With national and global skills shortages in engineering, Finning – the world’s largest dealer of Catâ equipment, parts and services – is bucking the trend by successfully developing its own talent. Not only does its UK Apprenticeship Academy boast a 100% retention rate – meaning all students over the last
Enthusiasts of antique Caterpillar® machines were given a tour of the latest Cat® machinery – and a chance to see a rebuild project in action when they were invited to Finning recently. The Antique Caterpillar Machinery Owners Club (ACMOC) was welcomed to the Staffordshire headquarters of Finning UK & Ireland,
Evesham and Droitwich’s MP has spoken to one of the leading businesses in the area to find out how they’re setting the standard for road planing in the UK. Nigel Huddleston met a range of staff from Jet Plant Hire during his visit to the successful contractor. The company has
Following a campaign led by JCB, there is an amendment in the regulations to allow engineering plant to tow trailers under specific circumstances. Originally, engineering plant including wheeled excavators and loaders were prohibited under the Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order (STGO) to the towing of trailers on
Sunbelt Rentals has secured a multi-year agreement to become the preferred equipment rental supplier for Mitie, covering all areas of Mitie’s operations, including plant and hire equipment. This partnership aligns with Mitie’s Preferred Supplier Optimisation Strategy, with Sunbelt selected due to its streamlined ordering process and shared values. Both companies
As part of the company’s first appearance at the GaLabau International Trade Fair from 11-14 September in Nuremberg, Germany, DEVELON, formerly Doosan Construction Equipment, will be premiering the new DX10Z-7 1 tonne zero tail swing mini-excavator at the show. The DX10Z-7 will form part of an impressive presentation of Develon
Author: Pranav Jaswani, Technology Analyst at IDTechEx The construction machine industry is still in its early stages of electrification, with the first small electric machine only coming onto the market in 2015. However, IDTechEx’s new report, “Electric Vehicles in Construction 2024-2044: Technologies, Players, Forecasts”, highlights how the electric machines of
DEVELON, formerly called Doosan Construction Equipment, has launched the DX235RTF-7 Tunnelling Excavator, a new extension to the company’s line-up of Special Application machines. The DX235RTF-7 is based on Develon’s well-established DX235LCR-7 reduced radius crawler excavator and is powered by a DL06V Stage V engine, providing 141 kW (189 HP) of
Bobcat has launched the company’s new PG40 and PG50 portable generators, providing a leap forward in portable generator design. Powered by Stage V D24 engines and Stamford alternators, these eco-conscious models replace the previous generation Stage IIIA G40 and G60 units, delivering a combination of increased power output and lower
Leading contractor MJ Church is driving a machine technology revolution working closely with construction technology specialist SITECH® UK and Ireland over the last decade. The partnership between the two companies began when SITECH began fitting a widespread use of machine technology on the contractor’s machines with Trimble® machine control systems. As well
With national and global skills shortages in engineering, Finning – the world’s largest dealer of Catâ equipment, parts and services – is bucking the trend by successfully developing its own talent. Not only does its UK Apprenticeship Academy boast a 100% retention rate – meaning all students over the last two years have gone on to employment with the company – but it has now also achieved a “good” OFSTED rating. Finning launched its Apprenticeship Academy at its Cannock UK headquarters in 2007. This was an unusual step at the time, as most businesses take on apprentices in the role of employer, while an educational institution, usually a College of Further Education (FE) delivers the academic learning and administers the qualification. But the decision quickly started to return real business benefits. The academy was inspected by OFSTED in July this year, receiving highly positive feedback on the state-of-the-art learning environment, a culture of inclusivity and the enjoyment apprentices find in their courses. Inspectors also noted how effective communication between instructors and line managers helped apprentices to improve, and how students with additional needs achieved as well as their peers. As Academy Manager Craig Smallman explains, the rating reflects the importance Finning has placed on the scheme and the impact it has had both for apprentices and the business. “By keeping the whole apprenticeship program in-house, we can deliver academic learning in the best way to prepare our students for a career with us – enthusing people about engineering and addressing the ongoing skills shortages the industry faces. “The results from Ofsted speak for themselves. The national retention figure for apprenticeship employers is around 56%, but at Finning we’ve retained all but one of our apprentices over the last two years who have gone on to secure a job with us. It’s a fantastic endorsement of the talented people we have working here and the focus we place on supporting them.” With the program now in its 18th year, its positive influence can be seen right across the company. Academy graduates now fulfil a variety of management positions in both engineering and non-engineering roles. This includes Craig, who himself started his career with Finning as an apprentice, and is particularly proud of how the scheme has fostered wider diversity and inclusion: “Diversity and inclusion is an area where we see a real opportunity for the academy to contribute to the wider organization and the industry. We have measures in place to recruit and support a diverse cohort and it was great to see that recognised in the Ofsted report. Over the next few years, we plan to double in size and this year’s intake will be the biggest ever. The ages of our current students range from 16 to 53, we are a disability confident employer, one in six of our apprentices are female and we would like it to be more. Finning is an amazing place to work with opportunities to travel all over the world and work with great people. We have sites right across the UK and Ireland so whoever and wherever you are, if you would like to work with these amazing machines, we would love to hear from you.”
Enthusiasts of antique Caterpillar® machines were given a tour of the latest Cat® machinery – and a chance to see a rebuild project in action when they were invited to Finning recently. The Antique Caterpillar Machinery Owners Club (ACMOC) was welcomed to the Staffordshire headquarters of Finning UK & Ireland, the world’s largest dealer of Cat machines, parts and services, to host its annual meeting. Founded in 1991, ACMOC has thousands of members from around the world with an avid interest in the history of Caterpillar machinery. Along with taking part in the annual meeting, members enjoyed a tour of the Finning site including an impressive display of static machinery including a Cat 395 hydraulic excavator, a Cat 770 off-highway truck, Cat D6 and D3 dozers, a Cat 14 motor grader and a Cat 986 wheel loader. The visitors were also able to get hands-on with the machinery in a challenge at the Cat Compact Store supported by Alex Clarke, CDI Qualified Operator Trainer and Graham Knighton, Senior Machine Demonstrator, who is also a member of ACMOC. Hayley Brown, Brand and Events Marketing Manager at Finning UK & Ireland, said: “The group all have a shared passion for Cat machines – old and new. While many of the members are collectors of antique machines, there are current owners and operators in the club too, including Tom Balls from J.C. Balls & Sons. “During their visit we took the members on a tour around the Cannock site and workshops. As part of this, the visitors were able to see a Cat 345C hydraulic excavator rebuild in action, which the group was impressed to see. “Engineers explained the rebuild process and how the machine would then proceed to the final paint stage before being handed over to the customer in early June. This was of particular interest to the group as they were able to see first-hand that Cat machines can be rebuilt to have many new lives.” ACMOC President Bodie Hunter said: “We are so grateful to Finning for inviting us to host our AGM at the Cannock site and making us all feel so welcome. It was impressive to see the site in action and share this with our members, who are all huge Caterpillar enthusiasts.” Finning and ACMOC also raised money via a raffle during their visit, splitting the funds raised between chosen charities – the East Midlands Air Ambulance, and Mind UK. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Evesham and Droitwich’s MP has spoken to one of the leading businesses in the area to find out how they’re setting the standard for road planing in the UK. Nigel Huddleston met a range of staff from Jet Plant Hire during his visit to the successful contractor. The company has an extensive fleet of planing machines and ancillary equipment which is deployed on projects right across the UK, from large contracts in the private and public sectors, to general hire. The MP found out about the rich history of the company, which was originally founded in 1989 by the current Managing Director Sean Witheford’s father. Since its humble beginnings, the business has gone from strength to strength to become one of the largest local employers in Evesham. It’s also envied for the work it does to become an increasingly sustainable business, repurposing 100% of road planings during jobs. During the last year the company has delivered hundreds of thousands of tonnes of planings from job sites. The majority of these have gone to local businesses, with an average of 1 million tonnes of road planings generated every year. Currently the average tip is just 5.2 miles from the job site. Sean Witheford, Managing Director of Jet Plant, said: “It was a pleasure to host Nigel… I’m incredibly proud of the progress the business has made over the last few decades and it’s always great to be able to demonstrate that. “We’re fully accredited and accountable…. Our unwavering commitment to sustainable practices and excellence in planing solutions reinforces our position as an industry leader, setting the benchmark for others to follow. “Nigel toured our Evesham HQ, met numerous people from our talented team and even got to climb onto one of our impressive two metre planers too.” Nigel Huddleston, MP for Evesham and Droitwich, said: “I was delighted to visit Jet Plant Hire and be able to talk to them about the challenges that they are facing, as well as being able to hear about a lot of the great work that they are doing for our highways network. “They are an important local employer, and I was pleased to help and support them in their plans to engage with local schools about the job opportunities that they have on offer for our future workforce.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Following a campaign led by JCB, there is an amendment in the regulations to allow engineering plant to tow trailers under specific circumstances. Originally, engineering plant including wheeled excavators and loaders were prohibited under the Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order (STGO) to the towing of trailers on UK roads. However, the case was made by JCB in that advancements in towing safety and technology, coupled with the benefits of reducing carbon, reducing costs, and increasing efficiency meant that a Ministerial decision was made by the Department for Transport that allowed a derogation to The Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order 2003, so that the towing of a trailer can be permitted for the activities of road construction, maintenance, and repair. To tow trailers under this derogation requires a Vehicle Special Order (VSO) that allows wheeled earthmoving machinery (engineering plant) to tow a trailer on the UK roads to transport certain attachments and materials with the towing machine. They will be allowed to tow trailers on all types of roads, except motorways, and are limited to a maximum speed of 20mph. The towing machine must also be road-registered and comply with all relevant parts of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. The overall length of the combined machine and trailer must not exceed 8m and the trailer must bear the same number plate as the towing machine. As they led the campaign, JCB have provided more detail on the changes restrictions and applications to this VSO concession at: https://www.jcb.com/en-gb/resources/blogs/2024/07/the-new-trailer-towing-legislation-explained?page=1 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Sunbelt Rentals has secured a multi-year agreement to become the preferred equipment rental supplier for Mitie, covering all areas of Mitie’s operations, including plant and hire equipment. This partnership aligns with Mitie’s Preferred Supplier Optimisation Strategy, with Sunbelt selected due to its streamlined ordering process and shared values. Both companies place a strong emphasis on sustainability, exceptional customer service, and delivering social value within the communities they operate. Phil Parker, Chief Executive Officer of Sunbelt Rentals, who assumed the role on 1 May 2024, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership: “We are proud to support Mitie as their preferred equipment rental supplier. Over time, we have developed a trusted partnership based on our shared values. Our ongoing investment in sustainable equipment and innovative technologies will enable Mitie to enhance its operations and provide even better service to its customers. This agreement is an excellent way to mark the launch of Sunbelt 4.0, our new five-year growth strategy, as we focus on prioritising, elevating, and enhancing all aspects of our business to support our customers.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
As part of the company’s first appearance at the GaLabau International Trade Fair from 11-14 September in Nuremberg, Germany, DEVELON, formerly Doosan Construction Equipment, will be premiering the new DX10Z-7 1 tonne zero tail swing mini-excavator at the show. The DX10Z-7 will form part of an impressive presentation of Develon compact equipment for the gardening and landscaping sectors. The DX10Z-7 will be one of the machines working in the Develon demonstration area, along with the DX100W-7 10.7 tonne wheeled excavator and the DX27Z-7 2.8 tonne mini-excavator. On the company’s Booth Number 5-406 in Hall 5, the product display will include the DX20ZE-7 mini-excavator, the first mass-produced electric-powered excavator from Develon. The DX20ZE-7 will be shown alongside the DX63-7 6 tonne Stage V mini-excavator and another of the DX100W-7 models. As well as the comprehensive array of products, Develon will also be represented at Galabau by dealers from its German dealer network, plus the new company owned store located in Mannheim serving the larger Rhein-Neckar and Rhein-Main area. Increased Performance The new DX10Z-7 provides a significantly improved performance compared to the previous DX10Z model it replaces. The DX10Z-7 is compact and easy to transport, offering a width of only 730 mm when the tracks and the front blade are fully retracted, allowing the machine to pass through doors. The hydraulically expandable undercarriage provides the DX10Z-7 with one of the widest stances in the mini-excavator segment. Supplying an output of 7.6 kW (10.35 HP), the well proven D722 engine powers the DX10Z-7, providing dependable reliability, as well as low vibration and noise levels that are essential for working in confined areas in construction, rental, demolition, landscaping and many other applications. The increased performance of the DX10Z-7 is based around a new 1.45 m boom design and increased arm length (from 810 to 890 mm), resulting in a significantly enhanced working range compared to the DX10Z. This includes a 21.5% rise in dump height of 2205 mm and an 8.5% increase in digging reach at ground level of 3355 mm. Targetting Urban and Amenity Applications The DX100W-7 offers a high performance solution for customers looking for a wheeled excavator designed primarily for local authority, amenity, urban and maintenance applications. The DX100W-7 will be shown with a forestry mulcher, demonstrating the high flow from the smooth and precise hydraulic system which can be used to drive all kinds of attachments. For this type of work, the DX100W-7 offers the best compromise between compactness and agility, complemented by excellent productivity and high-end comfort. It is very important that this type of machine can operate in very restricted areas, so the DX100W-7 can be equipped with the option of four wheel steering and a crabbing mode, with two wheel steering as standard. Class-leading Power and Torque Working alongside the DX100W-7 at GaLabau will be the 2.8 tonne DX27Z-7, another of the company’s next generation mini-excavator range with a new shared global styling. The zero tail swing design of the DX27Z-7 makes it ideal for work in confined spaces on construction, landscaping and utility projects. Powered by the D17 Stage V compliant diesel engine providing 18.4 kW (24.7 HP) of power at 2400 RPM, the DX27Z-7 offers the highest power and torque in its class and covers a wide range of applications including heavy duty work. The DX27Z-7 offers a high auxiliary flow of 58 l/min to enhance work with attachments. Newly designed cast counterweights ensure excellent machine balance and stability when working. A long arm option is available with a 60 kg additional counterweight. Designed to Meet a Growing Demand for Electric The 2 tonne DX20ZE-7 mini-excavator combines low-noise and zero emissions with the features and performance enhancements that are found on the next-generation DX-7 Series family of mini-excavators. The DX20ZE-7 is powered by an in-house-developed 20.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, with all of the electrical system and components on the machine optimized for work in harsh environments. A quick-charger system restores 100% of the battery power after only an hour and a half of charging, while the on-board charger restores the maximum charge after eight hours of charging. DX63-7 Six Tonne Mini-Excavator The DX63-7 is ideal for work in confined spaces on projects in landscaping, construction, utilities, rental, agriculture, recycling, waste and many other areas. It is powered by the D24 Stage V compliant diesel engine providing 44.3 kW (59.4 HP) of power. Despite offering an 8% increased torque of 26.5 kgm/rpm, the D24 engine still provides a 7% decrease in engine fuel consumption. With a high auxiliary flow of 90 l/min, the DX63-7 is designed for enhanced work with attachments. The flow capacity can be monitored on the Develon Smart 8 inch touch screen in 10 steps and controlled using the thumbwheel on the joystick. This flexibility is combined with an excellent traction force, travel speeds, lifting capacities and digging forces, together providing superior working performance, particularly for trenching and lifting work. Further Growth & Commitment for German Market In June 2023, Develon opened an interim Company Owned Store at Seckenheimer Landstraße in Mannheim, supporting customers on site with a well-equipped new rental fleet of the latest generation of construction machines, with a fast spare parts service, other services and with a wide range of new machines. The branch will relocate to a new 10,650 m² site on Lembacher Strasse in Mannheim in the fourth quarter of 2024. A modern customer and training centre with a demo area for machine tests will also be opened there. Overall this shows Develon is moving much closer to customers and dealers and is committed to Germany as a long-term location and underlines its ambitions to significantly expand its presence and market position in the German speaking market. For more on DEVELON, please visit the website: https://eu.develon-ce.com/en/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Author: Pranav Jaswani, Technology Analyst at IDTechEx The construction machine industry is still in its early stages of electrification, with the first small electric machine only coming onto the market in 2015. However, IDTechEx’s new report, “Electric Vehicles in Construction 2024-2044: Technologies, Players, Forecasts”, highlights how the electric machines of today are bigger and better than their predecessors from less than 10 years ago. OEMs worldwide are picking up the pace of electric machine development, and IDTechEx finds the industry will grow to be worth over US$126 billion in 2044. Digging force of electric vs. diesel mini-excavators. Source: IDTechEx Machine performance continues to improve The first electric machines to come onto the scene were mini-excavators. Their smaller sizes and less intense workloads made them the ideal testing ground for construction electrification. Many construction companies’ concerns then were whether these electric machines could withstand the demands of the job site and deliver similar performance to diesel engines. IDTechEx’s new report finds that electric mini-excavators are now at a point of development where they can match diesel on virtually all key metrics. EVs offer up equivalent or even superior power to diesel machines, with models from Kato and Wacker Neuson able to generate 30-60% more digging force than an average diesel machine of the same size. Significant improvements have been seen in the runtime of these machines too. Where the first machines on the market only achieved 4 to 6 hours of operation on a single charge, newer machines can manage up to 8 hours of operation (a full workday) as standard. Persistent battery development has played a huge part in this increase, and IDTechEx expects runtimes to reach 9 to 10 hours in the near future. Large excavators and loaders are coming to the fore While mini-excavators dominated the early phases of electric construction machine growth and are still the market’s largest segment, the development focus has pivoted onto large excavators and wheel loaders. Together, these two machine types made up 35% of all equipment sales in 2023 and are some of the heaviest emitters of greenhouse gases on the job site, contributing to over 50% of all construction machine emissions. Their electrification is, therefore, key to furthering the decarbonization of the global construction industry. As the rate of new electric machine models entering production has increased from 2019 to 2023, so has the size of these machines. Where 3-tonne mini-excavators once represented the height of electric machine technology, multiple OEMs now have large excavator models weighing 20 tonnes or greater. The Chinese OEM Know-How even started producing a 52-tonne electric excavator in 2023, which is by far the largest seen to date. Wheel loaders have reached a similar stage, with new 20-tonne machines now being the norm for electrification. Bigger machines necessitate bigger and more advanced battery systems, and the rise of electric excavators and wheel loaders has seen battery sizes in construction shoot up dramatically over the last 5 years. The maximum battery size installed in newly produced models has consistently gone up from ~30 kWh in 2018 – used in mini-excavators and similar compact machines – to over 500 kWh in 2023. The Know-How 52-tonne excavator is equipped with an enormous 700 kWh battery, which IDTechEx estimates would cost US$210,000 on its own and weigh over 3.5 tonnes. What’s next for EV construction machines? Many of the larger machines now entering the market have already gone down the same path as mini-excavators in matching the performance of diesel counterparts. OEMs are at a stage where performance parity is no longer challenging to achieve and are focused on expanding their EV portfolios into bigger machines and new equipment types. Chinese OEMs have been market leaders in this sense, developing larger excavators and wheel loaders while also being proactive in the electrification of mobile cranes weighing in the hundreds of tonnes. Battery advancements will play a huge part in determining the future of the electric construction industry. OEMs currently achieve battery pricing far above what is seen in the automotive market, but increasing the scale of EV production and setting up dedicated supply chains will help bring down costs. At the same time, improving the efficiency of existing battery technologies and bringing in more advanced Li-ion and future battery technologies will widen the types of machines that can be electrified and further enhance their performance. The new IDTechEx report “Electric Vehicles in Construction 2024-2044: Technologies, Players, Forecasts” provides deeper analysis of the future of the electric construction machine industry. It finds that the industry will grow at a CAGR of 21% to reach US$126 billion in value by 2044. For more information and downloadable sample pages, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/EVConstruction. For the full portfolio of electric vehicle market research available from IDTechEx, please see www.IDTechEx.com/Research/EV. Upcoming free-to-attend webinar….. The Electric Future of Construction: EV Machines On The Rise Pranav Jaswani, Technology Analyst at IDTechEx and author of this article, will be presenting a free-to-attend webinar on the topic on Thursday 5 September 2024 – The Electric Future of Construction: EV Machines On The Rise. This webinar will include: We will be holding exactly the same webinar three times in one day. Please register for the session that is most convenient for you. Click here to check the timings and register for your specific time zone. If you are unable to make the date, please register anyway to receive the links to the on-demand recording (available for a limited time) and webinar slides as soon as they are available. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
DEVELON, formerly called Doosan Construction Equipment, has launched the DX235RTF-7 Tunnelling Excavator, a new extension to the company’s line-up of Special Application machines. The DX235RTF-7 is based on Develon’s well-established DX235LCR-7 reduced radius crawler excavator and is powered by a DL06V Stage V engine, providing 141 kW (189 HP) of power. The DX235RTF-7 utilises the successful compact design and minimum swing radius of the DX235LCR-7, but the key part of the machine is the heavy duty Tunnelling Front, offering a new arm and boom design with special kinematics and a tilting function. Jan Breburda, Special Applications Product Manager for Develon Europe, commented: “The new DX235RTF-7 tunnelling machine is designed for superior performance in challenging underground environments. Complementing the safety and comfort of its operation, the advanced hydraulics and robust construction of the DX235RTF-7 ensure optimal power and durability, while its compact design allows for easy navigation in tight spaces.” The DX235RTF-7 has a total operating weight of 25,689 kg and offers a maximum reach of 9260 mm. The kinematics of the tunnelling front on the DX235RTF-7 excavator are designed to prioritize horizontal reach and precision over vertical movement. The special kinematics are based around a boom tilting function, providing a 45°/45° tilt in two directions, the movement of which can be operated via a pedal in the operator’s cab. The boom and arm configuration is specifically designed for operation in narrow areas, with ranges of movement slightly limited compared to the standard front on the DX235LCR-7. The DX235RTF-7 is specifically suited to work in restricted environments, without using the swing movement in narrow areas. This allows the DX235RTF-7 to work efficiently in narrow tunnels with the ability to reach the tunnel face and walls, while maintaining a low profile to navigate tight spaces. For work in confined spaces, the DX235RTF-7 features protective equipment to safeguard against falling debris or contact of the arm with the tunnel ceiling and walls. As a result, the DX235RTF-7 has a level 2 FOG system combined with more heavy duty covers and hydraulic piping protection. The protection also includes covers over hydraulic hoses and arm work lights, as well as enclosing the bucket cylinder and links in a dedicated protective compartment and hiding the arm cylinder under the arm. Compared to the standard DX235LCR-7 model, the DX235RTF-7 has six LED work lights, four on the front and two on the back, as well as AVM cameras as standard. Other features include PERO rotating piping, centralized greasing points and a dozer blade as an option. The specifications also include a 6.4 tonne counterweight and 600 mm wide triple grouser track shoes. Tunnelling applications often require the transportation of the machine to areas with limited access, so the DX235RTF-7 is designed to be simple to lift and manoeuvre into place. Specifications for DX235RTF-7 Tunnelling Excavator: Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bobcat has launched the company’s new PG40 and PG50 portable generators, providing a leap forward in portable generator design. Powered by Stage V D24 engines and Stamford alternators, these eco-conscious models replace the previous generation Stage IIIA G40 and G60 units, delivering a combination of increased power output and lower fuel consumption compared to their predecessors. The D24 engine in the new generators is a very impressive unit – more powerful than those in other machines of this size on the market and with a higher capacity. This has allowed Bobcat to offer a true 50 kVA prime unit on the market in the new PG50 model and still be below the Diesel Exhaust Fluid system requirement. Alongside the PG50, the PG40 delivers a prime power output of 40 kVA. In addition, both generators have a new sleek, compact design, with a selection of novel features including optional factory-mounted running gear, with either fixed or variable height, for easy transportation such as towing behind a car. This upgrade provides unmatched convenience, ensuring mobility on and off the job site. The new generators also have ‘Liquid Heat’, a low-load management system designed to reduce downtime and deliver peace of mind. Their versatile capabilities allow the new generators to manage lighter loads while preserving engine life, making them the perfect investment for job sites. Power Matched By Versatility The Stamford alternators on the PG40 and PG50 continue the use of this brand that started with the previously introduced PG100 100 kVA generator. The mechanical and electrical configuration and options also follow most of what is offered on the PG100, providing owners with the versatility they require. The COMAP MRS16 controller is again at the heart of the PG40 and PG50, with telematics options that allow units to be easily located and for their status to be read remotely. Building on its proven track record, the successful connection system from the PG100 is incorporated in the new models. Tested and trusted, these connection points guarantee optimal efficiency, facilitating hassle-free set-up and smooth performance. Operation is again quiet, with the new models offering a low noise level – the LWA 88 sound power level on the PG40 and LWA 89 on the PG50, make them among the quietest units on the market. As well as being quiet, the PG40 and PG50 are also clean running, featuring a bunded base designed for 110% fluid containment, where spills are virtually eliminated, ensuring environmental protection and reducing maintenance needs. The standard product warranty – as well as technical training and parts availability – are covered by Bobcat and the company’s extensive dealer network. The major difference in the new PG40 and PG50 is the engine coverage, which is handled by Bobcat’s own network without any third party involvement. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading contractor MJ Church is driving a machine technology revolution working closely with construction technology specialist SITECH® UK and Ireland over the last decade. The partnership between the two companies began when SITECH began fitting a widespread use of machine technology on the contractor’s machines with Trimble® machine control systems. As well as providing the hardware/software, SITECH also provided access to Beta test new Trimble products. So mutually beneficial has the relationship been, that MJ Church’s investment in increasing their knowledge of machine technology has led to the development of an industry-leading 3D machine modelling approach. Sam Lemon, Construction Technology Lead for MJ Church said that the ‘old way of doing things’ with batter rails was a distant memory with technology enabling them to run ‘timberless sites’. He said: “Site technology has gone from a ‘nice to have’ to standard practice across all our projects – because we are utilising it to such a high standard with the support from the teams at SITECH and Trimble. “When I started at MJ Church five years ago our technology was relatively small scale, but now, GPS enabled machines are standard across our fleet. It includes Trimble Business Centre, Trimble WorksOS, Trimble Connect, Trimble Siteworks and Trimble Drawing. “What’s really changed in the business is we’ve seen the value of machine control. It’s taken a lot of work to get to this point, and thanks to our relationship with SITECH we’ve been able to get involved in Beta testing new Trimble products and feedback with improvements so we can really unlock the full potential of our fleet. “Having begun using machine control on a few excavators in 2015 it’s really ramped up and SITECH have been instrumental in that, supporting us with practical help in setting our machines up and keeping our machines running when core components need replacing.” SITECH technical sales consultant Carl Parsons, said: “MJ Church is really driving a revolution in machine technology because they’re constantly looking for different ways to use it and develop their knowledge of it. “We have continued to support MJ Church with frequent software training, hardware support and installation training, and we’re proud to act as a technology consultancy service for them. “We’re very proud to support them on their journey and in their achievements which are encouraging innovation within the industry.” To find out more about more about SITECH machine control systems support, training and software solutions go to www.sitechukandireland.com
