PLANT PLANET September 2020
Red Knight 6: Quality Products & Quality Service
JCB Lead The Hydrogen Revolution
Lighthouse construction industry charity fund mental wellbeing
HS2 project now full steam ahead
SUSTAINABILITY SIMPLICITY SAFETY
LIFT WITH CONFIDENCE
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Our Biggest edition Yet! The September 2020 issue of Plant Planet is our biggest yet! Packed with the latest industry news and insights, this issue touches on a host of interesting topics. From regular contributor David Chuck's reports on ongoing rail projects, to a look at our Cover Company RK6 and their range of Rubble Master Screeners and Crushers, to an insightful opinion piece on how the Covid-19 pandemic has reshaped the quarrying and aggregates sector so far, there's something in here for everyone. We're also pleased to announce the launch of the Plant Planet Magazine App. Allowing our readers to get the latest news in their pocket for free! See the promo video here.
Stay safe,
Copyright Kiwi Media and Promotions Ltd. 2019 all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited except with permission in writing from the company. Note to contributors: articles submitted to the Head of Editing and Design for consideration must be the original work of the author. Where photographs are included that are not the property of the company or contributor, permission to reproduce them must have been received from the owner of the copyright. Any views or opinions expressed within this magazine are not necessarily those of the company. ISSN: 2631-4622 Registered in England No: 09910499
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4 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
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10 Latest News
A round up of the news from the plant machinery industry over the past two months.
26 topical commentary
HS2 Project Now Full Steam Ahead David Chuck reports on the latest from the HS2 Rail Project
40 topical commentary The Hydrogen Revolution: JCB lead the way with 200X Hannah Bounford reflects on the introduction of JCB's 'world first' and how the fuel might change the Construction Industry
6 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
60 topical commentary Plans for the New Normal: The Effects of Covid-19 on Construction OEMS
Hannah Bounford reports on how construction plant manufactures are resuming practices five months after a strict nation-wide Lockdown was announced
68 topical commentary Harbury Railway Cutting Project David Chuck investigates the ongoing construction project in Warwickshire
75 topical commentary
Construction Industry Joins Online Learning Trend Eleanor Baldwin explores the uptake in online construction courses
81 topical commentary John Deere: 7R Series Leaps Ahead
Hannah Bounford reports on the technical advancements in the Tractor Series
Cover story RED KNIGHT 6: 'QUALITY IS WHAT THE CUSTOMER GETS OUT OF OUR PRODUCTS'
OPINION PIECE CHANGING THE FACE OF SAFETY
Written by Iain Ormrod, General Manager at Chepstow Plant International
Company Profile
MIND MATTERS: THE LIGHTHOUSE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY CHARITY OFFERS FREE WELLBEING TRAINING Plant Planet • September 2020 • 7
Contributors
Written by the industry for the industry David chuck @KingstonPR David Chuck has worked in the Construction Plant industry for over 50 years. As well as being a contributor to Plant Planet magazine, David is a social media and website management consultant, and a Partner of Kingston PR.
Paul Donnely Red Knight 6 LtD
Iain Ormrod Chepstow Plant
Richard Dorman
International
Red Knight 6 Ltd
Rachel Lambert Michelle Finnerty
@KingstonPR
Lighthouse Rachel Lambert is a PR consultant and the founder of Kingston PR, a business she started over 28 years ago. A former magazine editor, she is also a freelance writer covering a range of sectors.
Construction Industry Charity
Hannah Bounford Eleanor baldwin @PlantPlanetUK Eleanor Baldwin graduated in English and creative writing from the University of Chichester in 2014, and enjoys putting her writing skills to use as a staff writer for Plant Planet.
8 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
Tom Armstrong Sunward Europe
Steve hadfield Compact loaders uk
@PlantPlanetUK Hannah has worked as the Head of Editing and Design for Plant Planet Magazine for 18 months. She particularly enjoys writing about new advances in construction plant.
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Latest news
Kubota's next generation Of mini excavators are now Setting the standard THE
three new models in Kubota’s recently launched 5 Tonne mini -excavator range now offer operators advanced levels of performance, comfort and safety. Powered by a high power, low emission, Stage V compliant
Kubota engine, the KX0605, U56-5 and U50-5 all offer impressive digging force and arm reach ensuring even the toughest jobs can be completed quickly and efficiently. Innovative high performance features include a load sensing hydraulic system for smoother operation regardless of load size, float function for easy ground finishing, as well as an auto-shift system that offers intuitive control when dozing and turning. The three models all feature newly designed interiors and exteriors, including a larger and quieter cabin, enhanced insulation, improved visibility, as well as a redesigned exterior to give the machines a modern aesthetic look. The design of the new cabins on all three models has been based on operator feedback and offers improved comfort for users of any size. Cabin changes include a slimmer, more ergonomically positioned right meter panel and greater head and foot space, ensuring operators
10 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
Latest news are not only more comfortable during operation, but also more productive on the job. The new cabin also offers superb all-round vision with 20% more glass and there is also the option of a rear view camera. In addition to performance and comfort, three new models also feature a fully opening bonnet and optimum arrangement of internal parts to keep routine service and maintenance quick and simple. The KX060-5 offers a conventional tail swing and is most suitable for heavier attachments due to the offset of the conventional tail swing weight. The U56-5, the largest reduced tail swing machine in the range, is built to have good lifting capacity and the U50-5 is ideal for the hire market and working in small spaces. Standard features on all three machines include a full-colour, high resolution seven inch LCD digital display with jog control for better operator control and operation, bright LED worklight, H-shaped track for greater stability, as well as a high visibility seat belt and alarm. More information on Kubota’s extensive excavator range can be found by visiting www. kubota-eu.com.
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Plant Planet • September 2020 • 11
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To take advantage of this deal or for more information, call 01242 577877 or email sales@airbosstyre.com
www.airbosstyre.com 12 • May 2020 • Plant Planet
Latest news
Doosan Bobcat and Green Machine Form electric partnership DOOSAN
Bobcat North America, a global leader in compact equipment, and Green Machine Equipment, Inc., a manufacturer of renewable power drive systems, announced today a strategic partnership to produce electric/hydraulic Bobcat® compact excavators.
THE NEW 5 TONNE SERIES: 14 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
Latest news Green Machine® will custom retrofit Bobcat excavators with their proprietary battery technology to replace the standard diesel power source and will sell the machines in select markets beginning this year. These electric/hydraulic machines will provide the power and performance equivalent to diesel-powered models, along with considerably lower daily operating costs, zero emissions, reduced noise and minimal maintenance. The electric/hydraulic compact excavators will be beneficial to operators working in urban environments, such as working close to other buildings or in public spaces. “This strategic partnership marks another key milestone in our drive
to bring the latest technologies to our customers and accelerate electrification in our industry,” said Joel Honeyman, vice president of Global Innovation at Doosan Bobcat. Launched in 2010, New Yorkbased Green Machine is a wholly owned subsidiary of alternative energy company Viridi Parente, Inc. “At Green Machine, we are changing the way the world uses energy,” said Jon M. Williams, CEO. “By teaming up with a global leader like Doosan Bobcat, we can further advance our technology and the benefits of electrification through the power and performance for which Bobcat machines are known.
Through this partnership, we will deliver safer, more cost-effective machines that can provide construction support in nearly any project environment, indoors, outdoors, confined spaces and other applications that traditional fossil-fuel-powered equipment cannot support.” Doosan Bobcat is constantly exploring new ways to advance the compact equipment industry with new technologies, services and products. Through its partnership with Green Machine, the company can continue to produce innovative products and solutions to help lead the compact equipment industry forward.
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BUILT FOR WORK. DESIGNED FOR YOU. Introducing the U50-5, the latest addition to our range of Stage V-compliant range of 5-tonne excavators, with class-leading advanced features for enhanced performance, comfort and safety. ■
Low emission performance Powered by new high power, low emission, reliable, and economic Stage V-compliant Kubota engines.
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High versatility Featuring load sensing hydraulics for smoother operation regardless of load to dozer float function for easy ground finishing.
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Ergonomic design New body styling and improved comfort with a larger, quieter cab.
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Intuitive control From auto-shift, high performance hydraulics to a larger full-colour digital display for better operator control and information.
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Outstanding safety Offering superb all-round vision, rear view camera, bright LED work lights, H-shaped track for greater stability, plus high visibility seat belt and alarm.
Contact your local dealer or visit our website to find out why Kubota is the unbeatable choice. www.kubota.co.uk
Latest news
samoter postponed until March 2021 amid covid concerns collaboration with ad-media GmbH, is also rescheduled for the new dates in 2021.
Veronafiere’s two shows for the construction equipment and bitumen and road infrastructure value chains will meet exhibitors and operators next year, from Wednesday 3 to Sunday 7 March 2021. The decision was shared by the steering committee for the two events comprising manufacturers, stakeholders and industry associations alongside Veronafiere Unacea and SITEB after noting the persistent scenario of international uncertainty linked with Covid-19.
“As always, we listen to our customers with the intention of safeguarding the sector,” explained Giovanni Mantovani, CEO of Veronafiere. “Together with all our partners, we identified the beginning of March 2021 as the best time to organise SaMoTer and Asphaltica. This is only a pit stop: the engines are still up and running so that we can join the entire reference community in defining a promotional path in the run-up to next year. An initial physical stage is already scheduled in October. The new 2021 dates will mean that the two events will be the first to inaugurate the calendar of specific trade fairs for the world of construction in Europe. Rescheduling these events will ensure broader representativeness in terms of large international groups and sponsors, thereby intercepting the recovery on the market in the wake of resumption by construction sites, not the least thanks to resources made available by the Recovery Fund.”
The debut at SaMoTer by ICCX Southern Europe, the main prefabricated concrete event for southern Europe created in
“After consulting our membership base through a flash survey,” said Mirco Risi, President of Unacea,
THE
31st edition of SaMoTer and 9th edition of Asphaltica has been postponed to March 2021.
16 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
“we are convinced that market conditions do not exist in 2020 for an event capable of living up to the expectations characterising SaMoTer. We therefore welcome rescheduling the event to March 2021, thereby positioning it in a manner that best exploits the hoped-for growth effects emerging from the expansionary measures announced on European and national scales.” “We agreed with this decision, given the leading role that Asphaltica has always played for all players in the road infrastructure supply chain, stakeholders and the many associate companies that registered for the trade fair again this year,” remarked Michele Turrini, President of the SITEB – Italian Roads and Bitumen Association. “We are convinced that the postponement to March next year will enable us to prepare an even more effective and visible event in international terms and thereby re-launch the entire world of road infrastructures. As ever, the objective is to promote the opportunities for meetings and comparisons between companies, public administrations and institutions that have always been the heart of the event.
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Latest news
The Clancy Group in Fleet Deal.
CLANCY,
one of the largest privately owned construction companies in the UK has concluded a deal with Thwaites via its central England distributor, Shell Plant Sales, to expand its fleet of 3-tonne and 6-tonne power swivel dumpers with an order for 21 machines. Clancy General Manager David Janes said, “Thwaites have always been the dumper of choice for The Clancy Group, the reliability and build quality is second to none”. The new Power Swivel dumpers selected have hydrostatic transmission fitted, ensuring the machines deliver maximum productivity and performance.
18 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
With less maintenance required, on site optimisation is maximised. To protect man and machine on site, the dumpers are fitted with all round visibility cameras in addition to market leading Cantrack solutions, providing real time visibility on plant position and operational data to protect the asset and operator. For further protection, each machine is registered to the CESAR detection deterrent system. Thwaites Distribution Manager Paul Rodwell worked in conjunction with distributor Shell Plant Sales to conclude the sale said, “It was a real pleasure to support this deal, we look forward to seeing even more Thwaites dumpers on site for Clancy over the coming weeks
and months”. Tom Haywood from Shell Plant said, “This is a very prestigious account with whom we developed a great relationship through the sales process and period, as Clancy continued to provide access to essential utilities during the COVID-19 crisis. We are delighted that The Clancy Group chose Thwaites. Mr Janes continued,” Power Swivel dumpers provide our on-site teams with the ideal solution when working alongside trenches, often in tight spaces. The majority of the new 3-tonne and 6-tonne Thwaites dumpers will be heading out to a new AMP 7 pipeline project the company is working on for Thames Water in Cirencester”.
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Shorts Agricultural Services Make ‘Quality’ Purchase of Rubble Master HS3500M Screener From Red Knight 6 Ltd Bracknell based Shorts Agricultural Services, part of the Shorts Group, have recently completed the purchase of a new Rubble Master HS3500M tracked scalping screener from Rubble Master reseller Red Knight 6 Ltd (RK6). The independent family run business that also offers plant hire, waste management and demolition services, completed the purchase after a trial period, and the new HS3500M joins the fleet of screeners, crushers and shredders run by the company. “It’s important for us as a business to focus on purchasing quality, robust and very capable machines, no matter what the application. As a group we are very familiar with the expertise of the Rubble Master team, we currently run an RM
70GO! crusher and when we heard RK6 had taken on the screening line in addition to the crushers we were keen to see what they could do,” said Matthew Campling, Commercial Director, Shorts Agricultural. “Rubble Master have brought all of their expertise and knowledge from their crushing machines to the screening range, a demonstration of the machine told us that. The HS3500M is at another level from other screeners we’ve seen recently, easy to use and manoeuvre, capable of handling bulky materials and limiting our need to directly handle materials,” said Matthew. The HS3500M is part of the scalping screen range from Rubble Master,
capable of processing heavy rock as well as bulky construction or demolition material. The HS3500M has several screen decks available, meaning it’s a machine that is capable of providing the user with a higher return on their investment. “We enjoy a great relationship with the whole team at Shorts Group because they trust the partners we work with as being best in class. The feedback on the HS3500M was exactly what we hoped for, based on the excellence Rubble Master bring to the sector. It’s the right machine for them and will provide a strong ROI for the agricultural business,” said Paul Donnelly, Director at RK6.
HS3500M By Numbers Screenbox
2743 x 1220 mm
Feed Hopper Volume
5m3
Oversize Discharge Belt width
1050mm
Ozersize discharge belt height
3430mm
Midsize and fines discharge belt width
650mm
Midsize And Fines Discharge Belt Height
3145mm
Weight
16,000kgs
Latest news
Caterpillar Celebrate Medium dozer Production Milestone 175,000TH COMMEMORATIVE D6 XE DOZER WITH TWO MEDIUM DOZERS IN TRADITIONAL CAT YELLOW
20 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
IN
1985, Caterpillar expanded its revolutionary elevated sprocket undercarriage concept to its medium track-type tractor (MTTT) line with the launch of the H-Series models. Still unique to this day for the 130 to 350 hp (100 to 250 kW) dozer class, the high drive design conformed to the ground better, improving durability, serviceability and performance compared to low-drive and oval track designs. The Cat® D4H, D5H, D6H and D7H dozer models were the first to feature the high drive design, and in 1987, the D8L
Latest news model was added to the family. Thirty-five years later, Caterpillar celebrated the unrivalled success of the elevated sprocket design in the medium dozer class by producing three commemorative 175,000 units. “One of the original taglines to promote the early high drive tractors was ‘Beyond Known Capabilities,’ because these units set a new standard for efficiency, productivity and ease of operation,” says Wes Holm, chief engineer, Caterpillar medium tractor products. “With our next generation medium dozer line, which includes the new D5, D6 and D7 models, we continue to push these envelopes through adaptation of technology to drive productivity and efficiency to another level.” Three commemorative Cat® tractors built With travel and gathering restrictions resulting from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Caterpillar cancelled in-person celebrations to mark the historic 175,000-unit milestone for its medium dozers. However, three customers took possession of the commemorative units, which feature special decals on the fenders denoting the 175,000unit milestone. The 175,000 image appears inside the cab as well, where it is embroidered on the headrest and printed on a plaque denoting each unit’s limited-edition status. Built in East Peoria, Ill., the first two commemorative units were
Cat D6 XE electric drive dozers, featuring a sleek dark grey and black paint scheme. The third unit, a D6 dozer with 4-speed, fully automatic transmission, is finished in traditional Cat yellow with special black tracks and blade. Long-time Caterpillar customer and multi-unit Cat dozer owner, Goodfellow Bros., a fourth-generation, familyowned contractor based in Wenatchee, Wash., received one of the D6 XE units. Before being put in the dirt in Hawaii, Goodfellow plans to feature the new commemorative dozer in the company’s 100th anniversary celebration, planned for 2021. Holt Cat of San Antonio, Texas, took possession of the second commemorative D6 XE dozer. The Caterpillar-Holt longstanding relationship dates to the company’s origins when Benjamin Holt invented the Caterpillar track-type tractor in 1904. The D6 XE dozer design embodies 116 years of continued innovation since
Holt’s original Caterpillar. The dealership plans to use it to help promote Cat Next Generation Dozers at future customer events. The commemorative D6 dozer was shipped to Canadian dealer, Finning Cat, where it was sold to Midwest Pipelines Inc., based in Spruce Grove, Alberta. The legacy of Cat MTTT ownership can be traced back 39 years to Midwest’s sister company, Pidherney’s Inc. of Alberta, when founder Merv Pidherney purchased his first dozer, a Cat D6D. Today’s combined dozer fleet is nearly 100 strong, and the companies remain family owned and operated, specializing in oilfield, civil and hauling projects. Cat D6 and D6 XE dozers are manufactured exclusively in East Peoria, Ill., and Grenoble, France, along with other models in the medium dozer line. In addition, Caterpillar manufactures Cat medium dozers in Brazil, and Thailand, to meet global market needs.
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175,000TH COMMEMORATIVE CAT DOZER
Plant Planet • September 2020 • 21
Latest news
An Electric Partnership ‘Quietly’ Exciting the Market COMPACT
Loaders based in Chesterfield Derbyshire is the sole UK importer for both the Ecovolve Hi Tip Zero Emission Dumper range and the Sherpa Mini- Loader range, including the Sherpa 100 ECO and Sherpa 100 2 speed, which are all battery powered. These machines make a great pairing for demolition works, especially for indoor projects. Both these brands of machines are used throughout the world and are built to withstand the rigours of demolition work which means they have to be very robust, very reliable and can definitely work in harsher environments. In fact, it is significant that the Ecovolve Hi Tip dumper range was originally designed specifically for the demolition market. In view of this, it is extremely well built, as the images illustrate. As already stated, these machines work very effectively as a pairing to shift spoil and material from internal and congested sites. The Sherpa clears up and loads, while the Ecovolve (depending on the model) carts up to 1500 kgs of material per load.
22 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
Compact Loaders became the UK importer for both brands in 2019. In just a short time, they have supplied both of these machines into a number of hire fleets and to demolition and soft strip contractors throughout the UK. They are great manpower savers over the traditional shovel and barrow method in restricted space and on top of this, both machines have exceptional
battery run times so contractors can carry on working a full day between charges. The Ecovolve has a run time on an overnight charge of 8-10 hours. The Sherpa has a run time of 6-7 hours, however the battery on the Sherpa can be swapped on site for another fully charged unit. This means the end user really can operate for a full day with these machines. Furthermore, both the Ecovolve
Latest news and Sherpa are narrow compact machines with a low closed height so ideal for negotiating corridors and doorways. They are also goods lift friendly. Another very important feature (and sometimes one that can be overlooked) of these versatile machines is the benefits they bring in reducing noise levels, due to them being electric motor driven. They are much quieter than conventional engines which makes them ideal for working in noise sensitive areas such as hospitals, schools, etc. With electric excavators becoming increasingly popular, leading to more manufacturers introducing models, it is easy to see how Ecovolve and Sherpa
make ideal companions.
More information about these machines can be found at www.compactloaders. co.uk
â–
Latest news
Sunward Europe Heavy Industry. NV Have arrived in UK!
Sunward Mini Excavators Represent Value for Money. Built for Reliability! 3 Year Manufacturer Warranty/3,000hrs.
The company are currently looking for dealers UK wide.
The Sunward range of miniexcavators are class leading machines with smooth controls, powerful digging and the latest features like thumb operated proportional auxiliary controls fitted as standard. They have an LCD screen including work history calendar as well as service reminders. Standard with dual auxiliary lines and quick hitch piping they are ready to work with whatever hydraulic attachments you need.
Contact Tom Armstrong at armstrong.tom@sunward.cc or call (+44) 79605 02468
24 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
Don't miss the full launch of Sunward Europe Heavy Industry. NV in the November edition of Plant Planet. SUNWARD EUROPE HEAVY INDUSTRY. NV Nijverheidspark 3, 3580 Beringen, Belgium Tel.: +32(0)11.43.46.66 Mobile : +44(0)7960 502 468
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Topical Commentary • HS2 Project Now Full Steam Ahead
HS2 Project Now full Steam ahead David Chuck reports on the latest from the HS2 rail project.
HS2
Ltd has published aerial images of the launch site which is alongside the M25 in Buckinghamshire. This is the location where the project’s first tunnel boring machines will be deployed early in 2021. Two 2000 tonne TBMs will bore the longest tunnels on the route from London to Birmingham, some 10 miles in length. This work will be carried out by a joint venture comprising Bouygues Construction, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick with its design partners Jacobs and Ingerop. The images depict the excavation of the launch site and the start of the work to build the on site concrete →
26 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
Hs2 Project Now Full Steam Ahead • Topical Commentary
ABOVE: SOUTH PORTAL CONSTRUCTION FEATURING SOIL NAILING EQUIPMENT BELOW LEFT: AERIAL VIEW OF THE SOUTH PORTAL
Images courtesy of David Chuck, Kingston PR
BELOW RIGHT: THE CHILTERN TUNNELS PORTAL READY FOR THE TUNNEL BORING MACHINES
Plant Planet • September 2020 • 27
GLOBAL LEADERS IN WHEEL SAFETY On the road or off the road, critical fastenings are present across a range of industries, in vehicles and machinery alike. The Checkpoint range provides operators with the confidence in identifying wheel and nut defects immediately, making it an invaluable asset to a variety of sectors and businesses. For more details on how you can put safety into motion, contact our team of specialists on 01524 271 200.
Tel: +44 (0)1524 271 200 info@checkpoint-safety.com www.checkpoint-safety.com
Hs2 Project Now Full Steam Ahead • Topical Commentary precast plant which will make in excess of 118,000 tunnel segments. This site – South Portal Chalfont Lane - will be one of the biggest of HS2’s construction sites.
Preparatory work has involved construction of special motorway slip roads Preparatory work has involved the construction of special motorway slip roads connecting this site and the M25 to prevent the necessity for works traffic to use local roads. The excavated material will be used for on-site landscaping.
ABOVE: TREE PLANTING FOR HS2 ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION BELOW: VACUUM EXCAVATION
Around 350 employees are now based on site permanently and this will rise to around 1200 people during peak construction.
Images courtesy of David Chuck, Kingston PR
The twin bore Chiltern tunnels will be the longest and deepest on the HS2 route. There will be separate north and southbound tunnels along with five ventilation shafts. Meanwhile, the Colne Valley Viaduct across the Grand Union Canal and surrounding lakes will be the longest railway viaduct in the UK measuring 3.4km in length. The viaduct has been described as the most significant visible engineering feature of Phase 1 of HS2. The design employs an innovative half-through →
Plant Planet • September 2020 • 29
Topical Commentary • HS2 Project Now Full Steam Ahead deck that maximises soffit height to ground level and uses the superstructure to mitigate against wheel generated noise.
the portal for the tunnel under Long Itchington Woods as well as the access road to transport the TBM into place scheduled early in 2021. This project is a joint venture between Laing O’Rourke and J Murphy Ltd.
The viaduct design will include a bespoke edge protection system Furthermore, the viaduct design will include a bespoke edge protection system providing a transparent noise barrier, a guard against trains impacting wildlife and a safety parapet. In Warwickshire, work is currently ongoing to prepare
Creating new wildlife habitats and tree planting for wildlife mitigation is also still ongoing.
to power the TBM and subsequently involves many road closures in the area while the work is being carried out. Vacuum excavation is being utilised throughout the power cable laying to minimise the risk to adjoining utilities. The actual construction of the Long Itchington Woods tunnel itself is to be undertaken by a joint venture of Balfour Beatty and Vinci. We will continue to report on this and further HS2 progress in future issues
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This part of Warwickshire is a hive of activity as a power supply cable is also being installed into ducting that was laid last year. This is specifically
LE
30 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
Hs2 Project Now Full Steam Ahead • Topical Commentary
ABOVE: SOUTH PORTAL FACE RIGHT: HS2 TRAIN BELOW: PROPOSED DESIGN FOR THE COLNE VALLEY VIADUCT
Images courtesy of David Chuck, Kingston PR
EFT: PROPOSED ROUTE FOR THE COLNE VALLEY VIADUCT
Plant Planet • September 2020 • 31
Black International have developed the Orchid™ range of asset locators. The unique products utilise GPS|GSM technology via the global M2M network, providing reliabillity and precision when locating your most valuable assets.
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We have a client who was experiencing numerous battery powered asset thefts that were effecting operational output and costing them significant dollars. As a response, Armitage Group Ltd deployed Black International’s Orchid™ to successfully locate and recover stolen assets from an offender. On receiving notification of the theft, Armitage’s 24/7 Security Monitoring Division, initiated the covertly installed Orchid™ and located the asset at several locations as the thief moved around the Auckland area. After 48 hours the Orchid™ was reporting its location to be a residential property and after notifying New Zealand Police a search warrant was issued and the assets recovered. Without doubt the covert nature of the Orchid™, the accuracy of the GPS tracking signal and the simplicity of the Black international Website App made Armitage’ task of finding the asset and reporting the asset’s location very easy indeed.
12 • May 2020 • Plant Planet
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Two fifths of the UK pick up tools • Topical Commentary
LockDown DIY: Two fifths of the UK Pick up tools Eleanor Baldwin reflects on the effects of the ongoing pandemic on the construction Industry
WHETHER
it be reworking an old shelf that's been stored in the attic, completely reinventing old garden furniture, or building a new play area for the kids, it seems that the British public have loved taking to DIY to ease lockdown boredom. A reported two fifths of the British public picked up their tools and decided to 'do it themselves'. The pandemic has caused a surge in people trying their hand at their own construction projects. →
THE PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED A SURGE IN PEOPLE TRYING THEIR HAND AT DIY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS Plant Planet • September 2020 • 35
Topical Commentary • two fifths of the uk pick up tools
THE PUBLIC HA SMALLER MAC FO 36 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
AVE BEEN TURNING TO CHINERY SUPPLIERS OR HELP
Two fifths of the UK pick up tools • Topical Commentary With stores such as Homebase reopening earlier than most stores, it seems we all started to feel creative! With the construction industry away, the people started to play. Those who may have never touched a construction tool in their life started to have a go at the art of creating something from scratch or fixing something old.
and much more. That's just for the inside, though, as they offer a vast range of outdoorrelated equipment such as concrete equipment and
Northern Ireland lead the way with 55% of the region Giving Projects a go
Gardening was the most favourable choice of household renovation project, whilst renovating rooms and replacing old floors or tiling also proved popular. 60% of 18-34 year-olds decided to try their hand at DIY, whilst 57% of 35-54-year-olds and 50% of the 55+ age group also joined in. Northern Ireland lead the way for budding DIY lovers, with an impressive 55% of the region giving new projects a go. The North West of England was less keen on trying out construction, with only 31% embarking on a DIY task. Of course, all of this work won't be able to be done by hand, and the public have been turning to smaller machinery for help. Tools and equipment hire specialist www.hirestation.co.uk offers DIY tools such as electric diamond tile cutters, electric dehumidifiers, a range of tools
demolition solutions. Another company offering a wide spectrum of machinery to get your hands on for some at-home construction tasks is Travis Perkins. From floor tile strippers to power flushing machines, high tip dumpers and everything in between; Travis Perkins will likely have the machines you need available for hire. Along with the machine hire, customers will also be provided with some personal protective equipment (PPE). The type of PPE provided varies from machine to machine depending on what is needed, but this is definitely a plus for the more inexperienced DIY-er that may not know what PPE to use. Travis Perkins is a one-stop-shop for those undertaking athome construction related projects. The website has everything you could need for anything from gardening and landscaping to tools for renovating kitchens. However, the home projects didn't go well for everyone. →
Plant Planet • September 2020 • 37
Topical Commentary • two fifths of the uk pick up tools Construction workers are in high demand to fix an abundance of DIY-gonewrong. A back-log of at home renovations and missions gone-wrong means that those
fact, the degree of lockdown disasters became so bad that inspectors were called to 20 incidents of water pollution caused by DIY in Northern Ireland. Environment Minister Edwin Poots stated:
Inspectors were called to 20 incidents of water pollution caused by diy in northern Ireland of us in the construction industry look set to be busy over the coming months. In
'The pollution we've observed is most likely the result of the wastewater associated with painting, decorating, cleaning, plastering or doing something similar, being washed into the
wrong drain and straight into the nearest river,' It seems best, then, that the hard-stuff is left to the professionals. If those outside of the industry don't want to risk paying out more money in the long wrong, then it might be wise to leave it to those who have trained in the field are the best ones for the task.
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COMPANIES SUCH AS HIRE STATION AND TRAVIS PERKINS HAVE BEEN SUPPLYING EQUIPMENT
38 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
Topical Commentary • the Hydrogen Revolution
The Hydrogen Revolution: JCB Lead the way with 220x Hannah Bounford reflects on the introduction of JCB's 'world first' and how the fuel might change the Construction Industry 40 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
The Hydrogen Revolution • Topical Commentary
THE
UK is looking to decarbonise. Time is ticking on the 2050 target of zero greenhouse gas emissions and the construction plant sector is rising to the challenge. Over recent years, the industry has seen vast advancements in green energy sources powering construction plant machinery. Despite the
setbacks caused by a global pandemic, 2020 sees those improvements continue. In July, JCB announced the development of what they claim to be the construction industry’s first ever hydrogen powered excavator. The 20 tonne 220X excavator is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. This means that the prototype machine is powered
by reacting hydrogen oxygen in a fuel cell to create energy needed to run electric motors. As a result, the excavator’s only exhaust emission is water. With the machine reportedly having undergone over 12 months of rigorous testing at JCB’s quarry proving grounds, the company is hopeful →
The machine has undergone over 12 months of testing at JCB's quarry proving grounds
THE PROTOTYPE 20-TONNE JCB 220X EXCAVATOR POWERED BY A HYDROGEN FUEL CELL
Plant Planet • September 2020 • 41
Topical Commentary • the Hydrogen Revolution for the opportunities that hydrogen power will provide. Lord Bamford, JCB’s chairman, commented:
Besides JCB, 2020 has seen manufacturer Hyundai Construction Equipment team up with Hyundai Motor Group and Hyundai Mobis to develop hydrogen powered construction equipment. In April the companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining that Hyundai Motor Group and Hyundai Mobis will design and manufacture hydrogen fuel cell systems, while Hyundai construction Equipment will design, manufacture and evaluate the performance of excavators and forklifts. Development of the equipment will start this year, with mass production set for 2023.
"The development of the first hydrogen fuelled excavator is very exciting as we strive towards a zero carbon world" “The development of the first hydrogen fuelled excavator is very exciting as we strive towards a zero carbon world. In the coming months, JCB will continue to develop and refine this technology with advanced testing of our prototype machine and we will continue to be at the forefront of technologies designed to build a zero carbon future”
The development of hydrogen powered machinery in the construction plant sector is an important step towards achieving net zero carbon goals in the UK. In recent years lithium ion battery powered machinery, such as the JCB E-Tec Range, has been successfully developed within the industry and continues to aid strides made towards a zero carbon future. However, lithium-ion battery technology faces challenges when expanding power supply, meaning it is best suited to smaller machinery such as mini excavators and telehandlers on the lower end of the size scale. On the other hand, hydrogen fuel cells have a wider scope for expansion, allowing the technology to be used to power larger machinery.
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LORD BAMFORD AND HIS SON JO PICTURED WITH THE PROTOTYPE 20-TONNE JCB 220X EXCAVATOR POWERED BY A HYDROGEN FUEL CELL
42 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
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Cover story • Red Knight 6
44 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
Red Knight 6 • Cover Story
Red Knight 6: 'Quality is what the customer Gets out of our products' Plant Planet catch up with director and founder Paul Donnelly
QUALITY
is an overused term in the world we live today, whether it’s a term used in advertising to highlight the supposed brilliance of a product or service or loosely banded around to describe things in everyday life. But for one Surrey based company it is the cornerstone of their business. “It’s too easy these days to just tell people you offer a quality machine or service,” said Paul Donnelly, director and founder of Red Knight 6 Ltd (RK6), resellers of recycling equipment to the quarrying, demolition and waste recycling industries. “You have to be able to back it up, to demonstrate it in everything you do. It’s a word we live by.”
Paul founded RK6 just over 6 years ago because he saw an opportunity to do things differently. “Having been in this industry for over 25 years, working all over the world for different organisations, I’ve seen the same thing over and over. The time was right to really focus on making sure we were working with the best products on the market and ensuring customers got the right machine to meet their needs and follow that up with outstanding service,” Paul continued. Since starting the business from a spare room in his house the company has gone from strength to strength on the back of this approach. Today they represent some of the biggest names in the industry; Austrian based Rubble Master crushers and screeners, Komplet Recycling Systems →
Plant Planet • September 2020 • 45
Cover story • Red Knight 6
RK6 started working with rubble master impact crushers four Years ago
from Italy and market leading Chieftain Trailers. RK6 started working with Rubble Master impact crushers about 4 years ago, at a time when very few impactors were in the UK market. Today impact crushers make up about 20% of the UK crushing market. “It’s not bad from a standing start and it’s down to two things. Firstly, Rubble Master bring excellence into all of their machines, from design to build and the quality of the end material is second to none. Demonstrating to a potential customer the level of control they can have in that material with an impact crusher is key. The second is the approach we take with customers, we are passionate about finding the
46 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
right machine for them and following that up with strong after sales performance. Quality product and quality service.” This success saw RK6 awarded the distribution rights for Rubble Master’s screening range at the start of 2020 and the company has already enjoyed success, based on the quality of the Rubble Master machines. Of the other partners RK6 works with, Komplet Recycling Systems manufacture compact crushing and screening machines, designed to fit into the tightest of sites, having originally been developed to clear rubble from narrow streets after a severe 1997 earthquake. They now ship their products all over →
The graphic overleaf shows the specs for Rubble Master's crusher Range distributed by RK6
Red Knight 6 • Cover Story
Model
Output (Material Dependent)
Feed material size
Inlet Opening (MM)
Weight (KG)
RM60
Up to 80tph
Edge length max 500mm
640 x 500
12000
RM 70GO!
Up to 150TPH
Edge length max. 600MM
760 x 600
19500
RM90GO!
Up To 200TPH
Edge length max. 650MM
860 x 650
23600
RM 100GO!
Up to 250TPH
Edge Length Max. 750mm
950 x 700
29000
RM 120Go!
Up to 350 TPH
Edge Length Max. 850mm
1160 x 820
35120
Plant Planet • September 2020 • 47
Cover story • Red Knight 6 the world and RK6 are the appointed dealers for the UK and Ireland. Chieftain Trailers have long been the benchmark for the trailer industry, manufacturing robust commercial and agricultural trailers, as well as a range of road ready fuel
need to trust the sales team are the product experts, able to set up and run a full demonstration of all products in our portfolio, how else can we make the right recommendation. They need to trust our service team will keep their machines running and be there for them if anything goes wrong. It has to be an outstanding end to end offering,” continued Paul.
'Our service teams will keep their machines running and be there for them if anything goes wrong' bowsers, all utilising higher strength steel than standard and are shot blasted for a longer lasting finish against corrosion. However, Paul is quick to point out it is not just about the excellence of the partners. “That gets you so far, but customers need to trust us and the offering we bring. They
48 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
It is an approach that so far has worked well for RK6, in an increasingly regulated market the output from these machines has to enable customers to generate a return on their investment over the lifetime of the product. “I’m not interested in making RK6 into some vast entity, I want us to be the right
company for our customers. Our newest partner CMB International have years of experience in producing static units, but recently developed a trailer mounted crusher that can be towed by a 4x4. It is a continuation of meeting the needs of our customers, no matter what their application or the size of site they are working on. I recently heard a quote: ‘Quality in a product is not what you put into it. It is what the customer gets out of it’ and that is the way the team at RK6 think,” finished Paul.
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The graphic overleaf shows the specs for Rubble Master's scalping screens distributed by RK6
Red Knight 6 • Cover Story
Model
Screenbox screen surface (MM)
Feed Hopper volume (M3)
Oversize material discharge belt width (MM)
Standard Weight (KG)
RM HS3500M
2743 x 1220
3.84
1050
17,000
RM HS5000M
3660 x 1430
6
1300
24,000
RM HS7500M
4880 x 1525
8.7
1600
35,000
RM Hs11000M
6100 x 1830
8.7
1600
43,000
Plant Planet • September 2020 • 49
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ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
Changing the face of safety • opinion piece
Changing the face Of safety By Iain Ormrod, general manager at Chepstow Plant International (CPI).
CORONAVIRUS has disrupted businesses across the globe, and with no standard approach for adapting to a Covid-19 world, everyone is working hard to navigate their way through it.
The quarrying and aggregates sector has experienced its own challenges. Many of the sector’s businesses link their success to construction, and with construction sites temporarily shut down, there’s an obvious
connection to the downturn our sector faces.
whether they were considered essential.
Thankfully, construction and quarrying is cyclical, with seasonal trends all year, every year. While it’s inevitable this year’s trough will be lower than normal, HS2 and other upcoming projects could potentially reverse the industry’s declining output to pre-Covid levels.
Heavy investment into health and safety has helped us adapt more quickly than other businesses to the crisis – and our ethos of striving towards a zerorisk environment has helped us remain buoyant. Covid-19 is an example of why health and safety should remain high on the agenda for businesses – ensuring we protect ourselves from the unexpected. However, this needs to go way beyond just providing PPE on site. →
Meanwhile, some sites – including power stations and steel works - have remained stable, depending on locality or
Plant Planet • September 2020 • 51
Opinion piece • changing the face of safety In recent years, CPI introduced washable seat covers into vehicles, implemented regular cab cleaning, and added HEPA filters into vehicles as standard. We’re one of the only companies in the UK and Europe to introduce haul assist technology, which acts as track-and-trace software, enabling us to improve safety for employees. Businesses need to ask some searching questions and change tact if they’re to continue operating sites safely. Historically, we’d encourage
employees to take breaks, socialise and not spend days in isolation. We’d invest time and resources into building teams that work closely together and move towards common objectives – with employees comfortable reporting issues and near-misses. However, now we’re following isolation protocols, that seems like a double-edged sword. There’s no doubt the influence of Covid-19 in the workplace has potential to let other areas slip – there’s a risk of safety worsening as time goes on.
Businesses need to ask some searching questions and change tact if they're to continue operating safely
52 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
Consequently, we’ve decided not to focus on ‘making things safer’, but instead to ‘change the face of safety’. What does this mean? Put simply, for any business to succeed right now, they must focus on key drivers and incorporate Covid-19 protocols into day-to-day operations. Those focussing on Covid-19 and rectifying issues protocols cause will not only lose sight of other potential risks, but also revenue, profit, and areas which safeguard the company’s future. It’s a challenge to adopt this approach, but it presents an opportunity to focus on running a successful business in testing times.
Changing the face of safety • opinion piece To ensure this approach is sustainable, our Covid-19 measures are memorable and easily-enforced. Hand-washing, operator isolation and even quarantine will eventually become the norm, and businesses which adapt quickest can maintain focus on the task at hand. As a sector, we can’t fight Covid-19, but we can learn to live and work alongside it. If businesses can find a way to do both successfully, it could be the difference between navigating through the pandemic, and being engulfed by it.
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Company profile • Lighthouse construction industry charity
54 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
Lighthouse construction industry Charity • company profile
Mind Matters: The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity offers free wellbeing training Plant Planet finds out more about the £20,000 worth of free mental health and wellbeing training being delivered to the industry
AS
a direct result of the wellbeing issues presented to their 24/7 Construction Industry Helpline, the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity has announced that they are delivering £20,000 of free mental health and wellbeing training to the industry for the remainder of 2020.
One of the key findings of the charity’s recently published 2019 Impact Report was that 62% of emergency financial grants were to pay for daily living costs, paying bills and clearing rent arrears and debt. Financial wellbeing is one of the key factors affecting mental health and the introduction of ‘bang on budget’ financial management sessions, aim to directly address these issues. →
Plant Planet • September 2020 • 55
Company profile • Lighthouse construction industry charity The fallout of Covid-19 has also seen an increasing number of redundancies across the industry and the charity has augmented its wellbeing programme to include two sessions aimed at improving employability with ‘At the Interview’ and a ‘CV Workshop’.
contribute to personal career and professional development.” The charity is also offering it’s Company Supporters priority access to the MHFA England half day Mental Health Awareness course and two day Mental Health First Aider courses. Bill Hill added, “Offering these courses free of charge removes the final barrier for many smaller construction organisations to access these valuable and much needed training courses. Our focus is to continually develop and expand our pro-active wellbeing education and training programme, alongside the immediate reactive support provided by our 24/7 Construction Industry Helpline and accompanying app. Thanks to the generosity of our industry’s support, we can make our charitable services accessible to everyone so that we can achieve our mission in ensuring that no worker or their family are alone in a crisis.”
The charity has augmented its wellbeing programme to include two sessions aimed at improving employability Bill Hill, CEO of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity said, "A crucial element of our strategy is to pro-actively support the industry’s mental wellbeing and ensure the widespread availability of construction focussed training programmes. These range from hour long interactive wellbeing sessions through to the full two day MHFA England approved Mental Health First Aider course. This will ensure that companies have easy access to a robust wellbeing strategy to support every level of their organisation from the boots on the ground workforce through to senior management. We are a CITB approved training organisation (ATO) which means that our courses are delivered to a defined and industry-agreed training standard and most are CPD accredited ensuring they
56 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
Free Wellbeing Sessions Available: • Work, life balance – what is good ‘work life balance’ and how to achieve it. • Coping with stress – causes and coping mechanisms. →
Lighthouse construction industry Charity • company profile
Plant Planet • September 2020 • 57
Company profile • Lighthouse construction industry charity • Mindfulness – what is mindfulness and how can you implement it
• Two Day Mental Health First Aider
• Resilience – building resilience and keeping it growing.
The benefits of Mental Health and Wellbeing Training are wide ranging and include the following:
• Meditation – an introduction to meditation from a construction professional
• Build employees’ confidence to have open conversations and break the stigma
• Bang on Budget – looking after your finances, budgeting and debt management
• Encourage people to access support early, for a faster recovery
• CV Workshop – Showcasing your attributes and getting an interview
• Empower those with a long term mental health issue or disability to thrive in work
• At the Interview – Tips and skills to shine on the day
• Promote a mentally healthy environment, stopping preventable issues and allowing people to thrive and become more productive
Free MHFA England approved Mental Health Training for Company Supporters: • Half Day Mental Health Awareness
58 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
• Embed a long term positive culture across the whole organisation, so that employees recognise their
mental and physical health are supported as equal parts of the whole person Find out more and register for the courses today at: https://www.lighthouseclub. org/mental-health-first-aidtraining/ If you or someone you know is struggling with poor mental health, please contact the 27/4 Construction Industry Helpline on 0345 605 1956 in the UK and 0800 939 122 Alternatively, you can download the Construction Industry Helpline App available on Apple and Android devices.
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Topical Commentary • Plans for the 'New Normal'
Plans for the 'New
The effects of covid-19 on const 60 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
Plans for the 'New Normal' • Topical Commentary
Normal':
truction OEMS Plant Planet • September 2020 • 61
Topical Commentary • Plans for the 'New Normal' Hannah Bounford reports on how construction plant manufactures are resuming practices five months after a strict nation-wide Lockdown was announced
IN
March 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the UK would enter into a strict lockdown to prevent the further spread of Covid-19. Almost immediately, the construction industry saw companies halt business as the nation navigated the regulations that would affect their practices. Now, five months later, many have resumed operations, both partially and fully, as the UK aims to rebuild the economy. However, Covid-19 remains an overarching concern for construction plant manufacturers and supply chains globally as the sector attempts to regain normality.
and a workforce of over 42,000 people. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) operating in the UK were not immune to the effects. JCB reduced production levels within their factories owing to shortages from Chinese suppliers. Meanwhile, Hitachi Construction Equipment (UK) Ltd announced that, while servicing and breakdown support for existing customers would continue, "walk in" trade within their depots would be postponed until further notice. OEMs strived to ensure that as many of their staff could continue working - either in the workplace with safety precautions in place or otherwise from home. However, it was inevitable that some of the workforce would see a reduction in hours or the possibility of being placed on furlough would arise. A direct result of JCB's supply chain issues was the suspension of production in the UK from 25th March until 13th May when the company announced a partial restarting of operations at 5 of its UK factories. →
Oems have strived to ensure that as many staff as possible could continue working safely The implementation of a strict lockdown was concerning for the construction sector, with projects quickly shutting down and many in the workforce unable the work. The UK Construction Machinery sector consists of some 1500 companies in the supply chain
62 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
Plans for the 'New Normal' • Topical Commentary
SHORTAGES FROM CHINESE SUPPLIERS HAVE REDUCED THE PRODUCTION LEVELS IN UK FACTORIES Plant Planet • September 2020 • 63
Topical Commentary • Plans for the 'New Normal' These factory closures undoubtedly played a part in the sales of construction equipment to fall by 40% in the first five months of the year. In April and May, sales were reportedly down by over 50% when compared to sales recorded in the same months of 2019.
2020. Further, the company reported that factory closures in China have cost the industry 6% of its production. This being said, the losses are felt most in the UK, Italy, France and Germany. Despite the 50% loss in sales over April and May, sales figures in the latter month were reportedly less severe. It is too early for the industry to draw conclusions from this research; however, the hope for many is that the UK industry's low point in sales due to Covid-19 was during April. Perhaps the industry will see a surge in machinery sales
Sales of construction equipment in the uk fell by 40% in the first 5 months of 2020 The UK is not alone in this loss. The forecasting company Off-Highway Research reported that the global construction equipment industry had seen a loss of 43, 000 machines in
THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS GEARING UP FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE HS2 PROJECT. PICTURED: PROPOSAL FOR COLNE VALLEY VIADUCT
64 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
as the UK eases out of national lockdown measures. Further hope for the industry comes from construction expected to be at the centre of the country's economic recovery. The Prime Minister's 'Build, Build, Build' speech, given at the end of June this year, placed emphasis on the importance of the construction sector over the coming months. He stated: "This is a government that is wholly committed not just to defeating coronavirus but to using this crisis finally to tackle this country's great unresolved challenges of the last three decades: to build the homes, to fix the NHS, to solve social care, to tackle the skills crisis, to mend the indefensible gap →
Plans for the 'New Normal' • Topical Commentary THE PRIME MINISTER PLACED EMPHASIS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR IN HIS 'BUILD, BUILD, BUILD' SPEECH
Plant Planet • September 2020 • 65
Topical Commentary • Plans for the 'New Normal' in opportunity and productivity and connectivity between the regions of the UK, to unite and level up, and to that end we will build, build, build." The Construction Industry
The construction industry is certainly gearing up to build certainly is gearing up to build. At present, much focus is being placed on the advancement of the HS2 Project (see the article by David Chuck on Page 25). Further to this, the construction sector has been allocated £100m for 29 road network projects, including bridge repairs in Sandwell and improving the A15 in the Humber region. And this alongside £900m for "shovel ready" local projects in England this year and in 2021. Hopefully, these funds will see an upturn in business across the construction sector, including sales for OEMs. Of course, Covid 19 is still an ongoing issue. The UK has recently seen local lockdown measures being put in place with towns, cities and regions such as Manchester, Aberdeen and West Yorkshire, pausing the easing of lockdown measures. Only time will tell the effects this will have on the construction sector. Plant Planet will continue to update readers as new information is released.
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66 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
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Topical Commentary • Harbury railway cutting project
Harbury Railway Cutting project 68 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
Harbury Railway Cutting Project • Topical Commentary David Chuck investigates the ongoing rail construction project in Warwickshire
MAJOR
works to stabilise a large railway cutting has been ongoing in the village of Harbury in Warwickshire since December 2019 by J Murphy & Sons Ltd. David Chuck explains more. This cutting facilitates the main railway line between Birmingham and London. It was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1852 and at the time, it was the largest hand dug cutting in the world at 34 metres in depth. It was then part of the Great Western Railway. Originally it was planned to construct a longer tunnel through this location. However, due to the geological issues with the ground (which is Jurassic Blue Lias) it was left as a predominantly open cut with only a small section of tunnel being constructed, this dividing the cutting into an East and West section.
ABOVE: INITIAL VEGETATION CLEARING WORKS BELOW: DRONE IMAGE OF THE CONTRACT
Images courtesy of David Chuck, Kingston PR
Here we focus on Phase 2 of the works – Phase 1 (the West Section) was completed following a major landslip in January 2015 which closed the railway until March 2015. Despite 24/7 working, the vast scale of the works was not fully completed until September 2016. Phase 2, a £9m scheme, is well underway to stabilise the eastern cutting and prevent future landslips. →
Plant Planet • September 2020 • 69
Topical Commentary • Harbury railway cutting project
ABOVE: BAUER BG30 PILING RIG ON SITE LEFT: EXCAVATORS PASSING EARTH UP THE CUTTING BELOW: SOIL NAILS BEING INSTALLED ABOVE THE TUNNEL ENTRANCE RIGHT: HARBURY CUTTING SHOWING TUNNEL ENTRANCE
70 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
Harbury Railway Cutting Project • Topical Commentary Brief Project Overview • The scheme comprises 3 main sections. • Installation of 660 soil nails around the tunnel portal to a depth of 6 metres. • To regrade this section of the cutting, which is 360 metres long, and involves the removal of over 100,000 tonnes of spoil. • Installation of a contiguous pile wall along a section of the crest line to retain the access road to a local business park.
Contiguous Pile Wall
The initial design for the pile wall was very onerous and posed many challenges but as the design progressed, they engaged with sister company Murphy Ground Engineering who have a wealth of knowledge in the design and installation of piles. With their input at the early stages, they were able to optimise the design and produce an efficient
solution consisting of 149 piles, 750mm in diameter to a depth of 10 and 12 metres. With the permanent design well in-hand, the next challenge was the installation and temporary works requirement. To install the piles required a large bore rotary piling rig. A Bauer BG30 was chosen weighing 110 tonnes and this needed to be placed along the crest line of the cutting. Working together again with Murphy Ground Engineering, a working platform was designed for the piling rig, taking →
One of the biggest challenges was producing a practical design for the guide beam that would not hinder the piling process
Images courtesy of David Chuck, Kingston PR
To retain the access road to the local business park, a contiguous pile wall was
developed which allowed J Murphy to retain the existing road, while at the same time being able to reduce the crest line and slope angle of the cutting.
Plant Planet • September 2020 • 71
Topical Commentary • Harbury railway cutting project into consideration the geological make-up of the cutting and the working limits of the rig. The piles were to be installed at different levels throughout the length of the wall due to the crest line and slope of the cutting.
Innovation Due to the spacing between the piles, a temporary concrete guide wall was required to maintain verticality during installation. Traditionally this guide beam would be removed on completion of the piles making way for the construction of the pile cap.
72 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
Putting their heads together again with Murphy Ground Engineering, they explored the possibility of constructing a permanent guide beam that would become part of the final pile cap - something which had not been done before. This was achieved and has had sizeable benefits in waste reduction from site, less concrete required and reduced time scale for the piling operation. Help in designing the guide beam was also provided by another sister company, Murphy Pipelines. One of the biggest challenges was producing a practical design for
the guide beam that would not hinder the piling process, and to also ensure that the retaining wall would have a 120-year design life. At present the installation of the contiguous pile wall is ongoing, as is the earthworks to regrade the cutting. This contract involving J Murphy is a great example of various divisions of a company working together as one, pooling their experience and specialisms to successfully deliver a project.
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Images courtesy of David Chuck, Kingston PR
Harbury Railway Cutting Project • Topical Commentary
ABOVE: PILE INSTALLATION PROCESS BELOW: HARBURY CUTTING SAY THANK YOU TO NHS
Plant Planet • September 2020 • 73
Construction Industry Joins Online Learning • Topical Commentary
Construction industry joins Online learning trend Eleanor Baldwin explores the uptake in online construction courses during lockdown
WITH
the
pandemic causing lockdown and closure of multiple construction sites, the industry had to adapt to another way of working. For many, this meant turning to online courses to better their skills and be productive during the pandemic.
Many of those who may never have considered a career in construction also turned to online courses, hoping for a chance to make a start in the trade. Research has shown that not only does onlinelearning take less time →
Online courses have allowed many to better their skills and remain productive during the pandemic Plant Planet • September 2020 • 75
Topical Commentary• construction Industry Joins Online Learning than face-to-face learning, but it also increases likelihood of information retention. It is not surprising, then, that learning from home has proved so popular.
The wmca have collaborated with rmf construction training academy In the West Midlands, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) collaborated with RMF Construction Training Academy to produce a broad spectrum of online courses hosted by trained tutors. These courses formed part of a pilot scheme for the Construction Gateway, which offers unemployed individuals qualifications needed to be ready for work. Even more appealing, the scheme guarantees participants a job interview upon completing the course. Participants of the course can look forward to learning about health and safety as well as undertaking training in plant machinery. Ultimately, learners will result in being rewarded qualifications such as a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card, and become equipped to start work in the industry. Similarly, Plantforce Rentals offer an online-learning scheme that has been hugely successful. →
76 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
Construction Industry Joins Online Learning • Topical Commentary
Plant Planet • September 2020 • 77
Topical Commentary• construction Industry Joins Online Learning Online learning means that users are not under pressure to perform at the same pace as other learners, as they may be in a classroom setting. Courses range from GPS/GNSS machine control/guidance
collaborating. The courses launched on May 19th of this year, and by the end of May over 275 operators had already enrolled. Feedback has shown that operators are not the online ones wishing to benefit from the scheme, with engineers and site managers also signing up to improve their knowledge.
Many businesses in the sector are offering online courses to fuel efficiency dynamics, and make use of YouTube tutorials and practical training at Weston College CC centre in Weston Super Mare, with whom Plantforce Rentals are
78 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
RICs.co.uk offers certifications in subjects such as quantity surveying and construction project management. Fees for these courses are more
expensive, with costs at around £945 (+ VAT). However, these certifications take longer to complete, lasting around six months. If long courses aren't for you, Highspeedtraining. co.uk offers courses completable within one day. For example, learners can complete Health and Safety Level 1, 2 or 3 within a day, or complete noise awareness training in 1-2 hours. These shorter courses start from as little as £15, and are a great way to add some knowledge to your CV whilst isolating during the pandemic. Evidently, the industry has demonstrated its adaptability.
Construction Industry Joins Online Learning • Topical Commentary Its strength at keeping up with the times and collaborating to cope with the current circumstances. This new wave of popularity in online learning looks set to pave the way for a new generation of construction workers to gain knowledge on the industry. Learners are not constricted to time-restraints in the same way that they would be in a classroom setting, and don't have the added pressure of keeping up with others in the class. With such an easy way to gain skills, online-learning will likely stand the test of time.
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RIGHT & BELOW: FILMING FOR WMCA'S ONLINE COURSES LEFT: PLANTFORCE'S PLANT MACHINERY SIMULATOR
Plant Planet • September 2020 • 79
7R Series Leaps Ahead • Topical Commentary
John Deere: 7R Series Leaps ahead Hannah Bounford reports on the technical advancements in the Tractor Series Plant Planet • September 2020 • 81
Topical Commentary • 7R Series Leaps Ahead
JUST
eight months after launching its new generation 7R Series tractors at Agritechnica 2019, John Deere has announced another significant update to the range. The new flagship 7R 350 model offers an ideal power to weight ratio to deliver unmatched acceleration and transport efficiency.
The 7r tractor models have received a major upgrade The 7R Series models introduced in Hanover last November received a major upgrade with a brand new luxury cab, the CommandPRO joystick, a top-quality seat with massage function, DAB+ touch screen radio with Apple CarPlay compatibility and a 6.1 speaker system, enhanced Precision Ag technology features and much more. Featuring the stepless AutoPower transmission as standard, the new top of the range 7R 350 tractor completes the 7R Series and can be ordered now from John Deere’s European dealer network. Developing up to 388hp with Intelligent Power Management (IPM) and with a minimum shipping weight of only 11.4 tonnes, this latest model boasts an impressive power to weight ratio of just 29kg/hp. At the same time, on all 7R Series tractors equipped with a 40kph transmission and front axle brakes, payload has been increased
82 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
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Plant Planet • July 2020 • 83
POA
Topical Commentary • 7R Series Leaps Ahead by two tonnes to match the maximum permissible weight of 18 tonnes. More flotation is also offered with the new availability of IF650/60R34 front tyres and up to IF900/60R42 rear tyres. First-class steering capability is provided by the enhanced ActiveCommand Steering 2. This is an electronic system that uses a gyroscope to sense any tractor yaw and automatically compensates drift to stay perfectly on track. Operators are now able to adopt various settings in the CommandCentre display to match personal preferences.
proven and popular automatic reduction to 3.1 lock-to-lock steering remains available to allow quick and convenient headland manoeuvres. John Deere has also expanded its digital offering. Complementary to the established Wireless Data Transfer between the tractor’s CommandCentre display and the remote computerised Operations Centre, the latest MyOperations app can now serve as a digital field record. Using the app, operators can document any task and know that the data will be safely stored in their personal Operations Centre account. Of particular interest to contractors, the newly enhanced functionality of the MyJohnDeere.com Operations Centre now allows ISOXML boundary and documentation data to be imported from other displays and portals. This enables seamless
The myjohndeere.com has been enhanced with new functions Variable Ratio Steering can be turned on and off, steering sensitivity can be adjusted and steering wheel resistance can be tuned, all individually. The field
data transfer and collaboration within mixed fleets and with different customers. Lower costs per hour are also guaranteed with more favourable warranty terms, which are being introduced based on the proven reliability of these tractors in recent years. The standard factory warranty has doubled to two years or 2000 hours, the same as on John Deere 8R and 9R Series tractors. In addition, the optional PowerGard Protection/Plus warranty extension terms are now even more cost-effective, with terms reaching up to eight years or 8000 hours. John Deere Connected Support also continues to provide major customer benefits, with a range of remote tools allowing dealer specialists to proactively support operators in getting the best from their machines. Expert Alerts in particular have proved to be key in reducing potential downtime to the absolute minimum.
HORSEPOWER
Engine
Model
Rated Power
Max. w/o IPM Field
Max. w IPM Transport/ PTO
Type
Cylinders/ Displacements
7R 250
250
275
290
PSS
6/6.8l
7R 270
270
297
305
PSS
6/6.8l
7R 290
290
319
332
PVS
6/9.0l
7R 310
310
341
352
PVS
6/9.0l
7R 330
330
363
373
PVS
6/9.0l
7R 350
350
385
338
PVS
6/9.0l
84 • September 2020 • Plant Planet
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