KOMATSU FEEDBACK

Regarding his continuing use of compact 14-tonne class excavators, Ciaran said, “Since getting the first Komatsu PC138US-11 reduced swing radius excavator, I have been really impressed by them. The first machine now has 3900 hours and has been almost completely trouble free, with the exception of a problem with the Adblue system, which was resolved without delay by McHale Plant Sales.

“I am impressed by how the machine hasn’t shown any signs of wear. All pins and bushes are like new, proved by the fact that there is absolutely no play in the dipper arm. The engine has been 100% reliable and the hydraulics are still as powerful as day one.

“The only areas I could see room for improvement are in the 360-degree camera system, which may be very handy, but still has poor image quality. A change from halogen lights to LEDs would also be welcome. Another negative is that replacement parts for the machine are expensive. Despite this, I continue to be impressed by the machine.”

Ciaran recalled, “I got a lot of smaller projects, including excavation and groundworks for one-off houses and farm building projects. Even though these types of works are still important to us, it is difficult to expand while concentrating on smaller projects alone. Consequently, to grow the business further, I decided the time was right to take on larger projects. Even though this can be challenging, it made sense to capitalise on the level of work going on at local level.”

Ciaran invested in a second Komatsu PC138US-11 model and, for more intense bulk excavation and deep drainage work, in 2021 he acquired a used Hitachi 210-6 excavator. With a workforce of six, he remains very much a hands-on operator, which he sees as the key to delivering on the commitments provided to his clients.

He continued, “We may still be a relatively small team, but can cope well with the demands of our current projects. The labour shortage facing the industry is a major challenge. It is very difficult to get experienced operators and skilled ground workers. Based on the type of projects we are currently engaged in, where a level of flexibility is required from all involved, me being on the ground personally is crucial.”

Major Project

With an economic mix of new and used machines, Ciaran’s plan to grow the business by taking on larger projects has worked, to the point that the team was awarded a major long-term project. The firm secured the site clearance, bulk excavation and complete groundworks package for a large residential development for BHA Construction, together with the construction of the house bases to sub-floor level.

Located on an elevated site on the edge of the seaside town of Tramore in County Waterford, the site affords commanding views of this picturesque location. The site’s sloping nature required the formation of terraced levels for the new houses. Comprising 91 units, the development incorporates a mix of house types, including an apartment block and a crèche. In addition to constructing site roads and completing all groundworks, the scope of works included upgrading the adjoining public road, as well as enhancements to a nearby roundabout. With approximately 18 months of work ahead of the team on this project, the search was on for an excavator to undertake the

“THEHYUNDAIHAD ANEWUNDERCARRIAGE FITTEDANDWASFULLY SERVICEDBYWHELAN BEFOREDELIVERY” heavier-duty tasks on site. This revolved around finding a suitable way to deal with the layer of rock running close to the surface throughout the site, the density of which significantly increased with depth.

Breaker Excavator

Despite the key roles played by the Hitachi 210-6 and the pair of reduced tailswing Komatsu PC138US-11s on Ciaran’s modest fleet, one of the smaller excavators would need to be replaced with something offering far more grunt, able to wield a decent-sized hydraulic hammer.

Ciaran continued, “I needed to go up a size class with one of the machines to best cope with this latest long-term project, so I went to the market to look at the available options.” His first choice would have been a PC210 excavator in good condition, then source a hydraulic hammer for it. Even though some high-spec used Komatsu excavators were available, they came at a price.

Dealer Whelan Plant Sales approached the situation from a different perspective, offering Ciaran a new Daemo Alicon B210 hydraulic breaker, together with a refurbished 2017-built Hyundai HX220 excavator as host.

Ciaran said, “For breakers that are not overly expensive, Daemo give great performance and reliability over the long term. Which meant the combination being offered by Whelan was the best solution and represented a worthwhile saving over purchasing a used PC210 and hydraulic breaker.

“Even though I had never dealt with Whelan before, the package they put together was most appealing. The standard of used machines they offer makes them

Hitachi Feedback

Having run a few used Hitachi excavators, Ciaran rates their performance, general reliability and resale value. The Hitachi 210-6 was purchased in 2021, has now recorded 5400 hours and is a key part of the small front-line fleet. Ciaran said, “The Hitachi probably has superior build quality over Hyundai and is smoother to operate, but its reliability is a let-down, as the Adblue system has been very troublesome.” very attractive. Purchasing a used machine that has gone through the workshop and received everything it needed should mean there will be no major expense for some time. The Hyundai HX220 has had a new undercarriage fitted and was fully serviced and checked over by Whelan before delivery. They made the process straightforward and the back-up and dealer relationship they offer is excellent.”

User Feedback

Ciaran continued, “On arrival on site, the Hyundai went straight to work, as the settings for the new breaker were easily loaded on the control system, allowing us to get the most from the machine from the very start. With just 4500 hours, it is a very clean machine and is proving to be lighter on fuel than the Hitachi 210-6.

“Working on the reduced level digs on this site, the Hyundai has really shown that it can deliver on performance. It has excellent digging power and gets the most from the hydraulic hammer when breaking rock. When doing foundations together with the Komatsu PC138US-11 the two machines combine very well. Even though it is a larger machine than we would normally use on house foundations, with the density of the rock on this site, it is the only way to keep up the pace. Overall, it is setting a very positive impression.”

These sentiments are echoed by Ciaran’s operators, who view the HX220 as offering a comfortable cab, plus the combination of a powerful Cummins engine and fast hydraulics to provide good performance. Now with a Hitachi 210-6 and a newer generation Hyundai HX220, the small team has a considerable excavating resource at their disposal. However, the Hyundai’s place on the fleet is based on it undertaking higher value-added work, by acting as the host to the allimportant hydraulic breaker. Manufactured by a long-established firm based in South Korea, the Alicon B210 weighs 1.7 tonnes and incorporates many of the features found on Daemo’s much larger hydraulic breakers. They include stroke selection, for which two stroke intensity settings are available, achieved by altering the selector on the hammer housing. This allows the attachment to be easily set up to best match the density of the rock being worked. Other features include a silenced housing, an anti-blank firing system, together with an autogreaser.

A high-voltage power line extends across the Tramore site, which will be replaced by underground cables. In the interim, the Hitachi was fitted with a GKD height restrictor by local dealer Wrench Hydraulics. Normal truck-loading duties take place outside of the overhead line’s exclusion zone, and the GKD system provides the flexibility to safely undertake groundworks closer to the live lines when required.

Conclusion

Without the financial burden of investing in a fleet of new machines, Ciaran’s mix of used and new excavators has eased the challenge of expanding his small business. The Hyundai has made a good start, and the Hitachi 210-6 is still held in high regard by his team, which has recently been updated to work on the Tramore site (see panel).

Having two 21-tonne class excavators and the reduced radius Komatsu PC138US-11 is considered a sufficient resource to meet projected demands of the business.

However, Ciaran has decided to replace his smallest front-line machine, saying, “Even though the Komatsu remains trouble free and is delivering the same high level of performance it did at the start, I would expect to upgrade it over the coming months.

“A one-owner machine should have retained its value well. It makes much more sense to move it on now, while it is still at its peak, rather than wait for things to deteriorate. Replacing it with a new model will bring the added benefit of warranty cover, as well as keeping the fleet renewed, which is always important.”

Seemingly content with the scale of groundworks projects his team now handles,

Ciaran is looking to expand the range of services offered by his small business, concluding by revealing, “I’ve been awarded a waste collection permit, which allows us to haul soil, stone and concrete rubble to licensed tips. This is of benefit when we are clearing sites for construction and means we can cater for the complete process, and gives greater flexibility in the type of work we can undertake.”