Heavy equipment has laid the foundation of great civilizations and modern communities. From the Great Pyramids to the 35-year construction of the Interstate Highway and high-rise buildings, these construction tools dug earth and moved stones to make way for impressive engineering and architectural feats both ancient and modern. Their history is intertwined with the rise of equipment technology, and promises a bright future for the industry – as can be seen in well-established companies such as Fortis Heavy Duty. Muscle Power in Ancient Times  The Egyptian civilization was the first ever to use heavy equipment in terms of manual and animal labor to operate simple levers, pulleys and cranes. In 2500 BCE Imhotep, an Egyptian chancellor regarded as the world’s first architect orchestrated the building of the Great Pyramids using a system of rollers, ramps and ropes. The Romans also used this system. Moving huge slabs of stone was done using smooth ramps and rolling pins. Cranes were used to create the Roman arch, and other structures. Vitruvius, a Roman engineer, described early heavy equipment in his treatise known as De Architectura. These were made of wood, and used treadwheel for power. 1800s: Steam, Traction and Hydraulics Much of what the ancient civilizations used was still in operation until the 1800s, primarily for agricultural purposes – far from super-mechanized engines and heavy equipment undercarriage parts. In 1886, American inventor Benjamin Leroy Holt created a combine steam harvester. Two years later, John Froelich created a gasoline-powered tractor with forward and reverse gears. In 1890 Holt once again produced a steam-powered tractor. These inventions proved beneficial to the agricultural industry as it allowed the transition from animal-power to more powerful steam engines. Apart from the tractor, steam engines also fueled dredgers and steam excavators.  Thomas Aveling also created the traction engine in the mid-1800s and is known as “The Father of the Traction Engine.” His invention has made a lasting impact in the development of succeeding heavy equipment. 1900s: Rise of Heavy Equipment Vehicles By the 1900s, the second phase of The Industrial revolution was well underway and created a huge demand for heavy equipment in various industries. Track vehicles emerged at this time, with the first successful patent made by Alvin Orlando Lombard in 1901. In later years he would invent the first commercial tractor crawler, the forerunner of today’s tracked construction vehicles. Heavy equipment was also introduced to the construction industry in the early 1900s. In 1907, the Galion Works built motor and pull graders, steam and internal combustion rollers, wheeled scrapers and hydraulic cranes. Adaptations were made on these vehicles to suit the demands of construction. The bull graders were introduced in 1920s. It quickly grew in popularity, and in the 1930s it was renamed the bulldozer. This vehicle has since evolved into the bulldozer we know today, hauling boulders and tree stumps from the earth. Bucket-wheeled excavators also began in the 1920s, as digging machines for the mining industry. They have proved beneficial to surface mining operations over the years. Dump Trucks were also introduced at this time, also known as tipper or dumper trucks. 1930-1960: Tough Times and Tough Builds This 30-year period is marked with tough times, from the Great Depression to WWII. There was also notable construction taking place, including the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge and the beginning of the Interstate Highway. This is often considered as the boom of the heavy equipment industry, as vehicles became monster-sized to address the demands of the massive interstate construction. The world’s biggest dragline, shovel and 360-ton truck emerged.  1970-1980: Embargo and Recession Demand for machinery continued to increase during this period, and equipment became more sophisticated. The Arab embargo of 1973 also caused greater demand. It is at this time that safety measures were given for heavy equipment. 1990-2010: Compact and Efficient Vehicles Machinery now utilized diesel engines, and while this shift improved efficiency, it had negative effects to the environment. Environmental compliance demanded that manufacturers build cleaner and more efficient engines. The economic recession: the third to hit the heavy equipment industry, has created a trend favoring rent rather than purchase of heavy equipment. Manufacturers are compelled to comply with the specifications rental companies for durability and efficiency, as well to ensure compliance with continuous emission-phase testing from 2001-2008.  2010-2019 The heavy equipment industry is one again seeing growth. Advances in construction equipment came in the form of telematics, electromobility and autonomous machinery. IoT, or the Internet of Things is also employed to increase machine life cycles. 

Ambitious construction support services specialist Leedale became one of the UK’s first customers for Arocs tipper-grabs equipped with Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ ground-breaking MirrorCam technology when it commissioned a pair of eight-wheelers in January.  The family-owned business also purchased two tipper-grabs by another manufacturer at the same time. But it was to Mercedes-Benz Dealer Rygor Commercials that it has just returned for the latest couple of additions to its fleet. So impressed is Leedale with the 8×4 Arocs, and with the rapid turnarounds achieved by Rygor, that the Dealer is now firmly established as its preferred construction truck partner.   The muscular, high-riding Arocs is purpose-designed for operation on rough sites. Like their predecessors, Leedale’s new trucks had been pre-built for Rygor’s WorkReady programme, so were supplied from stock. They have ClassicSpace M-cabs and, as 3240K variants, employ 10.7-litre ‘straight-six’ engines which produce 290 kW (394 hp) and drive through smooth and efficient 12-speed Mercedes PowerShift 3 automated manual transmissions. The trucks’ steel Loadmaster bodies are by Thompson, and their Palfinger Epsilon M125L Classic cranes work with Kinshofer clamshell buckets. Safety equipment, meanwhile, includes a 360-degree camera and side-scanning system to protect vulnerable road users, as well as LED strobe lighting front and rear, and a roof-mounted LED beacon bar. Fast-growing Leedale is based in Alfreton, Derbyshire, and operates a fleet of 50 trucks, 20 of them sweepers. Of the remaining tippers, tipper-grabs and flat-beds with Hiab cranes, 17 now wear three-pointed stars – Rygor also delivered six WorkReady 8×4 Arocs tippers with wing mirrors late last year. Established in 1989 by Lee Walkup, Leedale is a well-established supplier to main contractors, consultancies, developers and public sector clients in the East Midlands. The company provides a comprehensive portfolio of muckaway, aggregates, demolition and general haulage services, as well as waste management, and vehicle and plant hire. It has also seen a surge in demand during the Covid-19 pandemic from homeowners, garden designers and landscapers, for deliveries of one-tonne bags of materials. Led by Managing Director Oliver Walkup, the founder’s son, Leedale has now embarked on a major expansion programme, its aim being to tender for and win new contracts on a national basis. To this end, it has set its sights on upgrading its current Bronze FORS (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme) accreditation to Silver at the earliest opportunity, and has just appointed its first National Sales Manager. Kim Smith joined the company in August and brings an impressive record of achievement in the earth moving sector to her new role. “The construction sector is in full flow and Leedale is extremely busy right now,” she said. “This explains why we needed more new vehicles, and quickly.” She continued: “We’re committed to a strategy of growth, and to winning new business beyond our East Midlands heartland. Many of the prospective customers we want to target require their suppliers to be accredited to FORS Silver standard. Health and safety, and compliance, are therefore at the very top of our agenda. “Not only have our Mercedes-Benz trucks proved to be more reliable and cost-effective to operate than other marques on the fleet, but they are also ahead of the rest when it comes to safety. MirrorCam, for example, has been a huge hit with the drivers who are using it. So much better is the level of visibility the system offers that not one of them would want to be without it now.” MirrorCam’s compact, roof-mounted cameras relay images to screens mounted inside the cab, on the A-pillars. Not only does this pioneering technology provide much-improved rearward vision, but it also eliminates the forward-facing blind spots created by conventional mirrors. As previously, Leedale took advantage of competitive funding support from Mercedes-Benz Finance to acquire its latest Arocs. Ms Smith observed: “Leedale has built a great reputation and excellent client relationships over more than 30 years, by offering a first-class service. “That’s also what we’ve received from Rygor Commercials. Its Truck Sales Executive Marcus Cahalin has been both efficient and responsive in delivering our Arocs within a couple of weeks of the orders being placed, while the vehicles are also perfectly specified for the job.” As well as tippers and tipper grabs, the broad selection of pre-built trucks that Rygor offers under its WorkReady banner includes hookloaders, mixers and skiploaders. Marcus Cahalin added: “Leedale is a business that’s clearly going places, and it wants to get there as quickly as possible. For customers like this, who need their new trucks with minimal delay, Rygor’s WorkReady programme has all the answers.” www.leedale.com

Business is booming for a farming company which is now supplying specialist composts, manures and mulches in bulk thanks to a unique project between Hiab and Nugent Trailer. Nick and Heather Stevens initially started growing mushrooms at Connetts Farm some 20 years ago and have progressed to selling mushroom compost, horse manure, compost, top soil, mulch and fire wood. Initially sold in feed or fertilizer bags, customer demand has recently soared for horticulture products available by cubic metre, which called for an on-road lifting solution which would support larger bulk deliveries. A unique partnership between Hiab and Nugent Trailer has seen Connetts Farm benefit from a new electric-powered crane installed on a trailer with solar-charging ability. Nick Stevens from Connetts Farm said: “We reached a point where our customers wanted us to supply more specialist composts, manures and mulches in large bags directly to their door. At that time, we only had a tipping trailer which wasn’t suitable for clean, effective and safe delivery. “Top soil is one of the heaviest products we sell which needs a heavy-duty crane to lift it off the truck. I was already familiar with Hiab’s cranes, so I spoke to them to see if they could help. We’ve since invested in a HIAB T-CLX 018-2 (with 1 manual extension) on a Nugent F3720H 3.5 tonne flatbed trailer which has opened up doors for us as a business. “We’ve been able to meet increasing demand throughout spring and summer while people focused on improving outdoor spaces during lockdown. It’s given us real scope to grow our customer base.” John Abbott, southern key account manager for Hiab said: “There is currently a gap in the market for a quality trailer-mounted crane with excellent lifting capabilities. Our partnership with Nugent offers a practical solution to the market which has the added bonus of green credentials. “When Nick approached us, we were able to offer something which ticked all of his boxes. The HIAB T-CLX 018-2 with one manual extension can lift 430kgs at 4.2m with a maximum lift of 995kg, combined with the Nugent Trailer it’s the perfect solution. “Our crane is also fully electric and very quiet to operate, which is also better for the environment.  We’ve worked with Nugent to connect an impressive 400AH battery pack which is charged with a 30 AMP solar charge panel within the trailer. The power can then be monitored through a simple phone app. “We’re always looking at ways to make life easier for our customers and this is one of the solutions we have developed to offer specialist heavy-duty lifting equipment straight from a manufacturer ‘off the shelf’. I’m confident this solution will prove popular as we roll it out further across UK and Ireland.” Colm Brown, sales and technical director for Nugent Trailer said: “This specialist trailer crane we have developed with Hiab will help farmers, builders’ merchants, gardeners, horticulturists, plant operations and local councils, anyone in fact who is having manual handling issues for deliveries where a crane/trailer combination could be the solution. “We have engineered the chassis to accept the crane from the factory, it has been designed to be completely stable carrying weight on the trailer and moving bulky items at height. “Our Dual Drive™ suspension reduces vibrations and suspension chatter, minimises stress on the chassis and cuts shock waves to the towing vehicle. The trailer itself is extremely low noise, making it suitable for use in residential areas, combined with the electric HIAB crane – it’s a top-quality piece of kit which offers best possible pay load for the user.”

Water is an essential component and we couldn’t imagine life without its availability.  Three-quarters of the earth is composed of water that has to be brought to the land to make use of it. To make water easily accessible, water tankers are used. Water tankers are large storage tankers that are filled with water which is transported to where it is needed by road. Water is needed in every phase of life. So water tankers are not only restricted to domestic purposes but are also used in civil construction, industries, fire fighting, producing artificial rain, and watering the plants. They are widely used because of the improved road networks that have made transportation easier. Water tankers are large enough to store 500 to 5000 gallons of water. But the larger they are in size, and the more capacity they hold, the same is the amount of cost that is needed to buy them. So instead of investing a huge amount in tankers, hiring is a better option because of its cost-efficiency. Look here for premium UTE water tanks. Hiring a water tanker is beneficial than buying one but here are a few things that must be acknowledged before hiring a tank. Cost The first and foremost thing that everyone considers is the price that they have to pay against the service they are availing. When hiring a water tanker, compare the price of different companies, look for the rates they offer on an hourly basis, and choose the most compatible price that you can pay without burdening yourself. If you are hiring for your business purposes, examine your capital, and see the long term and short term quotes offered by different companies. Capacity Water tankers are available in different sizes according to their use. The tankers for domestic uses are smaller and for construction purposes they are large. Know beforehand, the quantity of water that is required by you so opt for a tank that has a capacity that fits your use so you don’t have to face the trouble of insufficient water by hiring a smaller tank or pay unreasonably more by hiring a tank with more capacity than what is needed. Location Location matters a lot while you are hiring a tanker to transport water for your needs. Choose for a company that is nearer your destination so that you have to pay less, otherwise longer distances will increase the per hour rate and will not be cost-efficient. Look for a company which is the nearest so that they can deliver easily and park on the location from where water could be supplied The credibility of the service provider The tanker that you are hiring must be from a reputable company that you can examine by the reviews that their customers have given online or ask for your friends for suggestions about the best place to hire tankers from. The staff must be decent to comply with your needs so that no hindrance occurs in the supply of water between the client and the dealer.

Coronavirus has hit the UK’s construction sector hard, with the Office for National Statistics reporting a record 35% drop in activity in the second quarter of 2020.  As lockdown has begun to ease, however, and pubs have started to re-open, UK builders are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  In July, the sector saw the strongest rebound in activity in almost five years. This is excellent news for companies like Lynch which supplies operated, self-drive and contract hire to the construction industry. The company which is headquartered in Hemel Hempstead has an expansive fleet of modern plant and equipment for civil engineering, rail engineering, public utilities, groundworks, demolitionand last but not least highways maintenance projects. Despite some of its other areas of business going quiet, its highways work continued to be busy. Throughout lockdown, road-building activity was identified as critical for the future of the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). The lockdown’s emptier roads provided an opportunity to fast track existing road building projects. When asked about the type of machines it supplies its customers with for these types of projects, Chris Gill, Director at Lynch commented “we have been using Kubota’s machines for well over 10 years. Across Kubota’s 8 tonne, 5 tonne and 3 tonne range, there is something for everyone”. Over the last few years, Lynch has worked with Highways England to supply machines for some of its latest smart motorway projects. These projects have included work on the M23 from Hooley in Surrey to Brighton on the south coast and the redevelopment of the M23 the M4, the M26 and the A41. For the recent smart motorway building projects, it was estimated that 90% of the machines hired for the jobs were from Kubota’s 5-tonne range. Chris commented, “Kubota’s machines are very reliable and their compact design allows for excellent manoeuvrability in tight spaces, which is a priority for our customers. The sustainability of the machines is also particularly important for these types of projects.” “All of Kubota’s machines come fitted with Stage V compliant engines. Our customers actively choose us over competitors as they know our fleet will always be on top of the game in terms of green credentials. For our customers, this is increasingly desirable – especially for jobs that take place in urban environments, where both noise pollution and emissions are a priority.” When working on busy highways it is also incredibly important that the machines come fitted with the correct safety requirements. Kubota’s machines all come fitted with restrictions on how much the boom can swing and have beacons on the seatbelts. This helps to ensure Highways England can comply with its comprehensive list of safety requirements. “At Kubota UK, we are proud to be the dependable partner that helps our valued customers in getting the job done. While the industry has had to navigate twisty roads, the journey in front of us has given us indications that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. As major road construction projects go ahead, we’re confident that our latest series of excavators will deliver excellent field results in the same reliable way they always have,” said Fenella Tolhurst, Key Account Manager at Kubota UK.

Do you want to hire a muck away lorry and wondering how much it cost? You’re at the right page. Here, we will be discussing all the information you need to know before hiring a lorry. Let’s first discuss what is a muck away and what it is used for. What is a Muck Away Lorry? Muck lorry or a grab hire is used to move heavy waste from sites such as construction, garden or others. Moving heavy objects with a grab hire is becomes very easy and convenient. It uses a hydraulic arm and a bucket to grab the waste and clear it even from the remotest areas. Why Hire A Much Away Lorry Services? The first and the biggest advantage of hiring a grab lorry is, it collects a huge amount of waste that’s almost twice any other service can pick up. On top of it, it is an extremely affordable option to clear the waste. Once hired, the lorry will come to your site at a suitable time and will collect the waste with minimum inconvenience. Hence, you can say that hiring a muck away lorry is a simple, fast and an affordable way to remove large amounts of waste. All you need to do is to pile up the waste and call a muck away service. Moreover, it can muck away materials like brick, rubble, wood, soil in large quantities which would otherwise take 3 standards skips. How Much Is A Muck Away Lorry Cost? Now, coming to the real question, how much to hire a muck away lorry for Rubbish Removal London? Well, it depends on certain factors such as the quantity of waste you need to dispose of, the size of lorry you want, the type of waste that’s to be removed and it’s pickup and dispose location. Muck away lorry generally charges according to the type of waste and it’s weight. This is how the lorry service calculates its cost. Moreover, the cost of a lorry service also varies as per the locations. Such as, if you happen to live im areas like Dudley, Sturbridge, Wolverhampton etc, the average cost of a standard lorry will be around £160. Advantages of Hiring A Muck Away Lorry Hiring a muck away lorry is a fast and a hassle-free way to dispose of huge amounts of waste. You do not need any permissions to pick up and clear the waste. It is highly affordable as a standard size lorry can load up to thrice the weight carried by a skip. It doesn’t require any additional labour cost. Quick waste removal without any interference and errors. It is most suitable for the remote areas that are otherwise hard to access. It is suitable for a range of tasks, from your home to any bigger site. Offers great satisfaction as the waste is picked up and disposed of in a proper manner. So, to conclude, a muck away lorry is an extremely agile and useful vehicle that is used to pick up and dispose a large amount of material or waste. It is one of the fastest and cheap way to get your work done quickly.