13 minute read
FLEET PROFILE
Below and inset: Although Komatsu excavators feature strongly in the fl eet, Dowling Brothers’ take an open-minded approach to machine selection. TECH-SAVVY VETERANS
“WITH A DESIRE TO MECHANISE LAND DRAINAGE OPERATIONS, IN 1976 THEY PURCHASED THEIR FIRST TRENCHER” Eoghan Daly reports on a family business that has invested in labour-saving machinery over many decades
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ased at Bagenalstown in County Carlow, Dowling B Brothers Civil Engineering has, over the decades, evolved from its roots as a land drainage specialist, weathering economic downturns along the way while investing in the best machinery for the job. The operation, perhaps now best known for sports pitch construction work, was established in 1972 (see panel overleaf). It is run by brothers John, Billy and Michael, who inherited their work ethic and interest in plant from their late father, Thomas Dowling.
John recalls, “Our father was a carpenter by trade and then started importing axles and building trailers in the years following World War II. Based on his deep interest in all things mechanical, he then started a plant hire business in 1953. The fi rst machine was an Allis Chalmers 25 dozer, which was a TVO machine and did a lot of work on land reclamation.
EARLY FLEET PROFILE
The Dowling Brothers’ business was established in 1972. With an interest in plant and a desire to mechanise land drainage operations, in 1976 they purchased their fi rst trencher, a Howard Mark 5. Although its performance and reliability left much to be desired, it still represented a signifi cant step forward from traditional labour-intensive working methods.
It was replaced in 1980 by a Bart 171 trencher, which took their operations to a new level. It was an extremely strong machine, able to cope with the challenging ground conditions, as John Dowling added, “Irish conditions are much diff erent to anywhere else, as the ground is continuously changing. In Europe, ground conditions are more likely to be pure clay with few if any stones, making it much easier to commission and run a trencher.
“But here, we have a mix of everything, which puts a big strain on a chain trencher. The Bart trencher coped with these challenges very well and also had the added benefi t of using a laser guidance system, which was much more accurate than the profi les we had been using previously.”
The Bart was replaced seven years ago by a Mastenbroek 1515 trencher, which is regarded by the brothers as the ultimate tool for intensive fi eld drainage works.
From a fl eet that was originally based on dozers and then a trencher, a number of JCB backhoe loaders were acquired, followed by a succession of Hymac excavators. The Hymacs are recalled as being eff ective in relation to the machine choices available at the time, but were overshadowed by Poclain excavators, most notably in operator comfort and convenience.
Although their Poclain 75 and 90 models were indeed dogged by recurring oil leaks, they were certainly not as problematic as some would suggest. Far from it, as the examples on the Downing fl eet successfully completed considerable long-term service with the fi rm.
John commented, “The Hymac excavators may have got through a lot of work, but were not without their problems. Even though they were from the same era, once we moved on to Poclain, they were in a completely diff erent class and really were machines that were very much ahead of their time.”
Above, below and above right: Dowling Brothers currently run a single dozer on their fl eet, a multipurpose Komatsu D65PX confi gured with a six-way PAT blade and a Leica 2D machine control system.
He then imported an International TD-9 from the USA, which was an amazing little machine based on the work he could do with it. It only had a 35hp diesel engine, which was started by a petrol unit. He really had a great pair of hands and had his own lathe and a fully equipped machine shop and even went on to repair clocks in his spare time.”
The young brothers had an early introduction to working with their hands and backs, as John continued, “We would go and help out after school, on jobs like laying clay pipes on land drainage. We have seen both sides of the industry, having started out with the manual side and being involved long enough to enjoy the benefi ts of modern technology.
“Some would say being in business with your family brings challenges, but it is a model that has worked really well for us over the years. When we go to work on a project, we all bring our own individual contribution to it and we know each part of the job is done properly. There has never been a time that I have not looked forward to going to work. Enjoying what we do is the secret to our long-term survival as a company.”
EMBRACING CHANGE
Another element in the fi rm’s longevity is embracing change and taking new ideas on board: “It’s never a good idea to accept anything as being the ultimate; we always believed in being open to change and advancement from the very start. We were probably the fi rst in Ireland to use laser guidance on a dozer, having used these systems on our trenchers since 1980.”
Komatsu remains the dozer and excavator supplier of choice for the Dowling Brothers (see panel). That is not to say that buying decisions are automatic, as several options are considered on each occasion. For example, for the past few years the brothers have kept an eye on Hidromek machines, after initially being
KOMATSU FLEET
impressed with their build quality when seen at an Intermat show. After the appointment of a local dealer, KOB Plant, 18 months ago they bought a 14-tonne class HMK140 excavator.
John said, “We had every faith in Hidromek from the very start and it has since proved itself to be just the machine we expected. Based on our experience so far, we would have no hesitation in buying another. It has great digging power and is also very smooth on the levers, which means it’s ideal for fi ne work.
“The only negative we see is that, when it comes to running attachments such as the mulcher, the hydraulics do not perform quite as well as some other 14-tonners we’ve run, like the Komatsu PC130. But overall, it’s still an excellent machine.”
Fitted with an i-Dig machine guidance system, the Hidromek is proving to be a simple and cost-effective means of working
to a pre-set level, as John confi rmed, “The i-Dig system takes the onus off the operator and is another vital tool in our arsenal of systems to help get through the work more effi ciently.” “WE BEGAN USING KOMATSU DOZERS, SOME MULI-PURPOSE DOZER As pioneers in using OF WHICH WORKED UP TO precise 2D machine 32,000 HOURS WITH VERY guidance muckshifting techniques
FEW PROBLEMS” in Ireland, a large percentage of Dowling Brothers’ current projects relate to the construction of sports pitches and the like. It’s an application where the low ground pressure Hydrema haulers come into their own, but one where the focus is very much on achieving the fi nal grade profi le. In the past, dozers were a large element of the Dowling fl eet, but today the fi rm runs a single multi-purpose machine, a Komatsu D65PX. It is large enough to work on civil engineering projects,
Right and below: The main earthmoving fl eet consists of a pair of Volvo A35F articulated dump trucks, matched to a number of Komatsu excavators.
When it came time to replace their last three Poclains, having good experience running Komatsu dozers, the fi rm also turned to the Japanese manufacturer for their excavators. It was the start of a long-term relationship with Komatsu, which continues to this day.
John Dowling said, “We began using Komatsu dozers including 60, 65, 80 and 85 models, which have brought great satisfaction, as some worked up to 32,000 hours with very few problems. On excavators we have had Komatsu 210, 222, 240 and 300 in the early years, which have also been fi rst class machines. In the event of a problem, we have had excellent service from the diff erent dealers over the years, starting with Tracell, then MacCandless and now McHale Plant Sales.”
The largest excavator on the fl eet, a Komatsu PC360-10 is very highly rated, especially when contrasted with the Hitachi 350-3 it replaced, which experienced repeated hydraulic issues. Purchased used from McHale with just 3000 recorded hours, it never failed to deliver.
John continued, “Even though we run a mixed fl eet, we continue to be big fans of Komatsu. We have run 30-tonne machines from Hitachi and Kobelco in the past, but see the PC360-10 as being in a diff erent league. It’s an ideal machine, as it’s big enough for bulk earthworks and an ideal match for our two A35F ADTs, yet is still small enough to do a full range of other work on diff erent site types.”
such as road construction jobs, but also versatile and able to deliver precise fi nal grades on sports pitch developments.
This example differs from the vast majority of D65 dozers in Ireland, as it is confi gured with a six-way power angle tilt (PAT) blade, complete with folding outer sections to ease transport issues. Such working equipment is usually reserved for smaller dozers dedicated to fi nishing works. On a 20-tonne-plus D65PX, this set-up is equally at home in intensive pushing and
levelling work, but also performing trimming and fi nal grading to the strictest of tolerances.
John explained; “We were using a Komatsu D58 dozer with laser guidance and wanted to upgrade. We searched the internet and found this D65PX with a folding PAT blade in Poland, which was exactly the machine we were looking for. It was imported fi ve or six years ago and has proved to be ideal for our needs.”
GUIDANCE SYSTEMS
No strangers to laser-based 2D machine guidance systems, after a visit to the Irish Ploughing Championships in 2019, the brothers left with a very positive impression of Leica systems, as shown by Irish dealer Levelling Equipment Services. Dowling Brothers’ fi rst experience with Leica products was the dozer-specifi c iCON iGD2 2D machine control system, which was fi tted two years ago to their Komatsu D65PX. They have gone on to invest in a Leica GPS rover system, which has proved to be an invaluable surveying tool and is in continual use across their projects.
John said, “The system we use on the D65 paid for itself in the fi rst year of use. If we take a full-size, all-weather playing pitch measuring 100 x 150 metres and just grade off 50mm too much, it is a massive extra expense for stone to build back up to the required level. Using a system like this allows us to work to specifi cation every time. There are no surprises from additional costs and it helps us stay within budget on a project, while doing work to a very high standard.”
The 2D system on the dozer uses dual power mast laser control units. Slope and elevation grading is achieved either by manual or automatic control, and working independently of slope direction is possible. Operator Billy Dowling said, “Using this system, I can go to any part of a playing pitch development and work to grade in either cut or fi ll situations. The level of accuracy it can give is incredible and, when using it in automatic mode, it takes away much of the pressure from me as the dozer operator. It has proved very reliable too and needs minimal effort to set up.”
A Topcon machine control system also plays a vital part in their sports pitch construction activities, fi tted to a Massey Ferguson 3625 tractor, running on super fl otation turf tyres. It hosts an in-house designed and built grading box, which is
Top, above and below: An MF 3625 tractor, running on fl otation turf tyres, uses an in-house grading box controlled by a 2D Topcon system.
Above: From left to right: ADT operator Piotr Watly, John Dowling, excavator operator Kazik Zurowski, Billy Dowling and Michael Dowling.
a result of the Dowling family’s considerable hands-on experience. It is ideal for less demanding precision levelling of stone, especially on athletics tracks and allweather pitch bases. A key factor in the choice of Topcon was their willingness to produce a system compatible with tractor electrics, which could achieve both automatic and manual control of the attachment’s functions.
HAULING FLEET
CONCLUSION
John said, “When I think back to the old dozers, things have really come a long way since our father’s time. The one regret we have is not preserving some of the older machines. Our search for an International TD-9 with the Ruston Bucyrus-type blade continues, since we would like to mark our origins in the industry. “Much has changed over our time working in the plant and civils sector and all has been positive, apart from the big problems attracting young people into the industry. There are wonderful opportunities there for anyone with a genuine interest, and a good living to be made from it. Technology has eased the work greatly, which should add to the appeal for younger people and I believe it really is an opportunity not to be overlooked.”
When it comes to articulated dump trucks, the fi rm runs a pair of Volvo A35F units, which are seen to off er the ultimate balance in terrain friendliness in tandem with a worthwhile load capacity. Used across the company’s projects, they have proved to be extremely reliable, as have their Volvo predecessors on the Dowling fl eet.
However, when it comes to working in more confi ned or delicate environments, Dowling Brothers have a pair of Hydrema 912E articulated dumpers, complete with rotating 12t capacity skips and super high fl otation tyres. Purchased from dealer Philip P. McCormack Plant, the 912E duo has never presented any form of major malfunction, and any issues encountered were dealt with quickly and eff ectively.
John Dowling added, “We have always had great service from Philip McCormack and can see the benefi t of dealing with a family-run business like theirs. Hydrema really is a premium level machine, but a must for an operation like ours. Their manoeuvrability and low ground pressure mean they can work successfully in practically any application. With their enclosed cabin and low centre of gravity, they are also very safe machines. Even though all this comes at a premium price, they hold their value very well.”
