquiry service by entering the appropriate link into your browser.

Manitou Group The 165E concept battery powered Gehl skid steer loader on the Manitou Group stand at Conexpo.

The MANITOU GROUP showed that it is also developing compact electric loaders. It showed the prototype of a 750kg capacity battery powered R165 wheeled skid steer loader.

MAGNI – WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ040 SNORKEL – WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ041 GENIE – WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ042 JLG – WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ043 MANITOWOC – WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ044 POTAIN – WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ045 LIEBHERR – WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ046

CATERPILLAR – WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ047 CASE – WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ048 BOBCAT – WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ049 MANITOU GROUP – WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ050 DOOSAN – WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ051 DRESSTA – WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ052 BELL EQUIPMENT – WWW.RDR.LINK/CQ053

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