Catching the early warning signs of failure is critical in maintaining safety when working with construction machines. It also avoids unplanned downtime and costly breakdowns. Here, Nick Kakoudakis, Technology and Remote Services Manager at exclusive Caterpillar® dealer Finning UK and Ireland, discusses how digital connectivity means that Finning can ensure
On the first day of Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone HS2 Ltd outlines how the project’s new low-carbon technology will support Birmingham City Council’s objective to reduce pollution and improve air quality in the city. HS2 is going way beyond requirements to lower carbon and emissions on its construction sites, and
Plant and tool hire chain Speedy has posted annual results ahead of expectations, representing a solid come-back from the initial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Speedy ended the year to 31st March 2021 with revenues back at pre-Covid levels and has started the current year ahead of 2019. Revenue for
In the UK construction industry, physical health is of paramount importance. It is common to see prominent reminders about physical safety, and yet there are less prominent risks that make construction one of the deadliest professions. Every year, more construction workers die from suicide than from falls. Putting the right
Earlier this month, Mecalac Construction Equipment UK launched a suite of new site dumper models at an exclusive event at its Warwickshire demo ground. The eagerly-anticipated 3.5MDX cabbed site dumper made its global debut, alongside all-new hydrostatic versions of the highly popular 6MDX and 9MDX. Alongside providing VIP guests with
AES Engineering Ltd has announced the launch of the AES Engineering Reliability Group (AES Reliability). The new group brings Rotherham-based AES Engineering’s range of asset management and plant reliability companies under one banner, offering one of the most comprehensive services on the market. The launch of the new group follows
Leading plant hire firm invests in latest Cat® excavators Finning UK & Ireland, exclusive distributor of Cat® products, has supplied leading plant, access equipment and tractor hire company, ASHBROOK, with seven new Cat 315 GC excavators, marking the first delivery of this machine in the UK. After the delivery on
Could all contractor and hire firms soon have access to fossil fuel free construction machinery? This is the proposition put forward by the Trime Group, a leading manufacturer of site lighting, power generation, and associated equipment with their exciting new initiative, T-ZERO PRO. In line with some leading car manufacturers,
The best way to start the day — other than with a quick brew — is by inspecting your construction equipment to make sure it is ready to get to work. If you don’t, you risk premature equipment failure and project delays. Here Mark Mulligan, Product Manager at exclusive Caterpillar®
Despite the Covid-19 health crisis impacting significantly on the Lifting Industry, Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) Sector Benchmark Research reveals optimism for the post-pandemic future, and a move towards new and possibly more productive ways of working. Indeed, 72% of firms reported being optimistic for the next 6 months, with
Catching the early warning signs of failure is critical in maintaining safety when working with construction machines. It also avoids unplanned downtime and costly breakdowns. Here, Nick Kakoudakis, Technology and Remote Services Manager at exclusive Caterpillar® dealer Finning UK and Ireland, discusses how digital connectivity means that Finning can ensure the longest life from its equipment. If you’ve recently insured a vehicle, you’ll have probably heard of the black box. Installed on some insured cars, these devices monitor how the car is driven and report that information back to the insurance company. This information is used to encourage safe driving and to capture vital data in the event of an accident. A watchful eye-in-the-sky While installing a black box in a car is relatively cheap, managing downtime, breakdowns and user-profiles across a highly varied fleet of construction equipment can be costly. The costs can include everything from recovery and repair of the equipment, as well as the resulting loss of production uptime and construction delays. Unlike the black box, Finning’s solution — Cat Connect — combines the use of smart technology and services on equipped machines, making sure everything is running as effectively and reliably as possible. The insight and information received helps to improve jobsite efficiency, whether the goal is to maximize production, reduce cost or improve safety. When installed on Finning Cat equipment, Cat Connect records every parameter on a Cat machine and reports the information back to Finning HQ. The technical team of experienced Cat certified engineers then work through the data and looks for any problems and opportunities for optimisation. For instance, a few minutes of idle time for a dump truck may be necessary during loading and unloading, but a backhoe operator keeping the engine running during a lunch break may lead to bore glazing on a diesel engine. If a machine is running idle then it is incurring extra fuel, maintenance and staffing costs for no real benefit — the team at Finning can spot issues like this and advise appropriate action. Similarly, an engine might be running rough. Perhaps it has been unused for a while and the fuel is stale, or the fuel mixture is misconfigured for the type of work or weather conditions — the team at Finning identifies these problems and can advise users to replace the fuel or alter the fuel mix to compensate. Tracking outside of the fence Cat Connect devices also include GPS, which allows engineers to track the machines as they move around the work area. This also allows for “geofencing”, where an alarm is triggered if equipment is moved outside a designated area. In one instance, Finning engineers were alerted by a geofencing alarm in the middle of the night. Using the GPS tracker on Cat Connect, the machine was successfully tracked and retrieved the next day from a secluded lay-by, over 20 miles away from the worksite. Without Cat Connect and its real-time alarms and customer-configurable alerting capabilities via text or emails, it’s very unlikely that it would have been recovered, especially if the equipment was stripped for parts. Uncovering operational optimisations Real-time condition monitoring not only helps to predict failure and keep equipment running, it also uncovers some surprising systemic problems. One particular example was on a worksite that had a substantial hill that earthmoving equipment often traversed. Going up the incline was no trouble for the heavy equipment, but it was found through condition monitoring that the operators were allowing vehicles to coast when travelling back down. By not using the retarder correctly, the operators were inadvertently exposing the powertrain to extreme stresses. Finning advised the customer that this was a problem, and the operators were retrained to use the retarder correctly and safely. This action directly increased the working life of the equipment, saved thousands of pounds in costs and eliminated the potential downtime. For more information about Finning’s Cat Connect service, and more, visit www.finning.com.
On the first day of Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone HS2 Ltd outlines how the project’s new low-carbon technology will support Birmingham City Council’s objective to reduce pollution and improve air quality in the city. HS2 is going way beyond requirements to lower carbon and emissions on its construction sites, and with HS2’s Curzon Street Station site in the city centre, the project confirms that the use of the latest, cleanest technology will lower emissions, protecting the environment and keeping people safe. A whole range of innovations are being introduced to cut emissions and improve local air quality, not just in Birmingham but right across the project. These include hybrid, zero emissions machinery, renewable energy, alternative fuels and recycled products. In addition, HS2 is leading a series of ground-breaking trials in conjunction with academia and its supply chain, set to bring massive improvements in local air quality and welfare conditions for construction site workers, with wider positive public health and environmental benefits for communities. The project has set standards for the use of the lowest emitting vehicle engines across all contractors, as well as set targets for contractors to go beyond these, as technology improves. In addition, the project has also set industry leading emissions standards for all machinery including excavators, dumpers, large cranes and piling machines. HS2’s top ten air quality innovations: HS2’s Air Quality Lead Andrea Davidson said: “It’s vital that we improve air quality in our towns and cities. As construction work ramps up across Phase One, HS2 is working with our contractors, supply chain, UK manufacturers and academia to cut emissions by developing ways to reduce reliance on diesel, and to promote the use of alternative technologies such as full electric, renewables, hydrogen fuel-cell and hybrid technology. “Birmingham Clean Air Zone is also about encouraging people to change their transport habits. By providing a cleaner, greener way to travel, HS2 will help cut the number of cars and lorries on our roads, cut demand for domestic flights, and help the country’s push to reduce carbon emissions.” In 2017, road traffic accounted for 91% of transport emissions. In the same year cars, taxis and light vans were responsible for 70% of road transport emissions. By moving high speed trains on to a new, dedicated intercity line, HS2 will free up space on the existing rail network to run more local and regional commuter trains. With more reliable, local frequent stopping services available, people will be able to make the shift from road to rail and cut their carbon footprint. This will help to reduce emissions from road transport, reduce congestion and improve the quality of our air.
Plant and tool hire chain Speedy has posted annual results ahead of expectations, representing a solid come-back from the initial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Speedy ended the year to 31st March 2021 with revenues back at pre-Covid levels and has started the current year ahead of 2019. Revenue for the year (excluding disposals) was down 11% to £359.4m (2020: £402.5m), while pre-tax profit was down 41% to £12.3m (2020: £20.7m). However, operating profit was up 21% to £17.0m (2020: £14.0m) and net debt was reduced during the year from £79.3m to £33.2m. After a tricky start to the year with the first national lockdown – revenue fell 35% in April 2020 – Speedy recovered progressively, with hire revenue up 4% on a like for like basis in the fourth quarter. Utilisation improved in the second half to 58.8% (2020: 55.9%). Speedy initially closed two-thirds of its network in April 2020 but by September the network was operating at full capacity again following a review of the depot footprint. This resulted in the permanent closure of 13 depots and the consolidation of a further 22 depots into larger service centres. Approximately 200 staff were laid off. As a result, there were £5.6m of exceptional property related costs and £1.9m of redundancy costs incurred during the year.
In the UK construction industry, physical health is of paramount importance. It is common to see prominent reminders about physical safety, and yet there are less prominent risks that make construction one of the deadliest professions. Every year, more construction workers die from suicide than from falls. Putting the right resources in place to support employees will be the driving force behind real change, thinks Keith Oakes, Head of Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHeQ) at exclusive Cat® parts and equipment supplier, Finning UK & Ireland. There’s a reason why mental health in the construction industry is known as the ‘silent epidemic’. When we think about mental illness, it is easy for our minds to run to the most extreme of conditions — the sickest of the sick. What we sometimes fall to account for is the majority of milder cases, experienced by one in four people in the UK every year. A recent survey suggests that 64 per cent of construction workers want better health and wellbeing support from their employers, and there are a wide range of actions employers can take to help to tackle this crisis. These actions start with the very basics — education. All workers, no matter their role in a business, need to be able to recognise the early warning signs of mental health issues as well as knowing what support is available and how to access it. Finning provides ongoing mental health training, such as Starting the Conversation and Managing the Conversation courses, which began in 2018. These courses aim to break down the negative stigma around talking about mental health and give managers and employees the resources and knowledge to provide real and actionable support to their colleagues. Although there is currently no mandatory legal requirement for offering mental health support, Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs) are also present throughout the company, providing confidential face-to-face support onsite for anyone suffering. MHFAs, easily identifiable to all by their “Talk to me!” email banner, have been trained to recognise someone going through a mental health issue, and to guide that person to the relevant help that they need. One such MHFA is Julia Winter, occupational health nurse at Finning. When a new employee starts, they are invited to a free health surveillance with Julia, who runs a series of baseline physical health assessments including hearing and eyesight checks, which are repeated every two years. Mental health and wellbeing is a critical part of Julia’s role; alongside the healthy mind, healthy body sessions she runs across the UK branches, her relationship and rapport with employees means that she is the usually the first port of call for anyone struggling. David Fletcher, who’s worked in the New Prep department at the Finning Cannock branch for five years is one of many employees who’ve benefitted from the mental health services that Finning provides. Fresh faced in the role with only three months under his belt, David started to experience pins and needles symptoms, and with support from his boss, gave Julia a call. “Looking back now, I’ve always had mental health issues, but it was never discussed openly. It came to the forefront when I knew my marriage was coming to an end, and I think I was in denial. As the doctors ran tests to determine the cause of the pins and needles, which turned out to be a symptom of anxiety, I got chatting to Julia at work, and I just broke down and told her about everything that was going on at home. “From then on, we talked regularly, pretty much every other day. She didn’t always talk back, she just let me say what I needed to say. Julia really went above and beyond her role and became a firm friend, and I know that I can talk to her about anything. A lot of my close friends are people I work with every day, so the lockdown has had a big impact on my mental health. I wanted to get back to work as soon as it was safe to do so, so Finning did everything it could to make that happen.” The COVID-19 pandemic has had an immeasurable impact on all of our lives, and none more so than Lindsay Fuller, receptionist at the Leeds branch, who recently accessed Finning’s mental health services when her husband fell ill with coronavirus. “My story is not an easy one to tell. In late March, my partner Glen became ill with COVID-19 and was admitted to hospital. He fought hard and the medical team were amazing, but seven days after he was admitted, Glen passed away, aged 62. As he had tested positive for coronavirus, I also had to self-isolate, which meant that our families couldn’t visit me or have any physical contact. “I don’t know what I would have done if it hadn’t had been for Julia. We spoke every single day. It didn’t matter if I was sobbing or screaming, if I called during her lunch break or in the middle of the night, she would be on the other end of phone. She really understood that grief isn’t on a schedule and that was absolutely invaluable. “The support from not just Julia, but the wider Finning family has been outstanding. I’ve had messages of support from colleagues from all across the business, and the senior leadership also video called to send their wishes and to ask whether there was anything they could do. When I was ready to return to work, they ensured my area was COVID-19 safe and always checked in to make sure I felt secure and happy at work. It honestly kept me sane.” David and Lindsay used the services provided by Finning at different points in their career. Regardless of their time in the role, both had access to the same resources and support, even though David had only been in his job for three months. “Finning made sure that, even though I was suffering, my
Earlier this month, Mecalac Construction Equipment UK launched a suite of new site dumper models at an exclusive event at its Warwickshire demo ground. The eagerly-anticipated 3.5MDX cabbed site dumper made its global debut, alongside all-new hydrostatic versions of the highly popular 6MDX and 9MDX. Alongside providing VIP guests with the opportunity to get behind the wheel of each new model, the event comprised a number of informative presentations and a technology showcase. For the first time ever, Mecalac’s AX1000 articulated wheel loader was also showcased on UK soil. 6MDX and 9MDX (hydrostatic) An evolution of Mecalac’s renowned MDX site dumper range, the six- and nine-tonne hydrostatic 6MDX and 9MDX bring smooth, uninterrupted power and the addition of dynamic braking. The all-new models offer improved performance and traction – particularly on inclines where gear changes can often result in loss of drive. Removing the gear stick allows for a more spacious operator environment, increasing comfort and minimising fatigue. With fewer parts, the hydrostatic models ensure lower running costs, thanks to lower maintenance requirements and fewer wear items. 3.5MDX Durable, dependable, versatile and highly capable, the 3.5MDX site dumper is the latest addition to Mecalac’s world-acclaimed cabbed portfolio. The efficient, low-emission engine works through a four-wheel-drive system that features low-range in both forward and reverse, giving operators peace of mind on challenging terrain. Available with either swivel tip or forward tip, the new model guarantees class-leading power, performance and durability and includes Mecalac’s Shield safety pack as standard. AX1000 With outstanding power and stability, Mecalac’s AX1000 articulated wheel loader is a true market leader. Its sleek but rigid monoboom combines high tear-out forces with protected hydraulics, delivering maximum safety and impressive cycle times. The model’s self-stabilising system uses an articulated pendulum joint to make carrying heavy loads across uneven terrain significantly easier and safer. Visibility and operator comfort are excellent thanks to a panoramic cab and intuitive control layout. Available with a range of attachments, from buckets to pallet forks, the AX1000 is an incredibly versatile on-site asset. Paul Macpherson, Commercial Director at Mecalac Construction Equipment UK, commented: “With lockdown restrictions slowly easing, we thought hosting a secret VIP event was the perfect opportunity to officially launch a number of exciting new additions to our MDX site dumper portfolio. The event was a huge success – and the glowing feedback on our new models was a really positive outcome. “Alongside the new dumpers, attendees had the first opportunity on UK soil to get behind the wheel of our versatile AX1000. The articulated loader is an excellent product and we’re experiencing ever-increasing demand for the range.” To learn more about Mecalac’s range of industry-leading equipment, visit www.mecalac.com/en.
AES Engineering Ltd has announced the launch of the AES Engineering Reliability Group (AES Reliability). The new group brings Rotherham-based AES Engineering’s range of asset management and plant reliability companies under one banner, offering one of the most comprehensive services on the market. The launch of the new group follows a two-year period of expansion and acquisition and includes: AVT Reliability Ltd, which has bases in Cheshire, UK, and County Cork, the Republic of Ireland; Van Geffen Reliability, based in the Netherlands; and AVT Reliability Inc, based in Tennessee, USA. The companies offer more than 45 years of expertise, delivering plant asset management and reliability improvement services and solutions, with in-depth knowledge of the most advanced condition monitoring technology. “Every company in the group shares one key attribute – it has reliability in its DNA. Very few, if any, companies can deliver the comprehensive, 360° service that the AES Reliability group offers. In addition to on-site services, our Remote Diagnostics Centres are staffed by certified engineers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing on-demand support to clients requiring instant or routine problem diagnosis,” said Technical Director of AES Reliability, Lee McFarlane. “Our aim now is to continue to expand the AES Reliability group, with the simple goal of improving the reliability of our customers’ assets and operations, to save them time and money,” he added. The company’s consultancy and on-site services encompass troubleshooting support, condition monitoring, structural monitoring, pipework vibration compliance, rotor dynamics/reciprocating services, energy assessment and pump reliability.
Leading plant hire firm invests in latest Cat® excavators Finning UK & Ireland, exclusive distributor of Cat® products, has supplied leading plant, access equipment and tractor hire company, ASHBROOK, with seven new Cat 315 GC excavators, marking the first delivery of this machine in the UK. After the delivery on April 26, 2021, customer demand meant they were put straight to work, offering longer maintenance intervals than previous models, fuel-saving features and a compact radius design. ASHBROOK has had a strong relationship with Finning for many years — James Ashbrook, Managing Director and Neil Baxter, Sales Manager at Finning struck up an excellent working relationship back in 2006, when the two companies started doing business. In 2019, Finning delivered its 1,000th new machine to ASHBROOK, a number that has since risen to over 1,200. The latest arrivals are seven Cat 315 GC excavators, one of the only excavators on the market to offer a full-size cab on a compact radius machine, and ten 313 GC hydraulic excavators. The machines were put to work on customer sites quickly after delivery and Ashbrook plans to add more to its fleet by the end of June. ”It’s always been central to our business ethos that our machines remain at the forefront of industry technology and these new machines allow us to do just that,” commented James Ashbrook “Adding the Cat 315 GC and Cat 313 GC to the ASHBROOK fleet, enables us to further expand our fleet and keep up with our regular fleet renewals. We’re excited to see the real time, on-site benefits that these excavators will bring our customers.” The Cat 315 GC is equipped with an EU Stage V engine to meet the European Commission’s latest emission standards, with the added benefit of improved fuel economy and reduced operating costs. Additionally, all daily maintenance checks are accessible from ground level to allow for easier walkarounds and quicker servicing. The 315 GC boasts smaller cab pillars, larger windows and a wider skylight hatch to give users 60 per cent greater visibility, allowing operators to work confidently and safely in space-restricted areas. The GC range of construction equipment and work tools is a game changer for small to medium sized customers looking for best-in-class machines that are simple, durable, reliable, fuel competitive and economical. Built on the legacy of high-quality, proven products, the new range has the ability to adapt to various applications and boasts the ruggedness to keep performance at peak levels. “I have been in the construction industry for 29 years, working with different brands along the way,” added Paul Pitney, General Manager at Ashbrook. “Throughout my career I have received consistent feedback on how fantastic Cat machines are — they are always an easy sell, because of their reliability and additional on-board features. The most important thing for us as a company when choosing a supplier is the combination of a quality product and excellent servicing and support, which Finning offers in abundance.” All the machines supplied to ASHBROOK come with a full warranty and Complete Customer Value Agreement (CVA), which means that Cat certified engineers will carry out all scheduled servicing using genuine Cat parts. ASHBROOK, a family-run business that operates nationwide, has worked in its respective industry sectors for over 20 years. Its customer base covers the majority of the construction sector, from paving to quarries. As a result of its equipment quality and service, Ashbrook has built a reputation as one of the UK’s leading plant hire companies, with a diverse machine portfolio that fulfils its customers’ requirements. As well as the seven 315 GCs, ASHBROOK is also adding ten 313 GC hydraulic excavators to its fleet in May. To find out more about the new GC range, contact Finning on +44 0800 028 7778 or visit www.finning.com.
Could all contractor and hire firms soon have access to fossil fuel free construction machinery? This is the proposition put forward by the Trime Group, a leading manufacturer of site lighting, power generation, and associated equipment with their exciting new initiative, T-ZERO PRO. In line with some leading car manufacturers, the company states that they have begun to phase out fossil-fuel equipment and, by 2025, only offer emission-free machinery. The Trime Group have been designing and building a range of environmentally centred equipment for the past six years from their production facilities based near Milan, Italy. Their X-ECO LED lighting tower has become a worldwide best-seller in the hire, construction, utility, mining, rail and events markets. The X-ECO LED uses long-life LED lamps and is designed to be economically fuel efficient. Following on from the success of the X-ECO LED, Trime began engineering a complete range of sustainable lighting towers each combining energy-saving, emission-reducing features. Trime now has an extensive line of battery-hybrid, solar-hybrid and solar-only lighting towers that are distributed around the world through their global dealer and distributor network. A company within the Trime Group, Tekno Proget, manufactures power generation machinery from 4.5 to 670.0kVA for a variety of applications. With the demand for carbon-reducing and low fuel consumption machinery increasing at a rapid pace, Tekno Proget has added a range of battery-hybrid and solar-hybrid power generators into their portfolio. This line currently features single-phase sets, 3.5 kVA, 6.00kVA, 10.00kVA and three-phase generators, 25.0kVA, 45.0kVA, 60.0kVA with 100kVA units soon to be made available. Tekno Proget equipment is available worldwide. The Trime Group now plans to go even one step further with the introduction of their T-ZERO PRO power module. This advanced system is centred on building a specially designed battery pack that brings together seamless long run times with quick recharging. The T-ZERO PRO power module produces zero noise, zero vibration, uses zero fuel with zero emissions. The batteries are designed to fit on to the outside of the equipment, which helps to dissipate heat more effectively thus preventing overheating, and possible shutdowns. The T-ZERO PRO system is intended to replace many of the diesel, gasoline and LPG powered engines currently fitted to machinery used on construction sites. The Trime T-ZERO PRO system is nearing the end of a testing phase and will soon move into full production. The Trime Group is a market leader in the manufacture and supply of environmentally sustainable equipment for the hire, construction, event, rail and utility markets. Trime UK is headquartered in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire; their manufacturing plant is based near Milan, Italy. There are Trime dealers and distributors throughout the world.
The best way to start the day — other than with a quick brew — is by inspecting your construction equipment to make sure it is ready to get to work. If you don’t, you risk premature equipment failure and project delays. Here Mark Mulligan, Product Manager at exclusive Caterpillar® distributor Finning UK and Ireland, discusses best practice for daily maintenance for the Cat® mini excavator range. When inspecting your mini excavator, the place to start is not with the machine itself, but with the operation and maintenance manual as this incorporates all recommended procedures in an easy-to-follow format, making it a quicker process. But, for those without a manual to hand, here is a quick run through of the best practices for a Cat mini excavator. Walkaround best practices Starting at the front of the machine, operators should first inspect the attachment for any deterioration caused by abrasive or corrosive elements, as well as checking for possible damage from trying to move weights that exceed its load limit. Any damage found could point to an improper application of the attachment, or an incorrect choice of attachment for the material being worked. Inspection of the hydraulic cylinders is next. Operators need to take time to identify any damage or excessive wear, with specific focus on the cylinder rods and seals — a scored, rough or bent rod will damage the seals and allow for leaks. If operators find a leak but the rod does not appear to be damaged, it may be that the seal is completely worn or broken and needs swapping out. This is also a good time to ensure that the linkage, boom pins and slew bearing on the arm of the excavator are adequately greased. Moving to the main bulk of the machine, operators should next check the tracks and undercarriage, looking for cracked, broken and missing items along with foreign items that may have attached themselves to the machine. Check to ensure the steel which is encased in the rubber track is connecting with the sprocket assembly. Finally, inspect the rubber tracks for possible layering damage, commonly referred to as delamination. Now is also a good time to inspect the final drives for any leaks, as well as opening the side door and checking the radiator, removing any debris from the fans so that excess heat is being drawn from the engine in all conditions. Moving round to the back of the excavator, the operator can access the engine area and check both engine oil and coolant levels, topping up as required. Before shutting the engine compartment, check the engine’s air filter to remove any impurities. This will also allow you to remove any debris in the main engine compartment and fix any leaks that may be apparent. Finally, the cab structure should be checked all around the machine for any loose bolts or broken bulbs and lenses. This also includes checking the lenses on the gauges inside the operator cab, as well as looking for broken indicator lights or switches, of which replacements can be bought with ease from the Cat Parts website. To make the process easier, Cat Inspect, an easy-to-use inspection tool that works on smartphones and tablets, keeps your fleet’s daily inspection in one place. Integrating with other Cat data systems, the app helps to extend the life of your machine and increase productivity in the field. The app includes machine lists showing available inspections and offering the ability to create custom checklists, allowing the operator to add photos and videos for additional insights. Cat Inspect is a one-stop shop to keep your inspection data organised. There is also the option to send that data onto Finning for analysis ensuring your operation keeps running, and your profit keeps growing. Though the Cat mini excavator range is renowned as the gold standard for performance and reliability, these benefits can only be maintained through a thorough daily inspection. A quick walk round your machine every morning can deliver savings over time as machines will last longer, use less fuel and cause fewer problems during operations — leaving time for that nice uninterrupted brew.
Despite the Covid-19 health crisis impacting significantly on the Lifting Industry, Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) Sector Benchmark Research reveals optimism for the post-pandemic future, and a move towards new and possibly more productive ways of working. Indeed, 72% of firms reported being optimistic for the next 6 months, with this increasing to 80% for the next 12 months. However, the breadth of specialisms and the number of supply chains in the sector have produced a varied picture in the research. LEEA does not expect the sector to return to pre-pandemic patterns of work as there are now clearly different expectations around training, travel and work patterns, according to the research. The majority of firms (over two thirds) reported their attitude towards e-training had changed in the past 12 months, with it being seen much more as an option. Training by Zoom specifically has its supporters, with nearly three quarters of firms reporting that they now see it as a more likely option. However, there is clearly a view that face-to-face training remains the preference, regardless of company size or specialism. Most firms are looking at more focussed travel, however, with 65% reporting that they expect to make changes to their business travel budget post lockdown. Few can be surprised to see such a large percentage of respondents recording revenue falls due to the economic impact of the pandemic and associated lockdowns. Surprisingly, however, the survey reveals a larger percentage recorded an increase in revenue. The picture improves when looking over the duration of the crisis: during the initial pandemic period (April to June 2020), there was an equal split between those reporting revenues up or down compared to the same period in 2019 (45% each). But, across the longer period of April 2020 to February 2021, the balance shifts to 54% reporting revenues up compared to 39% seeing a drop, which gives reason for optimism looking forward. Nevertheless, there has been a dramatic impact on the workforce with an incredible 50% of respondents making job losses attributable to the pandemic across a range of roles. Half the respondents expect the workforce to be smaller in March 2022 than it was in March 2020. While we can speculate about the reasons behind the ups and downs, further research will be required to fully understand which parts of our sector did better than others. “2020 has been a year that none of us expected. Our personal and work lives have all been impacted and as we look forward, we are now trying our best to predict what the future will look like. A year on from the initial lockdown in the UK, LEEA has issued this research aimed at helping us to understand the implications of the pandemic on our industry. It allows us to see the huge financial effects on our industry and the retrenching we are expecting concerning the size of the workforce, how training is conducted and changes to everyday work,” commented Ross Moloney, CEO of LEEA.